My Christian Manifesto

I am a part of the fellowship of the unashamed.
I have Holy Spirit Power.
The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line.
The decision has been made. I am a disciple of His.
I won't look back, let up, slow down, or back away.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure.
I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning,
smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame vision, mundane talk,
cheap giving, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotion, plaudits, or popularity.
I don't have to be right. I don't have to be first.
I don't have to be recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded.
I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience,
Live by prayer, and labor by power.

My face is set, My gait is fast, My goal is heaven, my road is narrow, My way is rough, My companions few. My guide reliable, My mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, Deluded or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in a maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, prayed up, paid up,
Preached up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go till He comes, give till I drop,
Preach till all know, and work till He stops me.
And when He comes for His own --- He will recognize me.
My banner will be clear.
- Author Unknown.

The Homeless, The Hurting - Ways to Understand and Help

     HAVE YOU ever slept under a bridge? Do you know what it feels like to sleep on cardboard? Have you gone hungry for more than 24-hrs before? In America today it's said that there is over 1,750,000 homeless people, and 31,000,000 Americans who live, "in hunger or on the edge of hunger". www.statisticbrain.com/homelessness-stats/

MY ENCOUNTER:

     RECENTLY my cousin Jessica Smith and I were downtown playing tennis. We were about to finish up our game when we noticed a lady walking beside the courts and into the woods nearby. Because we figured there weren't any "nature walks" in that section of the park, we wondered who the person was and what they were doing. Like anyone, we were quite curious. A few serves later, the lady returns and walks back by the tennis courts, this time in a complete change of clothes, and holding an empty water bottle. She filled up her water bottle and returned to her quiet hideaway. Needless to say, we finished our game, and I went to investigate while Jessica cleaned up our tennis balls. After crawling through what appeared to be a simple deer trail, I rounded a corner and saw what I expected to see - a cardboard flat, shower curtain for a tent, and plastic bins with a few meager personal belongings. I left, gripped by what I had seen and disturbed by the answers to life that evaded me.

     JESSICA AND I returned to the tennis court about a half hour later, both putting together what few snacks and extra things we had, zipped up in an old carrying bag. After intentionally being quiet in order to purposefully surprise her so she wouldn't be all defensive and "beggy" we exchanged greetings with her. Her name was Sara*. Two weeks ago she lost her waitressing job. Soon after her boyfriend kicked her out because she couldn't pay her half of the rent. We had never heard an "actual homeless person's story" of how they became homeless. We didn't know what to say or how to respond. But we did know we could pray. We prayed, "Dear God, help this lady Sara* to find a job, and find you, the One who can bring hope and healing back to her hurting heart. Lord, thank you for how you have loved us and reached out to us in ways that we needed it. Thank you that you love us so much that you, "sent not your son into the world to bring condemnation but healing." Restore your friendship with her and keep us all close to you. Lord, find her a good job. In Jesus name, Amen." After the prayer, I asked her if she needed anything else; her reply was, "well it's cold at night." A sleeping bag would be nice." Thankfully, I had one in my car and gave it to her. Eventually, after exchanging goodbyes we left wondering how we could help and pray. We knew sharing her location
wasn't an option since the local authorities would probably then come and move her to a different
location.

     THIS "encounter" helped me realize once again how broken and in need we all are... Many out their are broken and in need of assistance. A help up can sometimes look like the weirdest things but are necessary.

Note: If  you have anything you'd like to donate to Sara let Jessica or myself know and we'd be glad to take it to her. Jessica will continue to check up on her throughout the summer.

(*her actual name has been changed to Sara to protect her identity)

A QUESTION ASKED

     I'VE BEEN asking myself the question from that "encounter" on... How do I effectively reach the homeless I do come in contact with? Here's an excerpt from the book I'm reading entitled, "Under the Overpass" by Mike Yankoski. It is related to my recent post entitled, "Preach, Serve, Repeat", and may shed some light on this subject.

"Every night about 150 ragged and torn men and women would pile into the chapel to listen to the mandatory service (at the rescue mission). The rule there, was you go to chapel before you get dinner. Everyone was dirty, hungry, desperate and broken. Pretty much everyone on the platform was not. Few would offer amens, many slept, and most just waited it out. After a full hour the air in the room was rank, especially if it had been raining as it often did on summer evenings. Typically, a group from a local church with a heart for inner city outreach would come down to lead the service. Most groups would stand in front, obviously nervous, to sing four or five worship songs. The speaker would then deliver the message. THE THEME rarely varied and always began with bad news. For example, a speaker might begin with Romans 6:23 - "the wages of sin is death" and continue with vivid descriptions of suffering in hell. I couldn't help but wondering why speakers focused on the, "hell, fire, and damnation" theme and so little on hope, you, love, peace, or really anything positive."

 Did speakers assume that to be homeless or addicted means that you are definitely on the road to hell and the only way to reach these people is through scare tactics? THINK about it: If you see someone dangling precariously off a cliff would you warn him about the danger of falling to his death? Or would you instead throw him a rope. There's a big difference. For some the rope of safety will come through a warm meal, while for others it might be a sermon, or a letter of admonishment. OUR GOOD INTENTIONS AND SOUND THEOLOGY are WASTED if those we minister to don't feel that we care about their immediate concerns! JESUS offered thundering warnings of suffering and condemnation to those who were healthy and didn't recognize their own neediness. TO the weak, and sin-bound he had ANOTHER message: "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened." (Matt. 11:28) The author continued by saying, "SADLY twenty out of the twenty six chapel services that I was in focused on hell, condemnation, sin, and eternal suffering. All are important... but are they the most appropriate to focus on with such a physically needy group?"

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/136212023

MY RESPONSE: 

     WE NEED to have the kind of attitude that Jesus would have! We need to be ready to offer help, love, healing, and grace as well as be just as ready to offer a sermon on hell if it's appropriate. We need to offer both love and mercy to those rejected and outcast, and eventually help them come to a whole message that Christ offers - one that spills forth selfless living and a grace enabled life.
.

    AS AMERICANS we are inclined to want to be different, to do it the way no one on planet earth has done it before. Many Americans are all about the big "I". Might I suggest to you that we need to start thinking about others for a change instead of our own happy pursuits... We need to begin thinking biblically. What about this decision, this thought, this money, etc. - how can it be done/used for the upbuilding of God's Kingdom here on earth?  My "encounter" was a wake up call to me to stop thinking about going on a short term missions trip every few years - although that may still come to pass - and instead be the hands and feet of Christ here in America where He has planted me to currently serve. This could mean, helping those I come in contact with by sharing what I have and what I know - the Gospel) I know for me it's a huge tendency to think about the poverty stricken children/families in third world countries in other parts of the world. But what about our own country with all ITS problems?  My Suggestion: First: Live. Second: share/help. Third: give.

HOW CAN WE HELP?

•     Do treat them like you would want them to be treated! (i.e. DON'T always be looking the other way as if they are trash. They are people just like you and me with needs, desires, and feelings.)
• Do not give them money unless you know they'll use it for something good such as a haircut, new backpack, extra food. Keep in mind it takes time with a person to find their true need.
•  Do help them,  but in tangible ways. Like I mentioned above... some things like just having a hair cut will help them feel better than money ever will. The way we are externally can affect us deeply internally. Other ways may include, buy them dinner at Hardees, and sign them up at a local Rescue Mission.
• Do share the gospel in love! At the right time preach the message of God's forgiveness and restoring grace. It's not a time for a message on holiness or hell or the justice of God. How absurd! We as humans remember more critical statements than loving statements. The abused and rejected need even more of an abundance of love poured into their life if they will ever change.
• Finally, educate yourself. (i.e. read the book "Under the Overpass" by Mike Yankoski) Take a homeless person or needy person out to eat sometime. You may be shocked by what you discover. People can often open up more around the dinner table than anywhere else.

Any comments? Was this Helpful? How have you been able to help the homeless and hurting "see" Christ through the love you give and the gospel you preach?

A disclaimer - I'm still finishing the book; So hopefully I'll comment on this post later with better suggestions but based on my own experiences with homeless people here in Cincinnati - It's sound advice. Also, about the spelling errors - I didn't have spell check on the computer I was typing on.

(Last edited on 1/31/15 by AQ/JP)

Serve - Preach - Repeat - Mark 10:45

   IF THE CHURCH would be serving people as much as they have been "screaming at people" I don't believe we would be as marginalized as we are now." (Quote from a Preaching Seminar) 
     If Jesus would have only preached would people have listened and would the disciples have been as faithful? What if Jesus came not to tell everyone they were a bunch of stupid sinners but instead came to serve people, and through that serving, and therefore with greater impact and authority, proclaimed that they were lost and needed "a new Gospel" and that they needed to be reconciled with their God. I would contend that the "gospel was preached" in two ways through the life of Jesus: First, through his life (by serving) ; and Second,  through his speech (by proclaiming the new Gospel: Mark 1:14-15; Mat. 9:35). I would argue that today as laymen, and ministers of the gospel, together we need to first serve and then proclaim. Recently I heard about a pastor who offered free gas at the local gas station. The result was a huge impact in the community for Christ. Why? They understood the value of first Serving like Christ and then preaching "with grace and truth". We need to offer the gospel like Christ would. Want appeal? Want to attract more people to your church? Programs are great, but I think selfless service combined with the power of the gospel and the Holy Spirit is even better. 

Time-Management

6 Steps to Managing Your Overwhelming Workload

I enjoy thinking creativly, and talking or thinking about theology, leadership, and time management (amongst other things); however, because of my studies I'm going to have to "limit myself" and take #2 of this 6 step process to heart. Hopefully during the summermonths I'll have more time on here to post and "think out-loud". I miss not being able to post...)

A brief synopos of my perspective on time-management: I firmly believe more if more Christians would take a "business like" approach to Christianity and their own personal use of their time. If we as the "body and bride of Christ" would be more disciplined we would get more done!  Would Christ want anything less than our best (with the time, talents, and resources) that we have?? 

Too often we need to work smarter and not harder!


Ephesians 5:15-17 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Psalm 90:12  So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
 ....
(Here's a great article I found on http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/232618)
  Let’s be clear, being a successful entrepreneur is hard work -- very hard work. From learning new tasks to managing employees and planning for future growth, there isn't a lot of time in the day to make huge errors. That said, entrepreneurs can learn to work smarter, not harder.
Here are six tips that will help the overburdened entrepreneur sort through the endless tasks on her plate.
1. Get your priorities straight. There will always be more work than you have time to complete. You aren’t going to get everything done. Accept it.
Tasks that are both urgent and important must rise to the top of the to-do list. Keep in mind, pressing work tends to take priority over the important tasks. Don't let this happen. Make sure you focus on both items.

2. Limit your time on tasks. The law of diminishing returns dictates that doing a certain task for an hour may be a good investment but spending five hours doing the same task may be time wasted. Make sure you do some tasks in limited quantities.
We have a colleague who each day spends only one hour on social networking to promote his business. The reason? Often social networking can be a time sink, and he wants to make sure he doesn't get sucked in.
3. Avoid perfectionism.We’re not suggesting that mediocrity is acceptable. However, continuing to work on something long after the incremental effort stopped delivering value is not beneficial. Further, it sucks up your time, keeping you from doing other tasks that do create value. Keep in mind, great work is what we do for our customers. Perfectionism is what we do for ourselves.
Related: The Secret to Prioritizing Your Time
4. Exercise discipline. As an entrepreneur, you can’t afford to spend time doing things you enjoy at the expense of mission-critical tasks. Make sure you remain focused on business-related duties.
5. Outsource, outsource, outsource. Depending on your skill set, many tasks should be outsourced. For example, we find that if our computer network is on the fritz, it’s much more cost effective to call a technician than to attempt the fix ourselves. He does in 30 minutes what would take us three days (optimistically), time we could be spent generating revenue.
6. Sprint. If you will be the only employee for years, this won’t work. You’ll need to use the tips above to find a sustainable pace. However, you may be able to sprint for a short period of time (say a few months) working at an unsustainable pace to get your business over the hump. This can be successful, if it allows your business to generate enough revenue so that you can take on employees. Then you can delegate work to others and throttle back to a sustainable pace.
Starting and successfully running a small business is a lot of work but following the tips outlined above can help you manage the workload.

Trinity Letter to "Joe"

In the next few weeks I'll probably be posting some of my papers I've written while here at God's Bible School and College.

Ever wonder how to defend the doctrine of the Trinity? Or have questions about it? Hopefully the inclusions of good illustrations and references to Scripture in this paper will help. Recently I had to write a "Trinity Paper" for a class called Systematic Theology. You'll find it below.
~J.P.

Dear Joe Artwell III,

Hello! Hope you have been doing well. In this letter I’d like to clarify some of the questions you had about the trinity and explain it in greater depth. It’s my understanding that you believe in the existence of God, but you don’t necessarily believe in the trinity. The belief and case for the trinity comes from scripture and not my own opinion. The following arguments are all clearly taught from scripture and clearly form the groundwork for the doctrine of the trinity. I am of the understanding that you believe that scripture is the inspired (God Breathed) and inerrant (flawless) word of God and that it was recorded by man all while being superintended by the Holy Spirit. If this isn’t quite what you believe, please let me know and we can talk further.

If we look in the Old Testament in Deuteronomy 6:4 we find that it says, our God, the LORD is one!” Later I will state that they are all “distinct”. This doesn’t mean they are separate - only distinct. A good illustration of this is the relationship between Space, Time, and Matter. Space is made up of length, width, and height – three in one. If a box has 1” of height and 1” of width but 0.000” of height – it would cease to be a square. Likewise, Time consists of past, present, and future – three in one. If you take one out of the equation time no longer is time. Matter consists of energy in motion producing phenomena – three in one. If one was left out of this equation matter would cease to exist. This is the way God – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work. They are three in one; however, if you take one away It ceases to exist. So we can then conclude from that that there is one God even if there are distinct persons. The book of Isaiah, in chapter 9 and verse 46 we find that God is the only God and there is NO other; “I (God) am God and there is none like me”. Clearly scripture supports a belief that there is “one God”.

When we look up Galatians 1:1 it says, “through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead…”. Contextually, this reveals that the “Father is God”. In this passage Paul is addressing the Galatian believers at the church(es) in Galatia. Here he says, I wasn’t sent through men, but by Jesus Christ AND God the father who raised Him (Jesus) from the dead. Our conclusion then is that the Father is God.

In John 1:1 we find that, “Jesus is God”. It says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Some ponder over what “word” is, but in 1 John 1:1-3 it clearly defines word to be “eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us”. Then it says that this eternal life or Word of life is the one believer’s have fellowship with, “our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ”. The father wasn’t “manifested” in physical form to early believers in the N.T, only the Son Jesus Christ. So we conclude that Jesus is also God.

This next point can be debated by some that The Holy Spirit is God. To debate this they clearly have to either twist or overlook Acts 5:3-5 because this is an erroneous belief. In this passage Peter has found a man Guilty of lying and stealing, so he says, “Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit”. He continues this thought then says, “You have not lied to men but to God”. Matthew 28:19 also supports that the Holy Spirit is God.

Also know that they are distinct persons.  Mark 1:9-11 explains… Jesus was coming to be baptized in the Jordan, while being baptized he saw the “heavens opened” and the “Spirit like a dove” descending upon Him, and “a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased”.” Here we find that at one distinct moment in time we can detect the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit all distinctly doing something in this baptism. They all aren’t doing the same thing, but are doing distinct things. John 15:26 also supports that they are distinct, yet live in harmony (compare Genesis 1:27 and 1 Corinthians 12) as one. Thus we can conclude: “they are all distinct persons”.

You might ask, but do they have a way they relate to each other? The relationship is from the Father, to the Son (John 3:16; 17:5), and to the Holy Spirit (John 15:2 -6) - it proceeds. The Evangelical, and Biblical conclusion if these basically premises, is that “The Father the son and the Holy Spirit are one God”.  Not only is the relationship in this way but it’s also harmonious. In Genesis 1:27 we find that we are made in the image of God. In 1 Corinthians 12 we find that we are created in that image and are to live in a harmonious relationship, which is a byproduct of, and a reference to our Maker – God. And may I say that if you claim to be a Christian and you don’t believe in this comprehensive doctrine of the trinity you will be led astray. For example: If someone denies the trinity then they usually deny that Jesus is God. So, if the Jesus you believe in is not God, then you don’t have a Jesus who can save you! I pray you aren’t, “believing in a false representation of a Savior” (Galatians 1:6-9).  Joe, to take a look at these passages and “search the scriptures” for yourself. If you have any more questions send them to me later. Thanks!

Sincerely,          Jeffrey Paulus, Jr.

Exegetical Thoughts and Biblical Theology: Degrees of Holiness, Degrees of Reward

You'll find an excellent post by Dr. Phil here: Exegetical Thoughts and Biblical Theology: Degrees of Holiness, Degrees of Reward: I was recently asked, “Do degrees of holiness here on earth result in degrees of reward in Heaven?” The question assumes there are degrees ...

Learning to Feast Again...

Here's a recent article from www.relevantmagazine.com that I found helpful - maybe you will as well... It's about a "different kind" of gluttony. This summer I've especially been  "tasting daily, deeply and constantly" from God and His word. I hope you have been as well. 

Most Christians today like to say that all sins are “equal” in the eyes of God, that there is no scale of less or worse sins, that a white lie or a homicide alike would have been enough to require Christ to die on the cross. We say this in theory, but in practice, we know that a white lie won’t get you kicked off the church leadership team. And a homicide likely will.

In practice, there are some sins that are socially acceptable, even in the Church. There’s one sin in particular that has pervaded our society and churches so silently we hardly give it a second thought, and that is the constant hunt for more over what is enough. Or, in an uglier terminology, what is known as gluttony.

When I think about gluttony, I think about my desire to shove a dozen donuts into my mouth and wash them down with chocolate milk. Or perhaps it’s my tendency to mindlessly feed chips to a stomach that’s no longer hungry. Many of us can look at the sin of gluttony and think, “That’s not really my struggle.” Or, we think, “What’s the big deal?” After all, most congregations have compulsive over-eaters among them, and they’re not considered “less spiritual” or “backslidden” for it.

But gluttony has never been merely an addiction to food. And if we look at it in its original definition and context, gluttony becomes far closer to home than we’d like to admit.

AT ITS SIMPLEST, GLUTTONY IS THE SOUL’S ADDICTION TO EXCESS.

At its simplest, gluttony is the soul’s addiction to excess. It occurs when taste overrules hunger, when want outweighs need. And in America, where upsizing has always been part of the American dream, it’s often difficult to distinguish what is hard-earned achievement and what is indulgent excess. In this sense, even the most athletic and toned among us can be gluttons. Any of us can be.

All desire for excess stems from a lack of satisfaction. I’m not satisfied with my portion—be it the portion on my plate, in the marriage bed, or in my bank account. Because I’m not satisfied with my portion, I then seek a greater portion. But because every portion is a finite part of a finite whole, I am constantly chasing an excess that can never satisfy.

This is the story of Genesis 3. What was the sin in the Garden of Eden if not a desire for excess? Adam and Eve were given beautiful sights and beautiful tastes in the absence of shame, but what made the garden a paradise was not any of this. It was a paradise because God walked in the cool of the day with them. And yet, Adam and Eve’s downfall was because they deemed even this as not enough. They weren’t content with their portion of paradise, and they reached out—to disastrous consequence—for more.

Like them, we are ravenous beings. We embody bottomless cravings that constantly paw at the next attractive thing. Our appetites are as strong as death, Proverbs 27:20 tells us. We are always on the move for the next thing that can satisfy and slake our restless thirst. This endless pull is the engine of gluttony. It propels our souls ever toward excess.

And yet, the desire for “more” is not inherently bad, but it is often misdirected. What we need is a relentless appetite for the divine. We need a holy ravenousness. Our craving souls can turn and become enthralled by a goodness that is found in the presence of an all-glorious God. There is only one infinite source of satisfaction that can satisfy our bottomless cravings.

A taste of His supreme grace is enough to lure an appetite long held prisoner to lesser portions. If stolen water is sweet, lavished grace is sweeter.

And here’s a strange side effect: The more we drink deeply of the endless love of an infinite God, the more our tastes will be changed. The deep bright marrow of grace will drip down into the restless souls of the ever-hungry.

THE DESIRE FOR “MORE” IS NOT INHERENTLY BAD, BUT IT IS OFTEN MISDIRECTED. WHAT WE NEED IS A RELENTLESS APPETITE FOR THE DIVINE. WE NEED A HOLY RAVENOUSNESS.

In pursuit of lesser portions, our tastes have dulled. We’ve become numb to our real hungers, filling them with lesser fare. But when we return to the source, we taste anew.

Psalm 34:8 challenges us to see the difference for ourselves: “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” I think Paul understood this verse when he told the people at Lystra that God gives food and gladness so that our hearts would turn from vain things and turn to the ultimate satisfaction of who God is (Acts 14:15-17).

Consequently, if God has ordained that His goodness can be tasted and seen (and, I would submit, heard, smelled and touched), this has at least two direct implications. First, it means that every finite pleasure and satisfaction is meant to point us toward the infinite pleasure and satisfaction of God. My admiration for a sunset, then, need not stop at that horizon, rather it can curve upward into praise and gratitude. Second, it means that if our desire for "more" is misplaced, then certainly it can be redirected to something good as well.

Is the desire for excess sinful? It depends on whether the soul is addicted to a finite excess or an infinite excess. Do we ever think of gorging on God? Do we relish the chance to spend a few more minutes in prayer, hidden away from the world for just one more taste of the divine? When was the last time we lingered long over the pages of an open Bible because we just couldn’t stop admiring the honeyed flavor of an ancient truth? If the Bible is the story of the only infinite good, why do we spend so much of our lives at lesser tables?

We Christians have so tamed our enjoyment in God that we cannot fathom what such thrill-seeking would even look like. Feasting on God is as foreign to most Americans as an empty stomach. Why can’t we fix our souls on the only goodness who can handle our cravings? Why do we chase the more mild flavors of money, food and sex?

If only we would not stifle our gluttonous cravings, but turn them in the right direction. If only we would feast on an infinite God who offers fullness of life, rather than these lesser tables with the far milder flavors of money, sex, food and power.

As George MacDonald put it, “Sometimes I wake and, lo, I have forgot.” Sleep is like a reset button and my hunger is misdirected often. I think I’m hungry for the finite, but I’m really hungry for God. To remember, we need to taste daily, deeply and constantly of the goodness of God. So let us turn together, and feast rightly.