Jesus Says Follow Me, He Didn't Ask to Follow You

Why do we get the idea in our heads and think that we know better than God does. When we pray, we typically tell Him what to do. We pray things like heal this sickness, I need to make more money, and so on. One of my favorites “Bless this food to nourish my body, in Jesus name amen!” As if, God is going to take your extra large fast food high fat, high calorie meal and turn it into manna, I think not.

A big thing we tell God is where we want to and need to go. God does not work that way. He did not do it in the Old Testament with the Israelites, and He did not do it in the New Testament either. As a matter of fact, He pretty much leads people to places that just do not make sense. The Israelites He led into the desert. His disciples he always said "come follow me." He never said, “Hey guys, can I come with you and make you disciples.” He leads us to some of the most unlikely places that simply just do not make sense. That is until we get there and we can look back. Hindsight is always 20/20.

1992, was the year our oldest daughter Kenzie was born. Having a child really makes you look at things from a different perspective. We faced Hurricane Andrew in south Florida just a few days after she was born. That will open your eyes and make you consider a safer place to live in order to protect your family from devastation. But something else caught my attention even more. I was working for Broward County Fire Rescue during that time, and I began to notice something even more disturbing. I was witnessing firsthand the escalating rate of crime, drug trafficking, gang violence, and domestic abuse. We were living in a place that was becoming a war zone. Home robberies were becoming more common, crack cocaine and other drug related incidents were on the rise, drive by shootings and other gang related violence was occurring daily and domestic abuse was everywhere. The overwhelming thought; “This is no place to raise a child”, consumed our minds daily. We knew it was time to go somewhere, but where? So we began to pray, seeking God's direction.

During the summer of 1993, we felt God leading us to a small town in Arkansas. Carri had family living there, so we went for a visit. While visiting the area we also searched for jobs. Carri seemed to be able to find a job everywhere she went. I could not find a job no matter how hard I begged. I was very discouraged because I felt God was leading us to Arkansas. If He was leading us there, then why could I not find a job? Carri’s income was certainly not going to be enough. We were going to need both our incomes in order to just make ends meet.

Carri and I spent a few sleepless nights just praying and asking for God’s direction and a sign. All He would give us is the burden within our hearts to move. There was no other sign. Arkansas that is where He was leading us. Move to Arkansas, with no job except Carri’s. Lose half our income and no other way to pay or bills or make ends meet. Oh and spend all we have to move there and have nothing left when we arrived. It did not make sense, but God said move, so we did. A few weeks later, we were moving into the basement of Carri’s aunt and uncle’s house with our 1-year-old baby.

What we did not know then is what God was going to do with us once we arrived. I am certain for one, God was looking for obedience. Obedience is hard especially when it makes no sense and it does not seem rational. But God knew our needs and He provided. Within two weeks, I had a full time job and a few months later, I was managing an ambulance service making more money than I ever dreamed and Carri no longer had to work. Money is not everything and I no longer have that job, but that is yet another God story.

As I continue sharing my story, you will see how this step of obedience was a crucial part of God's will for our lives. I encourage you, if God says go, go don't question why even when it makes no sense. Trust in The Lord and you will be blessed!

The picture is of me on my first foreign mission trip to Satu Mare, Romania. Notice the Hog's scrub top! This trip never would have happened if we chose not to follow Christ to Arkansas.

Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Philippians 4:19 and my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

May my life be the proof and evidence of Christ's love!

Baptized in a Lightening Storm, Now That Takes Faith

I was baptized at the Church of the Cross in Coral Springs, Florida.  To say the least I was very nervous, being that I was rather timid and shy.  Baptism was a huge event for me.  All eyes were on me as I stood before the church.  I remember being afraid that I would have to give a speech or something like that.  I really had serious fear issues back then, so for me to go before the church and be baptized was certainly a God thing I assure you. In-spite of my fear, I knew that my new life in Christ was so significant that I was willing to go beyond my comfort zone to make sure others knew that Jesus Christ was Lord of my life.  I was not going to be ashamed so going public was the way to prove it.

Right before my baptism, I remember my heart was racing, my breath was short, and I just knew I was going to die.  You may be thinking, that sounds just a little dramatic.  Well maybe it was.  On top of all the other fears I had about being a public spectacle, there was a fierce lightening storm going on as well.  Storms should not be a problem unless you were going to be baptized at the Church of the Cross.  Their Baptismal was outside.  The entire congregation gets to sit in the safety of the indoors, while the guy getting baptized has to go outside.  

Behind the pulpit was a large set of sliding glass doors leading to the outdoor baptismal. As the pastor was preparing me for what to expect, all I could hear was loud earth shaking rumbles of thunder and see intense flashes of light.  You would have thought the battle of Armageddon had started.  Yes, I was shy timid and hardly ever spoke much, but this was insane my life was at stake.  You do not ever; I repeat ever stand in a body of water when lightning is striking the ground all around you.  God granted me the strength and courage to speak.  With a cracked up voice that was fluttering because of the pounding inside my chest I asked the pastor, "Is this a good idea since the lighting is so close and intense?"  Without hesitation he replied, "Son, If God kills you, He can't use you anymore.  I don't think He is finished with you yet, let's go."  

Before I knew it we were in the baptismal, and the skies had parted.  I am serious the storm broke up like there was some kind of planned intermission going on.  I was submerged symbolically as a dead man in sin and then I was raised out of the water as a new life in Christ cleansed and redeemed by my spiritual birth.

I shared this story for two reasons.  One baptism is a command from God.  Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  If we have truly given our lives to Christ, Then we need to be obedient to Him.  Baptism in itself is nothing magical and it does not save you.  It is a celebration and testimony of your new found faith in Christ.  If you have accepted God's gift of eternal life through His son, then you will want to be baptized.  The second reason I shared this story was for what my pastor said to me, "Son, If God kills you, He can't use you anymore.  I don't think He is finished with you yet, let's go."  That statement has always stuck in my head.  Although I had a lot of fear, I always hoped it was true.  I had no idea of the magnitude of what God was going to do through a nobody like me.  God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called. 

In accepting God's gifts of being Lord and savior, redemption of sin, and eternal life I was given a second life.  I can honestly say for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 

I Corinthians 1:26-31 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." 
    

This is a picture of my cousin
being baptized recently

My plan is to continue sharing how God has not just changed my life, but how He has brought me to where He has me today.  God was certainly not through with me then.  It gets sweeter and sweeter as I have learned to surrender even more and more. 

May my life be the proof and evidence of Christ's love!

Absolute Truth in an Absolute God

OK, so I shared in my last two posts how I figured out who God was. But there is more than just figuring out what you think is true. When things are left to interpretation and personal preference, then there is always room for error.

Relative truth seems to be a common theme for today's society. Relative truth basically says each and every person is right even if they do not agree with one another. Honestly, I can't help but think that relative truth has to be an absolute lie. Everything can't be true. I know I am right because relative truth says that I am right, there is no wrong in relative truth. So If I believe there is no gravity, then does that mean I can just leap into the sky and fly? When it comes to God, relative truth is not good enough for me now and it was not good enough for me then.

Relative proof was not good enough for me because I was searching for the absolute truth. That is why I tried and experimented with all the things I did. It was clearly evident that I had been searching for truth in all the wrong relative things. How did I know? Well everything i had been trying only offered temporary satisfaction and relief. When the relief subsided, more pain and greater suffering followed. Nothing positive lasted in things I tried. Relief was only brief and temporary at best. The negative effects were absolutely evident, and confirmed by the condition of my heart.

Ask yourself; "Are the things you are doing working? Do they have a lasting positive impact on your life?" Is your life the way it is now working for you? Do you truly have HOPE when you face HOPELESS situations? Do you really have peace in peace-less situations? What is the best way to determine absolute truth? Face the extreme. Don't believe in gravity? Try jumping out of an airplane, you will figure out the absolute truth the moment you hit the ground. Want to know what absolute hope and absolute peace feel like, experience a truly hopeless peace-less event in your life.

I figured out who God was, and the absolute truth became clearly evident by a new life. God literally changed me from the inside out. All the pain, hurts, suffering, depression, addictions, guilt shame.....gone. This was not a emotional or spiritual high, this was a life changing life altering event in my life. God promised His Holy spirit to those who are in Him. Romans 8:16 "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." I am not who I was, I am now who He has made me. I have not jumped out of an airplane without a parachute, but I have faced some extreme trials and difficulties since the time I gave my life to Christ. What became true the day I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior, has remained true even up to this day, 20+ years later. There has been plenty of tests and opportunities for my faith to fail, but that simply just has not been so.

So forget about relative truth, how about trying the absolute? I have heard and experienced the absolute effects and presence of God in my life and in and through the lives and testimonies of people around the world. God will absolutely come into your life and absolutely bring you peace, hope, purpose and all the other fruits He promises when you accept His invitation to become your Lord and savior.

The picture is of my buddy Tom and I. We were dressed as "Super Heroes" at church camp. Both of us absolutely had no extra powers or the ability to fly in spite of the capes, hats, cool shades, and high voltage.

John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

May my life be the proof and evidence of Christ's love!