We Must "hate the sin but love the sinner".

I am overwhelmed with story after story headlining the many tales of insanity and persecution against Christians and Christian thought in this nation. We were told that this would happen so it should come as no surprise, but I must admit that the magnitude, the frequency and the consistency of the tide has got me reeling to a point.

The anti-moralist, anti-biblical indoctrination in the public school system continues to grow with no apparent cessation in sight. Entire cities (Philadelphia, Boston, etc.), once bedrocks of fundamental thought in this emerging nation, have become sanctuaries of decadence and anti-God philosophy (Rom 1:22-32). The entertainment media springing from once simple entertainment has become the reflection of America at its worst. Many "churched" children in our communities lean towards relativism because they do not see a reflection of Jesus in their homes and churches and they discount the Truth as desire.

How did we get here? I think mostly by looking the other way and failing to be watchful, and by so "partaking of the fruit" ourselves that we are timid to raise our voice. I think many who call themselves Christians are apathetic in their faith and have become ineffective in the spiritual war that is upon us. Many of us are simply not engaged, are "walking wounded".

I have spent a great amount of time over the past few years getting worked up about the events at hand, sending out emails, waving placards, pontificating from a variety of soap boxes and generally blowing in the wind. I have seen myself recently throwing stones at an increasing number of God's creations, waving my Bible but failing to use it as He intended it to be used. I am not saying that we should not be at hand in the battle, but we must be wise in our engagements and must filter our actions through God's Word.

What I need to be focused upon is prayer and doing the best I can at being the best that Jesus designed me to be.

I believe we need to see clearly what is happening in our communities around us and we need to join together in prayer and living testimony so that God may use our open hearts to open others. I believe we need to strive to be watchful and engage the enemy as God directs us. We need to focus on being useful to Him.

We need to be prayerful warriors and "suited up" at all times (Eph 6:10-11). We must be walking forward, eyes and ears fully open and our hands must be filled with the Sword of the Spirit. We must "hate the sin but love the sinner".

Before I rail next, I might look in the mirror and honestly consider whether I see Jesus looking back.

Pray. Witness. Engage. Teach. Re-present Jesus.

May God be watchful over you and your family,

Steve

We received a tremendous teaching on "Tithing" today and I was greatly moved. I know that a great many Believers out there do not believe that tithing is scriptural. I know that my finances started turning toward the better when I began to trust God (more than myself) with His resources several years ago and I'm not going to argue with success. I believe that we have a Biblical instruction to give the "firstfruits" of our rewards and, as for me and my house, we will continue to do so.

I Googled "tithe" and discovered that tithing, according to Google searches, is 23% mandated and 67% just plain wrong. (I ignored all the Roman Catholic sites and others that were seeking donations or sales and focused this analysis only on teaching sites and essays.)

I have found that when the house is stacking up against a tenant of God's Word, it's usually wise to take the leaner side! I'll keep tithing and I'll raise my family to do the same. I'll also keep studying the issue and I'll post the link here so that you can listen to the teaching and see what God places on your heart.

Grace Point Church: What the Bible Does and Does Not Say About Giving to God.

I just heard about a new religious sighting, this time it's "Jesus In A Tree".

Sweet rolls that look like saints, tortillas with images of Jesus' dead mother, mold that looks like Jesus' face and now, "Tree's branches look like Jesus on the cross".

I do grieve for the empty faith that haunts these folks, the superstitions that rule their lives and the forlorn promises that generations of priests and religious leaders have cursed them with. I know, in their hearts, they must mean well with their adorations of molds, slime, bisquits, branches and stones. They are seeking so hard for a promise that eludes their grasp that they lose touch with the reality that is their life.

How I wish that each one of these seekers would just take a minute or two to look into the Bible and see that their freedom from this religious slavery has already been won, the price for their sin already paid, that which they seek so hard has already been found.

Man made religion and all it's trappings is a curse leading to death. Jesus, the REAL Jesus, died that we might have life abundant.

Seek Him, not a tree branch that looks like Him.

The miracle is in the book.