Goin' Back to the Roots: Thoughts of the Weekend

This weekend, let me tell you was great! Spending time with mom and dad, swimming with Amanda, listening to Kenneth preach what I thought was a great sermon, hanging out with Melissa's family, and of course spending time with her as well! I honestly can't wait to be back in Mabank and be around the lake. My desire to be back down there was sparked by something Kenneth said. I'm going to parapharse it, but here we go. In his sermon, he was speaking about Paul in Acts 21 and 22. He mentioned that Paul lived among these people, they knew his old life. But as he gave his defense, Paul made it very clear that he was a changed man.

Kenneth brought up a good point being that for so of us, we live among the same people who knew us in our old lives. Who all they ever knew was the old man. But now since we are saved, we need to live a totally new life. A life in Christ!

For me, I lived among the people of Mabank. People knew me as I once was (you can ask Melissa) but by God's mercy and grace, He saved me! He saved me...

Now, just as Paul, I can make my defense and say that God has worked through my life and change who I am. God did it, not me.

Tonight, many Mabank High School students just graduated. Some know where they are going, some don't. Others don't care, and others..well are just glad they made it this far. I remember that. I knew what I was suppose to do. God told me. I was called to live like Christ and tell people about Him. This is what I'm still called to do. He has provided me with a wonderful family. An encouraging best friend Melissa. A supportive church family, and most of all I have the Holy Spirit. He does all things well!

As I was driving home yesterday from Melissa's house, I crossed a bridge. It's a good size bridge in length. As I drove, I watched the sun fall behind the trees and rays of light peered upon the open face of the lake. I missed that so much. But then I realized that only about 5 miles down the road lies one of the darkness places on the lake. People who don't know Jesus. The "unchurched people". But watching the sun fall, God gave me hope that He is in control of all things. He is in control of all the ones who graduated, the drug addicts, unsaved church-goer, and everyone else around the lake. He put on my heart to pray for revival around the lake. Going back to the roots of Truth, and telling people about the Risen Christ!

As I heard this weekend, open your mouth and let people know about Christ. The Christ of the Bible.

Old Paths Combined With New Roads Make Up My Life

I'm sitting here...alone...in the dark...without any noise, well except for the washer and dryer. But anyway, soooo I've been thinking about some things.

As some of you may know, I've been going through some struggles these past couple of months. I've had some questions, issues, and etc come up in my life and it really brought me down in my faith. But as God's word says, He causes us to walk in His ways, He came and started working, and revealing sin in my life. As God being the loving One He is, He allowed me to repent. But here are some things that have help me grow closer to Him.




Mat 5:1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
Mat 5:2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
Mat 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Mat 5:5 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Mat 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Mat 5:7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Mat 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Mat 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Mat 5:10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:11 "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Mat 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
Mat 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Mat 5:15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
Mat 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Here are some passages that have helped me out along the way. Also some other things the Lord has used to help me.

God has once again used the book One Thing You Can't Do in Heaven by Mark Cahill. Along with Let the Nations Be Glad by John Piper.

Getting hammered by Paul Washer.

God has also showed me the need to be urgent in my prayers and have faith that in all things He will be glorified!

Knowing that I have the Holy Spirit indwelling. That is all the power I need to walk in this world.

Picking up my old study Bible. The first Bible I actually read after I was born again.

Reading the Way of the Master website.

Praying for the mission field and believing that God will make His name great among the nations.

Something struck me as I was looking at myself and wondering why I felt so dry and weak over the past couple of months. I was trying to think up new ways to serve and worship God. I'm not going to go into detail but in a sense, the things were not me. I know I have grown so much in love and grace but I missed so much about thinking about things that really didn't matter. Trying to look for the things that would work for "me and my personal walk" with Him and not really looking into the Word to find out.

"Even though we may think something might work, we should do what is right, even if it works or not."
- Paul Washer

For me...that is so true. I was trying to find things that worked instead of doing what is right. Right being to repent, forsake sin, love others, and live like Christ. I wanted to love others, and be like Christ. But I couldn't do it unless I repented.

So my point is this, I've learned so much about love and grace. Becoming more mature as a young man, but I forget that I must be like Christ and hate sin. In a sense I'm reverting back to who I was, but in a totally difference sense, I'm becoming more and more like Christ. Amen!

Random Words That Help Clear My Mind

Oh you, why don't you long?
Do you not see the Hope within? That burning flame that point towards...

Can you not bear the pain inside, or live to see the Love that died?
It seems to me that you don't care, oh sweet is the shame that forever tears.

Your life so, let's just say...wasted in your pride and lies. You claim the Name but don't know why.

Well I can say is you're

Lost...

...in what you may ask? In that drink maybe sitting in your glass? Or how about the money you make, that seems to block your mind one frame at a time? Even better, the lies that spill from your mouth, turning the truth into doubt, false into real things that can never come about. Have you taken anything from your friend, mother, daddy? How about looking upon a guy, or girl which ever one you like, just so you could spend some "time" alone in the night? The only thing I can say is that you just don't know the....

Truth, that was, is, forever, Truth, always there, unchanging, Truth.

From grace He came to pay the ransom that no one else can exchange. He is the only One that can be proclaimed to be King over all. He suffered, died, but oh wait there is more, Him rose from the dead so man could live, live forever and not die anymore.

Believe, and turn away from the things I named. The shame, pain, and things will remain until you place your faith in the One who will never change. He is the only One, no one else. He is the name above all names!

Jesus Christ...

Why Does Such a World Exist, and Where is God?

In the wake of the cyclones, earthquakes, terrorism, and evil in this world I thought I would post these words from John Piper.

you can find the sermon called Where is God at
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2005/223_Where_Is_God

I think he does a great job of explaining this issue.



Why Does Such a World Exist?
So we ask: Why, Lord? Why is the world you made like this? If you are God—if you are the Christ the Son of the living God—why is this world so full of terror and trouble?

Here is what I believe the Bible teaches in answer to this question. I will give two answers that are not the reason such a world exists, and then four answers that are the reasons such world exists. I deal with each very briefly and point you to the Scriptures where you can search God’s word for yourself.

1. The reason this terrorized and troubled world exists is not because God is not in total control.

The Bible is overwhelmingly clear that God governs everything in the universe from the smallest bird to the largest storm. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father” (Matthew 10:29). “Even winds and sea obey him” (Matthew 8:27). “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord” (Proverbs 16:33). “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will” (Proverbs 21:1). “Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it?” (Lamentations 3:37). “Does disaster come to a city, unless the Lord has done it?” (Amos 3:6). “He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him” (Mark 1:27). “I am God, and there is none like me . . . saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose’” (Isaiah 46:9-10).

There is no person or being in the universe that can thwart the sovereign will of God. Satan is his most powerful enemy and does much evil in the world, but he must first get God’s permission, and none of his actions is outside God’s governance. He never breaks free from his leash (Luke 22:31; Job 2:6-7; 42:11).

2. The reason this terrorized and troubled world exists is not because God is evil or unjust.

“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). “Good and upright is the Lord” (Psalm 25:8) The angels cry before God day and night, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isaiah 6:3). And when he does things that seem evil to us, the Bible teaches us to speak to man like this: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20). God is not evil, even when he wills that evil come to pass. There are good and holy and just purposes in all he does. For those who love him he “works all things together for good” (Romans 8:28). Now and forever.

Now the four positive reasons why this world exists.

1.The reason this terrorized and troubled world exists is because God planned the history of redemption and then permitted sin to enter the world through our first parents, Adam and Eve.
In 2 Timothy 1:9 the apostle Paul said, “[God] saved us and called us toa holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.” In other words, before there was any world or any sin in the world, God planned saving grace through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That means that God knew Adam would sin. He was already planning how he would save us.

Therefore Adam’s sin was part of God’s plan so that God could reveal his mercy and grace and justice and wrath and patience and wisdom in ways that could have never been revealed, if there were no sin and no Savior and no history of salvation. God’s aim for this fallen world is that he be known more fully, because knowing God most fully is what it means for us to be most fully loved. If you turn to Christ, you will discover in God more wonders in this fallen world than could be imagined in any other world.

2.The reason this terrorized and troubled world exists is because God subjected the natural world to futility. That is, God put the natural world under a curse so that the physical horrors we see around us in diseases and calamities would become a vivid picture of how horrible sin is. In other words, natural evil is a signpost pointing to the horrors of moral evil.

Before I say another word, hear this word of clarification: some of the sweetest, most humble, godly, Christ-exalting, heaven-bound people carry some of those signs. Listen to Romans 8:18-21:

The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

In other words, God subjected the creation to futility and bondage to decay and misery and death. He disordered the natural world because of the disorder of the moral and spiritual world—that is because of sin. In our present condition blinded by sin and dishonoring God every day, we cannot see how repugnant sin is. Hardly anyone in the world feels the horror that our sin is. Physical pain we feel! And so it becomes God’s trumpet blast to tell us that something is dreadfully wrong in the world. Diseases and deformities are God’s portraits of what sin is like in the spiritual realm. That is true even though some of the most godly people bear those deformities. Calamities are God’s previews of what sin deserves and will one day receive in judgment a thousand times worse. They are warnings. And that is true even when they sweep away Christ-followers and Christ-rejectors.

Oh, that we could all see and feel how repugnant, how offensive, how abominable it is to blackball our Maker, to ignore him and distrust him and demean him and give him less attention in our hearts than we do the carpet on our living room floor. We must see this, or we will not turn to Christ for salvation from sin. Therefore, God mercifully shouts to us in our sicknesses and pain and calamities: Wake up! Sin is like this! Sin leads to things like this. (See Revelation 9:20; 16:9, 11.) The natural world is shot through with horrors to wake us from the dreamworld of thinking sin is no big deal. It is a horrifically big deal.

3. The reason this terrorized and troubled world exists is so that followers of Christ can experience and display that no pleasure and no treasure compares to knowing Christ. That is, the loss of every good thing in this world is meant to reveal that Christ himself more than compensates for all losses.

We see it in the New Testament and the Old Testament. The apostle Paul says, “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8). The superior worth of Christ is magnified because in all Paul’s losses, he experiences Christ as all-satisfying.

The prophet Habakkuk said it with amazing and painful beauty:

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

Famines, pestilence, persecution—these happen so that the world might see in the followers of Jesus and discover for themselves that God made us for himself and that he is our “exceeding joy” (Psalm 43:4) and at his right hand are pleasures for every more (Psalm 16:11). The losses of life are meant to wean us off the poisonous pleasures of the world and lure us to Christ our everlasting joy.

4. Finally, the reason this terrorized and troubled world exists is to make a place for Jesus Christ the Son of God to suffer and die for our sins. The reason there is terror is so that Christ would be terrorized. The reason there is trouble is so that Christ could be troubled. The reason there is pain is so that Christ could feel pain. This is the world God prepared for the suffering and death of his Son. This is the world where God made the best display of his love in the suffering of his Son.

Romans 5:8, “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” All his suffering was the plan of God to reveal redeeming love to us. The sovereignty of God, the evil of the world, and the love of God meet at the cross of Christ. Listen to this amazing statement from Acts 4:27-28 about God’s plan for the suffering of his Son—for you! “Truly in this city [Jerusalem] there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.” All the scheming, all the flogging, all the spitting, all the beating with rods, all the mockery, all the abandonment by his friends, all the thorns in his head, all the nails in his hands and feet, the sword in his side, weight of the sins of the world—all of it according to God’s plan. For you to see God’s love more graphically.

God’s deepest answer to terrorism and calamity is the suffering and death of his Son. He entered into our fallen world of sin and misery and death. He bore in himself the cause of it all—sin. And he bought by his death the cure for it all—forgiveness and everlasting joy in the age to come.

On his behalf I invite—I urge—you to receive him as your Savior and Lord and the supreme Treasure of your life.

Jaya Deva Narahari!

Jaya Dev

Sanskrit words by Brahmabandhab Upadhyay
Music by Chris Hale and Peter Hicks

Upachita-chirachin-mukurita pratibimbita
You, who are the blossoming of abundant, eternal knowledge, the reflected one
Brahma-paraatpara-roopa
Form of the infinite, highest of the high

Kanaka-kumaari-baalaka bhava-chaalaka
You, who are the child of the golden virgin, yet ruler of the universe

Nirguna-gunaabhiraama, Nirguna-gunaabhiraama
Full of delightful qualities yet beyond comprehension

Jaya Deva, Jaya Deva, Narahari, Narahari
Victory to God, Victory to God, the man-God

Pandita-mandala-mandana bhaya-khandana
You, who are the radiant gem in the assembly of the pandits, destroying fear

Dandita-bhandana-bhoota
With a rod of rebuke, driving out the evil spirit

Aadhi-vyaadhi-vitaadana para-sevana
You, who dispel cares and destroy diseases, serving others,

Paavana-lilaa-khela, paavana-lilaa-khela, paavana-lilaa-khela
All your works shining with holiness

Vinivedita-nija-vedana bali-jeewana
You, who have offered yourself to suffer agony and dishonor,
the sacrifice of your life

Krita-kilbisha-visha-naasha
Destroying the poison of evil within

Lalita-dayita-hrid-ranjana nayana-anjana
Desired one, beloved, delight of the heart, soothing ointment for straining eyes

Sudalita kaala-karaala, kaala-karaala, kaala-karaala
Victorious crusher of fierce death!


Narahari was introduced as a title for Christ by Brahmabandhab Upadhyay (1861-1907) in 1901. The title first appeared in a Sanskrit stotra by Upadhyay, where he describes how God reveals his love to us by becoming fully human while at the same time remaining independent and free of his creation. Upadhyay was always searching for words that sprung from the soil of India that could be used to describe various aspects of God's nature. Nara-hari means, "man-God." For more information on Upadhyay, read Julius Lipner's, "Brahmabandhab Upadhyay: The Life and Thought of a Revolutionary."


Now I know that you will look at this and wonder "What is he listening to?" Well, all I can say is that this music is beautiful (http://www.aradhnamusic.com/)

I've been praying that the Lord would bring me into a state of consist worship to Him. Not just the the mornings or evenings but all day everyday. Slowly, He has been doing this.

I put these lyrics up here to show, and make a point. My question is..What is worship? Is it music? Lyrics? Actions?

To a lot of Christians you mention worship and they automatically think "Worship Service." Is that what worship really is? Just a service? A one time thing we do for maybe 30 mins?

(Romans 12:1 NASB) Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, {which is} your spiritual service of worship.

(Romans 12:1 NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

My point here is to show that these two version of Romans 12:1 have to be the same. I'm not a student of greek but from what I can tell is that your "spiritual service of worship, and your "reasonable service" have to be the same. I think service and worship both come from the same greek root of latreuō.

but anyway....so worship is our service! It is an everyday thing! YEA!!!

I know that going over to India and to see a "worship service" was a blessing. But they lived it out everyday.

Well I was just thinking about this and thought it might encourage you to worship Narahari!

Looking At Things...From a Different Set of Eyes

Photo by Elisabeth Kirkwood













God is slowly but surely making my heart soft. I'm really not the tough, manly man most people think I am. (or the lack there of). I was reading a while ago stories of missionaries and childern that without a doubt broke my heart. So I would like to share a few things that really effect me and stir my heart. Then top it off with a question. There things I'm listing really dont have to do anything with the question, but it may build up to it.

Hearing stories of kids walking into their schools and murdering their class mates.
Reading about a husband/wife losing their life long best friend.
Looking at pictures of childern laying on a sidewalk to die.
Knowing that most western Christian ministries fight each other.
Watching the "adopt a pet" ads on T.V. Yes really, no joke. God loves animals too!
Hearing stories about soldiers laying down their lives for...me and my freedom.
Pretty much any Christian martyr story.
Watching the rain fall on people walking in nice clothes.



These are just a few. There are more, but no need to name them. Now aside from adopt a pet ads, the one of western Christian ministries fighting each other really hurts me. I serve at a ministry and I happen to work in the area of getting events for us to serve at, to promote the ministry and work God is allowing us to do. I have to deal with other ministries telling us we can not put this or that material out, or we can not put child sponsorship packets on the table because they are the only ones that can do that. Or even better than that, ministries telling lies about other ministries. What a whole bunch of backstabbing people! It really upsets me to know that God has given us a duty to carry out the greatest honor on earth, namely preaching the gospel to the ends of the world, but ministries fight and lie just so they can get there way.

I'm reading the book Let the Nations Be Glad by John Piper. He mentions in his book that the goal of missions is the gladness of peoples in the greatness of God. I fully believe that! That is the aim. We have the money, time, chance, to see millions saved but yet we have to make sure your doctrinal statement lines up, can't be to Charismatic or Reformed, make sure everything is pretty, "i's" dotted, make sure you have a back up plan just in case you can't fulfil the Great Commission, make sure that western Christians are the ones leading the teaching (cause remember western Christians know best). Now I know, someone is going to read this and get upset or mad at me and say that these things matter. To some manner of reason...maybe. How about this question...How will they hear? Not how can we reach them. Who is we? Usually when we say that, we is actually the westerns. I don't mean to sound harsh or judgmental, which I know some people will view it this way but let's grew up and glorify God. We punch and kick when millions of people are going to hell. Now I'm not saying native missions is the only way, and there is no place for western missionaries. I'm saying ministries need to open their spiritually blinded eyes and reach the world...as a Body. The Body of Christ. We are all an arm, leg, finger, let's do it together!

Now I understand that in Acts it talks about Paul and Barnabas parting from each other. Yes we all have a hang ups of different doctrines. It is a hard thing to work along side of a Calvinist when you don't believe you didn't have a choice, or a Charismatic guy when you really don't understand fully what the baptism of the Holy Spirit is. I get that. But, I highly doubt Paul told lies about Barnabas or didn't love him as a brother just because he wanted to take John Mark along on the trip.

Please read this carefully and think long and hard about it...

Think about a little girl. 12 years old, living in India. Beautiful brown skin, dark brown eyes. She has nice clothes and her daddy loves her. Her family is wealthy. She actually goes to school and is smart. She doesn't know Jesus. She is fed nice rice with chicken every day. She can sing very well. She plays with her friends at the time, because that is her favorite thing to do. She loves life....

Now...

Think about another little girl. 12 years old, living in India. Her skin is rough, and her eyes have dark rings under them. She has one shirt, and a skirt. Her daddy sells her body so he can buy drugs. She is a Dalit, or untouchable. She can't spell her name, and for the most part doesn't know it half the time. She doesn't know Jesus. She finds food that has been chewed by a dog. She has a beautiful voice. She has no friends. She doesn't have a clue about anything better.

now my question...how will they hear the Gospel?

You know what the shame is? That God has given us a chance to reach both of these little girls, but we fail, because we just can't get along. Both of these girls are lost and going to hell. It doesn't matter where they are, who they are, what they do. How will they hear about Jesus? I really don't care if you hold strong to the soverenigty of God, or even if you think the choice is up to man. That really doesn't matter. The Gospel has to go forth.

Think about those girls....what do they think? They don't know the truth. They don't know about missions and all the plans western Christians come up with. They don't know doctrine or theology.

Try looking out from their eyes....





Here are some good reads

Come, Let's Reach the World by K.P. Yohannan
Let the Nations Be Glad by John Piper
Revolution is World Missions by K.P. Yohannan