Full Stop.

Well friends, I've gotten to the point in my dissertation where things are really busy, and I'll have to stop blogging in order to devote more time to completing my degree. Writing Glossa Water been a great experience over the past couple of years! And I sense that, in the future, God will have me doing a lot more writing. So perhaps you'll see me online again, or maybe it'll be some other forum... God knows.

Blessings and peace,

Love
Genise

Hitting The Pause Button... On Hiatus.

Friends, I will be away from Glossa Water for a while, probably at least through the end of the semester (mid-May). Am focusing on completing some work related to my doctorate, and some work related to my husband's degree completion and upcoming performances.

You're welcome to peruse the archive of older blogs in the meantime!

Blessings and peace to you.

Love,

Genise

Big Elephant. Bigger God.

As we anticipate next week's celebration of Pastor Sam's tenth year at Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene, I will take today's blog to talk about the elephant in the room.

The "elephant" is a metaphor for a small, but powerful, contingent of persons at BBCN who are dissatisfied with the direction God is moving in, and they are pouring out their dissatisfaction at the feet of Pastor Sam. In my five years at Bronx Bethany, I've seen some interesting and disturbing activities launched in a prolonged attack designed to discourage our senior pastor: Negativity spread through emails and phone calls. Refusal to give the Lord His tithe. Stealing Pastor Sam's portrait from the church lobby while leaving behind the portrait of the pastor who preceded him. Presenting a spirit of unbelief in the face of an appeal to exercise faith.

This contingent stands as representatives of the dominion of darkness. Their purpose is to undermine the plan and program of God. While God moves forward, they marshal every resource under their control in order to maintain the status quo. They are worshipping denominations, traditions, and cultural expectations. If you see yourself in this group, please know that I love you... and because I love you, I am warning you that God is not pleased. If God is calling us to move forward, and you are standing still, then you are in disobedience.

My prayer is that, instead of worshipping the Bronx Bethany of thirty years ago, or the Bronx Bethany of ten years ago, each one of us will joyfully embrace and fully support what God is doing today. Let's start by worshipping God and God alone. Let's continue by joyfully embracing and fully supporting our senior pastor as he seeks to carry out the will of God.

Pastor Sam, I love you and thank God for you. God bless you with health, strength, and a heart to always obey our great King regardless of what it costs you. "Stay in your lane." -Genise

Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper. (from Second Chronicles 20:20)

Tautologia.

This past Sunday, Evangelist Creary shared an alliterative tool to help us remember God's word to Solomon (which we find in Second Chronicles 7:14):

Principles;
Plans;
Prescriptions;
Promises.

We have this great "if-then" statement. If My people will do certain things, then I will do certain things. If we aren't doing what God asked, then perhaps we should not be surprised when we fail to experience God in His fullness.

A question: what is it that keeps you from humbling yourself, praying, seeking God's face, and turning from wickedness (forgetting God, forsaking God, ignoring God)?

LORD, You have laid out the blueprint, and it is crystal clear. Give us courage to obey You without concern for what the world may say or do. Give us hearts to follow You exclusively and obey You without hesitation. Amen.

Nobis, Culpa, Domine.

Let's continue our reflections on this past Sunday's sermon from Evangelist Creary.

In describing the phrase "turn from their wicked ways" (see Second Chronicles 7:14), we were given a short list of the ways in which wickedness manifests itself:

-forsaking God;
-forgetting God;
-rejecting God.

Our tendency is to associate "wickedness" with external activities such as murder, incest, or other sins that directly affect the lives of innocents. Or, we associate wickedness with activity that occurs outside of the church. But God indicates to us that His concept of wickedness relates directly to our treatment of Him and His holiness (see Jeremiah 23:11-16 as an example of this).

Are you saying things that are contrary to what God has said? Today is a good day to change your ways.

Lord, we are guilty: please forgive us of our wickedness: the pride, the ignoring of Your word, the lie to think that we can live our lives without seeking after You. We repent and we ask You to help us to change. Make us true representatives of Your holiness. May our lives turn the world to You. In Jesus's name we pray. Amen.

Four Score.

This past Sunday we had a guest speaker. Evangelist McCreary used Second Chronicles 7:14 as his text. This week we'll take some time to think about the principles that were shared during the sermon.

If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins, and heal their land.

In this verse, we see four qualifications God expects from His people:

...humble themselves... When we recognize the greatness of God in light of our frailty and weakness, we respond in submission and humble obedience to Him.

...pray... The key to true revival is found in prayer: not formulaic prayers, but prayers from the heart.

...seek... As has been mentioned by our own pastoral staff, the soul who loves Jesus will always desire to know Him more intimately.

...turn from their wicked ways... Our wickedness is a snare that prevents our prayers from being heard (see Isaiah 59:2). If we want a response from God, then we must adhere to His standard of holiness and righteous living.

LORD, we pray that when You see us, you see these four things evident in us. Help us to obey You in these things, so that our prayers might be heard by You. We love You. In Jesus's name, Amen.

Fight! Fight!

Friends,

As we close out this week, I'd like to reflect a bit on Pastor Benji's comments that were shared towards the end of the sermon. In essence, Pastor Benji asked us to consider the reality of demonic oppression and how the realm of darkness presents itself in this twenty-first century.

In Bible times, demonic oppression was connected to physiological manifestations. So, we read in Scripture about people who were mute, or deaf, or blind, or prone to psychotic behaviors.

But is it limited to that?

In past blogs, I called for fasting and prayer concerning the actions and intents of Governor Paterson (for a sampling, see my blogs from 10/28/2009 and 12/3/2009). And I asked for fasting and prayer because I believed that certain decisions, if made law, would ultimately undermine both our society and our religious liberty. Do you think that some legislative endeavors are diametrically opposed to the advancement of the kingdom of God? I do. Would you go so far as to say that some legislative decisions are driven not by economy or politics, but by unseen demonic forces? I would.

So, what do we do when we recognize a spiritual force that is undermining the work of God's kingdom?

-We pray.
-We fast.
-We declare the word of God fearlessly.
-We inform and warn our community.

Speaking the truth occasionally lands us into trouble, especially when we have a microphone in our hands while we're speaking that truth. (Yes, I'm referring to that incident where some "dominion-of-darkness-supporter" person complained to headquarters about our senior pastor. As if that's going to stop us from speaking the truth.)

Guess what? We are in a war. Not a war against people or systems, but against principalities, powers, and unseen rulers (see Ephesians 6:12).

So fight on, my friends. Just make sure you're fighting on behalf of our victorious Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Never be found fighting against Him.

See you next week!

Close Call.

Hello Friends,

Today let's finish up the "calls" from Pastor Benji's sermon:

A call to intimacy. One sign of our love for Jesus is evidenced in our knowledge of Him. Because we love Him, our desire is to get to know Him better every day.

A call to involvement. Our task is to make the kingdom of God known to everyone. In order to do so, we must act upon what we believe. We are called to share our faith, not keep it to ourselves.

A call to impact. The power of "we": no one is working alone. Though we each have different roles and tasks, the collaborative effort of Christians around the world is a powerful and relevant force.

A question to ponder: How can Bronx Bethany impact the local community?

Abandoned, Building.

In Luke 6:12-16 and Mark 3:13-19, we see that Jesus selected twelve of His followers and called them to a closer walk with Him. They obeyed, and Jesus equipped them with power to demonstrate signs of His kingdom.

Pastor Benji noted that these followers of Jesus has already embraced "the messianic hope": prior to Jesus's ministry, they had been followers of John the Baptist, Jesus's cousin who preached repentance. And when John identified Jesus as the Messiah, many of John's followers left to follow Jesus (see John 3:26-36).

Of the many, Jesus chose twelve.

These twelve, as was the custom in that culture, abandoned everything else and spent three years seeing Jesus up-close. They had a front row seat from which they could watch Him live. Pastor Benji shared with us that this "front row seat" allowed the twelve to see how Jesus responded to insults, misunderstanding, and prejudice. They saw how Jesus conducted Himself in ministry. And Scripture shows us that eleven of the twelve learned from watching Him.

To summarize, Pastor Benji gave us a short list of what this abandonment entailed:

-the Twelve abandoned people;
-the Twelve abandoned places;
-the Twelve abandoned practices.

What's that, you say? Leave my family? My neighborhood? My employment?

Yes! Who better to build up the kingdom of God than the men and women who are fully abandoned to Him?

Would you be willing to do a homework assignment? Read Matthew 19:27-30.

Lord, help us to be fully abandoned to You!

One Degree Of Separation.

Hello Friends,

We'll spend the remainder of this week sharing a few of the notes from Pastor Benji's sermon. I found the sermon personally challenging, and the Lord has really impressed upon me the necessity of not just hearing His word, but acting upon it. I pray that He is doing the same in your life, and that you're feeling the urge to respond to Him in loving obedience.

Today, let's consider two of the "calls" mentioned in the sermon.

The call to salvation. It's a call given out to everyone: the Lord desires that we all would be saved. May we lose our desire for sin, and every day draw closer to His grace and glory.

The call to service. Once we have been saved, then the Lord equips us for His service. We should heed the warning not to confuse talent with calling. There are many gifted orators, singers, and administrators in the church world. But the offering of talent, without one's having previously accepted the call to salvation, is an unacceptable offering. Jesus wants your heart above all else you can give.

Salvation first, then service. Have you ordered your "calls" correctly? If not, today is a great day to fix that!

Lord, please help us to be sure of where we stand in You. As we are warned in Scripture, please give us strength and courage to give You our hearts first, then give You our gifts. We trust You to accomplish this in us by Your Spirit. Amen.

Love Songs.

Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. -Psalm 24:10

God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. -Psalm 118:27

Who is this that we have met in the songs of Psalms 24 and 118?

He is God, the One with an army of angels too huge to count (see Revelation 5:11).
He is Jesus, the One who even now intercedes on our behalf (see Hebrews 7:25).
He is the Holy Spirit, the One who illuminates our understanding and guides us into all truth (see John 16:13).

My prayer is that you know Him.
My prayer is that you love Him.
My prayer is that you obey Him.

Lord, Lord of the armies of heaven, Lord of life, help us to embrace Your discipline, Your suffering, Your righteousness, and Your glory. You are our Lord: please help us live lives that show the world we belong to You. In Jesus's name we pray. Amen.

Do You Really Want To Be Blessed?

He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. -Psalm 24:5

Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD. -Psalm 118:26

Ah, blessings. Everyone wants to be blessed. But in Psalms 24 and 118, we see a pattern: blessings do not stand alone.

How do we obtain blessing? In these Psalms, blessing is what comes after purification. Blessing is what comes after chastening. God help the preacher, or the Christian, who is quick to quote Psalm 118:25 ("send now prosperity") out of context.

Why is it that we don't want to share in the sufferings of Christ, but we long to experience His blessings? Friends, we can't have one without the other.

Our Lord takes this one step further: He gives a definition of "blessings" that we don't often hear from postmodern pulpits or Christian media. Jesus says, "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake" (Luke 6:22).

Let's long for that. Chastening from the Lord, and criticism from men.

Lord, take us there.

Whom The Lord Loves...

The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death. -Psalm 118:18

Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart... -Psalm 24:3 and following

In my estimation, one of the great dangers in Christendom is the practice of individuals singing songs. It's not a matter of vocal safety. It's the habit of persons singing out of routine, without regard to the implications of what they are singing.

"Purify my heart..." "Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee..." "I surrender all..."

Are we really ready for God to wash our hands? Do we know the true cost of heart purification?

Yes, LORD, I have counted the cost and I am ready to follow You. Please do whatever is necessary in order to bring me into deeper relationship with You. I know that when You discipline, it is always for good and never for harm. I love You and I trust You to do what is right. You, my perfect, awesome, loving Lord. I embrace all that You send.

The Gate Way.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. -Psalm 24:7

Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD: This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter. -Psalm 118:19-20

Thus saith the Lord GOD: The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened. And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate... -Ezekiel 46:1 and following

What a wonderful picture. Everyone who came to the temple brought offerings, but not everyone entered the temple in the same manner. Most worshippers entered through the north and south gates. But there was a special entrance for the prince, the leader of the people who had access to enter by the east gate. It was an exclusive entrance that would only be opened for the prince, and which would be shut immediately upon his leaving.

The writer of Psalm 118 offers a profound prophetic thought: "Open the gate... The righteous shall enter". Yes, we have access to enter the courts of the Lord through a special entrance. Not because of our own merit, but because we have submitted ourselves to the King of glory, the Prince of Peace, the Savior of all men. Jesus's righteousness has encompassed us, and we can offer ourselves to God wholeheartedly.

Jesus, my self to You I bring,
Abandoned in this offering;
Purge and heal,
As I appeal
For You to become my everything.

Follow The Leader.

Friends,

Many of you know that my husband works at two churches. Each Sunday we start our day of worship at BBCN's first service, then we head up to a different church in Westchester for their morning service, then we come back to the Bronx for the remainder of BBCN's second service.

But, there is one Sunday of the year when our routine doesn't work... yes, that would be Easter Sunday.

Bronx Bethany worshippers were at Truman High School (to hold one service in a space that could accommodate all its members and guests) at 11 a.m. And I was in Westchester with my husband, at a service that began at 11 a.m.

I don't have this past Sunday's BBCN sermon notes!

But there will still be postings for the rest of the week. I hope you'll visit between now and Saturday, and that the Lord will bless each of us as we reflect upon His word.

As preparation for the next blog, I'm asking that you read Psalm 24 and Psalm 118.

See you online tomorrow.

Tag Team Wrestling.

Friends, we are in a war for souls.

I suppose that's not a huge revelation for you: most of you who read this are associated with the Christian faith, and you know one of our main tenets is that there are two sides in this fight: the Lord's side, and the side of our enemy Satan.

Although there are two sides in the fight, there is only one true Captain. The Captain of the army is Jesus. (In this culture, we might say He's the commander-in-chief).

One of the characteristics of Satan is that he has a hatred of mankind: so, even if you think you're supporting the advancement of the dominion of darkness, that earns you no points with the devil. He will use you while you're useful to him, and then he will destroy you.

Jesus, on the other hand, longs to bring you fully into the knowledge and presence of Himself. He is a Captain who protects and defends His troops as we each live in obedience to Him. He will never discard or disown those who belong to Him.

During the Good Friday service, Pastor Sam and Pastor Benji shared words of hope, salvation, and warning. Our leaders are our fellow soldiers on the battlefield in this war for souls. They love the people that God has placed under their ministry, and their desire is to see us grow and mature in the faith. I hope that's what we all want: maturity, perfection, obedience, holiness, love.

Remember, friends, this fight only has one victor.

Who is on the LORD's side?

Check To See Whether Jesus Is Singing or Sobbing.

"For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation." (Luke 19:43-44)

Friends, ignorance is not bliss.

Jesus, while weeping over the city, pronounces the judgement that will fall upon the city. He prophesies destruction, a merciless killing brought on by the enemies of Israel. He does this while the crowd shouts His praises and lines the streets of the city.

Friends, as we draw near to the end of Lent, let's be careful to not attend services out of habit... or just to follow the crowd... or to get a closer look at the Lord for the sake of "paparazzi-ism" rather than for the sake of a deeper relationship with Him.

Lord, please teach us of Your ways so that we will not be swept away with the ignorant crowd. Amen.

Judas Wasn't The Only Thief.

On this past Sunday evening, Pastor Sam preached at Butler Memorial United Methodist Church. His sermon focused on a part of the 'triumphal entry' story that is frequently left out: verses 45 and 46 of Luke 19.

And He went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; saying unto them, "It is written, 'My house is the house of prayer': but ye have made it a den of thieves."

The temple of God had been polluted by those who sought financial gain from the act of worship. And our Lord Jesus stepped in to clean house.

Specifically, a portion of the temple court that was intended for prayer had instead become a marketplace for the purchase of "acceptable" sacrifices and the exchange of currency. Gentiles who came to this court to seek the face of God were met with the bleating of sheep and the noises of buying and selling.

Jesus's rebuke, "You have made this house of prayer into a den of thieves", still echoes in the halls of some churches today. In this twenty-first century we are faced with the reality of church used as a cover for creative marketing. We face the reality of prayer marketed as a way to force God to give us what we want. Worship becomes an opportunity to sell CDs and videos. In this maze of fraudulence and gimmickry, the true worshipper is sabotaged and shortchanged. Based on Jesus's reaction, I think we can safely say that God has a problem with that. It's called thievery: stealing property, stealing money, and stealing the opportunity for authentic worship.

If you are part of the den of thieves, I ask you to repent and reform. It's a dangerous thing to be found standing against the plan of God. To paraphrase Pastor Sam's sermon points, our Lord still weeps... and our Lord still whips.

Friends, don't be so foolish as to break God's heart. After God cries, He will judge.

"Handel" With Care.

Let's continue our reflections on Pastor Sam's sermons from this past Sunday.

Pastor Sam made the point that, on occasion, there are signal spiritual events that happen. Those events are markers, landmarks, that are intended to be a lasting testimony in the lives of the people who experience it, and also in the lives of people who hear about it. The triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem is one such marker.

The tragedy, of course, is that the people who were present for the experience didn't understand what was really happening. They were swept up into the excitement of a spontaneous parade. They were following the crowd. But, as Pastor Sam said, they were also following the crowd on Good Friday, crying out for the crucifixion of the man they had been exalting just a few days earlier.

So, on to our question of the day:

What does it mean when we shout "Hosanna to the Son of David"?
Or I could ask you, Do you know what you're saying?

"Son of David" is not just a trite slogan to be tossed around. It is an indicator of kingship. It is an indicator of the King of whom God has said, 'His kingdom will never end'.

Some of you may recall Handel's great choral work "The Messiah", and the famous anthem that closes Part Two of that work: "Hallelujah! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth... and He shall reign forever and ever..."

If we believe that this statement of eternal reign is true, then our exaltation of this glorious Christ must extend beyond singing and shouting. There must be a response that is continuous and consistent. We must live our lives in a way that shows the world how we love and adore this King: not just when the crowd is shouting, but also when the crowd has deserted Him.

Will you still wave your palm branches and shout 'Hosanna' when you're the only one doing it?

That Is What We Do!

A blessed Holy Week to you!

On this past Sunday, Pastor Sam stuck to his tradition of going through the Palm Sunday story found in Luke 19. Some of us were privileged to attend not only the services at Bronx Bethany, but also an evening service at Butler Memorial United Methodist church where Pastor Sam was the guest speaker. For this week's blogs, I'll be sharing reflections from both the BBCN and the Butler sermons.

What was interesting about the sermons was that, although the Luke 19 passage is the traditional reading for Palm Sunday, there was nothing traditional about the sermons. Every year, and in each service, the Lord leads us to learn new insights about the passage and the resultant implications for us as we seek to walk more closely with the Lord.

Perhaps the great challenge of "sticking to tradition" is that, in its familiarity, there is the danger of engaging in religious activity only because it is 'something that has always been done'. That is, there is no love for God, no desire for spiritual growth, no longing for a deeper relationship with the Lord. When church attendance, prayer, Scripture reading, or worship activity becomes simply a routine, we are putting ourselves at risk. We'll talk about some of those risks this week.

In preparation for this week's blogs, I encourage you to re-read Luke 19:28-46. See you tomorrow my friends!

That's What I Want!

The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. (Exodus 33:11)

Joshua had the privilege of being present to see the encounters that occurred between Moses and the LORD. Some of you might be able to speak in a similar manner: that is, maybe you have a family member or mentor whose walk with God is open to your scrutiny. Or maybe you've seen a pastor engaged in intercessory prayer.

Do you want what they have?

Do you long for it badly enough that you remain in the presence of God, even knowing that you don't currently have the sort of relationship with God that would allow you to have a "Moses"-like experience? Or are you merely a curious onlooker with no desire to encounter God for yourself?

We serve a gracious God who knows our hearts. If our delight is in Him, He will fulfill our heart's desire (see Psalm 37:4). Joshua was able to experience the transition from being a spectator to becoming a full participant in the plan of God. How about you?

Lord, please help us to want a deeper relationship with You!

Tempted By An Angel.

"I will send an angel before you... but I will not go with you" (see Exodus 33:1-3)
"If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here" (see Exodus 34:15)

What an offer. God, after striking the Israelites with a plague (because of their sin), tells Moses that an angel will be sent to lead the people into the Promised Land. Moses, in turn, pleads with God to remain with His people. Moses's question is one we can contemplate today: "What else will distinguish me and Your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" (see Exodus 34:16).

Some years ago, I heard a sermon that referenced this passage. The preacher asked a question of the congregation. It went something like this: "If you knew that you would get everything God promised you, but you wouldn't have the benefit of His Presence, would you be okay with just following an angel? Would you have to think about the offer before answering?"

There is an old hymn that says 'I'd rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today'... Really? You want Him more than your job? More than wealth? More than health? Moses had his priorities straight: yes, the Presence of God mattered above all else.

My prayer is that when we are faced with the offer of "everything but God", we will forsake everything and cling to our Lord. May His Spirit help us to do that.

Tongue-Tied.

During this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Rosemarie mentioned in passing a profound truth that we don't want to lose:

We cannot do battle in prayer if we hold unconfessed sin.

In other words, we become "all talk and no action" if our hearts are still bound to people, systems, or objects that God has warned us to let go of. And this is a great danger to the effectiveness of the body of Christ.

That's it, friends. No need to elaborate on this point. If you know that you're outside of the will of God, please don't act as if you have eternity to repent. Repent today.

Tent- Ative.

"Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshipped, each at the entrance to his tent." (Exodus 33:10)

"Moses heard the people of every family wailing, each at the entrance to his tent. The LORD became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled." (Numbers 11:10)

At the beginning of this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Rosemarie asked an important question: what is happening at the entrance to our tent?

Worship brings honor to God. Friends, what would our church look like if we each, individually, were diligent in seeking the face of God? Have we relegated the task of intercession to the "Moses and Joshua"s of the world, or would a peek into our homes and hearts reveal a longing for God's program to be accomplished in the world? What an incredible response the Israelites showed: "God is speaking to our leader: I'm going to worship the LORD while He speaks to Moses." Would you be willing to do that for Pastor Sam and our pastoral team? "Lord, I worship You and I am trusting that as I worship You, You are revealing Your word to our pastors."

Wailing brings dishonor to God. When God has given us something to sustain and nourish us (as He did in ancient Israel by feeding them with manna), it's very dangerous to complain in the face of God's gracious provision. The Numbers 11 passage closes with the death of the Israelites who despised the manna and craved other food. Why? Because they angered God with their complaining and their continued longing after Egyptian cuisine. What were they saying? "God, we'd rather have remained slaves in Egypt than to walk with You." Wow. I hope we're not doing a modern-day equivalent of that sort of grumbling.

So, are you worshipping? Or are you wailing?

Tapestry!

Hello Friends!

The Lord has called us to demonstrate authentic Christian community through holy living, and through contemplative disciplines such as fasting and prayer.

Our guest speaker, Pastor Rosemarie, continued the exhortation that was begun by our elders (Pastor Joy, Pastor Sam, and Pastor Benji) over the past few weeks. This week we'll reflect on her sermon, "Being Distinguished By The Anointing".

As has happened before with other guest speakers, God used Pastor Rosemarie to confirm and reaffirm His word which was already shared by our own local pastors. Oh, I hope we're listening to Him.

Well, it might be helpful to take time to re-read Exodus 22 and 23 in preparation for this week's blogs. So I'll trust you to read those on your own, and we'll continue tomorrow.

*Special note for BBCN family and friends: for those of you who attended Pastor Rosemarie's seminars over the weekend, some of the material she used was from her book "The Cry God Answers". Because it is copyrighted material, I will not be extracting from it for this week's blogs. The book can be purchased at the "Book Nook", Sundays after each service.

...Yes, And Vitamin "A".

Friends, let's end this week with one last reflection on Ephesians 6.

We are admonished to take "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (see Ephesians 6:17).

Pastor Benji referenced the account of the temptation of Christ (found in Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:9-13, and Luke 4:1-13). And, our dear pastor reminded us that not everyone who quotes Scripture has our best interests at heart. After all, even the devil came to Jesus with Scriptures rolling off his tongue.

What is the point of knowing Scripture? What's the purpose of having this word of God hidden in our hearts? How do we effectively use this "sword"?

-The sword of the Spirit accomplishes the agenda of the kingdom of God. In the temptation of Christ, the devil attempted to use Scripture in order to undermine God's agenda. There is a danger present when we quote Scriptures as a form of justifying ourselves or our selfish motives.

-The sword of the Spirit anchors our souls in the truth. Yes, this word of God firmly plants our security in God. His word, handled correctly, is capable of crushing lies and revealing truths. Jesus's accurate handling of the word made it clear that He was the one in complete control, and that even in human form He was not subordinate to the devil in any regard.

-The sword of the Spirit authorizes the actions of the believer. Jesus, when confronted by the devil, was able to immediately give Biblical reasons for why He refused to engage in certain exercises that seemed spiritual on the surface, but in reality were actually affronts to the character and sovreignty of God.

What's the point of holding a weapon if you aren't sure how to use it? Friends, let's seek the help of God: to know His word, and also to know how to use His word. It's the only ammunition we have.

Here's to victory in Jesus!

"B" Vitamins...

I sometimes describe our BBCN pastors as "dangerous". I don't mean to imply that they should be avoided. Rather, I mean that they are true soldiers on the battlefield:

They are battle-trained- they are excellent students of Scripture, and they are wearing the full armor of God.
They are tactical- they are adept in fighting the enemy of our souls through spiritual warfare: prayer, discernment, and proclamation.
They are strategic- they aren't waiting for something to happen. Instead, they are making things happen in the kingdom of God.
They are compliant- they are quick to obey when a directive is given by our Commander-in-Chief, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Pastor Benji, in one section of his sermon, gave some detailed tactical information regarding what we must be aware of as we engage in battle against the forces of evil seen and unseen.

-When we are planning, our enemy is also planning. Pastor Benji gave the example from Job, where Satan stands to accuse Job in the face of Job receiving God's commendation.

-We must resist the temptation for exhibition in an environment that requires production. Here, Pastor Benji shared the analogy of a person who trains and lifts weights to show off their physique, but who does not engage in any form of vocation (beyond fitness competitions) that requires such a level of strength. In other words, and pardon my yelling, THERE'S A LOT OF POSING AND GRUNTING GOING ON IN THE BODY OF CHRIST. BUT WHERE ARE THE WORKERS?

-We must always be conscious of who the enemy is. No, it's not the lady who got to church before you and sat in your favorite seat. And it's not the person who yelled at you at the office. Your enemy is Satan, the accuser of the children of God. Pastor Benji used the analogy of the war on drugs: the war is way beyond that guy on the corner selling dope. The real war involves persons of affluence, those who orchestrate an elaborate international supply system. In our war against sin, let's expend our energies in prayer against the top-level adversaries: principalities, powers, rulers, and other spiritual forces of evil (see Ephesians 6:12).

Lord, please help us to be true soldiers on the battlefield. Make us dangerous to the dominion of darkness! We want to be part of Your strategy for victory: yes, the world for Jesus. Thank You for enlisting us. In Jesus's name, Amen.

Ready To Rumble.

Well, at about this time yesterday some of us were attending the funeral of Sidney's mom.

She was not much older than me. And, in the face of attending the funeral of this 44 year old woman, I decided to spend the day reflecting on the event in light of Pastor Benji's sermon.

The day before the funeral, Pastor Benji had reminded me of one statement from the sermon: oftentimes, the place of your blessing is also the place of your battle. Yes, some of us have undergone very difficult battles. Not battles with guns and bombs, but battles being waged in our minds and hearts as the devil seeks to destroy us from within.

What does Paul do in Ephesians 6? He shows us how to cover ourselves. Truth. Faith. Righteousness. Peace. Salvation. If these things are bound to us, then we are bound to be victorious. This is a battle we can win.

Sometimes, the victory might not be visible to anyone else but ourselves. There may still be pain, sickness, and distresses, but deep within our hearts we know that something has happened to us... we know that God has rescued us. We are at peace and we have confidence in the power of God.

Friends, I pray that you have this confidence to live, and to die, covered in the full armor of God.

Loan Dr.

We are so blessed at Bronx Bethany! Not just one, but five very competent preachers. This past Sunday, Pastor Benji brought a word from the Lord that was timely and challenging. Pastor Sam said it well: Pastor Benji, in the style of a general, has laid out clear plans and prepared us to take the field for battle.

Some of you may have memorized the passage concerning the "full armor of God", found in Ephesians 6. Pastor Benji focused on this passage in the third and final installment of his sermon series "The Path Of Spiritual Effectiveness".

For those of you who don't remember the first two parts of this sermon series, check out my archived blogs to refresh your memory:

From Part One ("Being Established"): November 10, 11, 13, and 14, 2009.

From Part Two ("Being Equipped"): December 1 through 5, 2009.

Lastly, I'd recommend that we all read the "full armor" passage, Ephesians 6:10-20.

Pastor Benji reminded us that this is a battle we fight on our knees, in prayer... so let's pray.

Lord, thank You that You have established us and equipped us for the work You want us to do. We ask that You would give us courage and wisdom to put on the full armor of God, so that as we engage in spiritual warfare we will only do so fully clothed in the things You have given for our protection: faith, salvation, truth, righteousness, peace, and the word of God. We pray knowing that You hear, and believing that You will answer. We love You, Lord, and we pray this in Jesus's name. Amen.

Red Letter Day.

Today, let's finish out the rest of the alphabet...

Unconditional love, sincerity, & authenticity: I don't think we need to elaborate on this.

Valuing time: The wise use of every day, every moment, that God has given us.

Witnessing by our lifestyles: Yes, the loudest sermon you preach is not with your lips, but with your actions.

Xerox (TM) of Jesus: Everything He does, we copy Him.

Yearning to see more people saved: If you're not interested in seeing more people saved, then you're not an authentic copy of Jesus. Remember, the Lord doesn't want anyone to perish.

Zealous for the cause of Christ: Related to the previous five points, our zeal is expressed in our love, our lives, our planning, our execution of those plans, and our desire to see Jesus glorified on earth as He is in heaven.

A special thank you, again, to Pastor Joy for her obedience to the Spirit, and for her sharing of this list that will helps us all to draw nearer to the Lord Jesus.

See you next week, my friends!

Lingua...

Almost there! Let's continue our journey through Pastor Joy's sermon, in which she shared with us an alphabetical list showing the characteristics of Christian community.

Praying as we pursue purpose: We're not guessing. We're fully aware of what God has told us to do, and our prayers are reflective of our certainty.

Quick to show gratitude and peacefulness: In other words, when we're in a position to do something we do it right away. There's no reason for hesitation when it comes to being thankful and extending peacefulness to everyone.

Radical in our obedience to Christ: Whatever it takes, we must obey God rather than men. The first seven chapters of Acts are a wonderful testimony of radical obedience to our Lord Jesus.

Submitted to godly leadership: If you believe that God is leading your pastors, then submit to the leadership of those pastors.

Touching the untouchable: Intentionally loving and serving the disenfranchised of our community, reflecting into their lives the image of Jesus.

Tomorrow, we'll finish the alphabet. Today, let's take time to pray that these characteristics will be evident in our lives, for the sake of our Lord and His kingdom.

Spelling, Be.

Well, we're about halfway through the alphabet. Pastor Joy's sermon went into a lot more detail than my blogs will, but I hope this is sufficient to get you thinking about your walk with the Lord.

Kingdom builders: our job is to promote the agenda of the kingdom of God.

Lavishing grace: yes, we could argue that some people don't deserve the grace of God. But that argument would be wrong. God pours out His grace freely; we must follow His example.

Merciful to the unmerciful: As Pastor Joy said on Sunday, and as Jesus said millenia ago, it's an easy thing to reciprocate to those who love you. But our task is to go the extra mile and show mercy to those who, in our estimation, have not earned it.

Not for hire: Christianity is a full-time status, so we cannot hire ourselves out to the devil for moments of sin. No room in our schedule for that.

Oasis for the thirsty: give yourself away. Be an ambassador of Christ to reach the lost.

Love Letters!

Today, let's continue walking through the alphabet of Christian character.

Forgiving: that's it, folks. We forgive. Unforgiveness excludes us from the community of faith.

Gregarious through Christ: because we belong to Him, we love and live through Him.

Healing community: the admonition is to repair relationships at all costs.

In sync with the Spirit: we see what He sees, we say what He says, we do what He tells us.

Just in all our interactions: we live a lifestyle that demonstrates fairness and equity.

Tomorrow, we'll continue with the middle of the alphabet.

Kids, Don't Try This At Home!

Friends,

In a tradition-breaking mode, Pastor Sam didn't preach on Communion Sunday. He asked Pastor Joy to preach on the first Sunday of March. And Pastor Joy brought a challenging word to us, packaged in an alphabetical list.

For the next few days, we'll go through the alphabet she shared with us. Let's take time to pray about each of these aspects of Christian community. And let's ask ourselves: are we hitting the mark? Can God count on us to be mature, faithful, and trustworthy?


Atypical in our attachment: the things of the world don't have a hold on us.

Bankrupt of self: like the Acts 2 church, we don't hoard. We give freely to those in need.

Commitment to servanthood: in our world, "servant" is not a bad word. We are saved to serve.

Developmentally ready: we don't send boys to do a man's job. Spiritual maturity is a prerequisite to being able to carry out the mandates God has given us.

Energized by our vision: if we are not on board with the vision, then we really are not part of the community.

Caution: God At Work.

During the second service, Pastor Aurelio (while in the middle of his sermon) gave Pastor Sam a prophetic word. I won't repeat the prophecy here, but I do think it might be helpful if we consider how to respond in instances when the Spirit of God empowers a man to speak prophetically.

We respond in prayer.
We respond in faith.
We respond in support.

Of course, we have two assumptions going into today's blog: first, we are assuming that God still speaks prophetically through His servants; and second, we are assuming that it indeed was the Spirit of God who prompted the prophetic word shared by Pastor Aurelio. (I hope the Church of the Nazarene still believes in the ministry of the Holy Spirit as indicated in Scripture: if it doesn't, then tell me... so I can bail out.)

So, our response in light of our assumptions:

We pray for our pastor. We pray that he will seek God to confirm the word. We pray that he will measure the prophetic word against the written word of God, because God will never contradict His written word. We pray that there will be no hindrances that block him from walking in obedience to God. We pray that the word of the Lord will be fulfilled.

We engage faith. In our case, it's easy to receive the prophetic word by faith because the word given by Pastor Aurelio is the word we have heard from so many other guest speakers. We also have our own personal relationship with God and can hear from Him ourselves. If someone asks "What has God said about Bronx Bethany?", then most of us who have attended Bronx Bethany over the past few years can give a clear answer. We are agreeing with what God has said. That's faith.

We respond in support. Why? Because the work of God's kingdom is never done alone. As Pastor Martha shared towards the end of service, we each comprise one small part of the body of Christ, and each small part is needed in order for the body to work to its optimum level. So beyond praying, beyond believing God, we have to do something. The saying is still true: faith without works is dead (See James 2:17).

So, as we close out this week, let's ask:

In light of the spoken prophecies, in light of the written word of God, and in light of the example of Jesus Christ, what can I do to support the ministry of Pastor Sam, Bronx Bethany, the Church of the Nazarene, and the Church around the world?

The Best Precedent!

"These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children..." (From Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

What will our legacy be?
How are we using our time and resources?
Are we leaving our loved ones the best legacy, which is a knowledge of the word of God?
How are we demonstrating that we are people of prayer?

Pastor Aurelio asked us these questions during this past Sunday's sermon, and we would do well to know the answers. Scripture is full of examples of men and women who were tagged for certain characteristics: Daniel was tagged as a man of prayer. David was tagged as a man of worship. Abraham was tagged as a man of faith.

We can think of modern men and women as well. There are those who have become so legendary in their passion for God that we know them instantly. Finney. Moody. Wilkerson. Cymbala.

And here at BBCN, yes, even our own Publio. The man who went from door to door, prayed over maps of the Bronx, walked through the neighborhood claiming souls for Jesus, laughed, danced, and loved honestly and deeply. We can say there was no question of his love, his faith, his worship, his prayer life. Everyone knew Publio was authentically and unapologetically Christian.

What will people say about you when you're gone?

Joyful, Joyful...

This past Sunday, Pastor Aurelio shared with us the importance of public testimony of our faith, particularly in the context of family. He stressed the value of parents allowing their children to see them pray, give, and worship our great God.

Pastor Aurelio also shared an important truism: children will remember what they see more than they'll remember what was said.

As parents, as leaders, as men and women of influence, let's be careful to live in a way that encourages our children to become complete followers of Jesus. How can we do this?

-Make an object lesson of our tithing. Show the children that we have taken the time to separate out the ten percent that belongs to God. Allow them to see open, joyful giving of our money into the work of the Lord.

-Make an object lesson of our praying. Permit the children to hear you as you pray for pastors and leaders. This indicates to them the importance of holding up our leadership in prayer. Encourage them to also bring their own leaders to the throne of grace in prayer: teachers, mentors, or other persons of influence.

-Make an object lesson of our enthusiasm for the things of God. Attend services as a family. Verbally express your excitement and love for the Lord, the Lord's church, the Lord's people, and the Lord's leaders whom He has given responsibility for preaching and teaching.

Of course, none of the above can be accomplished if you yourself are not a lover of Jesus, His church, His people, and His leaders.

Lord, help us to be excited about You! Help us to love You passionately and unreservedly! Help us to give freely and joyfully! Help us to be public about this passion we have for You, so that others will see and want to become involved in Your great work. In Jesus's name we pray these things. Amen.

Sent On A Mission.

Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. -Joshua 1:6

Joshua had spent years serving as Moses's assistant. We see in Exodus that when the Tent of Meeting was set up, Joshua would often remain there even after Moses had left (see Exodus 33:7-11). It must have been quite an experience for Joshua to be a first-hand witness to the encounters Moses had with God.

Later in life, Joshua himself experienced the power of God. Moses commissioned him as successor (see Deuteronomy 34:9), and it was Joshua who experienced great success as he led Israel into the promised land and conquered Israel's enemies.

We can take encouragement in knowing that it was God who dictated the mission, and God who gave the strength and resources needed to accomplish the mission. Joshua 1:1-5 recounts the word given to Joshua by God for his instruction and encouragement. That might be a good place to end today's blog. I hope that, as you read these verses, you will know and believe in your heart that God can also give you a clear vision for His work in this age.

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give them - to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates- all the Hittite country- to the Great Sea on the west. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Though Dead, He Speaks.

On this past Sunday, which was the first anniversary of the death of Pastor Publio Fajardo, we held services that combined the congregants of our English-speaking and Spanish-speaking congregations.

Our guest speaker, Pastor Aurelio, spoke on Joshua chapter one. We were challenged to consider our own mortality. We were also challenged to seize the opportunity to live lives that, when we are gone, will be spoken of by others as lives of influence.

I'd like to encourage you to read Joshua 1, and maybe we can take time today to remember men and women of influence that have paved the way for us:

A parent;
A Sunday School teacher;
A pastor;
A friend.

Lord, we remember these men and women that You sent into our lives, and we are grateful for their godly influence. Lord, please show us what we should be doing, who we should be reaching, so that when we are gone they will remember what we did, what we said, and who we were. Not for ourselves, not for any accolades, but for them to want to live as we did, to Your glory. Amen.

So Tempted To Call Names...

And the name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whom her mother bare to Levi in Egypt: and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister. (Numbers 26:59)

Friends,

What a temptation it must have been for Moses, and perhaps even his family...

Preferential treatment. In a season where Hebrew boys were being decimated, Pharaoh's daughter ignored her father's edict and Moses was allowed to live.

Privilege. In a society where Hebrews were valued only as slaves, their son Moses was being trained in the ways of the king.

Profit. In a system where Levites were not permitted to be landowners (see Numbers 26:57-62), Moses had access to the best lands available and lived in a palace.

In some instances, parents do not seek to rescue their children from the world system because the family is deriving a benefit from that same system.

-Yes, my daughter's a stripper, but she makes $3000 in a weekend. That's more than I make in a month.
-Yes, we're lying on our tax return, but our son is an accountant and he says it's okay. It's the only way we can keep our house.
-Yes, they're selling drugs, but they don't use them. I mean, there's always going to be someone using drugs, we might as well make some of the money... and we use the money for supporting good causes.

Friend, are your children providing you with benefits from a corrupt system? If the answer is yes, I implore you to release yourself, and them, from the ways that lead to death: "Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;" (Hebrews 11:25).

Repent, while you can: the door of the ark is being shut.

"Floating, Not Sinking."

In "The Making of Moses and Other Game-Changers", Pastor Sam shared a number of points that related to the three topics of our Sunday: African-American heritage, the dedication of children, and the offering for our denomination's "Alabaster" ministry that seeks to help fledgling churches with building projects.

The title of today's blog is a quote from Pastor Sam. Towards the end of the sermon, Pastor Sam spoke on two aspects of letting go. In Exodus 2, we see that Moses's family had to let him go when he was too big to hide. However, the "letting go" was done in a strategic manner that not only saved Moses's life, but also made opportunity for the family to continue interacting with Moses over the next few formative years from infancy to early childhood.

First, they prepared for calculated risk. Yes, the Nile was dangerous. Aside from the issue of drowning, there was the risk of infants being devoured by animals. Jochebed (Moses's mother) made a basket that could securely hold her child. But the basket was not just secure, it was camouflaged. And the basket was not just camouflaged, it was also being watched by Moses's sister Miriam. Clearly, the family had planned and prepared.

Second, they were present as partners for career success. When none other than Pharaoh's daughter (and her servants) retrieved Moses from the basket, Miriam was present to make an offer. To paraphrase, she said "I can find a Hebrew woman to take care of this child for you." And, in an irony ordained by God, Jochebed spent the next few years being paid by the Pharaoh's household for nursing her own son, the Hebrew boy that the Pharaoh had said must be killed.

Did Moses's family let go? Absolutely. Scripture tells us that Jochebed returned to child to Pharaoh's daughter. Pharaoh's daughter named the child. And Moses grew up in Pharaoh's household. But, in a wonderful postscript, we learn that the household of Pharaoh never grew up in Moses.

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. (Hebrews 11:24-27)

Yes! Friends, that is strategy in action. Seeing our children with the eyes of faith, so that we are not sidetracked by what we see with our physical eyes. Recognizing that the riches of Christ Jesus far outweigh and outlast anything the world tries to offer. Doing all we can to prepare our people, then releasing them with both visible and invisible support systems in place. And when they grow up, they will forsake the world and stand with Jesus.

So, who is your "Moses"?

Name-Calling.

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Sam took time to discuss what I would call "the strategy of resistance". As Christians, we often fight on two battlefields. The first, which was blogged on Tuesday, was the idea of a sociopolitical mandate that flew in the face of God's plan and purpose. Specifically, if God's design is for the multiplication of mankind through marriage and having children, then it is a sin to obey Pharaoh when Pharaoh calls for every male in a particular ethnic group to be killed at birth.

The second battlefield, though, might be a bit more subtle. It is in operation on a spiritual plane: in a realm we can't see, but that is powerful and deadly, the devil works to destroy the children of God. This is seen in Scripture. Let's look at a scene Pastor Sam referred to back in December 2007 during the Revelation series:

And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. (Revelation 12:3-4)

As the chapter progresses, we see that the devil was unsuccessful in his attempt to subvert the work of Christ, and in anger the enemy strategizes to instead subvert the work of Christ's followers:

And the dragon was wroth (angry) with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:17)

To wrap up, I'll leave you with this thought: sometimes, there is a demonic force behind certain forms of media. Why? Because, although the stated goal is to entertain, the actual goal is to destroy. To paraphrase the former Chief Executive Officer of BET (Robert Johnson), "The 'E' in BET does not stand for enlightenment or education, but entertainment."

What sort of future is promised to a people who are uneducated and unenlightened?

Pharaoh had the Nile. And today, there is still a Nile where children are drowned.

Friends, there's a war going on.

Three In One.

Hello Friends!

This past Sunday, Pastor Sam dealt with the topics of Black History Month, parenting concerns, and our denomination's Alabaster Offering project... all in one sermon.

We'll take the next few days to review some of the points from the sermon. For today, though, let's just reconsider a couple of the scripture verses Pastor Sam referred to during the sermon.

And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive. -Exodus 1:22

And when she could no longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink. -Exodus 2:3

Pharaoh, who ordered his people to commit infanticide, had an agenda to destroy Israel by eliminating its male population. But Amram and Jochebed, the parents of Moses, had their own agenda. Because they chose to obey God and not kill their son, they paved the way for the deliverance of Israel.

So, in this twenty-first century filled with options on granting children life or death, will you obey Pharaoh or God?

The Loving Rebuke.

"Faithful are the wounds of a friend: but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." (Proverbs 27:6)

As we close this week, let's consider one thing Pastor Benji mentioned, ever so briefly, in the middle of his sermon:

Even God's rebuke and chastisement is done in love.

Yes, God is love (see First John 4:8). And, because He loves us, He lovingly brings us into fellowship with Himself; He lovingly corrects us when we sin; He lovingly warns us to obey Him. The psalmist David rejoices in His experience of God's rebuke: "Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now have I kept Thy word" (Psalm 119:67); ""I know, O LORD, that Thy judgements are right, and that Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me" (Psalm 119:75).

Perhaps some of you have children, or know children, whom you've had to correct in love. There's always that classic example of the toddler who lingers too close to the stove, or who reaches for a harmful object, and who is in a situation that requires immediate intervention. From the toddler's standpoint, it seems a painful and unexplained action. But, from the perspective of the adult, it's an action that demonstrates true love because it saves the child from dire harm.

Friends, God sees so much more than we ever will. He is the One who knows the end from the beginning. We can trust Him to always do what is best for us, even if it means we suffer chastisement, rebuke, loss of property, or loss of status. If our suffering is God's way of saving us from dire harm, then we should be so glad for every time God has stepped in to help us (even if we weren't conscious of needing help).

Lord, how we thank You for Your love. Please help us to reflect Your love to everyone around us: for healing, salvation, deliverance, protection, and peace. In Jesus's name, Amen.

Command: Performance.

"Go, and do thou likewise." (Luke 10:37)

As we continue our thoughts on Pastor Benji's sermon, let's take a minute today to consider the out-working of love.

When we think of examples of how the love of God is expressed, one that comes to mind is Jesus's story of the Good Samaritan. Jesus speaks of a situation in which a man had been attacked by thieves and left for dead, and is lying on the road in need of immediate assistance. (I'd recommend you read the whole story, found in Luke 10:25-37.)

Love acts. In this story the Samaritan was preceded by a priest and a Levite, both of whom chose not to stop and help. And, whether we debate about whether they could have helped, or whether their status as ministers prevented them from helping, the end result is the same: they didn't help.

Love heals. The Samaritan used oil and wine to bandage the wounds and bring the man to a point where he could be transported, on the Samaritan's own donkey, to an inn where he could receive continuing care.

Love gives. The Samaritan made a financial contribution towards the full healing and restoration of a man he didn't even know, with no guarantee of receiving reimbursement or even a 'thank you'. And, the Samaritan make a promise to come back to the innkeeper and pay whatever additional costs were necessary for the care of this stranger.

Would you do that for a stranger? Would you do that for someone who is from a different culture than your own?

At the beginning of this story, in Luke 10:25, a lawyer asks a question: "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

Yes, lawyer, you are right. It's not just what we believe, it's what we do.

Fail-safe.

The phrase "Love never fails" is dangerous. In the face of crisis, betrayal, misunderstanding, disappointment, or neglect, how can we love in a way that shows constancy and consistency? How can we keep from falling down on the job?

Well, without the help of God, that would indeed be a dangerous venture. We can't love without Him.

Pastor Benji mentioned First John chapter 4, and that chapter contains many wonderful and encouraging words. In it, we are reminded that it is God who equips us with His love, and His life in us enables us to express love to others. Let's take some time today to think about some verses from this chapter, and to find encouragement for our souls.

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God." (First John 4:7)
"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." (First John 4:10)
"No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." (First John 4:12)
"We love because he first loved us." (First John 4:19)

In the safety of God's amazing love, we too can love... with a love that never fails.

Love, In You!

Friends,

Welcome to a new week of Glossa Water! This week we'll be taking time to think about Pastor Benji's sermon from this past Sunday, which was based on First Corinthians 13.

Although the sermon was preached on Valentine's Day, we're not really thinking of First Corinthians 13 in light of current notions of romantic or erotic love. Instead, we are considering how the love of God is expressed in our day-to-day interactions with everyone we meet.

The title of the sermon was "Love Never Fails", those three words that appear at the end of verse 8. Pastor Benji shared with us that the phrase is not just the concept of "not failing", but also the concept of "not falling": that is, we can count on love to get the job done. True love, God's love, won't let us down.

And that is the kind of love we want to show to others; a love that is constant and consistent. For the next few blogs, we'll reflect on this idea, and challenge, of loving others with an unfailing love.

Bright!

Today we wrap up our reflections on Pastor Sam's sermon.

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid." (Matthew 5:14, King James Version)

How do you hide light? You don't. Light is either present or absent. If even the smallest light source is present, it is visible.

Perhaps one of the more sobering realizations for we Christians is that Jesus described us in the same way He described Himself: "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, 'I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.'" (John 8:12); "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (John 9:5)

The Holy Spirit has equipped us to be the representation of Christ in the world. We are the body of Christ. We embrace His Light, we reflect His Light, and everyone knows we belong to Him.

To paraphrase Matthew 5:15, no one lights a candle and then sticks it under a bushel. The weight of the bushel would not just obstruct the light of the candle, it would snuff out the candle completely. The whole point of having a lit candle is to shine the light, not hide it. What does that mean for us? Well, it means we shouldn't hide the Light that is in us. Just like the example of salt, our purpose as Christians is to have a tangible, unmistakable effect on everyone we come into contact with. And we don't have to stand on a crate and scream: we can simply live for Jesus every day. And people will notice us. They will notice the decisions we make, they'll notice the compassion, the forgiveness, the integrity. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

Yes, Lord, we are happy to obey You, and to let our light shine... because our light is the Light of the world!

Saltshaker Ghetto.

One of the descriptors used by Jesus to describe us Christians is "salt": as in, "You are the salt of the earth" (see Matthew 5:13). This past Sunday, Pastor Sam warned us of the danger of living our lives as if we were grains of salt which never leave the salt-shaker.

Oh, friends, the problem still exists as it has for decades, if not centuries. What problem? The problem of people coming into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, then living the rest of their lives as if no one else should be won into the kingdom. It's like they say, 'I've got mine: I don't care if you get saved or not, at least I know where I stand'.

How is something salted? Well, the salt has to leave the salt-shaker and be deposited onto, or into, the thing that needs to be salted. That's you, who have gotten so comfortable going from your house to your car to that same church pew, then back to your car and back home, never touching the world; never showing the love of Christ to a co-worker or to the guy that's always hanging out on your block; never using your Spirit-given influence in order to change the world.

Let's recap a few things that Pastor Sam shared:

-Salt is always in the minority.
-When salt is present, everyone knows it.

Those of you who are cooks know that, in virtually every recipe that includes salt, you don't use much salt. But, that tiny bit of salt is critically important in creating a successfully executed dish.

-Salt, in ancient Palestine, was the means of preservation.
-Not every crystallized substance is NaCl.

Pastor Sam reminded us of the Dead Sea as a body of water with no outlet, a place where salts routinely could be found on the shore. The true salt, sodium chloride (NaCl), was used as a preservative in a time when there was no such thing as refrigeration. But contaminated salt was not a viable substitute for NaCl.

And the warning, from God through Pastor Sam to us, is that we need to check ourselves and make sure that we are authentically Christian: not based on how we look or even our presence in church, but based on God's assessment of us.

So, are you out of the saltshaker? And are you really NaCl?

Perhaps that's a good place to pause for today, and a good thing for us to pray about. Tomorrow we'll consider the second metaphor that Jesus referred to in this passage.

Will The Middle Passage Kill You?

Pastor Sam, this past Sunday, brought together an amazing juxtaposition of two themes. On the surface they may have seemed unrelated, but in fact they hold hands. So, all you doctors out there, put on your masks: we're headed for some surgery here.

Before the sermon began, he spoke about Black History Month and the physical and mental strength that was necessary for enslaved Africans to survive the Middle Passage as they traveled in ships, bound in chains below deck, from Africa to the Caribbean and America.

Then, during the sermon, Pastor Sam reminded us of the challenge of the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes have a literary 'middle passage', those hard words that appear between the "blessed are"s and the "for they will"s. And we cannot survive those 'middle passages' unless we have spiritual strength, given to us by the Holy Spirit, to live a lifestyle that the world ridicules and abhors.

It's a funny thing. We all want to be blessed, and we all want to enter the kingdom of heaven and be called sons of God and inherit the earth and all that other good stuff. But who wants to embrace the words in the middle?

Can you say these things, with the help of the Holy Spirit?

Yes, I will be poor in spirit. I will acknowledge that I have nothing to offer outside of the grace given me by God.

Yes, I will mourn, because I recognize my own sinfulness.

Yes, I will be meek, and accept the truth from the throne of God and from the mouths of people who God has sent to speak to me.

Yes, I will hunger and thirst for righteousness. There is nothing I want more than to know the presence of God and live for Him.

Yes, I will be merciful. God has been merciful to me: how can I withhold mercy from others?

Yes, I will demonstrate purity of heart. My personal agenda has been abandoned in favor of God's agenda.

Yes, I will be a peacemaker, pursuing peace, that fruit of the Spirit found in the children of the kingdom of God.

Yes, I will endure persecution and be cool with it: it's an indicator of my alignment with Jesus, who suffered greatly on my behalf, as well as prophets who suffered for the sake of the kingdom long before I was ever born.

Yes, Lord, we will do these things! Not on our own, but with Your help. Thank You for saving us, helping us, keeping us, loving us. In Jesus's name, Amen.

The Return Of The Apostate Apostle.

"He called His twelve disciples to Him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness." Matthew 10:1

As we continue our reflection on the introduction to Pastor Sam's sermon, let's stay parked at this crisis of "the many" who, in spite of their spiritual power, will not spend eternity with Christ.

Some Christians try to write off Judas as if he were not a true apostle. But the Scripture indicates that he was indeed one of the twelve, chosen by Christ, and empowered by Christ to work miracles and engage in deliverance ministry. This is underlined at the beginning of the book of Acts, when Peter shares the criteria for replacing Judas.

In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) and said, "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus- he was one of our number and shared in this ministry." -Acts 1:15-17

Peter, what's that you said? Judas was one of us.

Seems that our Judas could get up with everyone else and preach, cast out demons, heal the sick, and all that... while at the same time being a self-serving thief.

But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray Him, objected, "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. -John 12:4-6

The sad thing is that Judas is just one of "the many". Generations have come and gone, and the warning still stands: apostolic powerhouses, prayer warriors, great teachers, eloquent preachers, et cetera, are not guaranteed a place in the kingdom of God based on their skill sets.

What is the criteria?

"He who does the will of My Father who is in heaven". (see Matthew 7:21)

How do we know what the will of the Father is? Well, one way we can tell is by seeing what things the Lord identifies as commendable. As we move through the rest of this week, we'll look at some of the "commendable things" espoused in the Beatitudes. If you'd like a head-start, please take time to again read Matthew 5:1-16. See you online tomorrow my friends.

The Doctor Is In.

Friends,

Our senior pastor is back! Pastor Sam spoke this past Sunday, and this week we'll do some reflecting on his sermon which was based in Matthew 5.

For starters, though, let's consider another passage he referred to during the introduction to his sermon: Matthew 7:21-23. I've heard it described as one of the scariest passages in Scripture, and I concur with that.

It's scary because the defense offered by the condemned seems perfectly plausible on the surface. They say, in essence, "Lord, we've done great and mighty things in Your name! People were delivered and healed! The gospel was preached! Look at all this fruit brought forth for Your kingdom!"

Apparently, our labors, and the fruit of our labors, are not enough.

What is the verdict? "Depart from Me: I never knew you."

Knowing Christ is the key! Oh, the danger of doing works in the name of Jesus without ever getting to know Him. God help us all.

Tomorrow we'll take a look at this in light of Judas, the classic example of what it means to be an apostate apostle. (To paraphrase Pastor Sam: even though it's something we've looked at before, we need to be reminded.)

So, to close out today, here's the text of Matthew 7:21-23. I pray that we all will check ourselves and take heed. See you online tomorrow.

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord', will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"

'Noch-'Noch...

Today, let's consider one of the men Pastor Richie spoke of during his sermon.

In Hebrews 11:5, the writer tells us that Enoch was translated: that is, he did not die a physical death. He walked so closely with God, and was so pleasing to God, that God opted to skip natural law and allow Enoch to enter His glorious presence without having died.

How closely do you walk with God?

Earlier this week, I was reminded of the reality each Christian experiences: Christ, in us. The Lord of the universe chooses to make His dwelling place among us. (That is, if we let Him: He won't force Himself upon us.)

So, if the power that raised Christ Jesus from the dead dwells in me (see Romans 8:5-11), then what sort of life do I live? How do I approach the crises and challenges that come my way? What is my response when God speaks?

Friends, we have nothing to be afraid of. God loves us, and when He asks us to receive His word by faith we can trust Him. It really is that simple. Have faith in God.

Give in a spirit of trusting faith.
Love in a spirit of trusting faith.
Yes, God, I can take You at Your word. It's not just a line from a song, it's the way I live my life in You.

See you online next week, my friends.

Get "IF" Out Of Me!

Today, let's step back and take a "big-picture" look at the chapter Pastor Richie preached from this past Sunday.

Hebrews 11, which we sometimes refer to as 'the faith chapter', is filled with examples of men and women who demonstrated their faith. That is, they heard what God said and they believed Him. If I can take this a little further, they believed Him in the face of no tangible evidence available to corroborate what God had said. And, if I might even step out a bit farther with this, some lived and died believing Him, even though they never saw the answer with their own eyes. How does the writer say it? "These all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise..." (Hebrews 11:39).

One of the dangers we face is that we sometimes equate faith with rescue, or conquest, or deliverance; something like "If I have faith I will get what I want, I won't get hurt, I will experience ease and peace." But the Hebrews passage is built on the promise of God, not our personal gain. God speaks and we agree with what He has said. So, for example, Noah and his household went into the ark. My guess is that it was not easy to build, and that it was not easy to endure the months of waiting for the waters to recede. But Noah didn't give God a clause or a rider. Noah just said yes to the command of God.

How many times have we said "if" to God?

'God, if you would just fill my husband with Your Spirit.' 'God, if you could just wait until my daughter finishes high school, then I'll do what You asked.' 'God, if You could preserve my reputation: I don't want to be ridiculed.'

And then we come into service and sing "Yes, Lord, completely yes...". Do we really mean yes? Is it a complete yes, or a conditional yes?

Friends, let's not play games. Time is too short. If you are one of those who's only embraced Christianity for what you can get out of it, may I implore you to consider instead what God can get out of you? Your love? Your loyalty? Your obedience? Your willingness to suffer for the sake of His name?

Lord, forgive us for those times our lips have sung 'yes', but our hearts did not speak 'yes'. We repent, and from now on we promise to speak the truth with our lips and in our hearts. Please help us, by Your Spirit, to agree with You by faith. In Jesus's name, Amen.

Able Abel.

Let's continue our reflections on this past Sunday's sermon.

Pastor Richie's phrase, "Abel was able...", is something we can think about for ourselves.

Abel was able to offer the best, the first, the most excellent. Of course some of you might be recalling that Pastor Sam mentioned a similar thing back in January. So, if the Spirit of God is speaking to you about your offerings to Him, take note: He is speaking again, and the core of His message has not changed.

God wants your firstfruits, not your leftovers.
God wants an offering that requires sacrifice.
God wants you to consider His mandates as more important than your personal preferences.
God wants you to obey Him.

Friends, what shall we do? Shall we say yes to God at the cost of our own reputation and agenda and comfort, or shall we continue to do our own thing and ask God to bless our weak imitation of His program?

Give Him everything. When you do, He will surprise you with His generosity. We're not talking about money, and we're not talking about "if-I-give-Him-offerings-He'll-give-me-material-stuff". We are speaking of the fulness of the Spirit, the very presence of God, being in You and equipping you to do great works for Him. That is the generosity of God, to pour Himself into us and use us for His glory. That is the great, undeserved, amazing gift we have been given by Him. But, in order to accept that gift, we have to give ourselves fully to Him. Will you do that?

Lord, I know that in myself I have nothing to offer. But, with Your Spirit working in me, You can give me the capacity to do amazing things for You and for the glory of Your name. Please help me to be willing to let go of the things that cannot save me and cannot help me. Please help me to embrace You, Christ, to take up my cross and follow You. You have spoken; I am listening; I will obey You no matter what. I love You. In Jesus's name I pray, Amen.

Mea Culpa.

This past Sunday, Pastor Richie spoke from the "faith hall of fame" text, Hebrews 11. In our reflections this week we'll consider the examples of Abel, Enoch, Noah, and Abraham. For today, though, let's park at a statement shared by Pastor Richie during his introduction (and I paraphrase here): "The world has relegated faith to anticipation of only personal blessings."

Wow. We are guilty as charged. An evening of "Christian" television programming would certainly imply that it's all about what God can give us. Faith for a house, faith for a husband, faith for a healing. But that's not what the Hebrews 11 passage is pointing at: we instead should demonstrate a faith that indicates our belief in what God has said.

So, what has God said? What is God's agenda? What has God asked you to do?

"Abel, bring your best offering."
"Enoch, walk with Me."
"Noah, build an ark."
"Abraham, leave your homeland."

These men demonstrated their faith in God by obeying His commands.
What about you?

Ever Present, Never Prescient.

"Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed Jesus." (Matthew 4:25)

Well, let's talk about this wonderful verse that appears before the account of the teaching of the Beatitudes.

There were large crowds following Jesus around... I'm trying to imagine what it would be like if 1500 people were to show up at our church- every service, every prayer meeting, every class offered. At this point, there's no way we could handle that many people at Bronx Bethany. We'd have to just all go outside and do the teaching outside.

Jesus went up the side of a mountain, sat down, and taught the people... but what people? Was it the big crowd, or the smaller group of disciples? Jesus was the popular teacher, the radical rabbi, the guy with the healing ministry. When He was around, things happened... and therefore the crowd wanted to be around Him: not for His words, but for the prospect of witnessing the sensational. And then, here and there in the big crowd, one might find a few true disciples who longed to hear and obey the word of life being brought by this One who was like no other.

I can guarantee you that if the news agencies reported that profound physical healings are taking place at Bronx Bethany, then lots of people will show up in church: not because they want to be healed, not because they want to hear the word of God, but because they want to see what else might happen. I believe the correct word to describe them is "spectators". Oh, the great danger is to be a spectator when God has called us to be full participants in His kingdom agenda.

As we come to the end of another week, let's take time to pray that we will be true disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ.

You Look Like Someone I Know.

As we continue our thoughts on this past Sunday's sermon, let's consider the two main passages Pastor Joy spoke on (Matthew 5 and Galatians 5). In them are contained two famous New Testament scriptures: The Beatitudes and the listing of the "fruit of the Spirit". (If you're not familiar with them, please take a few minutes to read Matthew 5:1-11 and Galatians 5:22-23.)

Those of us who have been attending Sunday School and church for a long time probably memorized these verses somewhere along the way. But, memorizing it and living it out are two different things! How do we make these verses a reality in our daily lives?

Maybe we should "un-memorize" this stuff and read it as if we'd never seen it before. One of the dangers of rote memorization is that the words are nothing more than words, nothing more than a laundry list filed in our brains with all the other laundry lists. So, let's just look at two examples with new eyes.

What does it mean to be poor in spirit? Can you embrace the notion that, outside of the presence and power of God working in us, we have nothing to offer?

What does the fruit of joy look like? Can you demonstrate a joyful demeanor even as you experience the deepest grief and sorrow? In other words, do you have the joy of the Lord in you, or is your joy solely contingent on your current circumstances?

I'd encourage you, as you read and re-read these two passages, to slow down and ask yourself hard questions: "Does my life reflect this? Is my life giving people a glimpse of how things work in the kingdom of God? If 'Christian' means Christ-like, does my life fit the bill?"

Lord, help us to be Your agents in the world.

Welcome To The Club.

"Those who belong to Jesus Christ have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:24)

As we continue our reflections on this past Sunday's sermon, let's think about Pastor Joy's comment (paraphrased here): "It's not that the customer sees you as the best choice; the customer sees you as the only choice."

Oh, for us Jesus is the only choice! And because we belong to Him, that means there are other things that we don't want to be a part of. Galatians 5:24 sums it up: we don't want to be controlled by the sinful nature. In fact, we have put the sinful nature to death.

But how do we put the sinful nature to death? By cultivating the fruit of the Spirit, those character traits that define and "brand" the Christian. What are they?

Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self-control.

What a list. No disclaimers, no "I love everybody except for those people who keep bothering me", no "but you don't understand my situation". Just beautiful fruit, the love of our Father God reflected in and through His children.

Yes, Lord, we want to look like You! We want to present You in such a way that people will see You as their only option. Please let Your transforming work be done in us. In Jesus's name we pray, Amen.

Internationally Recognized Logo.

This past Sunday, Pastor Joy shared with us the concept of "brand" and its relevance to our lives as Christians. During the sermon she brought out one verse in the John 3 passage that we can take time to reflect on today.

He (Nicodemus) came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." (John 3:2)

Nicodemus, in those short sentences, said something profound: Jesus, we know who You are.

Nicodemus made a confession: he, and others in his circle of influence, were fully aware that Jesus was not walking around performing counterfeit acts. The Pharisees would have known of the history of ancient Israel during the captivity in Egypt, in which the magicians of Egypt were able to counterfeit the first three signs sent by God through Moses (see Exodus 7:8 through 8:7). And they knew of the moment when the Egyptians warned Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God" (Exodus 8:19): that is, this is something that cannot be counterfeited. This is an authentic act of God being worked in your presence. This is something you need to be paying attention to. So, it was significant that Nicodemus would tell Jesus, in effect, "Yes, we know you are not a fraud. We know God has sent you, and we know this because of the accompanying signs and wonders that mark your ministry."

Okay, so we say we belong to God. We say we have been placed by Him into this world to do some things for His kingdom's sake. Well, that's nice. But is anyone recognizing you as a representative of God? What is there that you do that shows other people, without a doubt, your authentic faith?

Maybe we can start by being a living demonstration of acts that indicate we belong to God. His unending love, His compassion, and yes, even the miracles that speak of the present reality of the kingdom of God.

Don't tell me that no one performs miracles anymore.
And don't tell me that no one loves the world anymore.
It's really not about other people right now... I'm asking you about you.
And I'm asking myself too.
Let's pray that we, like Jesus, will be internationally recognized as men and women sent from God.

LORD, help us to love the world in the way You love: provision of needs, healing of illnesses, deliverance from bondages, justice, compassion, mercy. Yes, we can do these things through Christ Jesus, the One who upholds and equips us. Thank You, Father, for making this accessible to us. We ask for Your help in the name of Jesus. Amen.

No. And No.

Today we wrap up our reflections on the sermon preached by Pastor Benji, based on Luke 13:1-5.

"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." -Luke 13:3

"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." -Luke 13:5

When Jesus says something once, we should pay attention. How much more so when Jesus says something twice?

Some people told Jesus the bad news about the actions of Pilate. In turn, Jesus reminded those people of a disastrous accident in which a building collapsed. And Jesus asked a question about both incidents: when bad things happen to people, is that an indication of their level of sinfulness? And Jesus answered the question Himself, which we see recorded in verses 3 and 5 of Luke 13: No.

We really need to get this point. We live in a world where people tell us that there is a direct cause-and-effect relationship between the things we do and what sort of tangible, physical response we receive from God while we're on earth. In other words, do some nice things and God will give you some nice stuff right now, you'll be happy and nothing bad will happen because you are the blessed of God.

"The Father sends rain on the just and the unjust" (see Matthew 5:45). So, if there is potential for everyone to get caught in a torrential downpour, or a mudslide, or a tsunami, or an earthquake, then what shall we do? What is it that will distinguish us as people of God?

The sermon left us with a few answers, which I'll repeat here as we close this week:

-We are distinguished by our repentant heart. We have apologized to God for our sinfulness, and we have made a decision to turn away from our sin.
-We are distinguished by knowing what our God-given purpose is. As we have spent time in the presence of God, He has shown us what He wants us to do for Him.
-We are distinguished by fulfilling our God-given purpose. We are not like Jonah, who walked away from his assignment, but we are enthusiastically obedient to do as our Lord has instructed us.

Take a look inside your own heart.

Lord willing, we'll meet again in cyberspace next Tuesday. Take care my friends.

Living In The Light.

During this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Benji noted two questions that we must consider in light of the Luke 13:1-5 passage:

-Have we repented?
-Are we living life with a consciousness of our God-given purpose?

A modern temptation is to exert much time and energy on things that, in the light of eternity, don't matter. It's easy to, for example, sit on our couches and watch reports of the continuing rescue effort in Haiti, alternately praising the rescue workers and lamenting the collapsed infrastructure and lost lives. It's not as easy to shut off the TV and have an honest conversation with God about whether we're doing what He wants us to do.

In Luke 13:1-5, Jesus seems to ignore the commentary He received concerning the political actions of Pilate and the accident involving the tower in Siloam. Does that mean He didn't care about the people who died? Why, of course He cared! Scripture shows us that Jesus was the One who had compassion on people: He is the Healer. But this passage also shows us that He placed a priority on the state of each individual's soul. What is the danger? Jesus tells us: the danger is that, if we do not repent, we will perish. That is the great danger, the issue we must attend to. In other words, spiritual death is far more serious than physical death.

The next danger, which closely follows the issue of repentance, is the issue of living out our God-given purpose. Luke 13:6-9, the parable of the fig tree, is a very sobering commentary on how God responds to those who, when placed in His world with a purpose, fail to do what He expects them to do. I encourage all of us to take a minute to read Luke 13:6-9, and to take another minute to reflect on whether we are in the place God wants us to be, doing what He wants us to do.

LORD, You are the one who grants gifts to Your people by Your Spirit. Please give us the grace to accept and embrace the particular gifts You've given us. Please help us to not just take up space in the world, but to bear fruit that brings honor to You. Please give us a heart of joy, so that people will see You in us as we accomplish great things for the sake of Your kingdom. In Jesus's name, Amen.

It Is What It Is.

"Jesus answered: 'Watch out that no one deceives you'." -Matthew 24:4

As we continue our reflection on this past Sunday's sermon, let's take a look at Matthew 24. I hope you'll make the time to read the entire chapter. Like the Luke 13:1-5 passage, it's another instance of Jesus making commentary on the tragedies that we experience in life.

In a nutshell, what does He say? If I may paraphrase both passages: "These things have happened; these things must happen. But watch yourselves. Make sure you repent. Make sure you live your lives as faithful servants of God. Why? Because, when you least expect it, your Lord and Master will return to judge the earth."

Friends, this is it. We are not exempt from pain. Jesus says, "There will be famines and earthquakes in various places" (see Matthew 24:7). And He says, "but he who stands firm to the end will be saved" (Matthew 24:13). Let's not get lost in the anguish of the recent events in Haiti, but let us be reminded that in the midst of the sorrow Jesus is warning us to stay anchored in Him.

Lord, please help us to trust You and rest in You.

The Luke Road.

This past Sunday, Pastor Benji spoke on Luke 13:1-5. In light of the tragic aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti, he offered a perspective that was enlightening and sobering.

We who are in safer climes might be tempted to make certain assumptions and judgements about our brothers and sisters in Haiti. But when we read the Luke passage, we see Jesus making a very salient point: tragedy, frequently, has nothing to do with the belief system or social status of the affected party.

This week we'll take a look at these verses in closer detail. For today, though, I encourage you to open your Bibles and read the five verses again.

"Unless you repent..." Yes, we have been given a choice. I pray you will choose to obey God, always.