The most destructive thing on earth!

I have been thinking a lot about the subject of love lately. We see a world rotting away because of our lack of love. I guarantee if you are hurting right now it's because of a lack of love, if you're hurting someone it's because of a lack of love. All of the assaults, rapes, and murders of the world is because of a lack of love. Every war is from a lack of love. The lack of love does more damage than anything I know of.

We can't make a difference until we make difference in ourselves and around us. Your love can make a difference. 

We live in a culture of haters. I've heard it said like this, the world is full of haters waking up at hate 'o clock in the morning, to drink some hater aid. But it's true! We enjoy our hatred here in America.

What would happen if we put more effort in love each other this week? I want to challenge you all today the bible says

... let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 

Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)

...prepare your minds for action...

1 Peter 1:13 (NIV)

Its never ok to hate anyone!

...of little depth

Well world, In the busyness of ministry I have neglected my blog for much of 2012. I have decided that this blog will no longer just be a place of musings, but a generals summary of what I have been or will be preaching lately. I have rededicated myself to maintaining this blog so that I may add a few positive thoughts to the conversation of life out of the necessity of to be an agent of change.

 So my question for the world today is, Why do we strive to be shallow? Growing up at the end of the X generation and catching the ascent of the millennial generation has left me dealing with same internal conflicts that we all grapple with in this post modern society. I am just as tempted as the next person to blanket complex issues with simple slogans and easily digestible,moderate points of view that makes everyone happy.

Whether it be religion, politics, or any profound social issue, it appears to me that we are more interested with disagreeing with our opponents than finding answers. We are all guilty of this in some way. We passionately trumpet our own opinion of how the world should run with out doing anything about it. We spew hatred towards people who don't see it our way with out giving people good reason to see anything differently. Our culture likes to argue more than finding solutions. We love to spend more time magnifying our differences that searching for similarities. We respond more to negativity and sensationalism than positive synergy.

 I have always enjoyed the well known scripture in 1 Corinthians 13 about love. The scripture states that love is long suffering, kind, non envious,not prideful or puffed up, is not rude, does not rejoice in evil but rejoices in the truth, bears all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. This type of love doesn't fail. We all like to say we love someone, until they do something we don't like. Can we truly say we love people like this? I've made an observation in my evangelical Christian culture and I believe it grieves the heart of God. There is an overwhelming hate of Muslims, liberals, and the LGBT community. I would be the first to say that I disagree with these views or practices ,but I think we forget that Jesus Loved died for them too.


Where is our love for these people? Are we viewing them with the eyes of Jesus? How would Jesus talked to them? How would Jesus handle his disagreement. The Jesus I know ate with sinners, prostitutes,and tax collectors. Guess what, Those sinners,prostitutes, and tax collectors were won over by love and became the beginnings of the Church! If people saw me eating with a group of Muslims or gay people I would be looked upon in a negative way. Is that Biblical? Why can't we find a way to love people who we disagree with? I am grateful for my opportunities to love on people who are different than me.

I once befriended a white supremacist biker at work many years ago. Obviously we saw the world different from each other, and to this day he is probably still a racist but I chose to show him love and we overcame our differences. He cited me as an influence to go to AA and stop drinking. No matter what I accomplish in ministry, this will always be one of the best moments the Lord has given me. Why, Because I got to experience the power of Godly love. The dictionary says the word shallow means "of little depth". Is your love of little depth? What has your love accomplished? The Bible tells us "love never fails" is your love failing? Go love someone!

 BE THE REVOLUTION!

Pastor Joe, How do we figure out exactly what God's will is for our lives?

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Trust God and do all you need to do and He will point you in the right direction. He doesn't always show us where we are going, but he always shows us the path or direction. Continue to seek God and you will end up where you need to go :)

Ask me anything

This morning was talking about the laws & grace of God. I understand the laws, but how do u explain the grace part. I'm kinda glad I dont know about having the grace so that I am not one of those who say I have the grace I dont have to tithe

Gods grace is a hard thing to understand because it is so different than human grace. One concept I understand about God is that when He gives us grace its so that we can become something greater. This is not a conditional grace, He doesn't give us grace when we become something greater. If God gives you grace he is giving you the freedom to make better choices and be the person you should be in Him.

Ask me anything

I Will Run

Pray for my family please. They fight ALL the time. I'm 13 and it really upsets me.

I will pray for peace in your family.

The Bible says " Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Philippians 4:6-7 (MSG)

Know that with God, in the middle of the storm you can still feel peace.

Ask me anything