Love the Jesus Way

October 18, 2012 at 7:26 pm (Spirituality)
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1 Corinthians 13

If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

If you have ever been to a wedding you have probably heard 1Corinthians 13- a testimony about love. I won’t argue that it is a valuable set of ideals for married couples to live by. But it is also a lesson about God’s definition of love. Paul’s notes on love are words on how to govern our daily actions.

Paul’s letter written to the Corinthian church professes the importance of love. Love is more important than speaking in tongues, talking to angels, moving mountains, knowledge or prophesying. Jesus proclaimed the same thing. He talked about the two most important commandments being about love [See Matthew 22].

Jesus led by example. He showed with his actions what love was. Jesus gave part of himself constantly to others. . And isn’t that what love is, giving a piece of ourselves to others? Jesus constantly preached to the disciples and others about this kind of love. Paul words are a primer of what Jesus did and said.

The “other’s” we give love to? Our spouse? That is a direct example of love, yet many of us struggle with the covenant we have made with God. Our children? They are to be loved unconditional. And if we are applying the word unconditional to love, shouldn’t it just be part any love we extend? Our family? What does it really mean to love them. Is it the same as “Honor thy mother and father”? Or is family love more? And how about our enemies? When is the last time you said “I think I’m going to love on that &**^% today?”  We can’t even apply love to strangers. Who says I owe anything to that bum sleeping under the building awning?

You may have figured out love is a big thing to me. It is huge throughout the Bible. I have friends that remind me God is a vengeful, wrathful, judging God. I agree. BUT THE THING GOD JUDGES, VENGEFULLY WITH A JIGGER OF WRATH, IS OUR FAILURE TO LOVE.

I am an optimist. I think I am also pragmatic. So I want to spend my time trying to love the way Jesus loved us. That cuts through the “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” How to do this? Follow Christ’s example. And that is what Paul covers in 1Corinthians 13. So join me over the next several blogs in diving into Paul’s words on love.

In the meantime I encourage you to share your definitions and examples of love. Leave them in the comments section. We all can benefit from the comments.

God Bless,

Mark

 

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A Piece of Me- Time

September 30, 2012 at 5:22 pm (Spirituality)
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Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16

GIVING TIME- SOME EXAMPLES I HAVE WITNESSED

…He went to church Saturday evening. His wife had a solo at church the next morning. He had a rare Sunday off work, a chance to sleep in. He sat in the pews at 7:50 that morning he did not miss a word of what she sang…

…His mentor had passed away two years ago. His mentor’s wife was OK, but suffered from loneliness. He knew he should call her but those calls took so long. He really didn’t have time for the call. Still he sat on his favorite recliner, got comfortable and dialed the number…

…She stood at the door, having been physically sick for some time. She waited on an elderly lady who slowly worked her way to the door. The cold breeze struck her viciously as she opened the door for the lady she didn’t even know…

He didn’t even know the person who had passed away. But his best friend did. He sat next to his friend. They didn’t need speak during the service, his friend was comforted by his presence…

…The woman had partied way to hard. She stumbled down the middle of Main Street at 2:30 in the morning. A gas station attendant on her way home from work stopped. She got the inebriated lady into her car and brought her home…

IT’S ALL ABOUT TIME, BUT WHO’S TIME?

Is our use of time warped?

If we want to love others around us it will require effort. Whether it is a spouse, friend, stranger, or enemies love always costs us something. A little (or big) piece of us of ourselves. Enter the issue of time.

Time is the most precious things we have. Time is the one thing we can never get back. That makes time difficult to part with. Many of us would much rather tithe 10% of our money than 10% of our time. But that is what makes time so precious to the recipient. They get left with a dose of love- a piece of us.

How do we get more willing to part with time? One step is re-establishing our priorities. Are we answering to the rat race that surrounds us or to God’s word? Jesus said the second most important commandment was to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:38). He did not say “Love your neighbor as yourself- if you can fit it in your schedule.” Note Jesus even took the time to tell this to the Pharisees, who hated Him, as he was preparing to be crucified.

Another step is to manage our time efficiently. My one friend often has to drive 45-minute to an hour on his job. He uses that time to check up on friends and acquaintances. The rest of his work schedule doesn’t allow him this opportunity. Jesus found the time to heal a woman from her bleeding as he went to heal a Jairus’s dying daughter (See Luke 8:40- 53). If time is truly a precious gift we need to treat it that way.

GOD TAKES CARE OF US AS WE TAKE CARE OF OTHERS.

A couple weeks ago there was a car stopped in the middle of the main street near my house. I was on my way to the jail for Bible study. I would certainly be late if I stopped to help her. I prayed for God give me the strength to push her car out of the street. I offered this service to Emily (I actually never got her name, I just like the name Emily) and she told me her car was completely dead and unable to be pushed. Emily said the Akron police were on the way.

I start to walk away but a voice (not literally J) said “do more Mark!” I sighed and told Emily to pop her hood. Long story short, I “MacGyvered” a broken battery cable and Emily at least got off the street into a parking lot.

I thought I was done. Em was balling by then. I really, really needed to get going. I sighed again, asked her if she had a friend who could fix things. I showed Emmie the problem, and told her the cable was only about twenty bucks. She took a deep breath and cracked a smile of relief. Was I finally done as I imagined need a police escort to jail? No, not quite yet.

It seemed to me Ms. E needed the joy of human contact. I gave her a big hug (The only type I believe in- none of this sissy politically correct baby hugs!). Then Emily finally broke into a big smile as we parted ways. And I got to jail on time; I have never seen so many green lights on the way to jail. Thank you God.

IS IT WORTH IT?

If you are sharing the Lord’s love the answer is always yes. Try to recall how it felt when somebody surprised you with a gift of time. Why wouldn’t we want others to feel the same way? And I pray that you get and give some that gift today. Amen.

God Bless,

Mark

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Mr. and Mrs. Bell

August 13, 2012 at 9:09 pm (Spirituality)
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“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” Ephesians 5:31 NIV

Mrs. Bell is just a little happy!!! <3I talked about the Wedding of my friends this weekend. It was a perfect day. I have lots of thoughts about the day. Mainly advice for me since marriage isn’t something I’ve borne fruitful. Here’s a list of notes to myself.

As I said in the last Blog the Bell’s prepared for the wedding for almost a year. But the week before the marriage Desiree went home to Baltimore. The groom stayed 300 miles away in Akron. Having seen him for the week before the wedding I can tell you he was lost. The boy had clearly sold out to his woman. As they were reunited in Baltimore you could see she was lost without him as well. If that’s not how you feel when you get married should you really be there?

I patiently sat through the rehearsal and then through a 1 ½ hour sit in the groom’s room before the marriage. This was after a 45 minute drive to get the tuxes. I also was a little mystified by the bride having a stand-in at the rehearsal. I get that one now women- no need to send angry mail. I quietly thought it all. It was time to do whatever was necessary to keep the bride happy. I do believe there is more to it than that. All of this ceremony celebrates the covenant with God. This day needs be as close to perfect as possible. That is how special this promise with God is.

1 Corinthians 13

As Dr. Swoope officiated the service she asked Schestin and Desiree to leave the family candles flickering as they lit theirs. The Pastor felt that the bride and groom pre-marital lives each brought individuality and uniqueness to the marriage.  That was something special that should add to the marriage, not be erased. Are we will to accept the person we marry as they are or will we insist that they lose the essence of themselves?

I brought my daughter Mikayla to the wedding. She was excited about the trip. I asked her about the service and reception afterwards. She did have questions that were sparked by attending the wedding. It served as a good

Awwww

reminder that children today are flooded with images of couples living out of wedlock. Many kids haven’t even seen a wedding. We need to “drag” them to this sacred event so they can learn about the difference between shacking up and making a covenant with God.

As for me I’m not sure I’ll ever personally need this advice. God seems to have me set on a coarse for be being a single dude. But regardless, I will always hold on to the thoughts and images from this weekend. God Bless your marriage Schestin and Desiree, and thanks for letting me be a part of it.

God Bless,

Mark

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Jesus’ Words- Love

May 11, 2012 at 10:39 pm (Spirituality)
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Jesus Words- Love

I was struck by a couple that reminded me of the love Jesus demonstrated.  The woman I speak of takes care of her best friend.  They have been together for what seems like forever.  They have been feature in my blog many times and have inspired faith columns that have appeared in a nationally prominent newspaper.  Sadly, her best friend is dying of old age.  For him, standing up is difficult.  Walking is almost impossible for her friend.  He has also lost control of his bowels and bladder.

I have seen her and her companion a lot this week.  She works part-time but doesn’t drive- That has been my job this week.  I arrive at 6:30 (AM-yikes) take her to work.  I find her praying for her friend, having already cleaned him up.  After that she places cream on his bedsores.  She also places fresh pads beneath him in case he has an accident while she is gone.  He alternates between waiting for her and sleeping.   Life has taken its toll on both of them.

She has spent all her money this week buying things to clean him.  Her intentions are good, but don’t always work.  Today she was very upset because one of the products meant to clean him had irritated his skin.  Another product to freshen the air had temporarily worsened his breathing.  A fresh rotisserie chicken waits in a bag.  She prays he will eat some of it today.  She hurts because he hurts.  If he doesn’t sleep, she doesn’t sleep.  Their lives are melded as one.

Oddly, she doesn’t dwell on death.  She dwells on the live that he has left.  Afterword there will be time to reflect, but she lives in the moment.  Right now there is no question the moment belongs to him.  Isn’t that how Jesus wants us to love?  Love isn’t always timely or convenient.  Jesus expects for others to be more important than ourselves.  Jesus expects love to require us to give something of ourselves.  What we give needs to involve something that cost us.  Love is not meant to be free.  And the cost needs to be personal, a sacrifice from the heart.   Money means very little.

No kind of love compares to the love that Christ shows us.  His crucifixion is the ultimate expression of love.  Jesus didn’t want to die.  Jesus didn’t want to hold the cup of our sin.  And Christ died for all of us.  Humans that never stopped sinning since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit.  Yet God threw his son in front of the proverbial bus.  To save us all, drunks, liars, thieves, adulators, etc., etc.  THAT IS TRUE LOVE.  Sacrifice…what God calls love.   Amen.

Oh, my friend’s name is Gloria, her best friend is Spice- an almost 18 year old dog.  May we all be so blessed to have a Gloria love us in our lives

God Bless,

Mark

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Jesus Speaks

May 1, 2012 at 6:28 pm (Spirituality)
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 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.  John 3:24

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. John 1:1-2

“Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do… ”(Luke 23:34).  They were Jesus’ first words on the cross.  What do we do?  Lie, worship false idols (how important is money to you), steal, lust, cheat, use the Lord’s name in vain.  Tell me you are innocent of any of the sins on that list.  I can check off the whole list.

We start at birth as an empty vessel.  The Lord shines His light after 9 months of seclusion in the dark.  Our response, we wail at the world and the light.  We need direction from the beginning.  Christ asks for us to be forgiven because that vessel always contains harsh worldly things.  Christ spent His ministry on earth trying to show us different ways to be filled.  But we failed him.

2000 years later we haven’t changed.  Christ’s lessons haven’t changed either.  I think many of us want our vessel filled with Christ’s words.  His first contact with us was a lesson in teaching.  Jesus first teaching words, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Jesus’ first audience?  Fishermen who became his disciples.  Shortly after that Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount.  At the Sermon on the Mount there were no miracles, no healing, not even a lot of prophecy.  Just “words”.  Jesus’ words.

Those words deserve repeating.  Phrases we all know like “turn the other cheek”, “everyday has trouble of its own” and “ask and you shall receive” all come from the Sermon on the Mount.  Words that Jesus wants us to know: faith, love, meekness, purity of heart, righteousness, prayer, fasting, peace, poverty and brotherhood.   These ideas and words are all expounded upon in the same Sermon.

Christ takes it further.  Not only did he give the words, then he lived them.  After the Sermon on the Mount Jesus journeyed for three years, serving mankind.  Christ had the tool of words, deeds, miracles and healing to use.  And Christ used them all.

Over the next few months I would like to explore some of these words- and the stories of Jesus that illustrate them.  If Jesus is new or unfamiliar to you, maybe His words will provide a spark.  If you are out of sync, like I am right now, I hope they get you back to where you want to be.  And if you are on God’s narrow path, let these words be the sign posts that keep you from getting lost.

God Bless,

Mark

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Good Kids

April 17, 2012 at 6:38 pm (Uncategorized)
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Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

We shake our heads at today’s youth. They are self-centered, disrespectful, lazy, amoral, and without any sense of future. Many are more interested in rapping songs about sex, drugs, gangster life, and the hood, rather than singing a Christian song. I have listen to countless theories as to why kids are this way. The influence of drugs, music, and glorification of violence are often mentioned. Then I was enlightened on a field trip with the Arlington Christian Academy yesterday.

Mrs. B.'s kids

The 5th graders went on a trip to the McKinley museum. I was the designated bus driver for the trip. The teacher was Mrs. Benson-Luddle (let’s call her Mrs. B.). I felt like I relearned some things on that field trip that I had long forgotten; and it had nothing to do with dinosaurs, turtles (the kids found the turtle that had been MIA for a day plus at the museum.), or some cool science experiments.

What I was reminder of was the failure of adults in society- not our children. It is our job and responsibility to raise our kids. Their failures are our failures. The fifth graders conducted themselves yesterday as we would have hoped: Quiet, obedient, respectful, inquisitive and appreciative of their opportunity. The reasons for the kids behavior are multi-focal, and worth reviewing. The list I came up with is all about things we can do for our kids.

1) Love conquers all. The Bible talks about loving and caring for our children. For many reasons kids today don’t feel our love. Somehow that means you have to show them you want to be with them. That doesn’t happen if you fake it. Kids recognize insincerity instantly. Mrs. B. knows how to show them she wants to be there. How does she do that? I believe, once again, it starts because she really does love and want to be with those kids. That is something I remind myself to remember every Friday night as youth group starts.

2) Stop yelling. Is it any surprise that many kids and young adults will scream at their parents or other adults? I didn’t hear Mrs. B. raise her voice once. If discipline was needed she simply talked in a firm tone at normal volume. I know I catch myself ratcheting up the volume at times. Is it really a surprise that kids will imitate our actions?

3) Rules. Kids need them. They need to be clear. The consequences for breaking the rules need to be shared when rules are given out. And we need to follow through with those consequences. Society has consequences for our actions- we do a disservice to our kids when we teach them otherwise. Mrs. B. told a group of boys if they ran again they would miss their next field trip. Those boys didn’t run the rest of the day.

4) Environment. We need to show kids a world and a way that works. Private school often holds a higher level of expectations on behavior. The museum was a unique place to learn. You could see eyes light up when the class did science experiments. Part of the value of church activities for kids is that they learn a way of interacting differently. Environment teaches a different way to be, even if it’s only for a moment. That leaves a flame of hope that will not extinguish easily.

5) Fun. The kids were laughing and having fun at the museum. And that was not stifled by Mrs. B. If our children don’t laugh they will wither into a world of despair. The kids were also laughing at things they saw and did- not at the expense of each other. A great way to positively attack the problem of bullying.

6) Responsibility. The kids were held responsible for their actions. We almost left behind a girl at McDonalds. Yes, I counted the students on the bus. But when the child reappeared from the bathroom she was reminded that it was her responsibility to tell Mrs. B she was going to the bathroom. Too often we want to intercede in all of our kids’ problems. Then we wonder why they aren’t able to handle life’s ups and downs as they get older.

7) Listen. The kids really do want and need to be heard. And yes, I know they never stop talking. But they do need to be listened to. Kids’ words contain hopes, dreams, secrets, and fears. We can get the negative dealt with and get the kids back to dreaming when they get to tell their stories. Their lives have much hardship…the dreams are their hope and future.

8) We need to live in their shoes. We can’t be so far removed from being a kid that we forget what pain there is in growing up. So many of these kids live in homes without fathers. Many have already lost friends and relatives to drugs and violence. They go to school with the goal of not being beaten up by the end of the day. These are things we would have difficulty with as adults. Is it any wonder our kids struggle with these issues?

A cool learning environment

Thank you Mrs. B for reminding me that the future of our kids is on us- not them. I will recycle those things that I know are good. I will make the focus be on me loving and raising them. And I will treat every child I see as one of my own, with hope and potential to be unleashed with the help of some caring adults. Finally, I’ll spend some extra time thanking God for these gifts of grace. Amen

God Bless,

Mark

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What Do You Have? The Florida Chronicles- Part 6

March 12, 2012 at 12:22 am (Spirituality)
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Anyone who oppresses the poor is insulting God who made them. To help the poor is to honor God. Proverbs 14:21 TLB

Bring the mission(food) to some very hungry people.

I went with my Dad to minister to homeless people today.  There are some observations I’d like to share:

  • First, to do ministry you have to go to the saints.  For the homeless men, in Akron, Ohio, it means you go to the Haven of Rest.  The haven provides the essential services the men need… therefore the men are there.  In Lee County, Florida the men aren’t centralized in one location.  Why?  It’s not cold in Florida, so the men stay in the woods at night.  So to provide ministry to them you don’t go to a building.  Today we were at a city park.  You go to a location that serves the needs of the men.  The park had tables for the men to eat at- that’s what they needed.  Often food, clothing and other basic necessities are a great start.
  • You may have noticed I didn’t mention a church.  The homeless won’t go there.  Quite honestly many who go to church don’t make the homeless or others feel welcome.  The homeless are like all other humans who need to feel love.  On the street they reach out to each other for that love.  In church that doesn’t happen. A good lesson for all of us to remember about those who are “different.”     
  • Going to the men is not enough.  You have to provide something they need.  Today there were two groups ministering to the men.  My father provided socks, shirts, and other helpful stuff the men needed.  The other group cooked breakfast for the men.  There was prayer and individual ministry, but first the men were given things they needed.  I’ve heard others describe “the hooks” given to the men as a form of bribery.  I think otherwise.  James 2:14 says: “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?”  If a homeless man walks up to you and asks for a shirt, give him one.  In jail ministry our team gives out socks.  Guess what?  The men need them.  So the “freebies” are a Christian act.  The words that accompany those acts of kindness offer an additional chance to speak and evangelize to others. 

  • This man got the basket for his bike today... It now holds his wordly wealthy

    One questions I asked myself this morning was if daylight savings time would make it hard for the guys to get there?  Answer- NO.  The homeless are just that- homeless.  They are not deaf, dumb, or stupid.  Actually they are a lot smarter about their world than we are.  And today, they found their way to the park- on time.

  • Did you know that most of us don’t come out of the womb homeless?  Somewhere along the way stuff happens.  And along that way we make choices- good or bad.  Four years ago without my parents help I would have been homeless (Lots of bad choices there!).  The one man I talked to today made close to 6 figures a year during the construction boom.  Yes, he made bad choices but he was also a man in his fifties who knew nothing else but his trade.  When nobody built homes for a couple of years, well you get the picture. 
  • Oddly that gentleman and I shared similar views on having nothing material.  We both felt it brought us closer to God.  With no material processions nothing is left to separate you between you and God.  It can feel brutal at times, but the relationship you can develop with Christ makes it so worth it.  Don’t believe me, try and spend your next off day from work outside with no food for a day.  I believe Bible calls it fasting.  Add in a cardboard box for the night and see how you do.  Then do it for a second day.  That walk in someone’s shoes is a difficult on, but it can bring you closer to God.

Lord, today I thank you for the roof over my head and the food in my belly.  Lord thanks for letting me share in the life of the homeless men I met today, who showed me how truly blessed I am.  Lord warm the hearts of these men and light their souls, let them see your true glory.  Let the men feel your love, that they are never alone.  Protect them from things I never think of when I go to bed:  empty stomach pains, snakes, bugs, thunderstorms, and muggers who will kill them for two cigarettes left in their pockets.  And give them hope Lord, for a new and different plan in their lives.  Amen.

God Bless,

Mark

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True Love

October 31, 2011 at 6:30 pm (Spirituality)
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“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” Revelation 2:4-5

Can you remember the last time you had a warm fresh baked cookie? How does looking at the perfect red-orange tree flaming against the fall sky make you feel? Is there anything softer that a newborn baby’s skin? Is the roar of Niagara Falls incomparable? The crack of a baseball bat tells of the impending home run; it sends shivers down my spine, how about you? Do you remember your first kiss? Did that kiss overwhelm your entire being? A feeling you still can’t describe but remember like it was yesterday.

What about God? What about Christ? Do you have a love for the Lord that is greater than everything else I described? In Revelations 2:1-7 Jesus gives the Ephesians a report card. Christ first tells the Ephesians that he knows their church does right, is hard working, and avoids false teaching leading to evil. Pretty high praise for the Ephesians, right? But Jesus then tells the Ephesians it is not enough to do the right things. Jesus tells the Ephesian church that all of what they do needs to be done in love. It is not enough to do the right thing in Christ’s eye… we need to do everything with LOVE. I readily admit that I do not always love when I do the right thing for Christ. In Romans 12:8 it says, “if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” I don’t feel like being a cheerleader all the time. In jail sometimes I don’t feel the mercy I should- odd for a guy who was incarcerated himself. Isn’t it enough to do my best teaching the word of God? I know the answer is no. God is about love. If we aren’t doing thing with warmth and a love of Christ in our heart we are missing HIS point completely. If we are to give joyfully you’d think I’d be busting my gut laughing when I tithed. I certainly understand God’s command to give his share, but laugh about it, seriously? I always need a day to recover after youth ministry. Friday nights can be torturous, especially when we take a road trip. To love the kids isn’t easy. But they sense when you don’t. And love is really the thing they lack, and that God expects us to provide.

Why is it so hard for us to love God back?

I once heard a pastor say that our relationship with God should be like an early courtship. Remember how when you are dating someone you can talk for hours about nothing and you never hang up? Only falling asleep in the middle of the night ends the call. Why don’t we, or at least I, feel that way about God? Like some of our family relationships I think we just take for granted those around us. Have you every prayed for someone to get well against all hope? When that prayed is answered to you realize God’s grace is intertwined with God’s love. It should be a feeling impossible to forget, yet we do. After all, God will always be there for us, right?

To quote one of my friends, “True love is a verb.” To love God requires active work. I pray everyday, yet I often forget the thank you list… you know, thank you for our blessings. I especially need to thank you LORD for locking some of the doors I wanted opened. Those same prayers are suppose to praise God for His awesomeness. I forget to do that as well. We are also supposed to love others as God loves us. Have you told those around you how great they are lately? The verb “love” also applies to our actions. When they aren’t Christian, we don’t love God as we should. Today I went by one of the many people who hold up signs on the street corners of Akron. If you have read many of my Blogs you know I’m not fond of them. But today I was trying hard to love God. I stop by one of these gentlemen whose sign says “need money for food.” I offered to drive him to the Haven so he could get a free hot lunch. I even told him I’d bring him back to his corner after he ate. He declined in a not so kind way. But you know what? I love you God, and I’d do it again to please you. And isn’t that what really matters?

God Bless,

Mark

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What’s Love Got To Do With It (Pieces of God- Part Finite’)

October 4, 2011 at 4:56 pm (Spirituality)
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So How Much Do We Love God?

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35


By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:9-12

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together.  One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:  “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’   All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”  Matthew 22:34-40

 This is the final post on “Pieces of God.”  No need to applaud, even I am ready to move on.  But there is a point; God is many faceted, hard to visualize all at once.  But what ties the pieces together?  Is it God’s desire to be all powerful?  Do we pick the piece of him that we need the most help with?  I think so, but that is about our inadequacies, not God’s character.  So why does God reveal so many faces to us?  I think it is because GOD LOVES US.

I have discussed aspects of God including the lighted path, wisdom, rock/stability, reformation, joy, faith, fear, and God the ultimate giver of eternal life.  Different people need different parts of God.  I have needed all of these pieces of God, often at the same time.  But God’s character has always brought me back to the same thing- GOD’S LOVE FOR US.  I crashed a car (twice) into a building… God not only picked me up, but he put me on solid ground.  The Lord did this at a time when almost everyone else was busy walking (and running) away.  During sad times God makes me laugh, often at myself.  Laughter is part of discovering the little joys in life.  My fear of the Lord kept me headed in the right direction.  Now I want to follow Christ, but that fear kept me headed the right direction until I was ready.  That same fear has been translated into God being my security blanket- something I never want to lose.  God has added to my life to make it fuller.  The same God reminds me of what I don’t and shouldn’t need.

God has also transformed me into a different person.  When we grow up most of us never say we want to deal drugs, have a bad marriage, be a drunk, or even end up in jail.  But God can restore our future.  Have you ever felt bad about saying you want to be closer to God.  It is positive affirmation that helps starts transformation into receiving God’s eternal grace.  And couldn’t we all use a little positive affirmation and change in our lives.

I bring all of these things back up because God doesn’t need to do any of them.  He does them out of love for us.  Think about the love involved for God to sacrifice His Son for our sins. Our Father, who always loves us even when He doesn’t like us.  Our Father, who is relentless in teaching us to be other people.  Our Father, whose commandments all center on Love of Him and those around us.  Our Father, who came incarnate as Christ, weeping for us and pleading for our forgiveness.   GOD TRULY LOVES US.  And that perhaps is the most important piece of God, and we should never forget that.  And for that love I thank you Lord.

God Bless,

Mark

 

 

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God of Supplement (Pieces of God- Part шестая)

August 29, 2011 at 9:40 pm (Uncategorized)
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So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  Galatians 5:16-18

I was the beneficiary of 14 straight hours of time with teenage boys at our church lock-in.  Before you worry too much there were some redeeming moments.  I did not get ducked taped in a corner.  It took a little effort, but I did get pizza, subs and beverage for sustenance.  That was a surprise since 16 boys ate and drank four sheet pizzas, 30 subs, 6 bags of chips, 7 cases of pop and three cases of water (Actually that was all gone by about 2AM.)  Third, the boys did clean up with a little gentle prompting.  But the coolest thing of the night was the three adults that talked to the kids about life’s influences, both good and bad.  That was powerful for everyone.  One of the speakers, Allen Swoope, answered a question, impacting me greatly.  He talked about that when negative influences were around, you need to supplement with God.

I have never really thought of God as a fix for a tire that needs air, but it does make sense.  When we are spiritually low, when life is taking the air out of our tire, why not supplement it with God?  In difficult times he is the cure.  Feel all alone?  Turn to God, he already loves you.  Have choices you need to make but it is difficult to choose?  Ask God.  The reason it is sometimes difficult to choose is because God is already trying to steer us toward the right answer.  Needing to go somewhere that reeks in temptations?  Fill up with God ahead of time.

In Galatians 5:22 it talks about the fruit of the spirit.  When Brother Swoope talked that night that was what he was referring to.  Life is full of worldly temptations.  We can either be filled by good or evil.  The choice is ours.  God stands ready to fills us with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  But we need to ask God for these quality characteristics.  And as Allen would say, we need to supplement with these characteristics ahead of time, or down the slippery slope we may fall.

WHEN SHOULD WE SUPPLEMENT?  When we are lonely.  When there’s no solution to our problems.  When we prepare to face temptation.  And most importantly when there is nothing going on at all.  Good times are when we are very vulnerable- the devil waiting to pounce.  But that is time to supplement. We can make time, not too stressed out to study the ways of the Lord.  Before the storm is the best time to build the dykes.  And there will be storms, but by supplementing with God we can survive them.

God Bless,

Mark

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