As a fellow youth minister and having served many years on staff I now how hectic and crazy the summer can become. There are the summer camps, mission trips, family vacations, etc and getting a lesson together or finding someone to fill in for you while you are gone can become a challenge. Let me help you out. I would love to discuss the possibility of me helping you out during these times. Feel free to contact me for more references or info. Thank you for any and all consideration.

liberating - tending to set freeliberate - To release from restraint or bondage; to set at liberty; to free; to manumit; to disengage; as, to liberate a slave or prisoner

I love Christ being referred to as “The Liberating King”. He came to liberate us; to release us from the restraint and bondage of sin, to set us at liberty, to free us. We were slaves and prisoners and he liberated us and set us free. What a beautiful picture.

A woman came to draw water from Jacob’s well. She was in bondage by her past, her present situation, and by her reputation. She had to go alone to the well and draw because of who she was and what she had done. Along comes Jesus, a Jewish Rabbi, The Liberating King and he set her free.

A woman caught in adultery was humiliated and dragged before this same Jewish Rabbi; Jesus, The Liberating King. “What shall we do with her?” the accusers asked. “Moses’ law says to kill those caught in this act. Should we stone her?” Jesus bends down and draws in the dirt then says, “Let him who is without sin, him who is completely innocent of their own wrong doing, throw the first stone.” He draws a little more then looks up only to find the woman. “Where are your accusers?” he asks. “I don’t guess I have any, they all left.” she replies. “Then neither do I condemn you. Go on your way and sin no more.” He liberated her. Set her free. Gave her new life.

So many people look at following Jesus as being so restrictive when in all reality it is the most liberating thing one can do…become a follower of Jesus, The Liberating King.

“THE NEED IS THE CALL.” -Steven Bush

Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to Me.
Matthew 25:40

• The GDP (Gross Domestic Product: the value of all final goods and services produced within a year) of the poorest 48 nations is less than the wealth of the world’s three richest people combined.
• 1.3 billion people live on less than 1 dollar a day.
• ½ of the world, nearly 3 billion people, live on less than 2 dollars a day.
• 20% of the developed nations consume 86% of the world’s goods.
• 30,000 children each day; 210,000 each week; just under 11 million each year die due to poverty.
• Over 1.3 billion people in the world today have no access to clean water.
• 3 billion people in the world today have no access to sanitation.
• Over 2 million people, mostly children, die each year from preventable waterborne illnesses.
• 1.8 million children die each year as a result of diarrhea.
• 2 billion people in the world today have no access to electricity.

Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.
Isaiah 1:17

Yesterday we sat amongst a beautiful people worshiping a wonderful God and Savior. During this time of worship we were led in a song that really made me think. I wish I remembered all of the words to share with you but I don’t. I remember singing the words as I really begin to ponder the meaning of them. It spoke of having a heart for others and loving others, and how we all come before God equal. One of the lines went something like, “Our mouths are full but our spirit is empty…”.

As I began to really think about those words and how there are so many people in the world in need while we sit so pretty in the land of plenty. We sit back in the comfort of our “fullness” thinking we’re okay or that we’re pretty good, or worse, we’re better than… The words of Christ spoken through John the Revelator in Revelation 3:14-20 came to mind. Within these words came this message to the church of the Laodiceans…”Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked…”

How these words also can be “to the church of the Americans…”

Lord may we fall out of love with ourselves and truly fall in love with You and with people. May we buy from You gold refined in the fire that we may be rich; and white garments that we may be clothed and the shame of our nakedness may not be revealed; and may our eyes be anointed with eye salve, that we may truly see. May our eyes be opened to and may we be moved with compassion by the “least of these” in our world.

First of all, for all of my readers (that would be you, Debra) I will soon be taking a journey over to wordpress. Don’t fret though, I will let you know when the official “switch” has been thrown.

Now for my thoughts…

I am tired of “Christians”! There are probably some of you out there, especially those of you who are not Christians, who would agree. I know that mainstream TV and the majority of our society is.

The conversation came up as we were watching TV the other night and they showed a group of “Christian” teens who were a part of an abstinence group as being these wacko kids who ended up killing a classmate who was known to be a little “friendly” but was seeking to change her ways. All because they were all hypocrites hiding “sins” of their own that they didn’t want to get out or do away with.

The question was asked, “Why do they always make Christians look bad or crazy on TV?” The answer came from my bride, “Because they honestly see us that way, at least most people do.” I agree. I believe that “Christians” have been the reason society looks at Christianity, Jesus, and the church the way they do.

As Christians we are to be “little Christs” if you will; we are to portray and share Christ to those around us. We have done a poor job of this. “Christianity” has become nothing more than another world religion and the Christ being displayed isn’t the Christ I find in the Bible.

This would bring us to a question that I have been toying around with in my mind for a little while now…

Who is Jesus really? Or should I say, who is the real Jesus?

I think this is important…no, vital that we know this as we are to be Christ to those around us.

I want to just point out a few things as we could go on for a while looking at the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

When we find Jesus we don’t find Him saying one thing a doing another. He was true through and through. Even when He was alone and being tempted He remained true. (Matthew 4:1-11)

When we find Jesus He isn’t condemning others for their sins, He was forgiving and restoring them. (John 8:1-11)

When we find Jesus He isn’t turned off or annoyed by the hungry, nor did He turn them away. We find Him feeding them and having compassion on them. (Mark 8:1-8)

We don’t find Jesus hiding within the walls of the synagogue or only hanging out with his “Holy Huddle”. We find Him eating and fellowshipping with sinners, meeting them where they are, and ministering to them. (Luke 19:1-10)

He wasn’t hating others and shunning them for who they were or what they have done. He sought those out to show them love and help them. (John 4:4-26)

Anyway, I could go on and on. We only have scratched the surface of who Jesus was and what He was really like. I also only gave you 1 example from Scripture on each point I made and there are in fact numerous examples for each.

My intent wasn’t to tell you what to do or to give you an in depth study on the real person of Jesus Christ. My intent was to challenge you to look at who the real Jesus was, look at His teachings, and look at the examples of His life (I encourage you to do your own in depth study of the real Jesus) and then take a hard look at your own life and see if the Jesus you are portraying is truly the real Jesus…

Luke 9:56, “For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”

Mark 12:29-31, “Jesus answered, The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”

There is a story about Alexander the Great that tells of how cruel he could be. He had his brother and several leaders in his army killed on the grounds of treason. If you were fighting for Alexander the Great and happened to flee in the middle of battle you were considered guilty of treason and brought before ATG and executed. One day there was a young soldier who in the middle of battle was filled with fear and fled the battlefield. He was caught and brought before ATG to be executed. Before they executed him ATG asked him to step forward. “What is your name son?” ATG asked. With fear and a quiver in his voice the boy answered, “Alexander, sir.”
There was silence and eventually ATG spoke up and did something he never had done before…”Alexander? Well today I am going to let you go but on 1 condition…you either change your name or live up to it!”

Think about it CHRISTian…

So yesterday for my wife’s birthday we went to the beach. (Since we went to church on Saturday night we were able to go to the beach on a Sunday…something I would have never been able to do before…I felt like such a rebel) The sky was blue with just a few white clouds here and there. There was a gentle breeze constantly flowing gracefully along the sandy beaches that keep you cool and comfortable. The water was clear (if you have ever been to Galveston you know that’s a big deal!) and the beaches were the cleanest I had ever seen them (Adopt a Beach Day was Saturday). We pulled off of I-45 onto 53rd street as usual turned onto the road that drives along the seawall, and looked for a parking spot at our usual location just in front of the San Louis Resort. There were none so we kept driving down the beach until finally we found it. I think it was the only spot still available along the whole beach so we parked and began to get our stuff out. We had never came to this part of the beach before. It was a little smaller and separated from most of the other beaches by a bunch of big rocks and jetty. It seemed less crowded than the other parts and really peaceful so we decided to stay and begin our day.

As we started towards the beach I noticed a man sitting on the beach. He was what you would call a beach bum. By the looks of him you could tell he was probably homeless. He was a little dirty, his hair was ragged and matted and he had it covered by a bandanna, his skin was weathered and dark and had the liking of darkened leather. Next to him layed his towell and a blanket and he just sat there swaying back anf forth.

What I would love to tell you next was that my heart was filled with compassion and love for this man immediately and I couldn’t wait to talk to him and reach out to him. I am a “Christian” by the way.

Instead my initial thoughts were to load back up and look for another spot. I felt sorry for him, but didn’t really want anything to do with him…by the way, I went to the beach to relax and get away, not deal with someone like that.

God forgive me! I felt bad for feeling that way and regretted that this was my initial reaction after so many years of telling teen to “love God; love people”. Isn’t he a person too.

Anyway, we got our stuff and headed to the beach. As we passed by him I looked his way and gave him a friendly smile (what a great guy I am!) and kept going. We set our place up, the kids ran to the water as fast as they could, Debra asked me to take some pictures of her before we got wet or sweaty like you do at the beach, so I got the camera and off we went. As I was taking the pictures I kept glancing back at the rugged man. I couldn’t stop thinking about him being over there. I felt God telling me to talk to him and show him some love. I wanted to, but at the same time I was hesitant. What would I say? Would I be bothering him? What if he didn’t want to talk? Before I could even process all of this my wife looks at me and says, “So that man over there; he’s just like in the book (we’re reading “Irristible Revolution”), do you want to go talk to him?” I hesitated…I wanted to but honestly was a little timid about it. Yes I told her, I will go talk to him.

So I went and sat next to George. We talked about the weather, about his family, about the beach, about living on the beach, about kids, pretty much everything you could think of. I offered him a sandwhich and some bottled water we had in the cooler and he ate. He was very polite, said thank you, and smiled. My wife came over and I introduced her to him and they talked. My kids came over and I introduced them to him. They are awesome! They didn’t shy away, they didn’t stare him down, they didn’t look at him wierd; they smiled, stuck out their hands, and began to talk to him as well. Before it was all over with our daughter had even went and got other people from the beach and brought them over to meet George. I’m sure George really loved that! Actually he smiled, shook there hands and was very warm and welcoming and polite, just as he was with us.

We had a wonderful day at the beach. I loved getting to know George and thouroughly enjoyed the conversation we had. As we left I told George by and to take care and he told me the same. I said “Who knows, maybe we’ll see you again” to which he replied, “Yeah! I am always here, you will probably be able to find me.” I think I will.

I left a better person having met George. As Christians, isn’t it time we really Love God, Love People?

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27

I am a very lucky guy. I have the privilege of not only knowing the most beautiful, inspiring, loving, God-fearing woman on earth but also being married to her. The love for my bride is far beyond measure, far beyond explanation, far beyond human comprehension. We have been through so much together. We have experienced the highs, experienced the lows, been through some deep valleys, and have rejoiced on some glorious mountaintops. I can honestly say that there is no idea where my life would be right now if it hadn’t been for her; I can also say I wouldn’t want to know. I am a better person because of her. Today she turns 31.

Debra, if your reading this, I love you more than I could ever express, more than words could ever say, more than you will ever know. I am so madly, deeply in love and in awe of you! Happy Birthday my beautiful bride!

So My beautiful wife is all into this blogging thing and she created her blog for the both of us. I managed to post a total of maybe 3 blogs in the time that we have had it so it has, in a sense, become her blog. She has her friends that regularly read it and most of them are women. She has mentioned me getting my own so I could start blogging more and I have balked at the idea thus far. As I sit here tonight, while my bride is at Houston’s 1st Baptist with “Beth” and Esther and having just put my kids to bed, I find myself saying, “Why not?”. So here we begin this journey…hopefully it lasts…if not check out my wife’s stuff on our other blog; she’s amazing.

P.S. I am reminded that there is a God and He does still work miracles as the Houston Texans are 2-0!!! Just had to throw that out there…it may be my only chance to brag on them.