27Feb2014 - Acceptable Religion

How you doin?  We went to the Abundant Life prayer and worship meeting last night.  It was great.  It's probably the last one I'll go to for a while.  I'm scheduled to start back to work this Tuesday (3/4).  Stacey's sick with sore throat, chest congestion, and coughing.  Stacey and I have both been involved in healing.  God has used us to heal others.  But we can't seem to heal each other of colds or sickness.  It's a curious thing.  I've read and heard several testimonies of the same nature.  It is a mystery.  James 1 today.  I can remember almost 10 years ago, when I was first drug and alcohol free, my brother recommended that I read James because it was short and would give me a sense of accomplishment.  I guess he didn't think Philemon, 2 John, or 3 John would help.  Too funny.  There are 3 sections in James. 1) "Genuine Religion" (chapter 1),  2) "Genuine Faith" (chapters 2 and half of 3), and 3) "Genuine Wisdom" (half of chapter 3 and 4).

Verses 2-4, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various ^[c]trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces ^[d]endurance. ⁴ And let ^[e]endurance have its perfect ^[f]result, so that you may be ^[g]perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."  I can't wait for the day that I can put this into practice.  I've seen glimpses of it, but the pain, discomfort, or most of all fear of the out come speaks louder then the joy of endurance training.  Endurance results in perfection and completeness, but the best part is lacking nothing.

Verses 5-8, "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and ^[h]without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, ⁸ being a ^[i]double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."  This is one of those double effect Scriptures.  Verse 5 makes it sound so simple.  Ask God and He will give it to you.  He gives generously and without reproach.  Very simple and uplifting.  Then verse 6 is kind of let down.  It's always the "but" that gets me.  "Ask in faith without any doubting".  This is where the rubber meets the road, no doubt.  Pun intended.  Verse 7 makes me think of hope or the expectation of something good.  Doubt is a tool of the Devil.  Doubt steals hope.  I think of doubt in the same way I think of unbelief.  To me doubt and unbelief go together.  I've always heard that Satan uses the 3 "D's" as tools.  Discouragement, doubt, and disbelief.  A slippery slope to say the least.  I want wisdom so not to become discouraged.  Praying in doubt is useless.  Disbelief is separation.  I can't stomach any of this.

Verses 12-14, "Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has ^[m]been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. ¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted ^[n]by God”; for God cannot be tempted^[o]by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust."  Verse 12 speaks of one the 5 crowns we can receive in heaven.  Verses 13-14 are very important.  GOD DOES NOT TEMPT ME.  My own lust tempts me.  That's why Jesus says "deny yourself" first and "pick up your cross and follow me" second.  SO GOOD!!!!!!!

Verses 16-18, "Do not be ^[q]deceived, my beloved brethren. ¹⁷ Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or^[r]shifting shadow. ¹⁸ In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be ^[s]a kind of first fruits ^[t]among His creatures."  If this doesn't help you with your identity, I don't know what could.  It's God's will for me to be brought forth by His truth so that I can be the best among all that He created.  HOLY MAC A LOLY!!!!!!!  In order to believe this I most be living under the new covenant.  Under the old covenant, I am sin/self conscious.  Under the new covenant, I'm free from sin/self.  COME ON!!!!!!!

Verses 19-25, "This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; ²⁰ for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.²¹ Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all ^[v]that remains of wickedness, in ^[w]humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. ²² But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his ^[x]natural face in a mirror; ²⁴ for once he has looked at himself and gone away, ^[y]he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. ²⁵ But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but^[z]an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in ^[aa]what he does."  These verses speak right to identity.  If I'm not doing the word I'm loosing my identity.  That's a good word.  Hearing the word is one thing, but doing the word is to know the Word.  Verse 25 speaks of the "perfect law, the law of liberty".  This is a set up for.  The greatest commandment is to love God with all that we are/have.  The second greatest commandment is to love our neighbor.  Keep this in mind for what's next.

I'll try to land this.  As you may know, I am most interested in the Spiritual gift of the discerning of spirits.  I also have the desire to battle strongholds in our area.  The biggest and scariest stronghold I'm after is in the church.  It's the stronghold of the demonic spirit of religion.  These next two verses give an explanation of this.  Verses 26-27, "If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not^[ab]bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. ²⁷ Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained ^[ac]by the world."  WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!  The religion acceptable to God sounds like love.  It doesn't sound like theology or human tradition.  It sounds like love.  COME ON!!!!!!!  You might as well read the few verses I didn't copy into this email.  I hope that the Word affects you the way it affects me.  My brother wanted me to read James because it's short.  I want you to read it because it's AWESOME!!!!!!!  Pray in faith, not doubt today.

26Feb2014 - The Good News/The Good Deal

How you doin?  We had a wonderful dinner/fellowship last night with our friends Jack, Jill, and Sue.  It's really enjoyable for Stacey and I to visit with friends who are as excited about the Kingdom as we are.  I would like to again invite you to the Abundant Life Church in Seaville tonight for pray and worship.  It starts at 7pm.  We will be there.  Hebrews 13 today.  Hebrews is the 58th book of the Bible.  For the 58th time Stacey and I said "this could be the best book in the Bible".  I'm starting to think that they are all really good.  We'll see how the last 8 books are.  HAHA!!! 

Verses 1-2, "Let love of the brethren continue. ² Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it."  Verse 1 indicates a choice.  The word "let" certainly puts the ball in my court.  Sometimes I pray that God overwhelms me with the fullness of His love to make it impossible for me to choice poorly.  I love verse 2.  To think of everyone I meet as a potential angel is a cool concept.  I would love to be able to make people wonder if I'm an angel when they meet me.  So far in life, I haven't had that problem.

Verses 5-6, "Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” ⁶ so that we confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.
What will man do to me?”'
This verse make me think of Acts 3:6, "But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!”'  How much better is having the Presence, power, authority, grace, and love of God, then money or worldly stuff.  Having a relationship with Him, knowing Him, and loving Him is worth everything.
Verses 8-9, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ⁹ Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who ^[b]were so occupied were not benefited."  WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!  I always think of verse 8 when I hear people say that the signs, wonders, and miracles in the Bible were for then, but not now.  Especially raising people from the dead.  If verse 8 is the truth, which it is, then verse 9 should clear up the topic of Bible interpretation.  The Bible is truth, not fiction.  It's not meant to be "interpreted" to fit life's experiences, unbelief, or lack of understanding.  Jesus hasn't changed His mind.
Verses 20-21, "Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep ^[g]through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, ²¹ equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen."  SO GOOD!!!!!!!  These verses are sick (which means better then good).  I love the concept of God supplying me with the means to be pleasing to Him.  What a deal.  It's like my in-laws giving me the money to go buy them a new car for Christmas.  When I give them the car, that they paid for, they're pleased with me and I'm still their favorite son in-law (sorry Steve).  Jesus paid the price and the Holy Ghost does the work in me that pleases the Father.  What a great deal.  I dare one to find any other relationship that's like that.  The closest I can think of is with me kids.  It's only close, not the same.  May your heart be strengthened by grace today.  

25Feb2014 - God is a Consuming Fire

How you doin?  So as usual Stacey was at work for her one day a week yesterday.  I ended up re-reading Hebrews 1-11, Philemon, and Titus 1-3.  It was like getting hooked on a really good story, I couldn't put it down.  It was very refreshing and uplifting.  The Bible offers new revelation, understanding, and wisdom every time I read it.  AWESOME!!!!!!!  Stacey's back today, so back to our regular routine and that's a great thing.  Hebrews 12 today.

What a chapter.  I put X's next to verses that stand out to me while reading.  Man, did I mark up my Bible this morning.  I'll try not to copy every verse I marked today.  With that being said, please read this chapter on your own today. 

This chapter starts with the idea of God disciplining His children.  I believe that this subject is often perverted or twisted.  I do not believe that everything bad that happens to me is God's discipline or punishment for my sin.  God's discipline is different from ours as humans.  I associate discipline with punishment and negative reinforcement.  Let's see what God's looks like.  Verses 9-11, "Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! ¹⁰ They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.¹¹ No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."  WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!  This doesn't sound like a punishment to me in any way.  This sounds like growth.  It sounds like being stretched and molded.  To me God's discipline is transformation not punishment.  It sounds like the way I feel after just getting back to the gym after a long time away.  I'm sore and my muscles hurt, but I know they are righting themselves.  God's discipline is so I can share in His holiness, not so I stop behaving a certain way.  God's discipline produces righteousness and peace after being trained in it.  A mini search in my Bible's concordance, I found that most Scripture spoke of not despising the discipline of the Lord.  Here's some pretty plan language, Proverbs 12:1,
"Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but whoever hates correction is stupid."

This topic of discipline is a great bunny trail.  I would think you may hear about some Monday when I'm by myself.

Verses 14-29 are titled, "Warning Against Refusing God".  The title should be enough after the beginning of this chapter is about God's discipline.  Don't cut it short.  This chapter holds titles of songs.  Verses 22-24, "But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, ²³ to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, ²⁴ to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel."  COME ON!!!!!!!  It's Jesus mediating the new covenant that makes it possible for me to approach the Father unblemished.  It's because Jesus' blood speaks a better word then Abel's.  HOLY MAC A LOLY!!!!!!!

Verses 25-29, 'See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? ²⁶ At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”^[e] 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, ²⁹ for our “God is a consuming fire.”^[f]"  Are you kidding me.  I'm getting rocked over here.  I don't know about you but, I'm finding this Scripture really exciting.  Any time the Scripture says, "see to it", I now that it's something I'm responsible for.  It's my choice to "see to it".  I love that because I choice God.  I will not refuse to hear Him.  The thought of refusing Him makes me want to vomit.  I will be thankful for receiving His unshakable Kingdom.  I love how it says "receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken".  It's not over.  I'm in the process of receiving and I love it.  I will worship Him in an acceptable way with reverence and awe.  Enjoy your process today. 
PS   I feel consumed by the "consuming fire", that is God.  Check your pulse if you're not, at least, smiling really hard.
PPS   While discussing this mornings reading with Stacey, she worded very well what I couldn't.  New covenant punishment shouldn't be confused with old covenant curses.  Punishment is not the same as curses.

24Feb2014 - Freedom and Thanksgiving

How you doin?  What a great day yesterday!  It started with our morning devotions, which is just our favorite part of everyday.  Then a wonderful church service and Sunday school.  Then in the afternoon was the annual church skating party.  It was so AWESOME!!!!!!!  I was so proud of the kids for how well they behaved and skated.  They had a great time and the joy of the Lord really showed in them and through them.  They are truly a blessing and gift from God.  More then them, I was proud of Stacey.  She is such a good wife, mother, and daughter.  We went with her parents so she had all 3 elements working yesterday.  The joy and love of the Lord was really plan to see in her yesterday.  She also was demonstrating her ability to be a wonderful aunt, sister in-law, and friend.  She took time for everyone and didn't neglect one thing or one person.  She is truly an exceptional person.  Her love for the Lord is obvious and Lord in her is obvious as well.  She just made me know how lucky I am to have her for a wife, the mother of my kids, and my life companion/partner. (Luck is an acronym, LivingUnder Christ's Kindness)   She is beyond AWESOME!!!!!!!  I'm not sure why Stacey and the kids were so highlighted to me yesterday, because when I think about it, they are so AWESOME!!!!!!! all the time.  We had a great dinner with Spike and mom O after the skating party.  I couldn't help but to notice how fortunate I am to have them as in-laws.  I truly don't have 1 in-law nightmare story.  They are also a gift. 

Yesterday during Sunday school there were some questions and topics raised that normally would have caused me a significant amount of guilt, shame, and self loathing.  However, I didn't have anything but freedom and thanksgiving.  We were discussing mis-prioritizing (I realize that's not a word, but it works) God.  We discussed the things that we do instead of serving God.  Sports, TV, work,... etc.  As I thought about it during my day, I felt freedom from obligation to serve God.  To me serving God is a privilege that I value very much.  I'm free from obligation to serve because I'm learning to live under the new covenant.  FINALLY!!!!!!!  God presents opportunities for me to serve Him and I obey.  It may be as big as organizing a spiritual conference, healing someone, or delivering someone.  It may be as small as a hug, phone call, or word of encouragement.  That's for God to decide.  It's up to me to obey His voice or call. 

As far as prioritizing God, I use to feel addicted to sports and TV in a crippling way.  The Holy Ghost has freed me from that captivity.  It did take some discipline on my part.  I gave up watching several shows.  I watched all 3 CSI's, House, Fringe, Cold Case, Without A Trace and others.  I also rarely missed a game played by a Philly sports team.  As I've prayed for God to increase my desire to know Him and love Him, He's answered those prayers.  The best way I can explain it is, God is always in my mind and on my heart.  I'm continuously conscience of stewarding the Holy Ghost.  I'm constantly mindful of pleasing the Holy Ghost in everything I do and say.  Since this has been imparted to me, I can watch sports freely.  Meaning it doesn't feel like an addiction or that I'm neglecting God.  I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Jesus is Lord of my life.  I will say that my desire to watch things on TV that do not promote or increase purity has subsided completely.  I primarily watch Bethel TV or I'll watch speakers on YouTube.  I did watch "The Walton's" last week on the UP Network.  God has taken from me my desire to watch or say or participate in anything that cause impurity.  It's the old saying, "what you put in, is what comes out".  This process has some degree of discipline, but mostly it comes from the continued salvation that the blood of Jesus offers.  Jesus' blood offers so much more then salvation from death and hell.  Jesus' blood speaks a better word then Abel's.  So as Sunday school often does, it got me to thinking.  This time freedom and thanksgiving won over guilt, shame, and self loathing.  PRAISE JESUS!!!!!!!  I love being free.  I love seeing that the right Gospel of love, grace, and transformation into Christ likeness is starting to become the truth that I live in.  God's truth is speaking louder then life.  WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!  God's encouragement, edification, and revelation is never late... it's always right on time.  Enjoy God today.    

PS   I'm rereading Hebrews today.  At least the first 5 chapters. 

PPS  I was reviewing my notes from Sunday school while the kids are napping and I noticed that God had again given me some 80's pop/rock prophecy.  He does this very often.  We were reading  Matthew 21:33-46.  The "Parable of the Landowner".  It was pointed out that the "vine-growers" had rented the vineyard.  They were there by choice.  So as I'm sitting there in Sunday school the chorus to the song "Freedom of Choice" by Devo ran through my mind.  I'll let you decide how prophetic Devo was without even knowing it.  This is not a Christian band.

A victim of collision on the open sea
Nobody ever said that life was free                                                           

Sank, swam, go down with the ship                                                              

But use your freedom of choice

I'll say it again in the land of the free
Use your freedom of choice
Your freedom of choice
In ancient Rome there was a poem
About a dog who found two bones
He picked at one, he licked the other
He went in circles, he dropped dead
Freedom of choice
Is what you got
Freedom of choice
Then if you got it you don't want it
Seems to be the rule of thumb
Don't be tricked by what you see
You got two ways to go
I'll say it again in the land of the free
Use your freedom of choice
Freedom of choice
Freedom of choice
Is what you got
Freedom of choice
In ancient Rome there was a poem
About a dog who found two bones
He picked at one, he licked the other
He went in circles, he dropped dead
Freedom of choice
Is what you got
Freedom from choice
Is what you want
Freedom of choice
Is what you got
Freedom from choice
Is what you want
Freedom of choice
Is what you got
Freedom from choice
Is what you want

I just so happen to know that Devo had a political axe to grind when they wrote this song, but for some reason God put an extraordinary "out there" song in my head while thinking about freedom and the choices I make.  I will say that I had the 8-track of this Devo album.  I liked this song WAY better then "Whip It".

23Feb2014 - Gaining Approval

How you doin?  So even a sadder day for USA hockey yesterday.  Lucky for me I assumed their final game was this morning and I missed their debacle vs. Finland.  I did have a great, productive, and fun day outside with Stacey and the kids yesterday.  It was in the high 50's, which was just beautiful weather.  We topped our day off with good Christian fellowship.  Hebrews 11 today.

This chapter tells stories of tremendous faith and the result of faith.  It talks about several great men and women of faith in the Bible.  Verses 1-2, "Now faith is the ^[a]assurance of things ^[b]hoped for, the^[c]conviction of things not seen. ² For by it the men of old ^[d]gained approval."  I like the connection of faith, hope, and conviction here.

Verses 5-6, "By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."  Three things stood out in these verses. 1) Faith pleases God,  2) it's impossible to please Him without faith,  3) we must believe that He rewards those who seek Him.  This makes me think of Psalm 14:2, 
"The Lord looks down from heaven
    on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,
    any who seek God."

I need faith, that comes from Christ, and believe that there are rewards for seeking Him.  The rewards in heaven are WAY more important/valuable then rewards on earth. 

Verses 8-19, speak of Abraham's faith.  I'm always amazed at Abraham's faith.  Verses 13-16, speaks of seeking a heavenly country and knowing we're strangers and exiles here on earth.  SO GOOD!!!!!!! 

Your going to need to read verses 32-38 to put these next verses in context and to understand their value.  Verses 39-40, "And all these, having ^[y]gained approval through their faith, did not receive^[z]what was promised, ⁴⁰ because God had ^[aa]provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect."  WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!  God is so good.  He has provided something better for us.  Seeking His Kingdom is a better option.  I believe this is a spiritual paradox.  Once I'm after His heart and His Kingdom, He'll give my heart's desire here on earth and even more in heaven.  COME ON!!!!!!!  Gain approval by your faith today.

PS   As I was talking with Stacey about our reading today, I received a bit of understanding.  Verse 40, "because God had ^[aa]provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect."  Jesus fulfilled the Law.  The Old Testament characters of tremendous faith like those mentioned in Hebrews 11, were under the Law and old covenant.  They acted on/in faith of a promise or covenant that they never received.  Their faith is made perfect through our acceptance, believe, and faith in the better promise or covenant that we have been provided through Jesus.  So, "apart from us they would not be made perfect".  In the same way that apart or without Jesus, the Law would not have been fulfilled.  Have some faith, believe, and acceptance in the "something better" today. 

22Feb2014 - Compassion/Mercy over sacrifice

How you doin?  I hope everyone has recovered from that devastating lose to team Canada yesterday afternoon.  I'll probably need a couple more days.  We had a great Bible study last night.  Stacey and I comment often on the fact that when we hear something that we are in agreement with we have several different Scriptures come to mind that support what we just heard.  The same thing applies to things we are not in agreement with.  The same thing applies to clarifying or context.  It really indicates our ability to hear the Holy Ghost.  What a gift.  Stacey and I were talking yesterday about how God has answered our prayer for Him to increase our desire to love Him and know Him.  Our newest prayer is to become like Him.  Again, not to become Him, to become LIKE Him.  Hebrews 10 today.

Verses 1-3, "For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very^[a]form of things, ^[b]can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. ² Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins?³ But in ^[c]those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year."  More reps.  I love it.  The more I read this the more it makes sense.  The more it transforms and renews my mind and heart.  The Law (wrong Gospel) can never make me perfect as I draw nearer.  Sin/self consciousness most be done away with in order to become perfect IN CHRIST.  Back to Matthew 9:13, "But go and learn^[g]what this means: ‘I desire ^[h]compassion, ^[i]and not sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”'  I believe the Holy Ghost is teaching me that "compassion/mercy" is the new covenant and sacrifice is the old covenant.  Transformation, new wine in new wine skins.  SO GOOD!!!!!!!  I love my process.

Verse 9-10, "Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. ¹⁰ And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."  This Scripture is impossible to believe while still sin/self conscious.  Jesus is stating that he is here on earth to do God's will.  That He sets aside the first (old) covenant so to establish the second (new) covenant.  This was God's will so that His favorite creation would again be in their intended identity, destiny, authority, power, and holiness.  COME ON!!!!!!!  I'm getting a bit charged up here this morning.  I certainly don't want to take Jesus off the cross or make what He did in vain based on my unbelieve or lack of understanding.  It's through the revelation of the fullness and completeness of Christ in me, the hope of glory that makes it possible for me to be transformed into His likeness.  WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!  I felt like I was preaching a bit there.

Verses 15-18, "The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:

¹⁶ “This is the covenant I will make with them
    after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
    and I will write them on their minds.”^[b]

¹⁷ Then he adds:

“Their sins and lawless acts
    I will remember no more.”^[c]

¹⁸ And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary."  So the Holy Ghost also says the same thing Jesus does.  There is unity because they are hearing and serving the same Father.  SO GOOD!!!!!!!  This is only from half of chapter 10.  I hope you read the rest on your own today.  It gets even better.  The second half speaks of faith.  WAY AWESOME!!!!!!!
I can't help myself.  Verses 19-25, "Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God,²² let us draw near with a ^[h]sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;²⁴ and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, ²⁵ not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near."  This is too good to pass up.  All I can really say is HOLY MAC A LOLY!!!!!!!
You're on your own for verses 26-39.  I suspect you will be giving Jesus a HUGE shout of praise by the time you are done reading.  Be confident to enter the Holy Place today.

21Feb2014 - Jesus' Blood

How you doin?  So the preparation to launch the promotion for our next conference with Doug Addison has begun.  Mr. Addison will be here on June 6-7 for 3 meetings.  We're very excited.  I would like to encourage you to come to this conference.  We believe it will be HUGE.  I would strongly encourage you to pre-register, so to make a commitment to attend.  I believe it's early enough in our summer season to make it possible to attend.  Stacey and I love Mr.Addison's ministry.  He's very funny and fun to listen to.  You'll be hearing plenty more about him as we get closer to his arrival.  This conference will be held at Christ Fellowship on Rt 9 in Seaville.  Hebrews 9 today.

Verses 7-10, "but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without takingblood, which he offers for himself and for the ^[h]sins of the people committed in ignorance. ⁸ The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the ^[i]outer tabernacle is still standing, ⁹ which is a symbol for the present time. Accordinglyboth gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience,¹⁰ since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the ^[j]body imposed until a time of reformation."  The importance of Jesus' blood is overwhelming.  Jesus' blood put us in this time of reformation.  Sacrifice and offerings can't make me perfect in conscience.  WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!  Approaching the throne in good conscience is hard for me, but easy in Christ.  COME ON!!!!!!!  This makes me think of Matthew 9:11-13, "When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?” ¹² But when Jesus heard this, He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. ¹³ But go and learn ^[g]what this means: ‘I desire ^[h]compassion, ^[i]and not sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”'  Ritual, human tradition, and the Law just isn't going to produce good conscience.  It will produce sin and self consciousness.  Jesus' blood speaks a better word of atonement and reformation.

Verses 13-14, "For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the ^[n]cleansing of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more will the blood of Christ, who through ^[o]the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse ^[p]your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"  SO GOOD!!!!!!!  I'm so very tempted to copy this entire chapter into this email, but I won't.  Please read it on your own today.  Verses 11-12 really bring this into context.  We often talk about Jesus' name, compassion, love, forgiveness, death, resurrection,... etc.  I don't believe we talk about His blood nearly enough.  I don't think we talk about His ascension nearly enough either.  I love verse 14.  It was through "the eternal Spirit" that Jesus offered Himself without blemish.  Jesus was without blemish because of His dependency and stewardship of the same Spirit that lives in me.  HOLY MAC A LOLY!!!!!!!  Jesus was a man.

Verses 24-26, "For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one,but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; ²⁵ nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own.²⁶ Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin ^[x]by the sacrifice of Himself." This is the revelation that I seek.  Not the forgiveness of sin, but the doing away with sin.  The manifestation of Jesus through the Holy Ghost is the good news.  I'm thinking that you've given the Lord a shout of praise by now.  Seeking forgiveness requires continual sacrifice.  It keeps me in sin and self conscience.  It's through Christ's death, resurrection, and ascension, that I can approach the Father in good conscience.  As Red Sanford said, "This is the big one".  He meant something else, but I'm using it anyway.  I'm really having trouble landing this, so I'm just going to stop.  Know that Jesus appeared in the presence of God for you today.

PS   Read all of chapter 9 please.   

20Feb2014 - Better Promises

How you doin?  So I've been feeling like a prophecy and impartation junky.  My desire to be crucified in Christ robs me of my patience.  I find myself very lured to receiving impartation to accelerate my process.  A few weeks ago, or more, I was convicted that I had reached a point of addiction to impartation and prophecy that was no longer healthy.  So I decided to take some time off from receiving prophecy or impartation.  There was an alter call Sunday morning with Dan Mohler and I fought off my desire to go up.  I sat in my chair praying and begging that my next impartation came from the Holy Ghost.  So last night we're at the worship/prayer meeting at Abundant Life and I find myself in a fire tunnel line.  I started thinking to myself, "man, you gave up impartation from Dan Mohler and now here you are with a bunch of amateurs".  For some reason it was okay.  I was there to contribute and not receive.  I was there to love people.  As the Holy Ghost was revealing this to me, I felt tremendous gratitude.  So people are walking through the tunnel and when they got to me I was doing and saying things I had never done or said before.  SO GOOD!!!!!!!  When it was my turn to walk through the tunnel I took Paulie with me, in front of me.  Oh my, did the Holy Ghost have something to say.  I found myself shaking and crying from the double edged sword that God's Word is.  I was free from dependence on impartation and prophecy.  I was able to hear words from God without being dependent on them to accelerate me into my destiny or process.  I love being free.  Hebrews 8 today.

Verses 1-2, "Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, ² a minister ^[a]in the sanctuary and ^[b]in the true ^[c]tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man."  This section of Hebrews is a life line to me.  It's the solid food or truth about my relationship or covenant with God through Jesus.  Jonathan Welton had taught on 5 different types of covenant found in the Bible during the conference.  Without getting into hours worth of teaching I heard in this email, Jonathan pointed out that in the old covenant God was a partner and the punish-er.  In the new covenant God, through Jesus, controlled/supplied all the components of the covenant.  He did this to offer us a "grant covenant".  Which is the best covenant.  One that we can't mess up if we believe the truth and not religion.  If we believe truth and not life's circumstances and experiences.  Jesus serves from the true tabernacle.  WOW!!!!!!!

Verse 6, "But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises."  I just can't let the ministry of sin and self consciousness continue in my life.  It has no place.  Jesus offers me better promises.

Verse 7, "For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another."  That is some plain language.  It makes sense.  Verses 8-12 comes from Jeremiah 31:31-34.  Verses 11-12 get me the most, "No longer will they teach their neighbor,
    or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
    from the least of them to the greatest.
¹² For I will forgive their wickedness
    and will remember their sins no more.”

WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!  It's great to be free from sin and not just banking on forgiveness of sin.

Here's is one of my most quoted verses as of late, along with 2 Corinthians 3:18, Genesis 1:26, and Colossians 1:26-27.  Hebrews 8:13, "By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear." (NIV)
"^[i]When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ^[j]ready to disappear." (NASB)  I'm so ready for the old covenant to disappear.  Out with the old, in with the new.  COME ON!!!!!!!  Jesus' blood speaks a better word then Abel's.  Believe the better promises today.

PS   In verse 11 it talks about knowing God.  I so want to know God in my heart and not just in my mind.  I want to, in good conscience, know Him.

PPS   I hope this email makes sense to you.  It feels like it's on the edge of "out there". 

19Feb2014 - A Better Hope

How you doin?  God is infinite.  There's no measure of His glory.  There's no measure of Him.  With out being redundant, I love the process God has me in.  Becoming like Him is wonderful.  Jesus (as a man) was free from sin and His burden was light.  He loves people, because He's love.  I'm finding more and more that this process is not scary.  Transformation is different then change.  Change implies that a condition or situation is different, but I stay the same.  Transformation implies the opposite.  I'm finding that conditions and situations look the same, or close to it, but I am different.  My attitude, response, and perspective of these conditions and situation is different.  At the bottom of every email, for the past 10 years, I say "Life is good, God is better".  I could change that to "Life is the same, but I'm becoming like Christ".  Again, for the religious folks on this list, I'm becoming LIKE Christ.  I'm NOT becoming Christ.  LIKE is the key word.  Stacey, Audrey, Paulie, and I will be attending the prayer/worship meeting at Abundant Life Church tonight at 7pm.  Please come if you can.  The Holy Ghost is the guest speaker.  Hebrews 7 today.

Verse 11, "If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?"  We are still in the 3rd section of Hebrews, which is titled "Christ Is Greater Then The Old Testament Priesthood".  It's interesting to me that as the writer is describing the greatness of Christ, old and new covenant comes up.  Jesus' greatness brought us the new covenant.  Our new friend Jonathan Welton spent 3 days with us giving us a Biblical understanding of exactly what/how Jesus provided us with a "grant covenant" which is far superior to the "vassal covenant".

Verses 15-16, "And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears,¹⁶ one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life."  Jesus regained the keys to heaven, that Adam lost by sinning, by defeating death in His resurrection.  That requires a SHOUT OF PRAISE!!!!!!! 

Verses 18-22, "For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness ¹⁹ (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. ²⁰ And inasmuch as it was not without an oath ²¹ (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,

“The Lord has sworn
And will not change His mind,
‘You are a priest forever’”);

²² so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant."  WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!  Jesus is so much greater then Old Testament Priesthood.  Jesus brings us hope, eager anticipation, of drawing closer to God.  COME ON!!!!!!!  "The Law made nothing perfect", Jesus draws us closer to God.  I'm going to follow Jesus. 
Verse 28, "For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever."  I just love Jesus.  He's really good.
As most of you know, I'm huge on living in the new covenant and letting the old fade away.  I love being forgiven of my sin, but I really love being free from sin and self.  The 4th and final section of Hebrews is titled "The New Covenant is Greater Then The Old".  In light of the transformation that is taking place in me, I can't wait to read the next 5 chapters.  I'll probably read them several times.  Follow Jesus so to draw closer to God today.

18Feb2014 - Press on to Maturity

How you doin?  I'm smitten by God.  My desire to love Him has reach an all time high.  My desire to know Him is unmeasurable.  Just saying the name Jesus brings me joy.  The Scriptures are illuminated more then usual.  It feels like everything makes sense.  I love the fact that we're told what the mystery of God is in Colossians 1:26-27.  I can't get the words revelation, transformation, and Christ likeness out of my mind.  I don't feel the need to rationalize my lack of Christ likeness with say that Jesus was 100% man and 100% God.  Jesus was 100% man and the perfect reflection of God.  That's my hearts desire.  Not to be God, but to be a perfect reflection of Him.  COME ON!!!!!!!  Hebrews 6 today.

Verses 1-8,  "Therefore leaving the ^[a]elementary teaching about the ^[b]Christ, let us press on to ^[c]maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, ² of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. ³ And this we will do, if God permits. ⁴ For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, ⁶ and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance,^[d]since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. ⁷ For ground that drinks the rain which often ^[e]falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; ⁸ but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close ^[f]to being cursed, and ^[g]it ends up being burned."  WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!  It breaks my heart to think I have the capacity to put Jesus to "open shame".  I just can't do that.  I've tasted heavenly gifts and I've partook in the Holy Spirit and I've tasted the good word of God and His power.  I can't go back to the wrong Gospel of repentance, forgiveness, and sin consciousness.  I don't want to and I can't shame Jesus.  I can believe the right Gospel that I'm free from sin and being made in to His likeness with ever increasing glory.  COME ON!!!!!!!  By continuing to be a unbelieving believer, by continuing to be fixed on sin and self, I pull Jesus right off the cross.  I just can't do that.  

Verses 11-12, "And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence ^[j]so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, ¹² so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."  HOLY MAC A LOLY!!!!!!!  I love this.  I think this idea is why I like going to conferences.  I like being around people who are well practiced and trained in the gifts of the Spirit.  I like imitating people who have inherited the promises.  SO GOOD!!!!!!!  I feel a bit extreme and I'm not sorry for it.  I love God and He's transforming me into His likeness.  He did promise me to do so (2 Corinthians 3:18).  Leave the elementary teaching about the Christ and press on to maturity today.

PS   Verses 17-20, "Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. ¹⁸ God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. ¹⁹ We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, ²⁰ where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."  This is sick.  Sick = beyond great. 

17Feb2014 - Manifesting God's Love

How you doin?  So 3 meeting with Dan Mohler in 2 days.  I'm wrecked.  Dan's ministry is all about manifesting God's love.  Some words that he spoke often over the meetings were love, revelations, understanding, transformation, belief, unbelief, Christ in me, the hope of glory, identity, destiny, truth, good news, wrong Gospel, lies, sin conscious, self conscious, right Gospel, freedom, redemption, Jesus' blood, and righteousness.  If you read this email regularly, you can imagine how this blew me out of the water.  I loved it.  Dan challenged me, encouraged me, and really made me look at myself and more specifically my lack.  I struggle with loving others.

Dan had pointed out that freedom from sin consciousness and self consciousness comes out of love, the truth, and the right Gospel.  COME ON!!!!!!!  He went on to say that love isn't something that God does.  God is Love.  If we truly seek the Kingdom of God and Christ likeness, we will too be love.  SO GOOD!!!!!!!  If I rely on love being something I do, I'll fail every time.  If I try to believe the Truth, that I'm made in God's image and in His likeness, I'll become love.  I spend my time inspecting fruit, instead of paying attention to the tree.  Apple trees don't produce oranges.  That would be weird.  Apple trees produce apples because they are apple trees.  A tree doesn't become an apple tree because it produces apples.  A good tree produces good fruit.  Expecting good fruit from a bad tree is futile.  Being grafted back into the vine of Jesus makes for a good tree.  Sorry, I'm bunny trailing.  This is HUGE for me.

As I'm sitting there listening to Dan, God's giving me 80's pop/rock prophecy.  In this case I heard 80's pop/country.  Johnny Lee's song "Looking For Love (In All The Wrong Places)".  So I looked it up to see how prophetic Mr. Lee is.  Here is the verse that stood out to me, 
"And you came knockin' on my hearts door
You're everything I've been lookin' for
No more lookin' for love in all the wrong places
Lookin' for love in too many faces
Searchin' their eyes, lookin' for traces
Of what I'm dreamin' of
Now that I found a friend and a lover
I'll bless the day I discover you-oh you"

Not bad for a random pop/country song written for a bad movie.  Of course I go to the Bible.  You may find this surprising, but there's quite a bit about God's love and God being love in the Bible.  I read 1 John 4 this morning.  Needless to say, I was completely floored.  Here are some highlights.  Verses 7-8, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is ^[a]born of God and knows God. ⁸ The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love."  POWERFUL!!!!!!!  I so want to KNOW God.  Dan Mohler made the analogy of knowing your next door neighbor.  You can learn their name, schedule, relatives, friends, characteristics, likes, and dislikes just by living close and watching.  You could even speak about that person as if you know them.  But until you actually walk up to their door, ring the door bell, and put your hand in theirs and say "hello, my name is (Paul), what's yours", you really don't know them.  OH SNAP!!!!!!!  I want to know God intimately in my heart, not just in my head.  Knowing Him in my head, keeps me "Looking For Love (In All The Wrong Places)".  Like wanting/needing to be loved by other people.  WOW!!!!!!!  What pressure to put on other people.  Verses 9-10, "By this the love of God was manifested ^[b]in us, that God has sent His ^[c]only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.¹⁰ 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."  WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!  Verses 15-17, "Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. ¹⁶ We have come to know and have believed the love which God has ^[d]for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. ¹⁷ By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world."  HOLY MAC A LOLY!!!!!!!  Christ likeness.  I am very tempted to just copy all of 1 John 4.  Please read it today and read it carefully.  This could go on for ever today.  I want God's love to be perfected in me.  COME ON!!!!!!!  Dan Mohler pointed out that we are not called to be loved, we are called to love and to be love.  More specifically, we are called to manifest God's love by receiving His grace to become like Him, who is love.  Stacey and I want this, more then I could ever say, in our lives.  We will be seeking revelation, understanding, belief, and transformation into Christ likeness... Love.  Receive the grace from the Holy Ghost that can grant you revelation, understanding, belief, and transformation today.

PS   The wrong Gospel teaches us that we are only forgiven of our sin.  This teaching makes us sin conscious and self conscious.  The right Gospel teaches us that we are free from sin.  The right Gospel teaches us to deny our self, pick up our cross, and follow Him.  Jesus' blood speaks a better word then Abel's.  SO GOOD!!!!!!!

PPS   I turned Bethel worship on this morning only to hear Eric Johnson say "The cool thing about God is that he doesn't just love, He is Love".  I'm starting to think that God is trying to get a message to me.  Something about love.  I would say I'm sorry for the length of this email, but I'm not.  Love someone today.

16Feb2014 - Milk vs Solid Food

How you doin?  We heard an amazing talk from Dan Mohler last night.  It was encouraging and convicting at the same time.  Many things he preached about struck a cord in me.  The things that stood out the most to me were seeking truth and love.  Truth and love sets me free from self and leads to Christ likeness.  AWESOME!!!!!!!  It was quite a message of identity and destiny.  Two of my favorite subjects.  It has certainly given me a ton to think about.  Particularly in my conduct and relationships with other people.  Two more meetings with Dan Mohler today.  If anyone is interested, email me or call me, I'll give you the information.  Hebrews 5 today.

The first 10 verses are just a mind blowing description of Jesus.  A description of what he is.  What He is in the religious structure.  So amazing.  Jesus really does demand a response.  He's beyond worthy of praise. 

Verses 11-14 are yet another "Warning Against Falling Away".  I like verse 14 the best, "But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil."  This has always been encouraging to me.  Anything that can be practiced is possible to obtain.  Training myself or having a personal trainer, the Holy Ghost, gives me hope, trust, and refuge.  SO GOOD!!!!!!!

Dan Mohler also discussed the Gospel of the good news.  He pointed out that we have heard the Gospel that leads us to sin consciousness and self centeredness all our lives.  The Gospel of truth and good news is that we are free from that.  Dan spoke of the fact that Jesus' blood speaks a better word then Abel's.  It was a great meeting last night.  I highly recommend that you try to come out to the two meetings today.  It's wonderful training.  Be trained by the Holy Ghost today.

PS   After hearing what I heard last night, I'm forced to ask what is love, how to be love, and how to live from love?  Dan pointed out that Jesus is love.  Love isn't something that Jesus does, it's what He is.  Becoming Christ like is the answer.  WOW!!!!!!!  I feel like I'm in the gym doing reps.  SO GOOD!!!!!!!  

15Feb2014 - Receive mercy and find grace

How you doin?  We went to the Valentines Dinner at our church last night.  It was very enjoyable.  I was prescribed 7 more days of antibiotics to deal with this abscess on my shoulder.  I'm such a mess physically.  We're very excited about seeing Dan Mohler tonight and tomorrow.  With that being said, we don't like missing our church services.  USA vs. Russia in mens hockey this morning at 7:30am.  Go Red, White, & Blue!  Hebrews 4 today.

Verse 1, "Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it."  I can remember being at the Power & Love conference and Bob Hazlett speaking on this subject of rest.  It's not sitting in your favorite chair, feet up, with an ice tea.  It's a place of dwelling or habitation with God (Strong's 2663, katapausis: rest).  This understanding of the word rest helps me have a working knowledge of the Sabbath.  More specifically, that the Sabbath is every day.  Rest in the Lord.  Dwell in the Lord. Habitation in the Lord.  SO GOOD!!!!!!!  This chapter continues on about resting in God and the Sabbath.  Please read it on your own.

Verses 14-16, "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,^[f]Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. ¹⁶ Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."  WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!  These are the verses that got me this morning.  Jesus can empathize with my weakness.  It's Him in me that allows me to approach the "throne of grace with confidence".  I need the mercy and grace that God offers.  I need to dwell in Him.  It's hard to approach the throne of grace confidently, when I'm not in Him and Him in me.  This section of Hebrews is the 3rd subject heading.  It's titled, "Christ is greater than the Old Testament priesthood".  It goes all the way to the end of chapter 7.  It's through Christ's ascension that makes it possible for me to rest, dwell, and inhabit the Lord.  AWESOME!!!!!!!  Hold firmly to the faith you profess today.