Behind These City Walls

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Behind These City Walls

Where Citizens Have NO Citizenship 

People and social media, what to do? Some people vent on their Facebook (FB), Twitter, Instagram (IG), Snapchat (SC), and the list goes on. While others boast on their social media. Some people play the victim on social media, while others pretend to be  celebrities on their social media. Some people even feel so bold that they feel their social media makes them second to God, or feel that their social media makes them a god because they don't have to believe in anything but their status (social worth), on their social media.

Please note that the imperfect Christian is pointing all fingers at self and already faced this conviction. Perfect Christian folk get bent out of shape over two things: being excluded when a lie is circulating, and being included when the truth comes around. Delete me, unfollow me, or hang on because the conviction gets thicker than a mouthful of Jif peanut butter with every truth here after.

The Storms Expose`

The imperfect Christian remembers a bright sun filled September morning, leaving home, and going to obtain a background check, from the Sheriffs Department for a new job. On the way back home he stopped to visit a friend. The friend was a very heavy sleeper so the imperfect Christian continued on his way home. When he arrived he was once again totally shocked! His wife in sheer utter shock as well, said a plane had just crashed into one of the Twin Towers in New York! Not long after that we heard people yelling in the background, and a second plane hit the second tower. The imperfect Christians wife said, "They thought that it could be terrorist, and I think that just confirmed it!" The imperfect Christian fell to his knees and cried. One tragedy per year should be more than enough right? The imperfect Christian's best friend and uncle was killed while working on July 4th. July 4th was always a huge family gathering, and on this one the family would mourn. September 11th was much the same.

Storms come in a variety of ways. They can be natural like Irene, that just hit mostly the entire Eastern Seaboard, or they can come in the fashion of a terrorist attack. They can even come in the form of a spiritual attack as well. We do not wrestle flesh, nor blood, but principalities of the dark. Regardless of the storm, the imprefect one tries to remember a few key things:

1. If we allow the storm to expose our dirt, we may go through a cleansing.
If we confess our faults one to another, and pray, then we may be healed, the fervent, effectual prayer of the righteous avails much! James spoke of of Elijah praying for the rain to cease, and then for the rain to once again fall and end the three and a half years of drought, and God honored his request. (James 5:16-18)

2. If we allow the storm to expose our hurt, then we may find strength to heal. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials-gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames. (I Corinthians 3:12-15) Healing comes at a price sometimes. In order to heal, you have to have something that hurts. So is reaching Salvation, and being in Christ, like a house on fire? We are judged by the kind of "work" we do. Can you imagine as one preacher illustrated so eloquently... can you imagine your house being on fire while you're in it asleep? You wake up coughing, and on fire. Your spouse is engulfed in flames and the smell of smoke and her buring flesh sickens you instantaneously. You do not have time to go for any valuables, no pets, your kids are upstairs and the roof just caved in, and you heart broken and scared for your life go for broke, and jump through the huge bare spot in what used to be your bedroom wall, and the fire fighter standing outside says to you, "Thank GOD, at least you made it!" How devastating would it be to live a life that would only be self preserving? Can you imagine getting to Heaven and getting the news that your wife/husband and children didn't make it? Please Lord God, let the imperfect losses stop today.

3. If we allow it the storm will expose that work.
James 1:22 says not to be just hearers of the Word, but doers also. Let our work be like the precious metals mentioned in Paul's writing to Corinth, that the imperfect one mentioned in the afore paragraph. Let the fire refine, but not consume. Let us suffer no loss.

4. Finally if we allow ourselves the discipline to praise Him in the storm, the storm will expose His worth.
He that has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. (Proverbs 25:28)
Even in the toughest of times, we must remember to give Him the praise, and not allow our spirit to fell us. We must have discipline and control. The imperfect one would love to watch the Vuelta A Spain, but baby girl in the first grade y'all (still amazed at this!) has homework. So weakened spirit, tighten up, we have work to do. We have things that need to be taken care of with house and auto maintenance, but we so desperately want to go splurge and buy a new cell phone, or latest trinket! Better yet let's play the lotto until there are not any funds left! Even in the storm be angry and sin not. Keep your mind clear, and praise Him, because just like 9/11, and Irene, that storm doesn't last always! The imperfect one's, uncle may not be present in body, but his spirit is present with the Lord, he is now in his glorified body. The imperfect one prays that along with many other family members and extended family members too see him again in his/their own glorified bodies. The storms expose` could be the greatest manifestation of a miracle that you experience, so hold tight, stay focused, and let the storm bless you, because you have a Savior mighty enough to calm it, and see you through!

Well past the imperfect bed time again! So until next time...
Peace, Blessings, and Joy... that real PB&J!

Do You Have A Choice?

The imperfect Christian asked himself in the last blog, just how prepared he was. Preparation is a daily thing, therefore, the imperfect one tries to keep the necessities nearby. So what did he pack? The imperfect Christian has his helmet, yes including the ones in the picture above, because one never knows when the opportunity to ride and share may present itself. The imperfect shoes, are clean and ready to go (pedal, or settle) peacefully. But peacefully doesn't always mean quietly. The imperfect Christian had a co-worker tell him not too long ago (not in the exact same words, but humor the imperfect one for just a second please), that "We The People" needed to speak out, and vote to make a change. The imperfect one believes this friend is right, and the imperfect one believes in voting for sure, he just don't fully believe in the officials that are running for office. As one Mr. Prince Rogers Nelson would say: It's a two party system, the illusion of choice.

Dr. King boycotted in Alabama, marched in Washington, and was slain in Memphis. How many of us are willing to be heard in a non-violent, lower decibel? How many are willing to give up their lives so others may have a voice. How many of us are willing to accept that if we do not have anything worth dying for, then we do not have anything worth living for? Really, would you put yourself in harms way just so future generations could vote? Is that worth dying for? The imperfect one says, "Yes!" What if Dr. King had not made a stand. What if late President JFK had remained silent, and had not asked what he country could do for his country? Would a good Christian nation be just that? A nation still segregated and filled with hate, and barriers? Would we still be a "good" nation that allowed slavery, rather than a great nation? The imperfect one hears daily about how this nation is in the worst debt that its ever be in, and still people are willing to risk life and limb just to be a part of it. What happens next? Who will we blame next? If a Republican takes office next will a Four Trillion Dollar Deficit be alright? Will we take back America rather than take her forward? Will we continue to mistreat the elderly to death, and kill unborn babies? Instead of using African descendants for slaves, will we raise up an American Hitler, one that just wants to do away with all African, and Jewish descendants? Will we put in place a leader to rid the world of its problem, one that will seek and destroy anyone in its path that is not like us (them)? We as people get so blinded by the fight that we forget who the enemy is. It's a shame.

We as a family (with an imperfect Christian dad leading the way), went to view the new Captain America movie. It is the story of Steve Rogers, a young ruddy lad, that would do anything to serve his country. Steve had horrible genes, and illnesses in his bloodline that would shame an unhealthy kid from a third world nation. Steve wanted so desperately to serve his country, that he was willing to die on the spot to do so. He fell on what he believed to be a live grenade to save his company, and was willing to go through whatever it took, to finally get on board. If the imperfect Christian, and more like him, could have a heart like Dr. King, or a heart like the fictional character (Steve Rogers) inspired by true life characters, that were willing to serve their country, to serve God with, then our nation would be a much stronger one for sure. So how do we develop this heart? How do we go through this change, or desire to be on fire for God? Are you prepared?

Titus 3:5
Regeneration... renewing... It is not by our own doing according to Paul in his letter to Titus, so how true was Calvins theory? How untrue is it. Some people use, "The Common Sense" excuse, when it comes to their faith, or to doctrine, and do so to dodge the Spirit. They do so to dodge studying the Word. You here people say all the time, "Well I believe..." You know really it doesn't matter what you believe if it doesn't line up with the truth, which happens to be Gods' Word. Do you honestly believe that most people that sin, or do bad things, don't believe that what they were doing is acceptable or satisfactory to self so much so that they just excluded God? So let's look at the Word and see if we have any say at all, or if the choice really isn't ours, even in the least way. Gods' Word through His servant Joshua said, "And if it seem evil to you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.(JOSHUA 24:15)

Now some of your law biding perfect Christians are going to argue with you regardless. Your Calvinist brothers are going to be displeased with me for sure, and it's fine by me to agree to disagree. We have the same Savior, just believe differently on how He calls us.

Where does the renewing come from. If we have no say, or no part, then why are we here? How does the renewing take place if we have no say? Why do we have a need to change if we have no say? You can't grow if you have no say. You are just a puppet, and I do not see anywhere, in any portion of scripture that says we are puppets. A mother feeds her child when the child can't feed itself, but that child has a choice in what it eats as it matures into an adult. So how do you feel the change, and embrace the Spirit, and why is it now that people run from it. Don't pay tithes, don't sing praises. Where is the link, where is the connection? So is free will a joke? How do you feel about free will? The imperfect one feels that based on scripture, we have a choice this day as Christians and non-believers to a choice. Choose this day... whom you will serve. Jesus never begged, and he never forced anyone to go one way or the other. Let the imperfect one say again that just as Joshua instructed the Israelites he instructs us today, with Gods' Holy guidance, to choose "this" day whom we (YOU) would serve. That is a free will. So what choice will be made? Joshua said: But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord! Make a bold stand, and be prepared to preach the Gospel in and out of season. Be armed and ready...

Piggy Back Anyone?

 

Encouragement is hard to find for some people. Why? Because most of those people have never been encouraged. The imperfect Christian was talking to one of the executives at Crossroads Music, (which also happens to be a fine pianist, better producer , and even better person) when this executive asked the imperfect Christian if he'd had a chance to watch the 2011 Tour de France. The imperfect reply was along the lines of, "Yes sir, and loved it." The imperfect one appreciates the encouragement to stay in better physical shape. Kert, and the very gifted musical talent/executive do just that. Be encouraged! The imperfect Christians' immediate supervisor tells him that he has faith in him, and encourages him to keep focused and make it happen. Encouragement is a blessing, and the imperfect one is grateful. The Lord sent an angel of a friend by to encourage the imperfect Christian as a minister. Then the imperfect Christians wife rented "Soul Surfer," and encouraged him via a movie. Soul Surfer is a great flick by the way, and the imperfect one highly recommends it. This is not the imperfect surfer blog, but the imperfect Christian digs the surf for sure! To conclude, the illustration in this pic above is my version of Footprints in the Sand. The RAV4 is Christ, and Kert represents the lost soul that Christ carried along the way. Kert has hauled the imperfect Christian around plenty this year, and the RAV has hauled them both around plenty. So I pray that you are motivated to encourage others, to be encouraged yourself (I Thessalonians 5:11), and know that when there was only one set of tracks on the road or in the sand, that God had given you that piggy back. 

Peace, Blessings, and Joy... that real PB&J