I have been reading a lot of posts from friends or acquaintances sharing stories of physical pain through sickness or tragic circumstances, and their experiences and stories hits you right in the heart.

Fear is rampant because of an unseen enemy, a virus let loose throughout the world. But, if you belong to God, He’s got this too.

For us who believe in God, pain and suffering are designed to create something in us and through us. It’s meant to transform us and prepare us for what is and what will be.

“The Glory of God is man fully alive,” penned Saint Iraneous – AD 130 to AD 202

In God’s economy, being fully alive means to completely die to sin, flesh and the Devil. Which, is to say that we need to be completely unavailable to the Devil, to sin and to the desires of the flesh. And man, it really hurts to become what we should be, and to become image bearers of God’s Son, Jesus.

We’ve all suffered loss to some extent, and loss through pain and suffering will visit us from time to time. It’s an inevitability and a certainty because we all live in a fallen world.

But, these transitional pressures, whether they be spiritual or physical can even cause weight loss and a reduction to our physical abilities. Not a weight loss program that I’d volunteer for mind you, but this stuff just shows us that at times even our physical bodies change due to pressures of life and out of control circumstances.

God has a glory in mind for each one of us, not just in heaven, but here, and now, and even in the midst of the storm you’re in. The tension between walking in His reflective and intended glory and our sin hiding it or fighting it, brings about seasons of breakdowns. The breakdowns, that is, our crushings, brings the breakthroughs that God has long ago prepared for us.

There is a beautiful placard hanging in the reception area of my office, and it reads:

“The Will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not Protect you”

This means that while God’s glory for your life comes at a price, no matter the cost, God’s grace will aid you and protect you through that cost.

Glory has a price, and the cost is always our will and our flesh. For the Apostle Paul, it meant that he died daily and that he born a thorn in his flesh, not reminding him that’s he’s human, but because he had received amazing and otherworldly revelations. The thorn helped him manage the glory, which God sovereignly bestowed upon him.

And this brings me to you. To the glory that God has planned for you long ago…

Your losses, whether they be your health or even the health of loved ones, or your comforts and the comforts of others is not happenstance, but God’s eternal plan working in you and in others for your good and for God’s glory.

“No man can see God and live,” says Scripture. There is therefore, a cost in being the image bearer of his Son. Jesus said: “The World hates me, and if you follow me, the World will also hate you.”

The “hate of the World,” is not just physical, but psychological and spiritual. The World hates the Messiah and especially his offspring. The World absolutely hates the Glory of God and the Glory of his Dear Son, Jesus Christ, who is The Glory and Righteousness of God.

Therefore the world hates anything in the likeness of Christ and that which reflects his glory.

Revelation 12:17

“And the dragon was in raged with the woman, and went to make war with her offspring, those that keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

Because of God’s plan for your life and the Glory of your life in Christ Jesus, you’ve become an enemy of the World; of the flesh and especially Devil.

The women of “The View” took a shot at Vice President, Pence’s Christian faith a year or so ago, mocking the former governor of Indiana for talking to Jesus and even calling it a “mental illness.” You see, even in Joy Behar’s uninformed remarks can there be an opportunity to reveal Jesus Christ to the Nations, and that Jesus Christ does speak to all those who belong to him. “My sheep hear my voice.” said Jesus. Even in our suffering can we hear the voice of our Savior and even through harsh remarks from the ladies of The View can bring about God’s glory in his Son, and in you too!

Glory in your tribulations; in your pain and in your sufferings, because of these things, you are being made beautiful and in this beauty lies your glory. So, let the glory of your life shine brightly and hold onto the Word of life; hold onto it with everything that you’ve got!

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

Be like Job…

“…But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” Job 2:10

Glory to glory causes you to glorify God and it is totally worth all you’re going through. All of that Job suffered, was not for nothing, but brought about a glory bestowed and an honor for which we can read about thousands of years later.

…Yes, God restored Job; he restored him to an even greater state than Job could ever have imagined.

Because of Christ, you will, and have already surpassed Job. So remember….

…God’s got this!

“The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the State, but rather the conscience of the State. It must be the guide and the critic of the state, and never its tool. If the church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

This prophetic statement by MLK has come true. And, not only so for the loss of the Church’s moral obligation to State, but more so, for the Church’s spiritual obligation to God and his Kingdom.

Every Church must become self-critical of its unique mission and call to its own secular communities.

The reason why so many churches have become a country club is because of self-focus. Focused on its income, or lack thereof, rather than its outcome. Focused on its memberships rather than discipleship. Focused on career clergy and limited to a “do it all staff,” rather delegating ministry to the congregants who can create an exponential impact. Focused on electrified, charismatic, and dynamic leaders to attract people to create spectators and those who value entertainment more than engagement.
So people flock to County Club Churches to appease their conscience and sense of obligation of assembling together a sort of paying respects to God with a few worship songs, a monetary tip or token, a short, but inspirational message, all wrapped up with a few handshakes and hugs, and “Ill see you next week” and the famous, “bring-your-friends-and-family plan” benediction.

Meanwhile, the cities and communities remain in spiritual shambles, because the Church has abdicated its mission and calling to the State and to State programs, rather than Her calling to occupy until Jesus’ return and expand his Kingdom beyond the walls of sanctuaries and stained glass windows.

People of God recapture your “prophetic zeal!” God wants a Church without walls and a gospel message proclaimed loudly in the streets and marketplaces, rather than whispered from pulpits to the faithful few.
Most Churches have a faithful minority of approximately 10% to 20% of their congregations, which also includes the clergy. These 20% percenters pay 80% to 90% of the ministy’s budget in order to support and minister to the majority, who have no heart to obey; even worse, most preaching is to placate the majority and to foster and encourage their passivity. Because of this model, many churches have “become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority.”
Dr. King’s assessment and warning of 1967 remains true to this day. Sadly, the transforming and redeeming power of the Gospel message has been muted by the traditions of men and the promotion of passivity. If you watch the news, you’ll realize that the church is progressively and forcibly being silenced and threatened by a new minority of secularism and godlessness.
“Tell me,” Samuel said. “Does the Lord really want sacrifices and offerings? No! He doesn’t want your sacrifices. He wants you to obey him. — 1 Samuel 15:22 (CEV)
“Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. — James 1:22-24 (MSG)
A convention on spiritual gifts is useless without an outlet to exercise them. Even in the failure and mistakes of exercising spiritual gifts comes growth, as it will ultimately edify and build up the whole church. But to ignore spiritual gifts, and worse, create ministries which do not need them is treason against the Kingdom of God; it’s a rejection of the Holy Spirit, and it turns The Great Commission into The Great Compromise.
Furthermore, people with a lack of vision will eventually perish, and people uninvited and unequipped in ministry will become bored and struggle with personal sin and defeatism. They will become slaves to their old ways of lack of invitation and engagement to the ways of God.
“And that same Christ gave these gifts to people: He made some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to go and tell the Good News, and some to care for and teach God’s people. Christ gave these gifts to prepare God’s holy people for the work of serving, to make the body of Christ stronger. This work must continue until we are all joined together in what we believe and in what we know about the Son of God. Our goal is to become like a full-grown man—to look just like Christ and have all his perfection. — Ephesians 4:11-13 (ERV)
Let’s all encourage one another with the purpose of our calling to greater faith in God, so that we together may reach maturity in Christ, and so present the world with the passion of Christ in us.
Then, the whole earth will know of God’s amazing love through his Holy People.

The Enemy’s plan: Cause you pain to rob you of your future. God’s plan: Give you a future through your pain and rob the Enemy.

On October 11, 2013 I had symptoms of a heart attack, and was was admitted to the hospital, after several EKGs, blood work, nitro tablets, pain meds and then a stress test the following morning, the diagnosis was that the “heart attack” symptoms were stress induced. So, I created a few boundaries to lessen my stress levels and started some prescribed meds.

On November 13, 2013, I tripped on the mid-landing of our stairs, snapped my left quadriceps and then flew the rest of the way, landing on the hardwood floor below. Another trip to the ER and then surgery to reattach the quadriceps muscle and tendons occurred on November 27, 2013. I was in post op recovery and physical therapy since the day before Thanksgiving.

January 8, 2014, I came down with the flu. Never once have I ever had asthma, but by Friday, January 10, 2014 I was admitted into the ER for respiratory distress, complications from the flu and was prescribed with an inhaler and other meds.

In all of these illnesses and accidents, I bowed my head and thanked God for each and everyone. I did not maintain a positive attitude all the time. I had grumpy and hard days, and made it difficult for my wife to take care of me. But what brought me through each and every trial was the comfort of knowing that none of these events, no matter how painful, frightening or threatening, were outside or beyond the control of a loving Heavenly Father, who had permitted these trials and may have even order them in my behalf.

I create both light and darkness;
I bring both blessing and disaster.
I, the Lord, do all these things. Isaiah 45:7

To complicate these past three months of illness, sickness and my fall down the stairs is that we had lost our healthcare on July 31, 2013, due to a single and sudden increase of our premiums, further complicated by a substantial reduction in income, increased the severity and reality of what we were then left to face.

But still, in all of this and even the onset of the very serious flu I had, I was thanking God and welcoming the chills, fever, aches and pain. This past flu was so bad, that I had made my peace with God and ordered the affairs of my inner house and readied myself to meet my Maker. Yet, I continued to thank him for permitting even the possibility death.

“The Lord will make you go through hard times, but he himself will be there to teach you, and you will not have to search for him any more. If you wander off the road to the right or the left, you will hear his voice behind you saying, “Here is the road. Follow it.” Isaiah 30:20-21

Since all this begun in mid October, 2013, my trust and confidence in God had grown. I had witnessed so may kisses and hugs from God all through these events. They are too numerous to list. But suffice it to say, as I surrendered my will to God and rather than complain and blame, I yielded and accepted each attack, fall and sickness as instruments in the hands of a loving God taking my momentary losses and messes and creating something out from all the chaos I had encountered.

You see, if we put our faith into God’s promises, just like Abraham did, God can, in His power do unbelievable miracles, even raise the dead and speak things into existence that did not before exist.

“As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations. He is our father in God’s sight, in whom Abraham believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls things into existence that do not exist.” Romans 4:17

I am beginning to see the semblance, artistry, order and beauty from those past three months of chaos, pain and sickness and financial ruin. The very things that could’ve destroyed me were called out by God for a better purpose than death.

“On the day when the forts of your enemies are captured and their people are killed, streams of water will flow from every mountain and every hill. The moon will be as bright as the sun, and the sun will be seven times brighter than usual, like the light of seven days in one. This will all happen when the Lord bandages and heals the wounds he has given his people.” Isaiah 30:25-26

You see, when the earth was formless and in a state of darkness and chaos, His Spirit hovered over the darkness, over the empty waters and then God began to speak life, beauty, color, order, boundaries and life into existence.

“The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep water. The Spirit of God was hovering over the water.

Then God said, “Let there be light!” So there was light. God saw the light was good. So God separated the light from the darkness. God named the light day, and the darkness he named night. There was evening, then morning—the first day.

Then God said, “Let there be a horizon in the middle of the water in order to separate the water.” So God made the horizon and separated the water above and below the horizon. And so it was. God named what was above the horizon sky. There was evening, then morning—a second day.” Genesis 1:2-8 (Gods Word)

It is in the nature of God to begin with chaos, disorder and emptiness and begin speaking beauty out of each of our messes. Whether these messes are bad news, sickness, disease or even betrayals, God has the ability to transform all of it into order, semblance, artistry and beauty.

But in order to go from the pain and chaos to beauty and rest, we must join God in faith that He knows what he’s doing. And the best way to do this is to thank him for every ounce; every moment of every pain, loss or hardship. You see, this grants God the permission to bless you through your struggles and hardships, because he can therefore reward your faith and trusting spirit. But bitterness, anger, blaming, or even un-forgiveness robs God of the very opportunity to bless you from all these things, and your faithlessness turns your mess into confused and meaningless tragedy.

So, I encourage you, yes, I en-courage you to begin to thank God for your present suffering, loss or betrayals and kiss the chains which bind you and the suffering which has inflicted you. I en-courage you to rather welcome what has come into your life with a “good morning pain!” or “good evening to suffering.” It changes everything and allows the Holy Spirit of God, hovering over the chaos, darkness and emptiness to start speaking things into existence over your life through all that appears out of control and, which may even be deadly.

Trust in the God, who holds all things together by the Word of his Power and who has even raised his own Son to life from death. God is well experienced in creating order out of chaos, it is his specialty!

My dear friend. Trust that there is absolutely nothing which can separate you from the Love of God found in Christ Jesus. Not things in heaven, nor things in the earth or under the earth; not height nor depth, not even the sword, nor perilous times and neither darkness or dark forces shall separate you from the Love and purpose of God.

But, you can distort what God wants to do by your attitude and being regretful or blaming God, the Devil, the World and others for what you’re encountering, or you can welcome it, thanking him, surrendering to his Will and Power and become all that he has desired to make of you. I can tell you it will be beautiful — it will be eternal and it will satisfy the deepest desires of your heart.

Oh, and by the way, God even works through mean bosses, difficult exes, in-laws and out-laws. You just got to start thanking him for where you are and who’s around you.

“We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan.” Romans 8: 28 (The Voice)

Accept, welcome and thank God for his plan concerning you — God wants to display his love for you and satisfy you with good things. He’s not just God, but your Heavenly Father, wanting to father you through all of life, as his son or daughter.

…even in the shadow of death, God is near.

Look for him, and he will be found. Put your faith in God, in his ability and power over your chaos. Amen

“Where have all good men gone, and where are all the gods?

Where’s the streetwise Hercules to fight the rising odds?

Isn’t there a white knight upon a fiery steed?

Late at night, I toss and I turn and I dream of what I need

I need a hero

I’m holding out for a hero till the end of the night

He’s gotta be strong, and he’s gotta be fast, and he’s gotta be fresh from the fight

I need a hero

I’m holding out for a hero till the morning light

He’s gotta be sure, and it’s gotta be soon, and he’s gotta be larger than life…” Lyrics by Bonnie Tyler

“In peace nothing so becomes a man as modest stillness and humility; but when the blast of war blows in our ears, then imitate the action of the tiger; stiffen the sinews, disguise fair nature with hard favored rage. . .” William Shakespeare

We live to fight for others; there’s no time for cowardice of heart or the indulgence of sorrow and pity…we have no time for what might have been, but only for what must be done! Stop licking your wounds, get’m healed by Christ himself then back into the fight we go!

We men, must in great hast, understand the times in which we live. It is of no accident or coincidence that you’ve been born in such infamous days. You will not survive what lies ahead unless you ready yourself, strengthen your heart and clear your mind of worry.

Your very soul is witnessing your actions; your wife and kids are watching; angels are gathering and demons are unsettled.

Become the man you’ve been destined and chosen to be, and give your God his due or die trying.

Our warfare is not against men and politics; we’re not battling flesh and blood, minorities or extremist; our fight is with spiritual wickedness in high places and unseen principalities; evil puppeteers preying on the weakness of mortal men, enticing them with absolute power to cause absolute corruption.

Pay attention! If you refuse to battle the spiritual darkness of our time you’ll be swept up into it’s evil, for neutrality is equality with Darkness and bystanders will soon become backsliders.

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

Good men, do something! Doing nothing is an abandonment of your masculine soul and God given role in this world. There are only two kingdoms, the Kingdom of Darkness and the Kingdom of Heaven. Your convictions and actions dictate to which Kingdom you belong and not your “good” intentions.

Turn your gaming and playtime into the prayers of warriors and saints. Act like the heros of our ancient faith, who’ve never seen their victories in the land of the living, but gave their lives nonetheless. It is they which are in the heavens, cheering us towards glory and final victory.

“As it goes, everyone will receive what his actions in life have cultivated. Whoever has labored diligently and patiently to do what is right—seeking glory, honor, and immortality—God will grant him endless joy in life eternal. But selfish individuals who make trouble, resist the truth, or sell out to wickedness will meet a very different fate—they will find fury and indignation as the fruit of living in the wrong.” – Romans 2:6-8 (VOICE)

Start doing what is right and true; do it with everything you’ve got. What you do, or not do, has eternal consequence.

Say: “goodbye” to selfishness and passivity and say: “hello” to glory, honor and immortality!

Earn your crowns, so that you’ll have something to lay down at the feet of your King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

There is no room for second place winners in the Halls of Heaven.

“Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. Take particular care in picking out your building materials. Eventually there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you’ll be found out. The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You won’t get by with a thing. If your work passes inspection, fine; if it doesn’t, your part of the building will be torn out and started over. But you won’t be torn out; you’ll survive—but just barely.” 1 Corinthians 3: 12-15 (MSG)

“Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste death but once.” William Shakespeare

We need men to be men, transitioning into warriors and not into women.

Where have all the good men gone?

He’s you!

I dare you to come out from hiding.

There was a man who had two young sons and was living a very busy life. One day, the father said to his family:

“I’m leaving for a job in Europe. This is a once in a lifetime career opportunity I’ve been working so hard for! I’ll be gone for a month, but will send for you to join me.”

Not long after the father had set off for Europe, he met a young woman and began squandering his wealth on wild living. After he had spent everything he had, the woman he had met, and the friends he’d made, all left him, high and dry. Suddenly and almost at the same time, the stock market plunged to a record low, causing him to lose his dream job. With no employer sponsoring him, and his work visa expired, he had to hide from the authorities.

Meanwhile, back in the states, the man’s family had grown concerned, as they’ve not heard from him in weeks. The man’s wife had tried his cell phone, but it was disconnected. She tried his office phone, but they said he’d been laid off a few weeks ago.

She tried to console her two young sons, who’d been crying for days for their missing father.

“Was it something that I did to make daddy leave us,” said the younger son? “No,” said the older son, angrily… “He left us because he never loved us or had time for us!” The mother tried to correct her sons, but the younger son ran to his room, slamming the door behind him, while the older son ran outside, and just kept running and running, till he fell to the ground, totally exhausted.

Weeks turned into months and months turned into years. The boys are teenagers now, tall, like their father. And, also like their father, they’ve avoided their house as much as they could, choosing to stay over their friends homes, as Mom was mostly working anyway.

In time, the man’s wife had become very ill. Since he’d left, she’d taken on two jobs and the raising of their sons alone.

During the younger son’s earlier years, he had grown attached to a churchgoing family. One Sunday, while at church, the younger son heard the preacher recite a passage from the bible. “No man can come to the father, except through me.” The preacher explained, “If you want to be with the Father you must go through the son!” At the conclusion of the preacher’s message, he gave an invitation to come to the Father. Suddenly, the younger son found himself being drawn forward, where he surrendered his life to the Son of God. The young boy, not quite understanding the preacher’s message, had thought that going through Jesus would bring him to his lost father. And towards this end, the younger son began to pray every day, without fail for the return of his father.

Now, many years later, the father, still living on the streets in Europe, in squalor and poverty and with no hope, came to his senses.

“Perhaps, I can reach out to my family, they will at least let me live in their garage, and perhaps I can tend to their yard for some food and clothing.” His thoughts continued… “Surely that would be much better than eating garbage, living in cardboard boxes under bridges.”

So, the father begged and begged, panhandled here and there, scrapping and collecting enough money to purchase an oceangoing ticket on a freighter. But alas, no one would sell him a ticket without a passport. So the father, who’d learned to be crafty while on the streets, secretly stowed himself away on a ship heading for the US.

Several weeks later, he arrived and hitched his way back home.

Exhausted and hungry, in rags and worn out shoes, he finds himself staggering down the street where he used to live so many years ago.

While he was still a long way off, a young man looks up while washing his car. His eyes fixed on the old haggard man walking towards him. His heart beating in his throat and tears filling his eyes, as he recognizes that haggard old man as his father! The younger son runs to his father, and catches him in his arms, just before he hits the pavement. He lifts his father up, all the while kissing him, and said: “dad, a preacher told me, when I was lost and alone and missing you so terribly much, that the only way to the father was through the son! And since then, I’ve not stopped praying for your safe return home.”

“Son,” the father begins… “Dad”, the son stops his father; “all is forgiven; all that remains is that mom and I still love you;’ “there’s nothing you need to say. I have the best room in our house all made up for you, just the way you’d like it. Come, live with me and I will be your son, and you will be my father, who was lost and now he’s found; was dead and now he lives!”

“What about your older brother”, asks the father? “Dad, he’s homeless and very angry. I have been praying for him too.” “Let’s get you cleaned up and we’ll introduce him to the Father, through the Son also.”

” Yes, if you forgive others for their sins, your Father in heaven will also forgive you for your sins. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins.” – The Rabbi, Jesus of Nazareth – Matthew 6:14-14 (NVC)

“Whoever does not believe in the Son does not have the Father, but whoever accepts the Son has the Father too.” – The Apostle John – 1 John 2:23 (ERV)

Thanks for joining

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” —African Proverb.