Conformed to the image of Christ...

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son...” (Romans 8:29) God has a goal for you, and that goal is for you to be “...conformed to the image of his Son...”  The Bible tells us that this goal is predestinated for us… But what does that mean?

Simply put, it means God has already decided that you should be like Jesus. 

Think about it like this. If you pour plaster into a footprint, that plaster conforms to that footprint.

Will that plaster cast be as perfect as the original foot? No. It will be made out of plaster, and will have imperfections… From the mixture the plaster is made from, from irregularities in the soil the print was in... it will not be perfect, but it will be LIKE the original. One could identify the two as similar, just like police detectives investigating a crime can determine that a suspect is the one who left a footprint at the scene. 

As Christians, God has an expectation for us to be LIKE Christ... and we should strive to be LIKE Christ. The Bible tells us that people in the early church were called Christians first at Antioch… It was meant as a mocking term, because it meant ‘little Christs,’ but they wore it as a badge of honor. Why? Because even the world could see the similarity between them and Jesus. Even though they were simply earthen vessels and had numerous imperfections, they were recognizably similar to Christ.

On this side of heaven, we will never be perfect like Christ, but if the world can't see a similarity between you and Christ, you have some serious work to do. 

The Value of Prayer

Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer took the Seventh Calvary regiment to an area known as the Little Big Horn in June of 1876. He was outnumbered and cut off from reinforcements. The enemy forces surrounded Custer and the soldiers under his immediate command, and in the subsequent massacre all 211 men, including Custer, were killed.

Almost 90 years later, Lieutenant Colonel Hal Moore took 450 men of the Seventh Calvary regiment into the Ia Drang valley in the central highlands of Vietnam on November 14, 1965. He found himself outnumbered and cut off from reinforcements. The enemy forces, over 1600 in strength, surrounded Moore. However, Moore used precision air strikes and constant artillery barrages as a shield between the enemy and his men; this screen protected them, broke the enemy’s advance, and changed what could have been a massacre into a victory.

The primary difference between Moore and Custer was that Custer did not possess heavy artillery.
In the life of a Christian, there will be times that we are under attack from the World, the Flesh and the Devil; times that the battle gets so difficult that we can do nothing but stand and take it. The Bible tells us that at those times, “…and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore… (Ephesians 6:13-14) When standing in defense, having armor can help deflect some of the blows that would normally afflict us.
Ephesians Chapter 6 tells us of the Armor we are given access to as Christians, armor that will protect us in the battle; “…having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always…” (Ephesians 6:14-18)
If we are to stand for Christ, we must learn to use our armor; it will protect us in those times that we have done all we can, and we just need to take it. While many Christians understand some of the benefits of the armor God has provided, there is one piece given to us that is often overlooked...
“Praying always…” (Ephesians 6:18) Prayer is often not understood as an important part of the Christian’s armor, but it is probably the most important one there is.
Consider again the difference between Hal Moore and George Custer. There will be times that we are in the battle, and even the armor that we have may not protect us from the fiery darts that are hitting us from all sides. At those times all we can do is hunker down and take the hits.
But, there is a God in Heaven. When we pray, His protection is like artillery from Heaven that will create a barrier between the enemy and the Christian, and can turn a spiritual massacre into a victory.

In honor of Lieutenant General Hal Moore (Retired) 1922—2017

What happened to Demas?

“Ye are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14)

The average life-span of a soul winning Christian is dwindling. Twenty-five years ago it was said to be seven years. From the time they first get Saved and active in the Church, until the FBI can’t find them to get them in Church. Fifteen years ago it was five years… Now, some say it is three…

I want to consider a Biblical character that is indicative of this problem, and can give us some answers why we see this happening—and that is Demas. He is a character in the Bible that many Christians know little about. Many of us have heard sermons in Church about Demas, usually stemming from one single verse...

“For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica…” (II Timothy 4:10)

I want to simply look at what we know about Demas, and see WHY it was that he departed from the work.

“Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.” (Colossians 4:14)

In this passage, written in AD 62, we see that Demas was mentioned as a Dedicated Secondary. He was someone who was apparently involved enough, and familiar to the Church at Colossi, to where Paul felt a salutation from him was warranted. He had just started his ministry, and was like a match that is just being lit.

“Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow-labourers.” (Philemon 1:24)

In this passage, written in AD 63, we see that Demas was recognized not only as involved with the work, but as being Diligent in Service. He was a fellow-laborer with Paul, and obviously of great value. Often we refer to someone that is actively serving as “On Fire” for God, and in his case this was like a burning match with a clear flame.

“For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica…” (II Timothy 4:10)

In this final passage, written in AD 66, we see that Demas is being lamented as having Departed from Service. We do not know the exact circumstances of his departure, but the strong wording by Paul, as he considered it a forsaking leads one to believe it wasn’t a pleasant departure. As we consider his service we could say that he was “Burnt Out” and out of fuel, like a burned out match.

The problem that we see is that Demas burnt out too quickly. Like a lit match that can only burn so long as it has fuel, which is the wood it is made from, he was burning in his own strength and had a short life.

We need to remember this:

“The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord…” (Proverbs 20:27)

We need to be like a candle, not a match. A candle has a string wick, which is no different from wood; it will burn out quickly on its own. BUT, what the candle has, in addition, is a layer of wax. That wax is the real fuel that burns slowly and keeps the wick from burning out too quickly.

The question we must ask is simply what is the wax that will keep the Christian burning longer?

Prayer- Philippians 4:6-7

Reading God’s Word- Psalm 119:11

Church/Fellowship with believers- Matthew 18:20

These are the things that will fuel a Christian’s life so they can continue to burn brightly for the Lord. Ask yourself... Are you keeping yourself covered?

Admission to the Ark...

I recently went to see the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, KY, and I enjoyed the experience. Truly, as I considered a visual reminder of the story of Noah, I was surprised at the emotions that the experience elicited. 

As I look back, I would say that it was the tickets that really bothered me. 



It wasn't that the tickets were bad... they simply contained a story that many who visit the site probably ignore. 

Picture yourself standing near the Ark... Not this new one, but Noah's Ark. You had been warned that God's wrath was imminent, but you had chosen to ignore it. Now the Earth was roiling with massive earthquakes as the fountains of the great deep were opened, and just possibly, it had started to rain as well. You are looking at the Ark, you desperately want to board, but it is too late. God has shut the door, and you cannot enter. 

There were people who would have given anything for a ticket that would have gained them admittance... Or admittance for the children that they had wrongly taught to ignore God and to ignore God's commands. 

As I looked down at our tickets, I was not only thinking about that, but also of the last days— when tribulations come, and men look suddenly to the God they have ignored. "Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me..." (Proverbs 1:28) 

In the book of Thessalonians, Paul wrote this: "...because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (II Thessalonians 5:10-12)

God's judgement will come, sooner or later. What you must ask yourself is where you will stand when that happens.

Will you have a ticket, or be wishing that you had one? 

A day of memory

August 21- Daily Word—SPECIAL ECLIPSE EDITION— "And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst." (Luke 23:44)- Of course, there is no prophetical coincidence that I am trying to make with this—except as a form of remembrance. In this passage, Christ had been on the cross for several hours; the sixth hour was @ noon... and suddenly an eclipse darkened the sun. Why? Because God did not want to look upon the suffering of His Son—Now, I am not certain if God used a standard solar eclipse like we will see today, or if He moved His hand to blot it out Himself... but either way, from @ noon to three there was an eclipse. Today, when you look up in the sky to see the sun blotted out, remember that @ 1988 years ago, in a little town @ 6500 miles away called Jerusalem, there was an eclipse, when Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, laid down His life so that YOU would not have to spend an eternity in Hell. He died in the dark for you, so that you could live in the light. Let today be a remembrance of that.

Lessons from Shamgar

"...after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad..." (Judges 3:31) 
The Pastor who led me to Christ would only use the KJV Bible; and likewise I only use the KJV as the inspired and preserved Word of God. 
However, something that he did always stuck with me. We were out on visitation, and had an opportunity to present the Gospel to a young man. This young man excitedly brought out the NASB that his Grandmother had bought for him  right before she died.
Now, there are some who treat the KJV like an idol... similar to "Nehushtan" (* II Kings 18:4), and they would have immediately started ranting about translators, the new Greek text, and preservation—thoroughly condemning the use of the offensive version, and irrevocably ruining the chances of the young man ever receiving the Gospel.
But what did he do? He showed that young man the Gospel in that NASB; and the Holy Spirit convicted that young man of his lost condition, which later culminated in the young man accepting Christ as his Savior.
I guess a way to look at it is this; Shamgar didn't have a sword, he used an ox goad.
I always consider that when I think of the Bible; I will only use the KJV, especially for doctrine, but we should always be ready to use whatever is at hand.

The story of our lives...

The process that I use to write a book varies for each one—interestingly, that process tends to vary depending on which genre I am writing in—but, there are certain similarities that I want to discuss. With each novel, I generally have a beginning and an end already in mind, and then I write the scenes that take place in the middle.
One thing that I've noticed is how the scenes that I write will shape the character, and is not only a reflection of what the end will be, but often ends up recreating the ending for itself.
The first draft of my first book, Kindled Love, had a vastly different ending than the final published version. Why? Because I let the characters shape themselves. The choices that the characters made throughout the book molded and shaped their character, which changed how they responded to trials and tribulations—literally recreating them to necessitate a new ending. (Of course, I still chuckle when I look back at the Anna who yelled and threw things at people...)
In much the same way, our lives have a beginning and an end—one that our choices can change.
First, let us consider our story's end.
Our sin nature has written the ending of our lives eternally separated from God in a place called Hell; however, the choice we make to reject or accept Christ can either solidify that ending, or necessitate a new ending, with us in Heaven with Christ.
After that, our lives and choices are still having an impact on our story; will it involve standing with head bowed before God in shame, with nothing but a handful of ashes to show for our lives—or will it be standing with head bowed to receive a crown of Glory, as Christ proclaims, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant..." 
Those choices will both be available as your character responds to the trials and tribulations it faces in life, and you literally have the chance again to rewrite your ending.
Friend, I'm not certain where you are in your story, but just consider this: your choices will have an impact on the end of your story. Just ask yourself—what do you want that ending to be like?

"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened..." (Revelation 20:12)

Are We Combat Ineffective?

There was a brief silence on the battlefield as the firing ceased. The smoke of battle slowly cleared, exposing numerous casualties strewn across the field. You begin to hear the ragged sound of men screaming in pain as they lay on the ruined field. Two teams of medics crawl out of their holes and move toward the shattered bodies of soldiers; one moving slowly towards the fallen enemy, while the other slowly approaches their own wounded.

You stand and watch as the medics slowly work their way through the enemy wounded, applying medical care almost lovingly; pressure dressing to stop the bleeding, morphine for the pain... Slowly, the comforted enemies screams decline in severity and volume. 

That's when you notice the other team of medics. Like the first, they are moving from soldier to soldier taking care of your compatriots. Pausing briefly between each casualty, they end their screams of pain with a quick slash of a knife across the throat.

Wait, what?

This disturbing scene is horrible to consider, yet is played out in Churches across the United States on a weekly basis. Christians who will lovingly approach the lost with a gentle hand will not have a second thought about spiritually destroying a fallen Christian. They will rip a fallen Christian to shreds and walk away believing they have done the Lord’s work. The reason for this is simple; we have lost the love of the brethren. We see the Great Commission as the end all of Christianity, and have a desire to fulfill it, but have crippled ourselves to the point of ineffectuality with our Pharisaical attitudes.

When I was in the Army we learned a very scary term: Combat Ineffective… it reflected that a unit is at 50 to 69 percent troop strength. When a unit loses strength to that level, they cannot carry out the mission that they were tasked with. That is the Church in today’s society. We have lost significant troop strength, and as a result, cannot carry out our mission.

And the blame rests solely at our own feet.

The Bible tells us clearly, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1) Unfortunately, that is not our response. Instead, we are destroying those who have been overtaken and worse yet it is often in an attempt to raise ourselves in the eyes of others.

Think of how Jesus dealt with the woman caught in adultery (John 8:3-11) We read that story and only focus on how Jesus ‘Put those Pharisees in their place,’ but miss the greater lesson on how to respond to someone who has fallen into sin. I think it was really a warning to us of how He views our spiritually arrogant attitudes, because the fact is that the Pharisees are not the only ones who are judgmental about other people’s failures to the point of destruction.

• We have too many walking wounded that we have spiritually killed instead of offering life sustaining aid to keep them in the fight.
• We do not have the troop strength to carry out the Great Commission to reach enough to replace the ones we have lost.
• As a result, we are not replacing soldiers at the rate that we are losing them.

As soldiers in the Army of the Lord, we are Combat Ineffective. The question we must ask ourselves is this: What are we going to do about it?

Scorpion and the Frog

There is a story that begins with a scorpion meeting a frog on the bank of a rushing stream. The scorpion wishes to cross, but knows that he cannot do so without drowning. He looks over and notices a frog sitting on the bank.

“Excuse me, kind sir. Would you be willing to give me a ride across the stream? I will help you find some food if you do so.”

“Give you a ride?” The frog asks, "How do I know you won't sting me?"

The scorpion held out his claws in a pose of innocence, "If I do that, I will die too."

“Oh,” The frog nodded, “That makes sense.” Satisfied, he allowed the scorpion to crawl onto his back, and they set out to cross the stream.

About halfway across the rushing stream, the frog feels a sharp sting on his back. The paralysis almost immediately sets in. The frog, startled, looks back at the scorpion and asks, “Why?” Because he knows that they both will drown.

The scorpion shrugged as his head started to go under, “Because it’s my nature...”

As we look at sin, we often get fooled by the promises that it gives us. “I won’t hurt you... I’ll help you achieve things you cannot do on your own...”

What we must remember is that it is the nature of sin to destroy. Sin will play innocent, but it will always sting you in the end.

“Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?” (Proverbs 6:27)