A Christ Follower: The Journey

Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, but do it with gentleness and respect for the other person 1 Peter 3:15b-16 (TEV)   God really does want to say something to the world through you today.   Are you ready?   SoJourner 

The Mirage   I don't know if you have seen this on television or in a movie, but picture a person in the desert walking for days and dying of thirst. The weary traveler has their tongue sticking to the top of their mouth as it swells.  Nothing would do them more good than to simply have a sip of  clear, cool, refreshing water.  So as they walk, they notice --off in the distance-- what appears to be an Oasis!  They see beautiful palm trees!  They smell the scent of water, and so they run for all they are worth! When they arrive, they plant themselves face down and begin to gulp down... sand!   "How can this be," says the parched brain of the weary traveler, as they cough and gag their way along trying to get the sand out of their mouth?  "How could I have been so wrong?  This thing looked so real, and I could just taste it!"  Then they realize they have been looking at a mirage.  The Oasis was not real, and their brain has...

Feeling Insecure In Your Faith?     Here Is God's Promise To You:   It is God who makes both us and you Stand Firm IN Christ.   He has anointed us.   He has set His Seal of Ownership on us.   AND   He has given us His Holy Spirit As A Deposit Guaranteeing God's Inheritance For You. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 SoJourner   

     An African pastor was overwhelmed by rebels who demanded that he renounce his faith . He refused. The night before they took his life, he wrote the following lines on a scrap of paper :      I am part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed." I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I've stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals!        I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, lean by faith, love by patience, lift by...

What Is A Christ Follower To Be?   As I look at what I see going on in the world today, I see some very disturbing things going on.  Besides the MILLIONS of Christians being persecuted simply for name the name of Jesus.  Something about which I blogged not long ago.   I see God's ancient people facing a dilemma.  Let me explain.     Just in a few short weeks well over 3000 rockets have been fired into Israel from Gaza by Hamas.  Israel has used it's "Iron Dome" to stop the majority of those rockets which have one purpose... to kill innocent civilians.  A huge number of their people are having to go into bomb shelters daily.  If you were to put this on a scale adjusted according to America's population, we are talking about 200 million American's would be going into bomb shelters, while our government would try to protect us with Patriot Rockets.   Add to this that Hamas has stolen the money that the U.S. gave th...

Heart Talk:   BREATHE!!! Most of my life I have had some challenges with breathing.   As a child, my Dad and Mum described my breathing as sounding like a steam engine.   And I can really remember struggling for breath.   As I got older, Vietnam was raging, and I received a draft notice.   Most asthmatics were not qualified to serve in the military; however, my family Doctor was of the mindset that the running would be good for me.   So, in 1970, I found myself in “boot” camp… with asthma… attempting to run.   The U.S. Air Force had adopted a new program to teach people to run based on aerobics points.   The program was developed by the now famous Dr. Kenneth Cooper. I followed the plan, and before long I could run (not jog) a mile.   Then I could run a mile and a half.   Eventually I learned to enjoy running, competing and… oh yeah… really breathing.   I was not the fastest runner, but enjoyed it.   And my asthma ...

"Old Harry Face."   On July15th, I had to go to Urgent Care... not to be confused with Emergency Care... because it is less expensive, fewer people are piled up on you, and you actually do get great care in this Urgent Care.  I tell you this because this was the last time I shaved... I think.  I really don't remember a whole lot of things that happened to me from that date on because my heart was kicking the living day lights out of me: The "Widow Maker" was once again blocked and trying to push me through death's door.  This was my 4th time to face down the "Widow Maker."  Many folks don't make it past encounter one, with this  crazy but important artery, but God still has me here, and-- oh-- by the way-- did I tell  you I now have a beard. (For Now.)   You may ask, what in the world does having a beard have to do with the heart.  Now that's a good question.  Hopefully I can make a little sense out of it for you:  In...