A Christ Follower: The Journey

  You are the light of the World.   Matthew 5:13 Jesus In this Western Civilization that Jesus teachings declare is becoming like quicksand, we are in trouble because, culturally, we have abandoned Him and His teachings. It is because of our failures to walk the straight and narrow, and because of our failures to abide in what Jesus teaches and because of our failures to abide -- or remain -- in Him that our demise is occurring. The same is true of all other cultures as well; however, we can still experience Rock Solid Living in This Quicksand World!  We can victoriously do so by walking on Jesus's Stepping Stones for Victorious Christ-Centered Living.   Failing to do so brings us to an existential crisis where all our foundations are crumbling. This is why I share this hope filled good news with you. The Important Trifecta The last couple of blogs about stepping stones have been a part of a trifecta of who Jesus says we are: And if we are who we are, a lot of good t...

Being Who We Are To Make A Difference A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Jesus Matthew 5: 14b In Matthew 5 Jesus describes His Disciples 3 ways: We already discussed one that keeps us walking on Stepping Stones for Victorious Christ-Centered Living , and that is we are the "Salt of The Earth."  Sandwiched in the middle is the one that can be missed rather easily. He comes right out and says the other two by declaring who we are, and this one is simply described but does not include the "You are" statement; nevertheless, the importance of this stepping stone is something we do not want to ignore. And it is a fact what He says about this city. It CANNOT be hidden.  When We Were In Italy A number of years ago, we lived in Italy, and sometimes we traveled on the Supra Strada. It was called, by my Italian friends,  "the poor man's freeway." You see on the Supra Strada, you paid no tolls, but on the Auto Strada you paid fairly high tolls.  At any rate, the ...

  The Challenge of Having An Unsavory Life. We live in a world where a whole lot of people are suffering:  Many struggle spiritually. Others,  because of their spiritual issue, have emotional struggles. Still others have relationships that are strained. Financial issues also may be added into the mix; additionally, physical challenges,  or health challenges, are a part of this. Mix a little high pace, and rarely slowing down in life, and you can see something is really going on impacting life in a negative way. In other words  all of these, plus any number of other things experienced in the 21st century, contribute to people experiencing unsavory lives. Jesus Speaking to You and M e Jesus has something to say about this. And He wants each of us to help out by, first beginning to embrace our identity. He wants us "become" so we match our identity, and if we don't, we really miss out and mess up.  Check out what He says, as He expressly tells us who we are. A...

The Conference &   Hurricane Just a few days ago, the Global Methodist Church met in it's inaugural General Conference.  I viewed it by live streaming, and I can tell you it was a great time of joy, celebration and the building of a brand new faith community! The Holy Spirit moved in a very special way during everyday of the General Conference. This was a mountain top experience. Such a spiritual high as this would long be remembered by all who attended. But As the conference was coming to a close, and as these folks returned home, a Hurricane hit Florida, then Georgia, Then South Carolina, Then North Carolina! And the devastation was as bad as any hurricane destruction ever recorded! All over, people were dying, being stranded, and left without food or water! Bridges were washed out! Mud slides occurred! Communication was wiped out! Loved ones were frightened for one another because they could not get back to each other! Nor could they let each other know how they were do...

What Does Jesus Really Think?   Jesus said, " (17)  Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.  (18) For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen,  will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. ( 19 ) Therefore, anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. (20) For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Misunderstanding Jesus Let me begin by saying, that Jesus is all about grace and truth, and keeping the law does not save a soul; however, that does not mean that the Law is not important to Jesus. As a mat...

  For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. Jesus: Matthew 6:14 God's Eternal Principle of Reciprocal Forgiveness Tucked away in the middle of Jesus's secret-service foundational principles is a potent step on a Christ-Follower's journey. A lot of secret stuff goes on inside us when we choose to forgive.  And the opposite is true regarding unforgiveness. And Jesus, in this passage, and elsewhere in the Bible, emphasizes the importance of forgiving other people when they sin against us. One place He highlights this is the Lord's prayer: "Forgive us our trespasses as we for give those who trespass against us."  Or you can say it like this: Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. You can see this. Can't you? He really does make His point as He emphasizes this reciprocal factor of mercy. Praying like this is like asking, "Lord, I want you to forgive me, but I really want to b...