It's Not The Title You Hold, But How You Hold The Title

Image Courtesy of Great Lakes Voice 

Lance Armstrong was crowned Tour De France Champion for a record seven times until he was stripped of his titles. He held the most prestigious title in the bicycling world until the discovery of his cheating. He held the title seven times temporally and wrongfully. Sadly enough he could have possibly won without cheating, and rather than being noted he would be noted as the biggest let down in cycling's history, he would have been recorded arguably as one of the greatest cyclist of all time. 

We all hold a title of some sort; World Champion, friend, Branch Manager, General Manager, Supervisor of Whatever You Do, so on, and so forth... 

The title that I am personally most thankful for, however, is:

MIC, or aka Most Imperfect Christian. 

The Most Imperfect Christian title assures me that I'm still a child of the ultimate crown holder, that I am a child capable of forgiving, capable of being forgiven, and a child of the undisputed King of kings, Lord of lords (I Timothy 6:15&16), and Most High (Acts 7:48). Therefore, I am a crown holder by being an heir to the King. 

How should we (as His children), hold our crowns? We'll share that in the next one. Until then:

Peace, blessings, and joy... That real PB&J

A Light at the End of the Faith-walk

After working for the past year every Sunday, I finally decided to be disciplined enough to visit with people that inspire me, and that I've promised to visit. 

Mr. James Davis was one that inspired me, and doesn't know that I'm blogging about him, so I can't get in trouble with him for boasting on him a bit. 

Mr. James always spoke to me at the store, always encouraged me, and never spoke harshly to me, of me, or of anyone when we spoke. He did however, invite me to church with every encounter. Today I honored that invitation. 

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him." Hebrews 11:6

I think it pleased God to see Mr. James' persistence pay off. I was in church and met a host of new friends. I met people genuine in their compassion, and enjoyed a great service at Friendship Baptist Church. 

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

Mr. James hoped God would move me, because he hadn't seen me until today. Hahaha! Upon seeing me and hearing my testimony, Mr. James blessed me with more kind words and asked me to call him when The Lord blessed me to under-shepherd His people somewhere, so he (Mr. Davis) could come hear me speak. It puts chills on me that someone still sees me as a man of the Most High, or that someone sees just a smidgen of Gods' presiding in me at all. 

Before that I attended the early service at the Spruce Pine UMC where Pastor J taught about keeping the faith also. He reminded me that God makes a way out of no way. Pastor Jeremy taught from Exodus 14, using an analogy that referred to the Dukes of Hazard. Classic sermon, and I'll never look at the parting of the Red (Reed) Sea quite the same again. "Caught between a rock and a hard place, between the devil and the deep blue sea." Pastor J reminded us that even if some of us often have our backs against the proverbial wall that God is always faithful and delivers His children. 

It was great seeing some very familiar faces; my band instructors from school, one of my star soccer players (pastor's daughter), a former cohort (band member) from the Playhouse, and others from other walks in my life. I had great experiences in both church families. 

Following up church, I had a great time watching the Panthers beat up on the Lions and eating way too much of my grandmama's delicious Sunday Best, and spending time with my Baby Girl... Life is good! Now capping off a great day with a wonderful night! #SuperSunday with a #ProudPapa that wears the title each day and participates in #ADayInTheLifeOfAnImperfectChristian

Peace, blessings, and joy... That real PB&J!

A Warm Embrace

A Warm Embrace...

A warm embrace begins with warm intentions. The imperfect Christian once frequented the local recycle center, taking his recyclable goods there at least once a week. You know empty milk cartons and Gatorade containers from fueling and refueling the body have to go somewhere. Therefore, embracing a love for Gods' green earth the imperfect one recycled. It was there that the imperfect Christian ran into a perfect role model for how an imperfect Christian should behave. Mr. Buster Sparks made certain to show Christian love to an imperfect Christian on every trip to the recycle center. 

One day before Christmas, nearing the turn of the decade and century, some participating partygoers took heed to his royal badness (Prince), and began to party like it was 1999; like we'd soon be out of time. The scare of major electrical/technological shut down and crisis filled the air worldwide as Y2K neared. But one man was not at all concerned with any of that. That man was Buster Sparks. Mr. Sparks only concern; that humanity would not celebrate Christ, but rather celebrate a faux end with a reprobate mind. 

Mr. Sparks looked at the imperfect Christian like one of his dearest friends and like a lost son trying to find his way. Mr. Sparks always taught the imperfect Christian a lesson in humility. Mr. Sparks always asked the imperfect Christian to pray for him. The imperfect Christians lesson in humility, to honor his elder, and God by not being ashamed of the gospel. Thank you Jesus, saints Paul, Timothy, and Pastor J. Trox! 

Mr. Sparks was a good, no a great Christian man. Mr. Sparks' Y2K lesson in humility, however, caught the imperfect Christian off guard. Mr. Sparks greeted the imperfect Christian this day with a kiss on the cheek. Shocked? Shocked indeed, like God Himself had pushed the imperfect Christian into a baptism pool filled with water and a live wire from a transformer! 

The Word of God says: 

"Greet one another with a holy kiss." Romans 16:16 (NKJV)

What did Mr. Sparks risk by greeting his brother with a holy kiss? Being judged for one. Secondly, a possible physical confrontation, and lastly being accused of being anything but a child of God. The imperfect Christian knew Mr. Sparks heart and knows it was one after Gods own. 

A warm embrace is from a loving heart, not a lustful one. Embrace love like a cold body embracing the warmth of the sun on a new, lively Spring day, transitioning from a bitter cold, winters day. 

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

Words with Meaning, or Meaning with Words?

 

The Fixx performed a song called, "One Thing Leads to Another," and in their song they pose the question: "Why don't they do what they say, say what they mean?" Then explain that, "one thing leads to another."

The imperfect Christian hears the term, "I'm sorry, and asks himself what is this besides uniformity? Does it truly ameliorate the issue at hand? Is it comforting or true? In most cases, no, it is not. It's a cop out that says, "Ok, you got me!" It is not a sincere, "How may I amend this, what may I do to right the wrong?"  

"I'd do ANYTHING to make it right again!" 

Would you really? If you would should the offended party be willing to forgive you, and if so, how many times?

How many times should I forgive my brother Lord? (Reference St. Matthew 18:21) Peter was gracious enough to ask the Lord if 7 times would be a sufficient amount of times to forgive someone, and Jesus said (paraphrasing in a modern voice); Homeboy if you can double the California penal code ruling and baseballs 3 strikes you're out rules, then you should be able to forgive 70 times 70!

Therefore, if you can forgive 490 times, then what's 491?!

Perhaps someone has promised you something? Perhaps they promised that they would be somewhere, or provide some sort of service, but failed to deliver? Perhaps they promised to love you? Have you completely forgiven that person? Are things like they were before the incident? If you answered, "no" then you haven't forgiven that person or yourself.

Sivart Pooknyw said, "I want my life to have meaning, not wording. When I say I love you, I love you, I not only speak it, I live it!"

How many times has someone told you that they loved you, but wouldn't take 30 seconds out of their day to pick up the phone just to check on you. How many times has someone told you that they'd do anything for you, but when you're down on your luck they will not pay your power bill, in fact they are likely not to give you a dollar toward your utility bills, or any other bills, let alone pay a total payment for you?

When a lover tells his/her partner that they love them, they don't just use words of uniformity. They live that, and make that word a work, and it's supposed to be an ongoing work.

There is one that paid it forward, once, and for ALL. Yes, er'body, even the imperfect Christian.

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

#Even_If

Even if you feel imperfect and don't feel worthy, remember that being a child of the King, means you, through Christ, are redeemed. Even if you have made mistakes and lived in constant sin, our God is still right there, and is still able to save us all. (John 3:17)

Even if you feel like Judas Iscariot, you can refuse the 30 pieces of silver, and even if you have already accepted them, you can still turn to the cross, rather than the rope. God can and will use you to His glory!

Even if you run like Jonah, or lie (as in lie down for those unaware of the Jez lifestyle) like Jezebel, God can and will use you. Hopefully we choose to be used for the kingdoms advancement through our advancement, rather than our being made an example.

Even if you feel rehab is beyond you, think of Rahab. She was a sporting woman that entertained many men, and God through Joshua used her, and saved her! Amazing how the entire city was destroyed and every wall downed, but Rahab and her house were saved! Yes, even if everyone else looks at you as filthy and worthless, God is able to change and save you, and rehab a Rahab! (Joshua 5&6)

Even if you struggle with sin, don't struggle with the knowledge of the love of God. Know His love, and you won't struggle with no love.

"For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world though Him might be saved!"(John 3:17 KJV)

Even if all hope appears to be gone, don't give in, don't give up, give everything, and give it to HIM, not man! Cross or rope, the choice is yours. The imperfect one prays that we all choose life!

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

Church Mother Jab!

Have you ever been to a church or out in public, and have a woman stick and move on you? The exception being that she did the sticking, and your head and neck did the moving? 

While in Jamaica, The imperfect Christian developed a stomach disorder. Mama T (the deaconess) chalked it up as running stomach. Her husband, Deacon Thomas, with her diagnosis, anointed the imperfect Christian with oil. He slathered it on the imperfect ones'  head, neck, and body. The deacon smacked the imperfect Christians skin like a good corner man does a fighter. The deacon prayed over the imperfect one, that day and gave the instructuon that everyone was to rise each morning at sunrise for Son rise at 5:30am to have devotion. After much prayer, The imperfect one examined Mama T's ingredients, and discovered that Mama T was putting milk (a lot of milk), in his breakfast drink. From then on out, it was only fruits and veg-Jah-tables  (veg-Jah-tables="vegetables" in the imperfect ones best Jamaican accent), an "I could've had a sweeter V-8," smack to the forehead, and healed! This was the cause of his running stomach, because the imperfect Christian is lactose intolerant... No more milk, no more running stomach, Go, and be blessed! 

One of the imperfect Christians favorite church leaders "Ms. Alice Swepson Ray," once prayed over him after noticing that he was hurting spiritually. Then with a Holy Ghost, pungent swat to the forehead, and a mild case of temporal whiplash, that lasted all of approximately two seconds, he was healed. In fact the imperfect Christian laughed after he realized that she had just knocked some sense into him. 

Then there was Mrs. Freeman. Mrs. Freeman used to do the same thing, and tell you that she loved you, but she would tag you with that flat open hand, to the forehead, quicker than a young Ali, and sharper than a seasoned, and oh so, crafty Larry Holmes could have. 

The imperfect one loves the late Ms. Marilee, and Ms. Alice, and he loves the Thomas'! Above all the imperfect Cristian loves The Lord, for introducing and allowing him to meet and know such great people.The imperfect one thanks Him, and praises Him for allowing him to go, and be blessed!

Deuteronomy 28:6 

Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. 

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

Justification Through Abdication

 

How do you justify hurting someone? How do you justify loving someone that hurts you? Sometimes doing the right thing is like being punched in the stomach. Remember "Harry and the Hendersons?" Remember the scene where George Henderson (John Lithgow) punched Harry (the late Kevin Peter Hall) in the stomach to get him to leave? George didn't want Harry to go, but he felt it was best for Harry, so even in what seemed like a putrid act of sheer evil to Harry, it was an act of love on the behalf of George.

It's like your best friend moving to the beach, you give them a hug because the ask for it, then they come by your house to say good-bye, but you can't muster the strength to go to the door, you just lie in you room on the bed and cry.

It's like the disciples and all of the followers , thinking that Jesus would free them physically, and that the Romans would die, while all along it was Jesus that would die, and go.

Jesus gone? The throne abdicated? Certainly not! But the King did let go. Rather than punch us in the stomach, He took the pain. The He let go of the pain, He released all the sins of man, and cast them into a devil's hell, into a sea of forgetfulness, when we repent. Today perhaps you too, feel like you are living in hell, and don't want to die and go to hell. Call on Jesus (Romans 10:10-13), and He will release your sin as well. Are we sin free from then on? No. So is there a sinner preaching to you? Possibly. Is it a hypocrite preaching at you? Possibly. But what is impossible is saying that God doesn't love you. If He can use a wretch like the imperfect Christian to touch one soul, then imagine what He can do with a loyal soul, that is on fire for Him!

Letting go isn't always easy, not even if it's letting go of something for the right reason. Sometimes we have to let go of things that we love because it's best for the loved one, it may not feel like it's best for you, but it is, and sometimes we have to let go of things that we wish we could, and most likely should do without. At times letting go is necessary. Be blessed and know that He is GOD, and that you are LOVED!

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