I sit here with a broken heart on behalf of a friend and his family. This is something new for me. It's not something that I'm accustomed to. Before, I would acknowledge that something was really crappy or I might have even felt bad for someone. Now, I hurt for them. I hurt on their behalf. I long for them to be at peace. I long for their puzzle to be put back into place. I pray for restoration. I pray for their peace and hope. I long for their joy to come rushing back to them. I pray that God stitches the wounds in their broken hearts.
It has taken my wife being sick, friends putting parents in the grave, people getting divorced and more to bring me to this place. I hurt for you. I hate it for you. It angers me. So... I pray for you like it was my own need. I help carry your burden. I help hold Moses's arms up. I cry tears for you.
Despite the agony, I long for the day of restoration. I can't wait until the day where there is no more hurt. The day of no sin, no abuse, no tears, no divorce, no death, no disappointment, no sorrow, no miscarriages, and more. I can only imagine what it will be like. No hurt that we have ever experienced on earth will be duplicated there. Imagine it.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Where are our leaders?
Today, I was talking to my pastor, Luke Camara of Safe Harbor Church, about the subject of leadership.
I've noticed that there are a lot of decision makers but very few leaders. In my opinion and experience a leader is someone that has vision, purpose and a plan. After getting said vision, purpose and plan, they begin to execute. Everything that they do is a part of that plan. Every step, exercise, decision, etc... is made as step closer to the ultimate goal.
Why are our leaders becoming extinct? Should we place them on the endangered species list, or should we put the ones without a leader on the endangered list?
Leaders, rise up. Lead us. Drive us. Teach us. Correct us. Steer us. Take us. Save us.
-Jonathan
ps: below is a definition of a leader from Dictionary.Reference.com
–noun
I've noticed that there are a lot of decision makers but very few leaders. In my opinion and experience a leader is someone that has vision, purpose and a plan. After getting said vision, purpose and plan, they begin to execute. Everything that they do is a part of that plan. Every step, exercise, decision, etc... is made as step closer to the ultimate goal.
Why are our leaders becoming extinct? Should we place them on the endangered species list, or should we put the ones without a leader on the endangered list?
Leaders, rise up. Lead us. Drive us. Teach us. Correct us. Steer us. Take us. Save us.
-Jonathan
ps: below is a definition of a leader from Dictionary.Reference.com
lead·er
[lee-der]
dər
1.
a person or thing that leads.
2.
a guiding or directing head, as of an army, movement, or political group.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
To Tell The Truth
As many of you know, I am a very observant person. I just notice things.
For me, as a rule of thumb, I really believe that honesty is the best policy. I feel that if you are honest with someone, then most of the time, you are both better off because of it. However, I recently observed some people chose to lie when the truth is just far easier.
The situations I refer to were easy, simple and didn't involve any moral issues. It was simply a choice to tell the truth or lie. Also, they wanted to do it on my behalf, as if it was a favor to me. If you want to do me a favor, don't be a liar.
Are they afraid of the truth? Do they fear fallout or confrontation? Do they just want to keep their lying tongue sharp? There was no risk involved in telling the truth yet, they decided to lie. I say they assumed a lot more risk by choosing to lie.
I don't get it.
For me, as a rule of thumb, I really believe that honesty is the best policy. I feel that if you are honest with someone, then most of the time, you are both better off because of it. However, I recently observed some people chose to lie when the truth is just far easier.
The situations I refer to were easy, simple and didn't involve any moral issues. It was simply a choice to tell the truth or lie. Also, they wanted to do it on my behalf, as if it was a favor to me. If you want to do me a favor, don't be a liar.
Are they afraid of the truth? Do they fear fallout or confrontation? Do they just want to keep their lying tongue sharp? There was no risk involved in telling the truth yet, they decided to lie. I say they assumed a lot more risk by choosing to lie.
I don't get it.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
When was the last time?
The scriptures clearly teach that we are to help those that are in need. However, after a little bit of reflection of my own life, I realized that most of the time that I am helping someone, it is out of my overflow, which is just a nice way of saying that I am helping them with my left-overs. Its easy to give away old clothes, an old lawnmower, an old this or an old that. As long as I have what I want, then the items without emotional attachment are easy to give away. Although it is good to give old things away, that type of giving is only a part of what we are commanded to do.
In fact, the scriptures teach that there are times that we should sell our possessions and give the money to the church or to the needy. Now that is a different mindset. That is a mindset of sacrifice, not left-overs. When was the last time that you sold something that you liked, that you really liked and gave the money to the church or to someone in need? Rather than just "praying" (which you probably really didn't do) for the person who just lost their job, when was the last time you sold something in order to give them the money for it? When was the last time you gave money to an orphan or window as the scriptures command? As for me, its been a while. We think that as long as we pay our tithe, like it is some type of bill, then we can keep our spiritual electricity on for one more month.
Call me crazy if you want to, but for some reason, I don't think God included this in the Bible because the publisher needed some "filler" material. Perhaps, God really requires this from us.
Furthermore, why are we not hearing this preached in our churches. Why are the pastors, prophets, apostles, etc... not giving us the true Gospel? If you are truly our shepherds, and if you truly love us, why aren't you telling us the truth? Why are the elders not demanding the truth be told from the pulpits? Why are we watering down God's word in order to make it more comfortable for us? Why are we treating the Gospel like it is a menu and we can order what we want? Why are we selling out?
Crucify me if necessary, take up your stones to throw at me, but I am tired of reading the Gospel and seeing Christs teachings, yet seeing something different lived and hearing something different preached. Kill me if you must, but I see a cause worth dying for. Silence me with murder, just as you have done with the others that preached the truth.
The truth is below:
Acts 4:32-37: 32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
36 And Joses,d]">[d] who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Matthew 19:16-22: 16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Goode]">[e] Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good?f]">[f] No one is good but One, that is, God.g]">[g] But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 He said to Him, “Which ones?”
Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’h]">[h] and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”i]">[i]
20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth.j]">[j] What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
In fact, the scriptures teach that there are times that we should sell our possessions and give the money to the church or to the needy. Now that is a different mindset. That is a mindset of sacrifice, not left-overs. When was the last time that you sold something that you liked, that you really liked and gave the money to the church or to someone in need? Rather than just "praying" (which you probably really didn't do) for the person who just lost their job, when was the last time you sold something in order to give them the money for it? When was the last time you gave money to an orphan or window as the scriptures command? As for me, its been a while. We think that as long as we pay our tithe, like it is some type of bill, then we can keep our spiritual electricity on for one more month.
Call me crazy if you want to, but for some reason, I don't think God included this in the Bible because the publisher needed some "filler" material. Perhaps, God really requires this from us.
Furthermore, why are we not hearing this preached in our churches. Why are the pastors, prophets, apostles, etc... not giving us the true Gospel? If you are truly our shepherds, and if you truly love us, why aren't you telling us the truth? Why are the elders not demanding the truth be told from the pulpits? Why are we watering down God's word in order to make it more comfortable for us? Why are we treating the Gospel like it is a menu and we can order what we want? Why are we selling out?
Crucify me if necessary, take up your stones to throw at me, but I am tired of reading the Gospel and seeing Christs teachings, yet seeing something different lived and hearing something different preached. Kill me if you must, but I see a cause worth dying for. Silence me with murder, just as you have done with the others that preached the truth.
The truth is below:
Acts 4:32-37: 32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
36 And Joses,d]">[d] who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Matthew 19:16-22: 16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Goode]">[e] Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good?f]">[f] No one is good but One, that is, God.g]">[g] But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 He said to Him, “Which ones?”
Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’h]">[h] and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”i]">[i]
20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth.j]">[j] What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
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