“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’-Matthew 10:34-36

            As Christians we often look at this passage, Ephesians 6:10-18, and think of it as a lesson on defending the Word of God.  As I look around at the condition of the world, I wonder if we should consider this passage as more a call to arms and engage the enemy.

            As Edmund Burke said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

            Let’s look at this passage in that light.

            10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the Devil’s schemes.

            As we prepare for battle, we are given a pep talk and the tools to do battle. Being strong  in the Lord and his power, should give us heart to engage in the fight. The war has been won, and we are engaged in daily battles in which we try to win souls and keep ourselves on the right path. Taking a stand means more than passively guarding the gate.  We need to step forward and prevent the enemy from gaining ground.

            12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

            If only we could see the enemy, he would be so much easier to fight. Unfortunately, he hides in plain sight. He attacks us, and we don’t realize it until we have lost the battle, a skirmish that came at us from nowhere. The enemy knows are weak points, our desires, and our needs. He sets them before us, temptingly; we struggle, and sometimes succumb to the temptation. We are weak without the Armor of God to protect us.

            13 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.

            Once you have put the armor on stand your ground against the enemy. As you become stronger in the faith, and hone your skills, step out and meet the enemy before the attack. Witness to others, be an example in your workplace or community. Study the Bible, pray for strength, and always be on guard. Use the tools that the Lord gives you to fight the good fight.

            14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

            In closing, verse 18, gives us our command to pray. Pray, for yourself, and others. Pray for strength and protection of all engaged in the battle for the lost souls, as well as, those that have been saved. As we step into the world to battle the powers and principalities of darkness we must pray for our fellow soldiers for the Lord, and for the Lord’s blessing in our endeavors.
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            18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
 

​Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6 
 
To educate a man in the mind and not in morals is to create a menace to society.
Theodore Roosevelt
 
            There was a young girl tragically killed in an automobile accident a few years ago.  She was riding with her father, when a drunk driver struck their car injuring him and killing her.
 
            The drunk driver was 17.  I knew him.  While he was in school the teachers and parents never really disciplined him when he was bad.  Perhaps it was because he was always getting in trouble and they grew tired of trying to get him to change.  I kept on him and told him if he didn’t start changing his ways, one day he would be wearing an orange jumpsuit, riding in the back of a car.  The boy probably hated me as I never let him slide and constantly told him about his behavior.
 
            When I heard of the accident I felt terrible.
 
            How many people gave up on him?  How many people started hoping that one day he would get his?  What would they have done differently if they knew that him “getting his” would mean the death of a 12-year-old girl?
 
Proverbs 29:17 tells us,
Correct your son, and he will give you rest;
Yes, he will give delight to your soul.
 
            Our responsibility, as adults and Christians, is to prepare our children and their friends for real life.  To make them understand that there are consequences for their actions.  We gain nothing when we turn a blind eye to bad or destructive behavior.
 
            It seems that what was once unacceptable is now the norm, and we as a society are spiraling toward a time when everything will be acceptable, except the message of Jesus Christ.
 
            When it comes to our young people was must not be afraid to tell them what they are doing is wrong.  When they roll their eyes and ask, “Why?”  We cannot be afraid to say because the Bible says so.  Many will know what the Bible is, but not what is inside and that could be your opportunity to share the Gospel and deliver some “Good News” into someone’s life.
 
            We cannot give up and hope that someone will eventually, “Learn their lesson.” Possibly with disastrous results for some innocent bystander.

            We must remain committed to our young people even when they frustrate us.  Do not just shake your head and wait for someone else to put him, or her, on the proper path.
 
Chasten your son while there is hope,
And do not set your heart on his destruction.
Proverbs 19:18

          We are not living in a dying country, we are living in a suicidal country. The problems and issues that inflict us as a nation, are of our own creation. You can see the moral and social decay accelerating each day. We turn on each other, we divide ourselves, we communicate with tweets, instant messages and smart phone emails, yet we are more disconnected as a society than ever.

            We are killing ourselves as a nation, and as a people, by removing God from the public square. No prayer in school, has led to school shootings, drug dependence, and a lack of respect for those in authority at school, and fellow students. We now have teachers and students having relationships, and children. Removing God from government buildings has led to corruption, a sense of entitlement, the abuse of intern and pages, and no fear of justice for the crimes being committed.

            The removal of God, and Christian themes in Hollywood and the media ahs created a product that has destroyed the family, normalized the vilest behaviors, led to a desensitizing to the violence, sexual promiscuity, and drugs. Bad behavior has become cool and encouraged. Women long for the “bad boy, bully,” to protect them, but suffer in an abusive relationship that they seem unable to escape; and when they do it is often with tragic consequences. Men chase the “bad girl,” but become upset with her, when her past comes up before him. We live in a time when men think they are women, women think they are men, and anyone who disagrees is labeled a “Hater.”

            Our society is fearless. It does not fear the consequences of their actions, it does not fear how their actions will impact others, and it does not fear God. Yes, God is love; also remember that God is just.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”-Proverbs 9:10
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            Please understand this, there is a just God, and there is a Hell. Both are real. You need to make a decision to turn to Jesus Christ and be saved from this suicidal world and have an eternity in Heaven. All the choices we make, are ours, we own them. As Larry Norman sang many years ago, “Why don’t you look into Jesus?”

       So there I was with Sally, punching in the directions to our destination in my GPS.  Sally turns to me and says that she knows how to get there.  As directionally challenged male, I do what we all do; I smiled and told her to just trust the Tom-Tom. Needless to say our thirty minute trip turned into a two day journey.  Well, not really two days, but the atmosphere in the car seemed to slow time, and not even the calm voice of John Cleese could break the tension.
            After a brief discussion of how my lack of faith had cost us time and almost ruined the day, I realized that Sally was more on target than I had ever imagined.  I began to think of all the times I had plugged in an address to go to a business meeting, or meet friends at a restaurant, never doubting that my GPS would get me there, on time. However, when it came to my relationship with God, I was willing to go it alone, not even looking at the map He had provided.
            I had often joked that people had more faith in their GPSs than the Bible, and Sally pointed out that it wasn’t just people, it was me.  It is funny how when my GPS told me to turn on a street, that turned out to be a driveway or a dead end road, I’d laugh; turn around and head on down the road. Yet in my life, when things were going bad, I’d stop grumble and ask God for a short cut.  As I learned from reading Proverbs 20:24, “A person’s steps are directed by the Lord, How can then anyone understand their own way?”
            The problem I was having is that I’d sit at my computer, update my GPS, study the route and be prepared.  Ah, if only I could say I did the same thing with my personal and spiritual life.  There was a time when my life was spinning out of control, and each road I took lead to a dead end, or a long painful journey of self-discovery.  By not properly preparing myself, I was driving in circles, running out of gas, and forever lost on life’s highways.
            Although I had heard, but never experienced this, it seems that most guys won’t ask for directions, preferring to pretend they know where they are going no matter how long it takes to get there.  Or ask their significant other to get the directions for them.  For whatever reason, we fear asking for help.  Fortunately with Sally as my co-pilot, I was able to tune into God’s GPS signal and the road map for my life, the Bible.  If we are willing to trust satellites circling the Earth to guide us to our destinations, we can trust the Creator of the heavens to lead us to our final destination in Paradise. “The Lord is good, a refuge for those who trust in him.” (Nahum 1:7)
            Don’t wander around in circles, hoping your spiritual GPS can guide you to the Promised Land.  Listen to the voice of Jesus, and trust Him to lead you where you are meant to be.

“I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now…”-Bob Dylan

            I had sat down to write a world changing sermon on the current condition of society, and what I had learned and observed over a lifetime. I had an outline, well a rant, listing everything that ails us. It was detailed, it was deep, it was disastrously long, and boring. The Lord spoke to me, and said that the message is simple, and I should not worry about changing the world, but changing hearts.

Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby good will come to you. Job 22:21

            We live in a world that is now more connected than ever in the history of man, yet we seem more lonely, and isolated than ever. It almost seems that we have created modern Tower of Babel and our pride in our accomplishments seeks to diminish the importance of God in our world.  We base our lives and value on the number of Facebook friends we have, or followers on Twitter. I was part of that, especially on Twitter. I had over 6,000 followers, but really, what difference was I making in their lives? None really. I closed that account; opened another and now proudly have 36 followers.

            We spend much of our time seeking value based on another person’s opinion of us. We are constantly looking to fill a hole in ourselves that no job, promotion, team, sporting event, amount of money, or material possession can fill. Often in our relationships with friends, family, or spouses, we still feel a need for something else. 

            The answer, while quite simple, is difficult to accept. The hole you are seeking to fill, cannot be filled by the things of this world. Peace, real peace, in this world can only be gained with a relationship with Jesus Christ. He will never leave you, even in your darkest and most desperate moments, He will stand beside you, or carry you through.

            Becoming a Christian does not guarantee an easy life, but it does provide for an inner peace, and calm in times of trial and tribulation. My prayer is that you will take that step of faith, ask for the forgiveness of your sins, and invite Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. Only then will you feel a wholeness and peace.

            God Bless.
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So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
 
 

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12
 
            Life is funny.  Well it has to be, as sometimes it hurts too much to live it.  When looking at life we have two choices; carry on or get carried out.  No matter how bad things get I figure it is always better to carry on.
 
            I am at a time in my life that I am getting squeezed by so many outside forces that I look and feel like a stress doll.  I'm not complaining, well maybe I am, but the reality is I just laugh about it. I have no money, and by no money, I mean NO money.  The last time I had two pennies to rub together Lincoln was still warm.  I am preparing for bad news from my doctor this week, eating bread sandwiches, scraping gas money together so I can get to work, and preparing to go back to stripping to pay the rent.
 
            Now lesser souls would throw in the towel, hang their heads and cry.  Not me, that's what they want.  I say when life gives you lemons, throw them back at life, and laugh.  I mean who wants that much lemonade?  There is no point getting down, after all, I'm already there, so I just decide to take a look at the absurdity of my life and laugh.  I look at each day as an adventure.
 
            Example? Sure, one night, due to some unforeseen circumstances, I had to sleep in my car.  It's funny how before the situation arises you really don't think about it.  The park closes at midnight and the cops kick you out, sleeping in a Walmart parking lot isn't that appealing, and sleeping on the side of the road is just not an option.  So what does a homeless, but car rich person do? 
 
            First, I go to Eat n Park for some cheap food, coffee, and a restroom break.  After getting that out of the way, you find an apartment complex, grab your emergency blanket and pillow, and climb in the back seat of the car, covering yourself so the car itself looks empty to the casual observer.  Don't laugh, this is a true story. 
 
            When you wake up, a little stiff, it is time to get ready for work.  Now you can head into the park.  I would suggest finding a shelter off the beaten path.  I have two that I have used.  These are great places to put on my work clothes, brush my teeth and wash my hair.  What? I hear you say.  Yes I have done this.  It is important to carry at least two gallons of water with you to take care of hygiene issues.  A towel is also a great thing to have with you, as well.  There is nothing quite like sitting shirtless, hair dripping, on a picnic bench watching deer, squirrels, and nature in general on a crisp September morning.  Of course, the occasional dude walking his dog can make it weird, but such is life.
 
            After cleaning and dressing, it is time to head back to Eat n Park for a cheap breakfast, coffee and bathroom break.  Now I would never wash my hair, self, brush my teeth or shave in a restroom.  As hard as it is for some of you to believe right now, I do have standards, and a rechargeable razor. 
 
            In closing folks, there may be times when I am down, but I am not out.  Being homeless once in a while is no big deal, in fact it's a character builder, and proves that I can survive.  Also, I am luckier than others who don't have somewhere to stay 365 days a year.  I look at my circumstances, accept them, and enjoy them for what they are, a chance to live the adventure that is life.  Whatever life throws at you, remember to either duck or catch it, and keep moving forward.  Irritate the people that want to see you fail by smiling and enjoying the life you are living. 
 
            Keep calm and carry on!
 
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  James 1:2-4

Hate6/12/2019
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"I've decided to stick with love.  Hate is too great a burden to bear."
Martin Luther King

            Hate is a useless emotion that is the one most often expressed.  I have found that hate is draining, and too much work.  Think about it if you hate someone, chances are they dominate your thoughts, and through no fault of their own, ruin your day.  Their good news is your bad news. You spend days and nights wondering how that person can keep getting off the hook for their actions.

            Prayers are prayed asking God to teach them a lesson, not a fatal or permanent one, just a life changing one.  Of course the lesson we want taught is a bad one, one that brings them down, or ruins their lives, but in a way that teaches them something, we want them to learn.  

            It's always nice to know, that God needs our help designing His lesson plan.

            May I humbly suggest trying something different? Love your enemies, or at least let them go, and don't think about them.  Life is too short to focus on those we don't like for whatever reason. Our time would be better served loving the ones that love us, and showing God's love to others. Hate will destroy you, and what will you have accomplished? Nothing.

            Work at building God's kingdom, not destroying others.
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            Luke 6:27-36
      “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”