Dear Salvation Army – Matters Of The Heart

Dear Salvation Army,
What we do day in and day out matters in our world.
Don’t ever forget why we do what we do.
If we ever lose sight of this relationship that we have with Christ, His Holy Presence with us, I fear we will lose our way completely!

This work is arduous.
This work is often without reward – we don’t seek rewards or earthly recognition…do we? The mission we have been given is to provide hope, to show others the way to Christ, to instill the deep need for Holiness in our corps and in our lives. We are, at times a gateway for those who have never set foot into a church, let alone those who have never left the door open to a Christ that cares.

The Salvation Army doesn’t exist to feed ourselves, it should never be an organization sold out to the almighty dollar and the stipulations assigned to those funds. Sometimes when compromise happens, one wonders where our “walk by faith” went? We aren’t in this mission to merely survive…we will thrive and be faithful in all seasons including those in which we struggle.

Programs & Lies We Buy…
If all we do is programs and our hearts remain at home, we will have a soul-less building devoid of people seeking spiritual growth, holiness and this new creation we are to become. Sometimes I fear we settle for what is instead of what could be…or what SHOULD be. Soldiers, in essence we listen to the lies of the Great Deceiver when we buy into the acceptance of where we are right now and that we are incapable anymore of growing in the grace that Christ offers. We convince ourselves that we aren’t good enough to receive entire sanctification, or we must become biblical scholars to get there. We make every excuse in the book to NOT change that we run the risk of becoming stagnant and meaningless. This is exactly where Satan wants us to remain. If we remain here, we are no longer fit to be called an Army of Salvation, but instead the Army of Stagnation. This is pretty harsh, because I believe we buy the lie that we cannot grow, or that we are limited in our growth. I believe we stunt our growth and the workings of the Holy Spirit when we don’t allow Him access to EVERY corner of our hearts, minds and lives.

Discipleship of the Heart…
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:26

We need to understand that what our corps do – matters.
What WE do as Soldiers in and out of the buildings we frequent MATTERS! This matter of the heart – means that we are living intentional lives both for the benefit of other believers and future seekers of Christ, as well as for our spiritual growth and development.

Dear Salvation Army Soldier,
Be teach able.
Allow not only the Holy Spirit to instruct you in continual growth, but also other believers in the faith. Do not allow your hearts to become hardened. Do not become stiff necked people, who reflect more of the Pharisees of old than Christ himself. When we lose sight of whose reflection we ought to emulate, we will have lost our reason for being an Army of Salvation.

Be Intentional
The words your choose, the friends you empower, the content (both visual and literary) you consume, the attitude you have around your community…IT ALL MATTERS. If you cannot recognize the need for continual spiritual growth in your life, then beware. We cannot become an army of arrogance and ignorance in regards to the matters of the heart.

Be Holy.
In word and deed – be holy. Strive to be Christ-like.
Don’t take the short cuts, don’t sell out your faith or cheapen it in anyway. Recognize that what you do on Monday through Saturday is just as important as what you do on Sunday in the Holiness meeting…it just might be more important.

This message is for Adherents, Soldiers, Officers, Commissioners as well as the General. It MUST be a matter of the heart. We cannot only rely on “the law” to prop up what we do – we must first be HIS, and from that everything else must flow. How is your heart? Have you been guilty of listening to the lie? Have you sold your need of Holiness short? Is it incomplete? Are you stagnating right now in your faith journey? Perhaps this is my wake call…perhaps this is yours. It is a matter of our hearts. Forget all the programs that we throw around to “attract people”, forget all the “doing” that we are good at…it means absolutely nothing if our hearts are not completely His.

Something more for our Army world to ponder today.
To God be the glory.

*Disclaimer: the thoughts and opinions express on Pastorsponderings are the writer’s own thoughts and opinions and are not necessarily the thoughts and opinions of The Salvation Army.*

December 1, 2015 0

Things I’m Thankful for…

November 26, 2015 0

Dear Thanksgiving…

I don’t do very well with your forced expressions of cheer.
Perhaps some do, but I don’t.
Maybe it stems from me not wanting to be told how to act or live.
Sometimes I wonder if others feel the same way when it comes to certain holidays – like you and your Turkey and Pumpkin pie… Perhaps there are some who are like me that they feel as if they are subjected to a certain kind of feeling, or a certain kind of festive moment in time. It’s just a photograph – a still frame, we pause…and then we move on.

Let me clarify first, Dear Thanksgiving, it’s not that I don’t like you, it’s just that I don’t want to quantify my ability to give thanks on JUST one day. I love you, but I don’t love what you have become.
Here’s where I struggle with you, dear Thanksgiving…

They’ve put you on television…in commercials, in jingles, it’s become increasingly worse each year. As soon as they take down the Halloween decorations down they are putting yours

whoville — It seems we’re living in Whoville these days

up…with the sound of Christmas carols. I fear that commercialization and buying STUFF for ourselves has largely overshadowed what you used to represent.

We’ve even begun to dash away from your “Thanksgiving table” in order to gobble up more “sweet deals” as retailers open their doors earlier and earlier. I’m just afraid, dear Thanksgiving, that we’ve begun to forget what being thankful is truly about. We are all consumers who are buying more and more things that we don’t need while racking up greater and greater debts. How does that equate to being “Thankful”?

I don’t wish to sound like a hypocrite, Dear Thanksgiving, but I too have indulged in this new creation of “Thanksgiving”. It is extremely enticing and I see why we are all attracted to these offers…BUT are we losing ourselves in the process? Are we becoming blind to gratefulness as we over-indulge and binge on our riches?

It is so easy to forget about the plight of the rest of the world while we leave our warm homes and go out to find more stuff to fill it with. Are we good stewards with what God has given us? Am I a good steward? Or do I still have more to give…instead of take? Could it be that in the act of giving, I once again gain an identity in gratitude? Could it be that we can find our way back from self-indulgence?

Dear Thanksgiving, I want to be thankful for the right things in my life.
I don’t want to look back in twenty years and regret not spending more time with the people I love and not giving back when I had so much to give. I can’t change the world, but I can change how I live and how I act, and what I represent to my family, to my children.

Dear Thanksgiving, I miss you…I hope we can meet up again soon, perhaps it can become more than just a few hours on a Thursday gather around a table or during a football game. Perhaps, just perhaps I will place a piece of you in my pocket and in my heart and spread you around in my life every day…so that others might experience a tangible hope that we all need to get through this life. Perhaps, just perhaps as I do, Christ’s light might be seen so that I am less and He is more…then, I will have recaptured a true sense of what you really represent in our world.

Sincerely,

A Thanksgiving seeker.
P.S. I still like your Pumpkin Pie!

November 25, 2015 0

Dear Salvation Army, Are You Missing Out?

It is that time of year again – Thanksgiving meals to host, Red Kettles to send out, toys to collect and pick up, volunteers to appreciate and direct…the list goes on.

If you go to The Salvation Army and/or are employed by The Salvation Army, (Officer/Employee/otherwise) you know just how hectic this time of year can become. There are moments when there isn’t enough hours in the day to get what needs to be done completed. We can become harried, worn out and sometimes short-fused.

Sometimes we tend to dread this season of Christmas because we are so very busy. Don’t get me wrong, it is a wonderful thing that we do for people in our communities, but it does come at a cost. We can become jaded by what we do so much so that we lose sight of why we do it in the first place. Sometimes we lose out on precious opportunities because our noses are firmly planted to “the grind”.

Don’t Miss Out!
Here are a few things that I have learned thus far whilst being an Officer, and before that, an Officer’s kid at this time of year:

1. Look up from time to time.
Don’t become so focused on stats and figures and logistics that people get lost in the shuffle. Look up, look into people’s eyes, take a precious moment (not the porcelain figurine) away from the busyness and look up at those around you.

2. Take a minute break – unplug for a short time.
It sounds preposterous to “take a break” during our busiest season, but step outside. Go get a cup of coffee. Do something for ten or fifteen minutes (even an hour if you can afford to) that gets you away from the noise and responsibilities. This is sometimes called “self-care”. It’s maintenance for the mind, soul, body. Breathe.

3. Listen.
Again, it sounds funny to say this when we have some many people wanting a moment of our time, but learn to listen…to the right things at the right moment. The Lord DOES place people on our path that edify and encourage us (sometimes those we least suspect), and He also puts certain people on our path that we can help share His hope with. Put down the planner, put down the pen, take your eyes off of the Christmas data entry on the computer…and just listen.

We have a distinct opportunity to reach new believers during this time of year. Sure, there are those few who are “Seasonal Christians” who only come at Christmas and Easter, but there are also some deeply impactful moments that one can have with people who are desperately searching for something meaningful in their lives. We know that Christ is the answer – and we (if we are listening) can spur on those deeply spiritual moments.

4. Intentional Worship
Not only should we anticipate the business of this season, we should also anticipate God’s Holy Presences in our worship. Worship isn’t exclusively what we do on Sunday mornings either. Worship can take place while we drive bell ringers out to their sites – and the conversations that we engage in while in that van. That van can become a sacred space, as sacred as any penitent form or altar.

Let’s face it, we’re all familiar with certain “catch-phrases” or cliches associated with the Christmas season. There’s one particular cliche’ spoken often around this time of year, and it goes like this “Wise men still seek Him” – I’m not one to use these tired phrases, but we DO need to be intentional in our worship of the Most High. There needs to be personal preparation before we come before Him. We ought to check our motives, attitudes, grudges, conflicts at the door and navigate the deep, personal waters of our hearts. We must set aside these sacred spaces within our hearts in order to ensure we aren’t people with divided hearts. We do not want to miss experiencing His presence because we are too busy or too consumed with STUFF.

Questions to Ponder:
Are You Missing Out?
Are you so busy that you actually dread Christmas?
Are Sunday services and other worship opportunities merely a afterthought?
How can you make this Christmas season count?
-There’s nothing specifically special about one specific day, but more people are open to Christ during this time of year.

What would happen if we listened more intently?

Don’t miss out on experiencing His Holy Presence or the opportunity to make a lasting impact on someone’s life because you find yourself too busy at this time of year. Be intentional, be aware and be His Ambassador of grace and peace.

Something more to ponder today!
God Bless You!

Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed on Pastorsponderings.org do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of The Salvation Army and are the sole property of Scott Strissel. Thanks for reading!

November 24, 2015 0

A Conflicted Refugee

This pondering might incite disagreement – that is not my intention, but so be it if it does happen.

I have to honestly tell you that I am conflicted with this whole refugee crisis. The whole conversation that politicians from both sides of the isles are having. The whole debate within the Christian Church about where they stand. I. am. conflicted.

I get that we don’t want to experience what Paris has just horribly experienced. I understand that terrorists wish us harm. I know that we must protect our families and our communities…and we must. BUT, (and here’s where the “conflicted” part comes in”) does this mean we completely shut our borders and treat every man, woman and child as a suspect of terror? -No.

I don’t think anyone is saying that we shouldn’t be careful.
I don’t think this debate is about if terrorists exist – because they do.
I think this debate is about safety as well as judgement.
But here comes the element that sometimes can be missed within the whole conversation about refugees – COMPASSION.

Some might argue that if we allow refugees (because of compassion) to come into our country, we will also allow terrorists in as well. This can be a valid point, and I get why some are calling for stiffer screenings, but we’re talking about hundreds of thousands of people… Others have argued that their state will flat out refuse to accept any refugees, citing that this is why/how the Paris attack happened.

This is where I am conflicted.
I don’t have many answers, just a pondering about the whole topic in regards to people who have been displaced from their homes and homeland. I do not wish to be snarky about it – as some people have been from both political spectrums… (it has truly been discouraging and sad to witness). But, something has to be done.

On one side, we ought to fight for the lives of the innocent regardless of where they were born (they didn’t get to choose where they live). If you are a believer of social justice then you can’t help but be moved with compassion for the plight of the innocent regardless of ideology. If we have the resources to protect, defend and actually DO SOMETHING other than protect our own interests – then we should feel compelled to act on the behalf of the innocent throughout our world.

On the other side, we should be reminded that terrorists like those found in ISIS will attempt to infiltrate and disguise themselves by surrounding themselves with innocent people – this is not a new strategy, albeit a deplorable one. We ought to be vigilant while facing this crisis with compassion.

Do I feel we should completely close our borders to those who wish to make a home within our free country? NO. Do I believe all who come to this country should follow the same procedure to citizenship through education and understanding? Yes.

For those seeking safe refuge from war and militant beliefs – I say we welcome them in.

The debate within this refugee crisis should also consider what happens to those who are shut out and are not welcomed…does this/could this push people to identify with militant extremist groups as well?

And what of the Christian Church?
What is their part to play in all of this?
We ought to remain a moral compass – not political, but one who fights for the innocent, ones who help to cast the light of hope into hopeless situations and lives broken by war, hunger and loss. In other words, we ought to do all we can for God’s Kingdom here on earth to share love, hope and compassion. We ought to continue to fight for the innocent, and to share this amazing love with all the world – so that Christ might become evident and lives can be saved.

I am conflicted, but not on the need to share compassion and grace.
We continue to pray for the people in Paris, and other regions of our world where terror is still evident. We know that everyone of us will reap what we sow…please continue to pray for our world leaders, Church leaders and for Christians in our world facing martyrdom for their faith, because they will not be silent in declaring Christ Jesus as Lord.

Something more to ponder today.

To God be the glory!

November 20, 2015 0

A Kingdom Priority

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

I wonder sometimes how often we make seeking God’s kingdom a priority in life. Do we make it a priority some of the time but not all of the time? Or, do we simply wait until it comes to us like on Sundays?

How important is God’s Kingdom to us after all?
I don’t mean “Heaven” in the clouds, I mean here on earth.
Jesus even said, in reference to Himself as well as God’s presence, “…the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:21) This means that God’s kingdom isn’t so much about a place far, far away, but rather a presence within and near us every moment of every day.

There’s a very interesting portion in the New Testament when Jesus does something rather peculiar. This is after His death and resurrection. He appears again before His disciples and breathes on them. Now, picture this for a moment with me. God’s Son who was present at the beginning of creation. Who was there when human life first began. Who may have been the very one to breathe life into creation, now does it again. It’s recorded in this sort of obscure verse we sometimes neglect – John 20:22 “And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Think about that for a second. A former dead guy, now gloriously resurrected (but not fully in human form anymore) breathes onto His disciples. The One who was there at the very beginning giving and breathing life into Creation is now breathing new life into His disciples…and then He says “Receive the Holy Spirit“.

It seems to me that the Kingdom of Heaven isn’t some far off place, but a place that has been closer than we could ever imagine. If we are to actively seek God’s kingdom here on earth and bring His Kingdom to others still lost in the world, then we have to make His Kingdom a priority in our lives EVERYDAY!

Seek first His Kingdom – and all these things will be added to our lives.
Jesus is still breathing life into His Church.
He wants us to be His and His alone.
We are called to bring His Kingdom to those without hope.
We are called to be His very hands and feet, His ambassadors into foreign sometimes hostile places.

Is His Kingdom a priority in your life today?
What can we do to make it a #1 priority in all that we do?

Build Your Kingdom Here

Prayer:
Dear Lord, breathe new life into these lungs today.
Help us when we have neglected Your kingdom.
Guide us when we have lost our way. Restore us today, O Lord.
Fill us with Your Holy Spirit again. May we be Your people, Holy and true.
Remind us of what is most important in our busy lives. May we earnestly seek you in all seasons of life. -Amen.

Something more to ponder today – To God be the glory!

November 18, 2015 0

“Let Go and Let God”

What it means:
We have concerns and worries in life – this is a constant.
Perhaps there are days when we have trouble sleeping at night because our minds are racing with all of the things that still need to be done at work. We can often face anxiety attacks and troubles with our health if we allow these stresses and worries to consume us.

Jesus talked about worry –
“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25)

This is how we are to let go and let God – We have to be able to release the stress, the strain, the fear and worry. It is one thing to say “I’m going to give it to God” and a completely different thing to ACTUALLY give it to Him. We clutch these fears and worry ever so tightly and we rarely relinquish it because we are afraid to admit we don’t have the strength and we need help.

When we finally admit to ourselves that we have been holding back on giving God all of our cares and burdens (1 Peter 5:7) we can then allow His Holy Presence into these deep recesses of our pride and heart. It will hurt. It will pain us to do so, but within this deep communion with Him we will begin to alleviate our worry and fear. He is more than willing to take from us these burdens and fears.

What It Doesn’t Mean
Do not use this phrase as a crutch.
One could say “well, I’ve given it over to God so I do not have any more responsibilities to take care of” – Nothing could be further from the truth. We have this wonderful thing called “free will” which allows us to take control of our lives and make decisions. We have a responsibility within our faith walk. We either make good decisions or poor decisions. Saying “Let Go and Let God” shouldn’t be a catch-all phrase for slacking in our relationship to Him.

It also doesn’t mean that life will suddenly become easier and these worries and problems will disappear. We can relinquished our stranglehold on burdens, but they will still occur. It seems like a contradiction but in truth we face them with a Higher perspective and within the lenses of His Kingdom. “And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace”

Let Go And Let God?
In the right context – Yes.
But remember He longs to journey beside us. He longs for our fellowship each day. Allow Him access to your heart, to your life and His presence will provide the salve that you need in the midst of the storms you are facing right now.

Something more to ponder today!

To God be the glory!

November 16, 2015 2

A Paris Terror Attack Pondering – How We Should Respond

When someone intentionally kills another person we call it “murder”.
When someone intentionally kills multiple people we call it “mass-murder”
When a group claims responsibility for killing over 100 people we call it what it is – “Terrorism”.

I mourn, as many do, for the senseless killings that took place in Paris on Friday.
Innocent people were gunned down while they socialized at the end of the work week.
For 30 minutes in the streets of Paris, order was turned into anarchy by a handful of radical terrorists with high powered weapons and explosives.

I have read numerous posts and blogs that have somewhat reflected my anger and outrage, and the truth is MOST people are outraged when senseless violence takes place upon the innocent. I have also read numerous profanity laced comments and hate filled posts – this behavior is somewhat understandable in fits of rage, but it never helps.

What is the Christian Thing To Do?
As Christians, we are called to a higher standard…and it IS a very difficult place for many of us to remain in the midst of injustice, violence and hatred. As a Salvationist (A member of The Salvation Army) I read the response of General Andre’ Cox today. In his response he correctly stated this, which I wholeheartedly agree with:

“I want to say that my purpose here is not to make political statements. Others are better placed and carry a particular responsibility to do just that…please pray for political and national leaders. All of them, not just President Hollande and his team in France, but leaders in your country and mine.

National leadership is never easy. History shows that. These men and women need the faithful and continual prayers of the Church, regardless of our personal political persuasions. Whenever I meet with political leaders in any country I assure them of my personal prayers, and those of Salvationists in that country. It is important that they know of this.

…I exhort you today to pray, deeply, for the grace of God and the personal ministry of the Holy Spirit, to be felt and experienced, in some manner, by the hundreds of family members personally devastated by the senseless loss of life in these hours. Death comes to all, but how it comes and in what circumstances, can add layers of added grief and pain……I urge you to pray for the Church, the Body of Christ, of which our Salvation Army is a vital part…There will possibly be strong voices within the public sphere calling for vengeful retribution against those who had nothing to do with these atrocities. In some small way the voice of the Church, of you and I, can call for added grace and care in these days. We can bring light into the gloom.”

The Christian response isn’t to call for revenge or violence. My old self would greatly desire to see revenge take place, but this new creation that all of us share requires more grace, more forgiveness and especially more prayer. I also recognize that God will be the final judge, not us. All of creation is His and His alone and from this perspective we are to understand justice and redemption.

Be vigilant in prayer.
Be aware of hatred and sin in our world, but do not participate in its evil.
We are set apart, and in so doing, we must shine the light of Christ during such dark places and moments such as these! Cast aside, at all costs, these worthless prejudices which blind us to redemption of all people from all walks of life.

Rest assured that sin cannot remain in the presence of God no matter what those sins are.
Pray for our world, pray for its leaders, and for the areas of evil and terror that are present within it.
Pray that God will change the hearts of men.
Pray that we seek Him out and live for Him, so that our response to all of humanity is holy and Godly.

Please Pray With Me:
I mourn for the victims in Paris.
I pray for those who have to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.
I pray for President Hollande of France, for President Obama of the United States, for other leaders in our world who will undoubtedly take action in rooting out wicked people bent on destruction and hiding behind the guise of religion.
I pray against the persecution of all kinds.
I pray for the Body of Christ to be evident through love, grace and hope in a world sometimes devoid of these life-giving qualities.
Please uphold our countries in your prayers.
Please pray for justice and for healing.
Pray that through such dark times – God’s glory will be evident.

This world is greatly complicated with politics, greed, ulterior motives and hatred, I pray that the Church seeks to reduce this instead of adding to it. May we be His ambassadors, full of His holiness and love.

Something more of the Church to ponder today.
To God be the glory, honor and power, forever and ever – Amen.

November 14, 2015 0

3 Things About Red Cups That Has Me Seeing Red…

I am just sick of red cups and this whole dumb controversy!
So why even bring it up again you ask? (Some of you are so tired of reading blog article after blog article about this topic) Why even mention anything about “red cups” or “Starbucks” or “Christmas”?
Please bear with me for a few minutes as we ponder together on this topic one last time. This isn’t the first time that “Christians” have spoken out on rather silly issues. I think it stems much deeper than a simple red cup devoid of snowflakes.

Today, I want to share with you 3 things about these red cups that has me seeing red, and perhaps you should be seeing red too…

Here’s why –

1. It’s A Poor Witness –
Fellow Christians, is this red cup issue really something we need to be investing our time and effort on?
Is it really a social justice issue?
Is it really worth our time?
Is it really serving to help bring to focus the birth of Christ to our world?
In actuality, I think this outcry only serves to detract from our witness.
People read about all of these outraged Christians and wonder – Is this what Christian’s want to be known for? Some of these protests by supposed “Christians” have been mean and they often have come across as downright unloving.

If I were a person on the outside looking in on this whole “controversy”, I would probably be scratching my head and wondering why these cups have stirred such an outrage in the Church. I believe the outcry really represents a very poor witness to a world with much bigger problems than what types of cups we put our coffee in or what a non-Christian company does or does not put on their coffee cups (snow flakes…really?!).

2. There Are Bigger Moral Issues To Tackle –
Our world still struggles with extreme poverty, starvation, famine and disease, this “cup” issue should be a moot point in the Christians realm. Seriously? Why are we spending so much time on the topic when human trafficking still exists, and when children in the United States and Canada still go home hungry from school? There a much bigger fish to fry than this utterly dumb topic. I only write on this today because I’m sick of it and in some ways I’m embarrassed that this is what some Christians spend time clambering about.

Where are these same voices when we read of Christians being martyred in regions around the world? Where are these same voices when we hear of people in our own neighborhoods struggling to put food on the table for their families? Why isn’t there more of an outcry from these same voices when children in our communities face gang violence and bullies in our schools? How can we fight a war on red cups when in our own backyard there are lives from all backgrounds struggling with addictions, and with sins?

3. Something About Glass Houses and Throwing Stones –
I don’t wish to sound mean or condescending, but in a very real way. this criticism seems hypocritical and pointless.
In the vein of the 2 points, I think we have to be very careful as Christians which wars we decide to engage in within the context of our world. We would be hypocrites to decry this cup issue and be absolutely silent on other pivotal, more pressing issues around us. How can we condemn a cup devoid of snowflakes and yet not fight for the dignity of all human life?

It almost seems as if we’re looking down on this coffee company and judging them by our standards, when in all likelihood, our worldview doesn’t match.
It’s one thing to hold the standard high for other believers around us, which is called accountability, but a completely different thing to expect people (and companies) from a different ideology to fall in line with beliefs they may not hold. At the root of this whole debate is the notion that everyone must walk, think, and act like we do…but its that the reality of our world? No, I don’t think it is.

Secondly, internally, don’t we have more pressing spiritual worries to consider in our own lives?
Romans 14:4 says this; “Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”

Another few precious verses to consider – “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:29-32

We still have our own Salvation to work out.
We still have our own personal battles that we fight today.
Let’s first tackle those internal issues before we decry the issues around us.

Philippians 2:12 says, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,”

Dear Christians,
we have more pressing things to do in this life than worry about the color of a cup and its design.
Pick your battles wisely because they will define you, and I feel this isn’t one we should be focusing on.
I’m sick and tired of this debate, so please stop!
I feel it’s only hurting our witness, not improving it.
Our efforts should be used more efficiently elsewhere, so let’s united together to fight poverty, clean water for everyone in our world, the Salvation of the lost, and bringing hope and love to our neighborhoods through genuine care and compassion.

Something more to ponder today!

November 12, 2015 2

Facing The Wall – A Pondering On Problems

“If you think of a problem as being like a medieval walled city, then a lot of people will attack it head on, like a battering ram. They will storm the gates and try to smash through the defenses with sheer intellectual power and brilliance. I just camp outside the city. I wait. And I think. Until one day – maybe after I’ve turned to a completely different problem – the drawbridge comes down and the defenders say, “We surrender.” The answer to the problem comes all at once.” -Arthur McKinsey

We all face the wall from time to time.
No, not like a child being placed in “time-out”, but like the insurmountable walls of our problems and stresses. The kind of wall that seem to effortlessly and ominously climb into the sky and cause us to panic at the sheer magnitude of our problems.

You know the old saying, “making a mountain out of a mole hill” – this is the mountain becoming a super mountain. This is the small speed bump in the road of life becoming a sink-hole. Sometimes we can do nothing but watch the city burn as we attempt to blow on the flames. I don’t wish to paint a dark gloomy picture today for you, but I would be lying if I said walls of this magnitude never come our way. They do. These types of problems will come knocking on our doors. They will just show up sometimes. Other times they have been cresting on the horizon for a while…perhaps we just ignored the warning signs.

Are you facing the wall today?
Does it seem insurmountable?
Do you feel heavy with burdens and heart sick with these problems you are attempting to carry?

I won’t sugar coat it for you today.
There isn’t some magical pray for you to recite and *poof* all of your problems will fade away, but I would like to offer you some perspective on your walls.

The Truth:
We all face walls.
We all endure heartache, stress, hardships…and sometimes more hardships. Life isn’t easy…this we know all too well.
BUT – We aren’t alone.
We should all know that each of us carries difficulties, we carry stress, we face walls together.

Jesus says this still to us today –
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” -Matthew 6:25-27

Another Truth:
God will show up for us!
He will be there when we call.
Sometimes He provides a means to overcome these walls.
Sometimes He provides us the endurance to wait it out.
All of the time – WE AREN’T ALONE!

“Cast your cares on the LORD
and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous fall.” -Psalm 55:22

Waiting is the hardest part…but, we can either hem and haw about it or find the resolve to be patient. Many times I have opted to hem and haw – (gripe and complain) about my situation instead of waiting patiently. Did it help? No. Was it the best use of my time? Absolutely not.

“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” -Psalm 27:14

I don’t know what wall you’re facing today.
It might be a small fence, or it could be a fortified city.
Either way, you will survive this!
You matter to God!
This life we live has it trials and troubles…but I believe in the One who overcame the world…do you?

Something more to ponder today.
To God be the glory!

November 10, 2015 3