Tag: Jesus

Real Talk – Eternity Writer

While I was in therapy with a Christian counselor for approximately two years, she told me not to spend time correcting old posts, but to add new ones.

Can you imagine if every decision you made was a win or lose “eternal decision”? Let me explain. An eternal decision is a decision that you make, either with or without thinking it all the way through entirely, that will last for the rest of your life.

Would life be worth living anymore? You may not feel that way after a while. A series of poor eternal decisions and you might look forward to spending eternal life with Jesus.

John 8:36 ESV

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Philemon, a beautiful letter written by fellow prisoner, Paul, on behalf of an escaped slave, Onesimus “Whom I wished to keep with me, that . . . he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel.” (Philemon 1:13 NKJV)

Have you ever felt like you were a slave to something in your life? A recreational drug? Nicotine? A material possession? A phone, or apps? A slave to sin, perhaps?

The previous two verses, John 8:34, 35 NKJV read like this:

34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave to sin. “And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.

A question was posed in Real Talk – If the Son Sets You Free. A spirit of divination can put us into bondage in various ways (Acts 16: 16-18 NKJV). Maybe placing a meaning on numbers, beyond numerical value. But John 8:36 declares freedom over divination.

Why is divination a sin? Because our God is a jealous God. He loves us so much, he desires us not to worship other gods (Exodus 31:7, 8).

Interesting fact: The Gospel of Mark is the Gospel that is centered around Jesus’ power over demons. It was written by John Mark, Barnabas’ cousin, who was Paul’s first missionary journey companion. John Mark abandoned the first missionary journey after only a short while, which caused Paul to feel he was unreliable. Leading to friction between Paul and Barnabas, and Paul looking for a new missionary journey compadre, Silas. Paul and John Mark reconciled years later.

Just saying . . . .

If every decision you ever made was an eternal decision, wouldn’t you like to know that if you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you would find refuge (Colossians 3:3) in Christ?

Is there freedom in Christ? The Bible says that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,” (2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV) What is the baseline for God’s truth—that the sun will rise at dawn and set at dusk (Genesis 1:1-5). There is freedom in Christ.

Personal Note

This blog aims to be a written life application of what I have studied in my Bible. I pray that you will relate to it and choose to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Disclaimer: I am not an ordained evangelist or teacher (Ephesians 4:11 KJV).

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Thanksgiving

1 Corinthians 1:4 KJV

I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

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Your contribution is appreciated.

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Real Talk – God, Country, Home, School

An ode to prose.

In 1995, my family moved back to Naperville from Lawrenceville. The adjustment was gigantic. My class at St. Ann’s in Lawrenceville consisted of maybe 12 or 13 kids. And I was about to start school with 4,000 other high schoolers. I became lost—emotionally.

I came extremely close to dropping out. So on the second day of the second semester of my sophomore year, my father yanked me by the collar at the front door an brought me upstairs to my parent’s room. A military duffle bag was on the floor, somewhat out of sight, which consisted of my SOP. And so we drove from Naperville to Boonville in central Missouri. It took 6 hours with minimal conversation between the two of us.

When we arrived at Kemper Military School, it was time to say goodbye, and he looked sad. I received a crash course on marching into the Mess Hall and ate my first meal at my new school. And for the rest of my sophomore year and summer school, I was a New Boy. New Boys lived servant lives in the barracks.

If I had no Standard of Honor violations, as a New Boy, I would become eligible to sign the Standard of Honor. The Standard of Honor was simple; it states: I will not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate thereof. And in return, I would receive a Greek cross, with the letters “GCHS” on each corner of the cross, from top to bottom, left to right; representing “God, Country, Home, School.”

After I was crossed by every Old Boy, I would receive my privileges—being “blood-crossed” by many would earn them—pinning your cross to the white T-shirt of your Class B uniform without the backing, where it meets the palm of an older Old Boy’s hand. Privileges certainly made student life easier, and Kemper slowly became my home.

Did I violate the Standard of Honor? Of course I did; I was a high school student. When I was a senior in a leadership position, I was susceptible to immature leadership, and could dish out the same hazing I had received as a sophomore. And I did some terrible things. But under the new covenant, I repented of my sins before the Cross and accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. And I became found—spiritually.

As a result of Kemper Military School and the Standard of Honor, I am allergic to lying. I try to be a person of integrity that fights to uphold the truth. Jesus spoke of the devil saying, “he does not stand in the truth, because there is not truth in him.” (John 8:44 ESV) He also said “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, “and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31, 32 ESV)

New Creation

Image by Dino Reichmuth via Freely Photos

Personal Note

This blog aims to be a written life application of what I have studied in my Bible. I pray that you will relate to it and choose to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Disclaimer: I am not an ordained evangelist or teacher (Ephesians 4:11 KJV).

Mobile Menu

Use the hamburger menu (three lines) opposite the logo in any mobile browser to access the menu!

Thanksgiving

1 Corinthians 1:4 KJV

I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

Disclaimer: I am not a nonprofit 501(c)(3)organization.

Your contribution is appreciated.

Donate

Real Talk – Word on the Streets

The word on the streets is the weight of the world.

Malice vs. forgiveness. Below is a comparison between Old and New Testament themes—Deuteronomy 19:21 vs. Matthew 5:38, 39 and Leviticus 24:20 vs. Matthew 7:1-5. And closing is Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees on the greatest commandments of all—Matthew 22:37-40.

Deuteronomy 19:21 NKJV

21 “Your eye shall not pity: life shall be for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

Vs.:

Matthew 5:38, 39 NKJV

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also.

And:

Leviticus 24:20 NKJV

20 ‘Fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has caused disfigurement of a man, so shall it be done to him.

Vs.:

Matthew 7:1-5 NKJV

“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 “For with what judgement you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 “Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Closing:

Matthew 22: 37-40 NKJV

37 Jesus said to him, ‘”You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 “This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.

Personal Note

This blog aims to be a written life application of what I have studied in my Bible. I pray that you will relate to it and choose to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Disclaimer: I am not an ordained evangelist or teacher (Ephesians 4:11 KJV).

Mobile Menu

Use the hamburger menu (three lines) opposite the logo in any mobile browser to access the menu!

Thanksgiving

1 Corinthians 1:4 KJV

I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

Disclaimer: I am not a nonprofit 501(c)(3)organization.

Your contribution is appreciated.

Donate

Real Talk – For All Have Sinned

Romans 3:23 NIV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

I changed the tagline of this blog to An Imperfect Blog because I realized that some of my recent posts were not Giving the Glory to God.

I am human. It took me seven years to read the New Testament in my Life Application Study Bible. I started when I first joined New Wine Fellowship in 2013, and I stopped around the time I left in 2020. I had a few more books to read in therapy, with Dr. Davis, and so I did. Completing Revelation in about 2021.

I am simply a person who applies what I read to my daily life and try to live by it (I was much better at it then) and now I write about it. That’s why the commitment to walk with the Lord is so difficult. It’s easy to fall off.

But Jesus is not the problem. He promises to be “the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8 NIV). The problem is actually us. And the guilt and shame we feel is actually the work of the enemy (Satan). He is the accuser (Revelation 12:10). Religion or its sidekick, legalism, could leave us sidelined from the slightest sin.

God loves all creation. He “sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:45) But God detests sin. Hence, the reason for Jesus our Mediator. My pastor gave me advice as an evangelist. Preaching God’s love will not work with everyone. Some will not take that seriously. God’s love and God’s judgement must be preached evenly in order to communicate the seriousness of sin.

But that is why grace is such a wonderful concept. It’s the Good News! Repentance is all that is needed. Transgressions are blotted out (Psalm. 51:1). If you hang out in really biblical circles, it is said that the consequences of each sin still remain. But forgiveness is guaranteed; through the ultimate debt paid on the cross by Jesus Christ.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Real Talk – Thou Shall Not

Romans 3:28 NIV

28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

Has anyone ever tried to live by the Ten Commandments, earnestly? I heard it is impossible.

Real Talk-Where Sin Abounded, Grace Did Much More Abound will tell you all about it. I was a recent devout nondenominational Christian when I wrote that post, strictly biblical.

The reason for Jesus to come to earth as the Perfect Sacrifice was not to abolish the Law of Moses, but to fulfill it. The Ten Commandments represented the law and justice; and Jesus came to fulfill the grace and truth; of God’s nature and will. Grace by faith. The biblical definition of grace is “unmerited favor”.

Propitiation in Christianity describes the weight of the past, present, and future sins of all humanity being forgiven when Jesus hung on the cross—and died—also with the weight of suffocation that comes with death on a crucifix.

The curtain in the temple was torn into two pieces at that moment. Jesus became the Mediator between us and God—our relationship with God was restored. We can approach God’s throne; the Throne of Grace; in repentance:

Hebrews 4:16 NIV

16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Adam and Eve had set in motion the law of sin and death, which through one perspective, was not intended. But the breath of God is his living Word—the Bible—from start to finish (Genesis 1:1-Revelation 22:21); Alpha to Omega. Holy Spirit inspired writings. Think the Apostle Paul—letter writer of most of the New Testament. Colossians has a subchapter explaining how Jesus was involved in the creation (Genesis 1:1-2:3).

So the question is…does Jesus now live in the hearts of believers? Are the Ten Commandments still relevant to Christian life? Absolutely! Are they our conscience barometers?

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Real Talk – Stay Prayed Up

Matthew 26:36-46 NIV

36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Disclaimer: I speak in the second person (you) because a lot of times I am speaking to myself. David used to speak to himself (Psalm 42:5) and found strength in the LORD his God (1 Samuel 30:6). And I give myself “pep talks” similarly. Just a few words spoken out loud, like “Let’s go”. It helps get through the day.

In summary, I do not have a license to preach the gospel, but I could pursue one. I think an exam may be available with the state or I could be sponsored by a church if I continued to go seriously once again.

Why is it important to stay prayed up? Gospel swag? Perhaps a way to make worshiping Jesus cool?

Because there really is a spiritual threat in the atmosphere. It is what you may have been taught at some churches. You may not agree, and spiritually fall asleep, similar to what is mentioned in these verses. Only to be faced with the same problem (potentially) years later. Was the training you received in vain? How long did it take to bring yourself back up to par? Are you the dry bones in Ezekiel 37:1-14 that need the breath of God to come alive and reassemble, piece by piece, becoming an army for the Lord’s purpose once again?

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Real Talk – Jesus Wept

John 11:35 NIV

35 Jesus wept.

Disclaimer: I speak in the second person (you) because a lot of times I am speaking to myself. David used to speak to himself (Psalm 42:5) and found strength in the LORD his God (1 Samuel 30:6). And I give myself “pep talks” similarly. Just a few words spoken out loud, like “Let’s go”. It helps get through the day.

In summary, I do not have a license to preach the gospel, but I could pursue one. I think an exam may be available with the state or I could be sponsored by a church if I continued to go seriously once again.

In John 11:1-44, Jesus wept when he arrived at Mary and Martha. They let Him know that he was late, and Lazarus had died. He began to weep because he cared so deeply. But if you think about it, He needed to be late, because God’s plan all along was for the miracle of Lazarus being raised from the dead.

Is it wrong for a man to cry? Is it a matter of having a high Emotional Quotient? Or the result of being emotionally abused? What makes a sensitive kid? Could a person be put under such duress that the result is tears? Could a narcissistic person weep for another?

I am a man and I cry often. I have no excuse. I try to apply reason to the cause (above 🙄). But really as a Christian, Jesus should be my only model as the ultimate sacrifice. He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™