Biblical Social Media Behaviour

Today in church I was teaching the youth in youth class how to use social media properly in a Biblical way:

John's 3rd epistle was a physical letter sent to the church of Gaius. In it we see behaviours from Christians in the church. Some were godly behaviours (receiving the Christian workers, preaching the Gospel, and loving the church) and some were ungodly behaviours (denying/not receiving/blocking the Christian workers).
Let us translate those behaviours into the modern world where we meet in person in church AND we also interact online through social media on the internet using devices such as phones, tablets, and computers. Social media is a TOOL in our tool kit. It does not replace physical attendance in the local churches, but can be a great AID to helping Christians stay connected in between services. It also is a great tool for reaching non Christians with the Gospel in fun and creative ways. I personally use social media to share my original Christian songs with the world.

The Apostle John writes in one verse:
3rd John v8
"We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth."

 

I taught my youth class a number of things using 3rd John as my starting point:

 

1) Be kind to all on social media platforms, especially your fellow Christians in your own local church and community. But also be kind to strangers. Jesus taught that we can befriend even those who were socially unacceptable to the Jews.... like the Samaritans. 

2) Don't pick fights with people online, seek peace

3) being kind to strangers does NOT mean you have to trust them. Be wise and cautious.

4) don't share your personal info, address, phone number, bank info etc etc.in a public profile where the world can read it.

5) speak truth (not lies) online, and do it in polite ways that encourage others. Only speak truth in small doses... so people have time to absorb and reflect on it.

6) you don't have to accept every friend request from every Christian necessarily in order to be kind and accepting of them and to pray for them. But you should not block them either.

7) blocking should only be done when you are being harassed/threatened by someone online and/or they are sending inappropriate messages to you. In those cases, by all means, use the block feature, and gain your peace back.

8) In social media, It's better to be friends predominantly with people who you know in person. And it is best not to block harmless people. Contrary to what you may think, those personal local Christian connections will feel left out or hurt once they discover you have blocked them for no good reason. And trust me, if they care about you, they will find out.
If you do NOT want to accept the friend request, just leave it, or delete it. No need to block unless you are being endangered or harassed by someone.

I have been on both ends... both the blocker and the blockee. And trust me, if you are harmless, and you don't know why you are being blocked by a fellow Christian worker (or more than one) in the faith, it hurts. I only block when I have been threatened or repeatedly harassed online. No explanation needed there.
 
Receiving is better than blocking. Blocking the fellow workers is similar to the negative thing that Diotrephes did.

3rd John v9-10

"9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us.

10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church."

Now, if someone is a weird stalker or abuser, then by all means, block them and deny access.

But it is my humble and experienced opinion that it simply is not necessary to block those fellow workers, those fellow local Christians. You don't have to be "friends" with them on social media either. But you also should not slam the door by blocking. What you are saying by blocking is "I am ok with the weird strangers of the world seeing my public social media profile but not with my brother or sister in Christ seeing it".

Let us find ways to make peace and promote the LOVE OF CHRIST.
These are just my opinions and some food for thought.

Blessings

PC

Happy New Year!
Sun Dec 31 2017 4:01pm

Single or Married - Discipleship's different costs

Cost Of Discipleship
Married or single, following Jesus will cost you something. Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you.
Your worldly life, and even some of your natural connections to the world and your family will die as you walk with Jesus.
Jesus wants you to Himself.

For singles, particularily childless singles, discipleship looks a certain way. It costs us a lot in certain ways, like companionship, personal prayer from a spouse, and sexual fulfillment. But in other ways, singles pay less than married people in order to be a disciple of Jesus. Jesus Himself was a single man on the earth. Singleness was an awesome tool in His hands which He used to bring all of humanity the way to be saved! He died on the cross, and rose again on the third day. That is the way we are saved, by faith in the grace of Jesus, who died in our place and rose again.
So salvation is truly free. No matter what sins you committed in your past, you can be forgiven in Jesus and saved. (See Romans 10:9-10, 1 John ch.1).

BUT, once you are saved, true discipleship will cost every disciple. No question about that. Indeed some Christians pay the ultimate price sometimes because they are killed for their faith. It happened all throughout history, and still happens in the world today.

In less extreme circumstances, discipleship will still cost you. It will cost you things you want in the flesh and it will cost you sometimes in popularity or in comfort or in all of the above.
If you are married, you are forced to make more use of the tools of this world- money, schooling, etc. If you also choose to have kids, that makes it necessary to make even more use of the world's tools.
None of these things are bad in themselves... but they can have a collectively heavy feeling on those who are trying to give their all to Jesus.

The Apostle Paul summed it up quite nicely in this text from 1 Corinthians 7:

1 Cor. 7:27-35 NKJV
27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 
28 But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.
29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, 
30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, 
31 and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.
32 But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. 
33 But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. 
34 There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. 
35 And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

Having a wife (or a husband for my female readers) means you must look after her needs, by making use of the world. Having children will increase that burden even moreso. It will draw you even further into making use of the world, a world which is fading away quickly. This is an important responsibility-- raising children. But it is heavy, and it is not required in order to be a disciple of Christ.

So, if you can manage to balance natural family with discipleship to Jesus, then it is fine. Childless singles do not have such a pull on them, they do not have two forces calling their attention in two different directions.
And certainly if a man of God married a woman of God, and both are committed disciples, they have an advantage... knowing that they are both willing to put Jesus FIRST.
Nevertheless, marriage and natural family will be a challenge for the disciple of Christ. Yes, natural family was created by God and is good and is blessed. But God also created the spiritual family of Christ through Jesus. Both the natural and spiritual family is important. The spiritual family is eternal.
For married people, the cost can take on a very different look than it does for singles.
Jesus explains it in the following Bible verses:

Luke 12:52
For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three.

Luke 12:53
Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Mark 3:25
And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

The stark reality of the Gospel and of discipleship and of serving Jesus is that it will sometimes divide natural families. It is not any fault of Jesus or of the disciple. But the children will sometimes rebel. Sometimes even the spouse of a disciple will rebel.
The Gospel will ALWAYS have a unifying effect on the true SPIRITUAL family of God (The Body of Christ/The churches). But the Gospel often divides natural families because of the rebellious sinful nature of unregenerate humans. It's not Jesus to be blamed, but our own selfishness in refusing to put Jesus first.

And when we DO put Jesus first, the wife/children may get jealous or upset. Many people think the wife and kids must come first, but that is not what Jesus says. The cost is very real. Jesus drives this point home... we are to love our family yes, and treat them with dignity and respect. But we MUST LOVE JESUS MORE than anyone or anything.

Luke 14:26 NKJV
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

That word "hate" in this context means "to love less". In other words, you must Love Jesus MORE than your wife and kids... if you DO in fact have a wife and kids. For women this is equally true. Jesus demands that female disciples also love Him more than they love their husband and kids.
He makes this crystal clear because He knows that natural family does not always want what God wants. So when it comes time to choose, (and the time to choose WILL come to all married people and to all parents) will you choose Jesus' practical way over your family's practical ways? What will you put into practice? Who will you follow? For singles, this choice must be made also. Things like career and friends and extended family can have a pulling effect on the childless single. But the effect of that pull may not be as poignant and demanding as the pull experienced by a married disciple from his wife and/or children.

Luke 14:27 NKJV
And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

Luke 14:33 NKJV
So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

So the choice is yours... marry or stay single. Either way, bearing your cross is unavoidable. But the shape that cross takes is determined by the circumstances of life which God gives you and is also determined by whether or not you get married.

 Some have already been married and ended up divorced. Some who are divorced have one or more children as a result. God bless you if you are in such a situation.... Jesus loves you and your child, in the same way He loved and blessed the single parent, Hagar and her child Ishmael.

Choose the difficult narrow path: choose Jesus and His way. He IS the way. (See John 14:6) And if you choose to get married, prepare to face the cost of discipleship in a new light. And if you do choose to have children in that marriage, that is a GOOD thing. But again, be prepared or the inevitible cost of discipleship that will eventually catch up with you. Jesus must come before your wife, and before any child you bring forth in the natural. Jesus taught that. It will cost you, and sometimes He calls us to place natural family on the altar. (See Abraham and Isaac).

Never fear though, because God gives you the strength through Christ to accomplish all this and more... if you WANT a natural family that is. (Read Philp. 4:11-13 for full context). You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you! Like Paul, we can learn to be content in Christ whether we suffer loss (of things like family support) or whether we enjoy abundance (of things like family support). Natural family is a blessing from the beginning of Creation. It is affected by the sin of Adam. Jesus redeems individuals and can even redeem entire families from sin. Division in families only occurs when some members of the house do not want freedom from sin.
So Jesus does not require His disciples to get married or to produce children in marriage.
But He gives His disciples the freedom to get married and even to have children if they so desire. He gives them that freedom with a warning: you must love Me more than you love them. And that love will always require practical proof at some point down the road. That practical proof of your First Love will be costly.

All disciples must bear a cost for following Jesus the Lamb. You may be single and childless. You may be a single parent. You may be married and stay childless. You may be married and plan to have children. Regardless of what circumstance you are in, Jesus is with you to help you bear your cross of discipleship.

AND as Paul tells us, all of these different kinds of costs we bear are temporary. So regardless of the temporary cost we bear now, it is not to be compared with the eternal glory we will enjoy in heaven with Jesus! And we are not required to have a natural family in order to be accepted by Christ. Grace through faith ALONE is what makes us acceptable and saves us.

Ephesians 2:8 NKJV
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

2 Corinthians 4:17 NKJV
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

1 Peter 5:10 NKJV
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

Should you get married? And if so, should you have children? That is between you and Jesus (and the person you are considering marriage with). There is no right or wrong answer here.
 If He gives you the heart for such serious responsibilities, go for it! He will help you pay the cost of such a heavy path!

But just understand that if you are walking in the Spirit of God, then there is NO CONDEMNATION on you if you choose singleness or childlessness. God does not punish us for keeping our lives fixed only on Him. He rewards us for diligently seeking Him! And, He helps us to do that. If you don't have it in your heart to get married or remarried, that's ok! You are accepted in Jesus regardless.
Or if it is not in your heart to have natural children, then that is perfectly ok! You are accepted in Jesus!

 God has other things to fill your heart with like the care of His church and His spiritual children!
Singleness is not to be imposed on people as mandatory. But at the same time, it is also not to be shunned or looked at as a second-class. Marriage and natural family is important and sacred. So is singleness.
 In actuality, Jesus and Paul kept their lives single and simple in the natural and they used that to their advantage to advance the spiritual family of God. Singleness is sacred to God because of Christ.

Divorced? Why you should wait before dating again.

 If you are divorced you will need time to mourn, grieve and heal from the loss and death of a marriage. A fresh divorce is very much the same as the death of a loved one, only in this case, it is the death of a marriage. Marriage is a God-ordained sacred institution that none of us entered lightly, and yet here we are, abandoned and alone, with the certificate in hand. We can be very good at hiding our emotions from others and even from ourselves. But God sees it all and wants to heal you, tenderly console you in Christ, and put your heart back together again... over time. It takes time. Trust me, I speak from experience. I was abandoned and got a divorce over 8 years ago.

If you don't give your self space between divorce and dating again, you will be more likely to make mistakes in dating. People often rush into dating to avoid the pain of abandonment and loneliness. But in doing that they deny themselves the much needed time to collect their thoughts and reflect and release the past and forgive as needed. To avoid feeling your grief is to avoid true healing in Christ.

 We need to face our grief head on. We are not alone as we have Jesus and we can use the support of the church and friends. He will touch your heart in special and powerful ways.

 Everyone's season of grief is different. There is no set time limit. Some people need to grieve longer periods of time than others. I did not start dating for the first 7 years of divorce. I was not even ready to even think about dating in the first two years. But do I impose my 7 year waiting period on others? Absolutely not. I healed and felt ready in my own time, according to the seasons God had for me. I am now in a season of regrowth, of growing something new. Never let anyone tell you to stop grieving until you are ready to stop. Grief DOES have an end... that end is heart health and healing in the mind and spirit and soul. But only GOD and you can tell when you are feeling well enough to retry in the world of dating. Go at your own pace. If you need 2 years alone with the Lord, take it. If you need 5 years... then God is there for you. If you are like me then you perhaps did not feel ready to date for a whole 7 1/2 years. But no one is timing you. Go slow and resist the fleshly urge to date just for the sake of avoiding pain and loneliness. Only Jesus can help you in your wounded state. 

In time.. the season of singleness will shift from mourning to recovery and growth. No one really plans how long they will grieve. They just take it a day at a time. Don't skip grieving. It is so important that you slow down and let God deal with your broken expectations and crushed dreams. If He can help a man like me who was devastated by abandonment and divorce, He... Jesus... Can most certainly heal YOU!

 The grieving process is like a detox for the soul. It helps you slowly, in Christ, cleanse your soul and mind from: bitterness, unforgiveness, repetitive and tormenting memories. It helps you drop your bags at the cross of Jesus. You will want to open the bags and revisit its contents. Jesus lets you. He does not force. When you are done, close the bag and let it permanently rest against the foot of the cross

 It is a spiritual and soulish process with a definite start and an end. But only Jesus and you can determine how long that process should be. And your friends and pastor will be able to see your healing as you go. 

I am now healed from my past divorce. I started dating a tiny bit last year in 2016. Then I did a little more early this year. Now I am developing a new friendship - a connection that will help me focus on my future in Jesus. Whether anything serious comes of it, the Lord knows. But God has, in eight years of divorce, healed me to the point where I can now entertain the idea of trusting again, having fun again, being myself again... and being accepted for who I am. 

I pray the Lord will give you the COURAGE to face your divorce pain and give you HOPE for your future. He can and will HEAL you in the season of divorce and grief. Grief is only a season... and the season of hope is just after that! God bless! -Pastor Curtis

Tu Nov 14 2017 1:03pm EST

The Two Marriage Covenants (Old and New)

The Two Marriage Covenants, Old and New.
Sunday Sept. 3 2017

God works in covenants, all throughout Scripture. He establishes several which all work together towards His goal of a Holy Heavenly Nation.
There is one covenant in particular that is of special importance:
In the Beginning, God Establishes an EVERLASTING COVENANT that cannot be broken. It was established between Father and Son, who are two yet ONE. Both being perfect and completely unified with each other, this covenant would never be voided because neither party would violate the terms of it.
The Father and the Son would both perfectly fulfil the terms of this covenant forever. It was sealed by the death of Jesus on the Cross, and its benefits began to be distributed at His resurrection.

Rev 13:8 GNV
Therefore all that dwell upon the earth, shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of that Lamb, which WAS SLAIN from the beginning of the world.

He was slain before time began. Meaning, the Father and the Son had already established the EVERLASTING COVENANT based on that sacrifice, long before that sacrifice would actually occur.

Note that The Father and the Son had already established the details of the Everlasting Covenant, long before the world began.

Matthew 22:1-2 ESV
1 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, ² “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,

John 17:4-5 GNV
4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
5 And now glorify me, thou Father, with thine own self, with the glory which I had with thee
BEFORE the world was.

Genesis 9:16 GNV
Therefore the bow shall be in the cloud, that I may see it, and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living thing, in all flesh that is upon the earth.

Genesis 17:7 GNV
Moreover, I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

Hebrews 13:20 GNV
The God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting Covenant,

Later, in the Old Testament God established a Covenant With Israel, after delivering them from bondage in Egypt - This was The First Marriage Covenant at Mount Siniai. And it was between God and Natural Israel. The purpose of this covenant was to establish a people through which to bring forth a Messiah. It would also serve to show how much better the New Covenant would be.

Deuteronomy 4:13 GNV
Then he declared unto you his covenant which he commanded you to do, even the ten commandments, and wrote them upon two Tables of stone.

Deuteronomy 5:2 GNV
The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.

Deuteronomy 5:3 GNV
The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers only, but with us, even with us all here alive this day.

The First Marriage Covenant was eventually broken (nullified) by Israel who violated the terms of the covenant. They were without true, whole-hearted repentance. After centuries of calling to them to turn back, and their refusal, God decided to divorce them.
Jeremiah 31:32 GNV
Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, the which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord.

God divorces Israel in recognition that the old covenant, the first marriage, has been broken by Israel. They were steeped in unrepentant unfaithfulness and idolatry. This divorce was sealed by their deportation to Syria (Assyria/Ninevah). They would never return home.
Through their unfaithfulness to the Faithful God, they broke/nullified the covenant.
Jeremiah 3:8 GNV
8 When I saw, how that by all occasions rebellious Israel had played the harlot, I cast her away, and gave her a bill of divorcement: yet her rebellious sister Judah was not afraid, but she went also and played the harlot.

Thus we know:
A) Covenants CAN be broken if one of the parties violates the terms of that covenant and refuses to repent.
B) Divorce in itself is not a sin, since God has used divorce Himself. He cannot and does not sin. He is holy, faithful and righteous. It is a last-resort provision in case there is a violation of a covenant where no true lasting repentance can be seen or found. If a covenant is broken and there is no lasting repentance, divorce can be used... because the covenant was already broken.
C) The Everlasting Covenant cannot be Broken because both parties are flawless and completely unified with each other. The Father and the Son are ONE. (John 10:30) The Everlasting Covenant represents the Second Marriage, the marriage between the Lamb and the New (Heavenly) Jerusalem.

God kept a remnant of Israel in the tribes Judah and Benjamin, for the sake of His covenant to David's house. That everlasting covenant, the new one, would be fulfilled by Jesus Christ, the greatest son of David.
God promises to remarry the House of Israel through a new covenant.
Hosea 2:19-23 GNV
19 And I will marry thee unto me forever: yea, I will marry thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in mercy, and in compassion.
20 I will even marry thee unto me in faithfulness, and thou shalt know the Lord.
21 And in that day I will hear, saith the Lord, I will even hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth,
22 And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil, and they shall hear Jezreel.
23 And I will sow her unto me in the earth, and I will have mercy upon her, that was not pitied, and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people. And they shall say, Thou art my God.

That new covenant is the EVERLASTING COVENANT between FATHER and SON from before the foundation of the earth. It was CONSUMATED at the CROSS of Jesus.
John 19:30 GNV
Now when Jesus had received of the vinegar, he said, It is finished, and bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Through Jesus Christ, any Israelite or Gentile can come be a part of HIS NEW BRIDE, the NEW JERUSALEM. Jesus Christ the Son of God, is the Husband of the New Jerusalem (The Bride). Jesus Christ is ONE WITH THE FATHER (John 10:30).
Thus, Hosea 2:19-23 is fulfilled in Jesus Christ's marriage to the New Jerusalem. This is the Second Marriage, and unlike the first, it is ETERNAL because the covenant was between two persons who are UNIFIED, SINLESS and FLAWLESS.

Hebrews 6:16-18 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

¹⁶ For men verily swear by him that is greater than themselves, and an oath for confirmation is among them an end of all strife.

¹⁷ So God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the stableness of his counsel, bound himself by an oath,

¹⁸ That by two immutable things, wherein it is impossible that God should lie, we might have strong consolation, which have our refuge to lay hold upon that hope that is set before us,

Revelation 21:9-14 GNV
9 And there came unto me one of the seven Angels, which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come: I will show thee the bride the Lamb’s wife.
10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and an high mountain, and he showed me that great city, that holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 Having the glory of God, and her shining was like unto a stone most precious, as a jasper stone clear as crystal,
12 And had a great wall and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve Angels, and the names written which are the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.
13 On the East part there were three gates, and on the North side three gates, on the South side three gates, and on the West side three gates.
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the Lamb’s twelve Apostles.

There are three in Heaven, The Father God, Jesus the Word, and the Holy Spirit. These three are ONE (Triune). (See 1 John 5:7 in the Geneva Version or King James Version)
Jesus is married to New Jerusalem.

Jesus is God and Saviour:
2 Peter 1:1
Simon Peter a servant and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, to you which have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Any person, Israelite or Gentile, who wants to be a part of the Bride, must come through the DOOR, Jesus Christ. (John 10:9). Through Jesus Christ, any person may enter into the NEW COVENANT. This new covenant is EVERLASTING, and it culminated in a SECOND MARRIAGE, a permanent and eternal one.
God Bless!

Ten Things I Have Learned in my 30's

10 things I have been learning in my 30's.
I will be turning 38 in a few short months. It's time to reflect on what my 30's have taught me in my walk with Jesus so far. Perhaps you can relate to some of what I share here.
10 lessons from my 30's:

Lesson 1. 30 is the time, Biblically speaking, to WALK IN a greater fullness of YOUR CALL. It's time to come into full adulthood and maturity.
-Joseph became the Vice-Pharaoh of Egypt at age 30,
-David was anointed king at age 30, and
-Jesus began His public ministry at age 30.
My 30's have truly been a time of increase: in maturity, in responsibilities, in authority, in anointing, and in ministry. In a nutshell, I was able to follow the Call from God. I believe God placed this call on my life in my childhood. I started answering the call in my 20's. But it was in my 30's when I saw the strength of this calling... and how it had survived many losses and adversities and actually flourished. Like David, Joseph, and Jesus, I had come through adversity in order to be tested and purified in character. The trials of my 20's prepared me to walk in a greater fullness in my 30's.

Lesson 2. You start to trim off the things that don't work in your life. By the time I hit 30, I had already gained experience through ambition and effort and tried many different things, including small business and travel.
 Not everything in my 20's worked. Some of it was VERY successful and carried into my 30's, such as my success in retail and in local church ministry. So failures are not a negative point... they are positive... because they allowed me to zero in on what DOES work for me. Every failure and every success contributes to my overall learning and growth.
So by the time I was in my 30's, I realized I don't have to achieve all the goals I once held in my 20's. I just need to be faithful to the Lord Jesus and walk in the path He calls me to. I simply do what works for me.

Lesson 3. I learned to let go of my young naive ideals about how life should be. By the time I was in my 30's I had a much more realistic and mature perspective on life and goals. I faced some huge disappointments and losses.
Life can deal some tough blows sometimes, and one has to learn that God only works GOOD, using both GOOD and BAD circumstances. He transforms all things for His plan. He only does GOOD, but He does not waste the BAD things that happen to us. They become a part of His design to form us into the image of His son, Jesus Christ.

Lesson 4. I don't have to be like everyone else. Don't compare yourself to others or gauge your "success" on what others have achieved.
There are many things I don't have, that others do. And now I realize, I don't care. Things went differently for me, and God blessed me in this path. So I simply do not compare myself to others, for that would rob me of contentment and it would rob God of the glory that my intentional gratitude brings to Him.

Lesson 5. I need to rest every now and then. I was constantly go go go in my 20's, but now I can see that rest should ALWAYS be a part of the equation. God rested on the seventh day after creating heaven and earth. Jesus invites us to come to Him to find rest.
I now notice that stress can creep up on me more often than it used to. So I have learned to work hard during the week, and rest just as hard on my day off.... if that makes sense!! I have 2 jobs, but I choose to take a rest day every week.
I rest with intention. I do things for fun sometimes. Like playing piano, making music, taking photographs, going for walks, writing.
I never really valued time off from work in my 20's. But let me tell you, I do now!! I have always loved working, and I still do. But now, rest is an actual priority for me. If I don't make it a priority, it could take a toll on me later in life.
So I make sure I am booking a week off from work every now and then. And I rest one day every week. And if I have other odd jobs to do that do not have a time limit, I pace myself. I no longer rush everything, because I realize I am only one human being.

Lesson 6. When I was 20, I wanted to be seen as "mature and old enough". But now, I welcome being called "young". Why? because in the next decade, I will likely start to show my age more. Right now, people usually underestimate my age by as much as ten years!
I am now being seen as both "young" and "old" at the same time. Young adults at work will joke with me and call me "old" and then 5 minutes later, a customer older than me will come by and call me "young man".
Of course, I welcome all the "young" compliments I can get!

Lesson 7. Humility has been a power tool in my life.  I have been discovering this in my 30's. I was practicing it in my 20's. But now, in my 30's I feel God is refining that character trait.
 I have discovered that being meek and pliable in God's hands is very empowering. And showing grace and humility to others also opens many doors. A lowly and humble man is one that does not think he is better than everyone else and does not always think he is right. A humble and gracious man is one who knows that he is never done with LEARNING. Such a man is powerful enough to receive constructive criticism without retaliating or falling into the emotional tank. Humility is an awesome weapon against satan, whose greatest downfall was his pride. And as the Bible states, Pride comes before a fall.

Lesson 8. Your body is not invincible. I was never reckless in my youth. But I also never fully realized that health issues could eventually happen to me, either. That is why I got so many cavities in my teeth in my late 20's. I just did not clue in that I needed to floss in order to keep my teeth clean. Brushing alone does not do the whole job. My dentist was always after me to floss. But it was not until after having all those cavities filled, at age 29, that it really dawned on me.
I entered my 30's with a renewed awareness....my body can fall apart if I don't look after it.
This new experience brought on a different kind of awareness. It was not mere head-knowledge... but it was now an active reality to me that caused me to take action. 

Overall, I have had very few health issues in my life, Praise God. But I HAVE had a few (other than cavities), and they mostly happened in my 30's. Bursitis, Shingles, and S.I. Joint dysfunction were among those issues. Each problem has been brought under control because I was humble enough to pray and also get medical help when needed.
So be aware of your body and never ignore signs of illness. When you see something happening to your body, Pray first - in Jesus Name. Then, as needed, seek medical advice from your doctor. Remember, if it is happening now, in your 30's, then that could be a problem later if left unchecked.

Also, because of this, I eat more fruits and vegetables now. I'm still eating other stuff, like sweets. But I have been more conscious of my diet lately and been eating more fruits and vegetables than I did in my 20's. I am a tall lean person, but I can't take it for granted. What I eat in my 30's will shape what I become in my 40's- and that decade is just around the corner. So getting nutrients from raw fruits and veggies has become more important to me.

Lesson 9. You start to realize that you don't have to defend your position or justify yourself to everyone. Practice being accountable with God and with your local church and your loved ones. But by the time you are in your 30's, the random opinions of uninformed ignorant observers will mean less and less to you.
I have learned this lesson. Yet I still need to be reminded every once in a while: don't take every comment personally. Explaining my heart to someone can actually work against me if I do not have a deeper connection to that person already. So my 30's have taught me to say less in general, and to listen carefully.

Lesson 10. Your Experience Pool has some depth to it now. When we are young 20-somethings, we have little personal experience to go on. That is why we often try so many things... we are trying to find out where we fit in. By the time I was in my 30's I had some significant experiences to draw from. Marriage. Divorce. Small Business. Retail. College. Ministry. Your personal pool of experiences hopefully helps you make wise decisions in your 30's. 30 is a time of GREAT OPPORTUNITY in the Lord. You are still young and energetic enough to try new things, and yet your are also old enough to have a set of experiences to draw from. It's a great time of life and an interesting mix. One of my sales reps at the store who has known me in the business for years, once described me as being "young and experienced"! THAT is a decent description of a 30-something.

 And THOSE are 10 lessons I have been  learning in my 30's! But there are more lessons I have learned. And there will be more lessons to BE learned too!

If you are in your 30's please share:
What have you learned in your 30's?

If you are in a different age bracket, tell me:
what age bracket are you in, and what have you learned so far?

God bless!
1:11am EST
Tue Aug 22 2017

VISION: The MOUNTAIN above Canada

Vision: Mountain and Flood over Canada.
A couple of months ago I received a spiritual, symbolic vision from the Lord Jesus Christ.

I was at church praying in our prayer service and the Lord suddenly showed me the whole map of Canada, slowly being submerged under water. Then I saw a mountain above Canada, and it was most impressive. It was small at first, but kept growing as it needed to, and it could be reached from any place within Canada (or from anyplace in the world for that matter).
All the valleys were flooded out and even Canada's tallest natural mountain, Mount Logan in the Yukon at a massive 5,956m above sea level was eventually dwarfed by this gigantic mountain.

 The Mountain I saw was never submerged. It was hovering above Canada, much like the crown is hovering at the top of Canada's coat of arms (see picture below). And all who were willing, went UP to the Mountain.
I figured now was the right time to share this since in the last day or two, there has been significant natural flooding in part of Southern Ontario.
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/grand-valley-grca-grand-river-conservation-authority-kitchener-storm-1.4174860
This is sad news for the Kitchener area, and I pray for those affected to be restored. May they cry out to the one true God, Jesus Christ. One of the towns affected was Grand Valley... near the Grand River. This natural event matches the spiritual vision I had a few months back: I had seen the "valleys of Canada" flooded in the spirit, several months ago. And now, we see here an actual town named Grand Valley being literally flooded.

I don't believe in coincidences. I feel the Lord is trying to get our attention.

Isaiah 59:19 (GENEVA)

So shall they fear [respect] the Name of the Lord from the West, and his glory from the rising of the Sun; for the enemy shall come like a flood; but the Spirit of the Lord shall chase him away.

 

Isaiah 59:19 (KJV)So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.

 
On Canada's coat of arms one latin phrase reads "Desiderantes Meliorem Patriam" on the round red ribbon in the center, around the shield. That's Latin for "They desire a better country". That phrase comes from the Bible and was added to our coat of arms in 1994.

Canada's Coat of Arms (above) has two phrases from the Holy Bible on it, in Latin

Here is the original text that Canadian officials drew from:
Hebrews 11:16 English Standard Version (ESV)
16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

So if we keep reading the book of Hebrews we learn that The Heavenly Country is Mount Zion, also known as the Heavenly Jerusalem (not the earthly Jerusalem):
Hebrews 12:22-25
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.

So the question is: are YOU enrolled in heaven? Are you going up to the MOUNTAIN of the LORD? You can do it right NOW! You can access New Jerusalem from wherever you are, by entering the Door, JESUS CHRIST!
Jesus declared:
John 10:9 English Standard Version (ESV)
9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.

Don't wait. Ask Jesus and enter into His kingdom right now. He LOVES you and wants you to live forever. He paid for your sins (shortcomings and lawless deeds) on the cross. He died and rose again, to save you! Enter today... access the mountain... go on UP! You reach the heavenly, better country, the New Jerusalem! It is eternal, and your citizenship is attainable TODAY. You get your passport and citizenship through Jesus, the DOOR. Citizenship is attainable as SOON as you apply! If you don't repent, sin will flood you out. You will be forever separated from God in hell. But God does not want that. He wants you to change your ways (repent) and head into the door, Jesus Christ! No matter what your past was, it can be washed in the blood of Jesus Christ. You can be clean. In Christ, you are IMMEDIATELY ELIGIBLE for citizenship in The New Jerusalem!! Just believe in Jesus.
And finally, God is allowing a different kind of flood into Canada, not a natural one. He is allowing adversity to flood our valleys. He wants us to head UP.... out of our comfort zones... out of our complacency, out of our low perspective, out of sin, out of compromised truth, and out of hiding. God is calling us UP through Christ...
INTO His City,
INTO His country,
INTO His right living
INTO His faith
INTO His Salvation
INTO The truth
INTO His love
INTO a place of true security that no disaster or false belief can touch
INTO eternal life.
I do not believe my vision is to be taken literally, but as a spiritual symbol of what the Lord wants for Canada in 2017. It is time to GO UP GOD's MOUNTAIN! God is allowing the spiritual flood of opposition to cause discomfort in the valley and to cause us to rise up in prayer and in obedience to Christ's Call and great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20).
Our lead pastor, Rev. Steve Coates recently preached at Church On The GO about this passage in Micah 4, and it really resonated with what the Lord had shown me in this vision:

Micah 4:1-5 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Mountain of the Lord
1 It shall come to pass in the latter days
that the mountain of the house of the Lord
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and it shall be lifted up above the hills;and peoples shall flow to it,
2 and many nations shall come, and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth the law,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
3 He shall judge between many peoples,
and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore;
4 but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree,
and no one shall make them afraid,
for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.
5 For all the peoples walk
each in the name of its god,
but we will walk in the name of the Lord our Godforever and ever.

John 8:58 English Standard Version (ESV)
58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

Let's go up to Heavenly Zion, like Micah 4:2 declares! Let's get our Heavenly citizenship... through Jesus. Canada, it's time to rise up, go up, take the highest ground! Jesus is calling. Canada has become a place like Micah 4:5... a place of many gods and there is confusion and disagreement on ground level. But we can choose to walk in the name of the LORD our GOD (v5).

What is the Name of the Lord God?
Philippians 2:10
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Our Canadian heritage is about desiring a better country. It's on our coat of arms. And now, that coat of arms has been restored to the brand new $10 bill. I recently had the chance to look at it. So the Word of God is on our new bills, and it's on our coat of arms, in Latin... both Psalm 72:8 (from sea to sea) and Hebrews 11:16 (they desire a better country).

Let's go up to the Better Country, New Jerusalem! Jesus is the Door!
Blessings
Pastor Curtis

Jun 24/17 5:30pm EST

NOT IN VAIN - Happy Steadfast Day!

TODAY is the day I am choosing to CELEBRATE the LORD'S STEADFASTNESS and how He has been teaching me to be the same!

 

 

 

My labour (church ministry, retail management, etc) is not in vain. Period. Should someone attempt to suggest otherwise, I will point them to 1 Cor. 15:57-58. Jesus is faithful.

 

May is an important month for me. It was the month I began serving as a ministry leader in the church, 16 years ago. Back then I was a youth director teaching children and youths about prayer and the Word. I was just a young man.

 

Years have passed and I am now our church's Assistant Pastor. I've seen a generation of children grow into adults in God, and I helped to contribute to their development. What a special privilege and honour that has been... and still is! There just isn't anything better than this for me... raising spiritual children.

  God's faithfulness has shone through my wonderful church, Church On The GO. I continue with youth ministry, but over the years I have expanded my portfolio of ministry: I teach the Word to adults, lead in worship, run a ministry to Christian singles, and do other tasks as needed for the church.

It is a month that has much reason to celebrate. But for me, this day also has the potential to remind one of disappointments and loss. But I choose to remember and CELEBRATE the GOOD of the LORD over the unfaithfulness of people. I aggressively and assertively declare the GOOD of the LORD which HAS PREVAILED in my life, and continues to prevail! He has given me victory, and I choose to walk in that victory every day. Trials have come, and still do come. I sometimes fail and have to repent.
But the understanding that I already have victory over those trials has shaped my attitude as a whole. The Lord always brings me through each trial. He hasn't failed me. He is FAITHFUL. 

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

57 But thanks be unto God, which hath given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye STEADFAST, UNMOVEABLE, abundant always in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is NOT IN VAIN in the Lord.

------

By the way, that Greek word for "vain" is defined by the blueletterbible as "emtpy, devoid of truth, fruitless" and it is also defined as "without SPIRITUAL WEALTH." Well that is what we have been studying in church.... God's wealth is 3-D! Our lead pastor got a revelation of the Word from the Holy Spirit on this concept of wealth being triune or 3-D. It is: the spiritual wealth of God, character wealth of the soul, and natural/bodily wealth such as money and health.

The Lord has made me immoveable. I depend fully on Him and not on my own strength or ability. Thank you Jesus for this day. This is a good day.... it's God's day.

 

Here is a list of things I choose to CELEBRATE about the LORD'S STEADFASTNESS in ME!

 

1. The Lord gave me a church ministry in May 2001... 16 years ago. He has expanded it since then.

2. Nearly 22 years work experience in retail.

3. My recovery from being abandoned, and recovery from divorce. (Married May 21 2005, Divorced Oct 15 2009) I am HEALED. I have FORGIVEN. I have MOVED ON in Christ. (In fact, today, it took me more than HALF A DAY to even realize that this was my former wedding date.

4. My SINGLES ministry is ONLY POSSIBLE due to the loss in my life... the compassion and the insight and experience the Lord allowed me to have is invaluable when ministering to other singles, divorced people and widowers.

Happy Steadfast Day.

-CJA

Sun May 21 2017 1:39pm EST

Feel Isolated in Christ? You are NOT ALONE!

Matthew 10:42 English Standard Version (ESV)
42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

1 Corinthians 7:17 English Standard Version (ESV)
17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.

I want to encourage you: don't be afraid to walk your unique and holy path in Jesus. He calls you to it, and it will be an isolating experience, just as Bonhoeffer explains in his book "The Cost of Discipleship". Believe me when I say that I can RELATE to this!!

Yes, we gather in fellowship in local public churches. But that does not mean our individual paths in Christ will all look identical. We all seek to have the same mind in Christ and the same doctrine. But not every path in Jesus will be the same. 1 Corinthians 12 does a great job of explaining the diversities of callings and gifts in Christ. It is always the same Spirit. There is unity through diversity of callings and gifts. Not all people have to do the same thing in the body. In fact, in that chapter, Paul says that if everyone did the same thing or had the same gift, then the spiritual body would not be fully equipped!
Discipleship will cause you to feel separate. Indeed I know I feel separated and sometimes misunderstood because I don't have the same calling and walk as others. God equips us with desires that match the calling. So don't feel bad when you don't desire what other people think you should desire.
Remember the source of your desires.... it is God who changes your heart and determines what you will desire:

Psalm 37:3-5 English Standard Version (ESV)
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
    dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him, and he will act.

By delighting in the Lord and in what He desires, He will plant His desires in your heart and they become yours. This is what I believe the Psalm is telling us. Let God give you the desires of your heart. Then when you go to ask for those things, He will grant your desires, because they match His sovereign desire. And His sovereign desire for you is GOOD and HOLY. But it still will not be the exact same path as other disciples/Christians. Contrast the difference of paths between Peter and John in the New Testament. One was called to die on a cross, the other lived to full age while banished on a prison island.

 People want to put you into a cookie cutter. But you don't fit in the cookie cutter mold. And that's ok. God is using your set of unique experiences to further His kingdom of spiritual children. You don't have to fit man's cookie cutter. God shaped you with a different mold! He shaped you into the image of His Son! And Jesus did not follow man's tradition or Adam's natural path. He PERFECTLY did the will of His heavenly Father. And Jesus IS the LAST ADAM.
The FIRST ADAM had sinned, and had a natural family who also took on his natural sinful nature.
The LAST ADAM, Jesus Christ, is SPIRITUAL, and did NOT sin. He was SINLESS, yet He took on our own sin. He took it on, so that He could adopt all who believe Him as SPIRITUAL children!
Isn't that amazing? Read 1 Corinthians 15 for Paul's teaching on the First Adam vs. the Last Adam.

 Your path is unique and holy in Christ! Stay close to Jesus and stay obedient to His Spirit. Don't second-guess what God has already told you and shown you. Not everything that applies to other persons in the church will apply to you. Though your brothers and sisters in Christ love you, they may not understand God's will for you fully. It's ok. Just love them. Don't waste time defending your position. Since you are not sinning, you have nothing to repent of. There is no shame in following Jesus, even if it costs you personal relationships. And please don't assume they are wrong in their path. Don't assume everyone must walk exactly the way you do in your practical and life choices.

Be BOLD. Be yourself in Christ. You don't take up the cross of a different disciple. You take up your own unique cross for Jesus. And that cross will be misunderstood by some Christians. People don't mean any harm. So please be gentle and gracious with them.

God bless and strengthen you for the journey ahead, and remember, you might feel like me.... alone at times. Even though you feel alone, remember that you have JESUS with you and Jesus and the FATHER are ONE.
Jesus declared:
John 16:32 English Standard Version (ESV)
32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.

This is my reality. The Father is with me too, because I believe in Jesus, Love Him, and obey Him.

Jesus promised you and me:

Matthew 28:20 English Standard Version (ESV)
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Bless you!
Pastor Curtis

Mon May 8 2017 9:47pm EST

Jesus is the Spiritual Body Builder

DID YOU KNOW?
Jesus Christ, the Head of the Body, is the spiritual "Body Builder"!
Are you on His side?

According to Scripture: Local Public Churches are Part of the Body of Christ!

Matthew 16:18b GNV
"...upon this rock I will BUILD my Church: and the gates of hell shall not overcome it."

Acts 9:31 GNV
"Then had the CHURCHES rest through all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, and were edified [a word meaning "built up"], and walked in the fear of the Lord, and were multiplied by the comfort of the holy Ghost."

Revelation 22:16 GNV
"I Jesus have sent mine Angel, to testify unto you these things in the CHURCHES: I am the root and the generation of David, and the bright morning star."

1 Corinthians 12:27-28 GNV
"27 Now ye are the BODY of Christ, and members for your PART.
28 And God hath ordained some in the CHURCH: as first Apostles, secondly Prophets, thirdly teachers, then them that do miracles: after that, the gifts of healing, helpers, governors, diversity of tongues."

You can be a sprititual "BODY BUILDER" too, in Christ!
1 Corinthians 14:12 ESV
"So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church."

Just like natural body builders, SPIRITUAL Body Builders (Christians) need faithfulness, fellowship, and repetition of the same spiritual exercises each week, as well as a healthy diet of the Word of God! No body part will thrive or increase in strength if it separates or hides or runs away from the Body. It will shrivel and eventually die. Creation teaches us that. No one in their right mind would cut off their own finger or toe for fun. So why would we cut ourselves off from fellowship? Each member of the Body is meant to stay in fellowship with other LOCAL parts of the Body and to THRIVE! In order to stay in fellowship, one must stay humble, slay their own pride, and overlook those unimportant issues that your fleshly nature "thinks" are important. Keep Jesus the Head, and His Body in view. What you do to your brothers and sisters in the local church is how you are treating the Body of Christ. Let us BUILD one another with the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit and with love and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  

Hebrews 10:25 (ESV)
25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

1 Corinthians 9:25 (ESV)
"Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable."

Acts 2:46-47 (GNV)
"46 And they continued daily with one accord in the Temple, and breaking bread at home, did eat their meat together with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and had favor with all the people: and the Lord added to the Church from day to day, such as should be saved."

Happy spiritual body building!
Blessings! Pastor Curtis

 Sat Apr 1 2017 3:33PM EST

The next leg of the journey

This verse below has been a part of my calling for the last 17 years. It seems the Lord is bringing it more to the forefront now.

Habakkuk 2:2 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

2 And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

I've been writing for years now. As the Lord shows me things, I write them. Lately, a prophetic word has been spoken over me a few times that I am to write a book. Maybe two or three books. Wait.... a BOOK??
That has caused me to think.

Unless the Lord shows me something, I really have nothing important to write! I'm just another nameless figure in a sea of writings. What could I possibly add? On my own, there is nothing I can add. There are plenty of good Christian authors out there. And I am lousy at sales and marketing. But if the Lord calls me and anoints me, then He must have something He wants to share with others through me. So I must be brave and face this challenge despite the feeling that it's been done before and I have nothing new to contribute to the world of books. I am content to write my little blog entries for my tiny audience. Yet the Lord seems to beckon me beyond that.

The following verse is helping me to embrace this call more:

 

John 21:25 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

25 Now there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which if they should be written every one, I suppose the world could not contain the books that should be written, Amen.
 

In other words, those books "SHOULD" be written, even if the world is already full of books about Jesus. Maybe God really does want me to write a book. I have put it off for so long. I didn't realize the struggle that would ensue. BUT.... ironically, here I am WRITING about my hesitancy to write. Funny how that works, huh? I'm ok typing out thousands of words about Christ, as long as it is in social media or in short blog entries. But I somehow freeze up when confronted with the mountainous task of writing a book.

 

See I've been writing my blog for over 7 years. And I have written many songs, many articles, many Bible studies. On the topic of the seasonal gift singleness, I have written over 70,000 words.
 In this way, I have been answering the call God gave me through Hab. 2:2. But a recent prophetic word was spoken over me that I am to write a book, possibly two or three. This has caused me to reevaluate my content and wonder if I have what it takes to master such a huge task. Yet in Christ I can do all things.

God is constantly helping us stretch our spiritual legs, helping us walk a little further than before. He does not want us to get too settled in the Way. The Way is Jesus. The Way is also a journey with Jesus. It seems now is the time for me to take the next leg of my journey with Jesus. I will push back all those soulish thoughts that make me feel unworthy of book writing. If Christ calls me to it, then Christ anoints me for it. That anointing, plus some anointed discipline, will be the only thing that gets me through this. Praise God.

Perhaps God is calling you too. He may be calling you into uncharted territory. You've not been this way before. You will need to depend more on Him to direct your steps. But if He calls you, He will anoint you for it as well! Blessings!
-PC

Sun Mar 5 2017 12:25am EST

Don't stop writing, even when people chose to misjudge you

Proverbs 18:13 Geneva Bible (GNV)
He that answereth a matter before he hear it, it is folly and shame unto him.

James 1:19 Geneva Bible (GNV)
19 Wherefore my dear brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath.

Don't let the false judgements that certain individuals cast on you be a weight. Just bless them in Jesus' name, brush the dust off, and move on. Don't retaliate. Bless. And be joyful in the righteousness of JESUS, knowing that Jesus was also misjudged, misquoted, and was accused of saying things that He never actually said! If you stand on the Rock (Christ), and share your personal story, some people will panic because your story does not sound like their own personal ideal or their own journey in Christ. They may be tempted to assume you are wrong, when in fact there is nothing Biblically wrong with you.

Some people might answer you prematurely, before they TRULY hear (understand) what you are saying or writing. So please don't be discouraged by the odd ones who want to paint you in a negative light with a broad brush of generalization. That brush is not your identity. Your identity is in Christ alone. You are already justified by Christ, so you don't have to try and justify yourself to random people on social media. Yes those comments may be hard to hear at first, and emotionally upsetting.

But try to realize that they often have nothing to do with you. Most often I have found that the worst online criticisms usually come from people who have no actual relationship with you. They are just another person on social media. God bless them, but they are not your final authority. Only Jesus Christ (The Word) is the final authority.
 And you don't have to waste time debating people who have -chosen- to misunderstand you by jumping to premature conclusions. When giving a final account, you will stand before God only, NOT before these arm-chair theologians and critics.
Just remember the words of Jesus:

Matthew 5:44 Geneva Bible (GNV)
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies: bless them that curse you: do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which hurt you, and persecute you,"

And finally, please don't stop sharing your walk with Christ. SOMEone needs to hear your story and how Jesus has faithfully led you in His own righteousness. Please keep writing, walking, and encouraging others. You will soon be the balm that will soothe the pain of another. Blessings to you!!

Still learning and growing, walking and writing, in Christ,


- Pastor Curtis

The Man Who Taught Children: A Short Story

The Man Who Taught Children: A Short Story

Luke 12:51-53 GENEVA VERSION
Jesus said:

51 Think ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, nay, but rather debate.

52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father: the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother: the mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

There was a man who has spent nearly 16 years pouring ministry, love, teaching into children in his church youth class. They are the children of others who come to church. He has made an investment into future generations. He continues to do it for new children.
No doubt, though he may not see it, many of those children have grown up to be followers of Christ and have gone on to serve the Lord and make the world a better place.

And sadly, some of those older children from previous classes have grown up to block and/or unfriend him on social media.. and to distance themselves from him in person.... and it stings. But he still prays for them in Jesus' Name. It was Jesus that called the man to do that ministry. So that man obeys with joy and love. That man obeys despite the pain of loss. The greatest thing is when even one child can be taught the Word, be taught how to pray, and be taught how to follow Jesus and love Him.
That child may one day go further and do more than the man ever could.

That same man made the difficult decision, years ago, to marry a woman who had already told him that she is unable to have children, but wants to follow him in ministry. So that man made the investment of marrying her, and loving her in Christ with all his faithfulness and might. And he was completely satisfied to do so, with no regret towards not having children. After all, he never really had the desire to have kids of his own, even when growing up.
But when she decided to abandon him a few years later, and leave for her old life, it stung. In this case, childlessness became a tremendous blessing .... as children always suffer the most in a divorce situation. A divorce where there are no children is still painful, but at least the cut is clean and there are no kids stuck in the middle.

Because of all those things, that man had come to appreciate children. He may not have had his own, but he is fine with it, and loves to continue teaching other people's children in church and in the marketplace. He appreciates them, but does not feel the need to bring any of his own into the world. Since there are so many children here already in the world, there is much work to be done, spreading the Gospel to them. This is how he appreciates children the most; by sharing the GOSPEL with them as they come to class.

 He has endured a lot of heartache and has seen first hand how children often forsake those that love them the most. Some children do not. But many do, and it truly is painful for those who worked so hard to bless them and teach them. The man could not even imagine what a parent must feel about their own wayward child growing up and rebelling against Christ or against them.

So the man will continue in humility, seeking the Lord, repenting of his own shortcomings, and steadily climbing the steps of the Strong Tower, the Name of Jesus Christ. (Prov. 18:10) His heart is open to the Lord's gentle, loving, guiding and shaping hands. God could change him, and maybe He will.

Such a man will continue to serve in this capacity as long as the Lord sees fit. And he may even start to be brave enough... to write about it. He might become courageous enough to put these hidden wounds into the light for Jesus to heal and mend. And he will always appreciate children and the blessing they have already brought to him, and continue to bring to him.

-Story by Curtis J Alexander (c) 2017

[Originally Written Feb 20th 2017 2:17PM EST]