Day 4 "Jesus Paid the Price"

“HE WILL RETURN SOON FOR HE SAID HE WOULD; DO YOU SEE THE SIGNS?” Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” (Matt. 2:1-2) The passage has been made famous by the nativity scenes, plays, and stories that have been told all over the world regarding Christ’s birth and traditionally celebrated as Christmas. Now would be a good time for me to make it clear that it is not my desire to crush anyone’s perception or understanding of the birth of Christ; however, I may unfortunately be the first to tell you our traditions have truly inaccurately depicted these events. The truth is the wise men or Majai, which means in loose terms astrologers, arrived when Jesus was about two years old, and He had long since moved out of the manger. It is also more likely than not what the Majai had seen was not a star that continued to remain in the sky, but rather a comet or some other terrestrial event that was a sign which they had long since been waiting for, possibly even generations. You see, for generations before the birth of the Messiah had been foretold, we see prophecy upon prophecy (Zechariah 9:9 for example) that foretells these events. Wouldn’t it make since, if the Lord were providing signs through men, He would also have foretold this to the Majai; after all, where would God have His chalkboard? The Majai came because of what had been foretold; they came to worship the King, and can you imagine how surprised they were when they realized no one else had recognized the fulfillment of prophecy? I would imagine they expected to see great fanfare and celebration. After all, the deliverer had come–people should be rejoicing and excited about their future, but no, they were not; they were rather continuing on as if nothing had changed. How could they be excited about a King born in a manger, running around in diapers, living in a common home with common parents? But, you see, they didn’t know the truth. They had not heard the prophecies or read the scrolls; they only knew what they were told, and far too many had no desire to seek out the truth. Much like the story we have all been told and the pictures seared in our mind from what we have seen and believed regarding the wise men, we simply accept things for what they appear to be. After all, why would anyone lie? Now, mind you, I do not want to make a big deal about the story of the wise men; however, I do challenge each and every reader of this passage and these writings: “Are you looking at the signs? Are you seeing the fulfillment of prophecy? Are you preparing the way for your King in your heart and in your mind? Or, will you, like many of the people of Jesus’ time, be caught not knowing, not recognizing, and not participating in the joyous celebration of His return?” MY PRAYER Father, I pray we would not miss the signs of the fulfillment of prophecy. May we be found ready and waiting at the return of our Savior Jesus Christ, Your Son. It is in His name we pray these things. Amen.

Known By Your Fruit

“IT IS BETTER TO BE UNKNOWN THAN TO BE KNOWN FOR UNFRUITFUL WORKS.” Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:18-21). Joseph and Mary, at the time being spoken of, are in the one-year betrothal period prior to living together and consummating their marriage. Mary is living at home with her parents, and Joseph, more than likely, is preparing their future home. Upon hearing of Mary’s pregnancy, the natural and lawful course of action would be for Joseph to publicly announce Mary’s unfaithfulness, which would more than likely lead to her death by stoning, according to Mosaic Law. Yet on his own, prior to the angelic visitation, Joseph displays his true character by purposing to keep Mary’s condition silent, an action that displays Joseph’s deep love and affection for Mary. It is possible Joseph was considering a quiet divorce from Mary; however, this was, of course, not to be so as an angel appeared to explain the need for this union to take place. Ever since the writing of this story, there have been countless efforts to extol the virtues and qualities of Mary. She was obviously a very special woman to be chosen by God to bear His child, but what about Joseph? Here is a man who, by all worldly accounts, has been shamed by his bride. Mary, by worldly accounts, has been unfaithful or at the very least surrendered herself to Joseph, both of which are culturally shameful acts on her part. Yet he remains by her side. The fact is Joseph, by his actions, has shown himself to be a Godly, faithful, and compassionate man–one determined by God to be worthy of rearing and providing for His Son. Little is said of Joseph in the Bible, and over the years, many have speculated about the character of this man. However, by his actions, he has shown himself to be a man of God, a man willing to be publicly humiliated for the sake of mankind. I would suggest Joseph is a man many of us would do well to emulate, and I look forward to the day when I can shake his hand or whatever it is we will do in heaven. To be a person of few words, faithful, humble, and unassuming is an admirable goal for each and every one of us. I don’t know about you, but as for me, I could stand to be a little more like this man. MY PRAYER Father, I do ask that You would help me to be short on words, long on thought, and capable of trusting You in all things, and I ask for these attributes in Jesus’ name. Amen.

A Man Named Jesus

There Was A Man Named Jesus A little over 2000 years ago, a man arrived upon the scene of the world, a man who caused quite a stir with everyone He came into contact with. He was a simple man. He was a wanderer with no home. He was a philosopher, a rebel, and a troublemaker—or was He something more? Many wondered; many followed Him to know more, to witness what He would do next or even simply to be near Him. Thousands were drawn to Him. Did they know why, or were they simply curious? Who was this man? He claimed to be the Son of God. He claimed God sent him here for us, to set us free. Free from what, many wondered? Was it freedom from the tyranny of rulers or to crush our foes? No, this Jesus came to set us free from ourselves, from this world, and ultimately from death. He didn't come to judge; He came to be judged. He didn't come to punish; He came to take on our punishment. He didn't come to destroy rulers and nations; He came to teach us of our Father in heaven and show us the way to peace for eternity. He did not come to bind us in the chains of law; He came to set man free! He took nothing and gave all. He did not require love and obedience but rather taught us of love that leads to obedience. His name was Jesus, and He gave us His all. For centuries, His coming had been foretold. He came just as we were told He would. The prophets of old described Him, spoke of His deeds, and from whose line of which He would come, and it all came true. He was no surprise. He performed miracles that only God could do. He raised the dead, healed the sick, and, most of all, He set the captives free, free from the torment of their evil actions and ways. He brought hope to the hopeless, strength to the weary, peace to the fearful, and joy to the sorrowful. He required little and gave it all! For this He was beaten beyond recognition, tormented and tortured by man, hung upon a tree, humiliated, and left to die. This was how we thanked Him for all He gave, and yet even still He loves us. Why? He loves us because God sent Him to show us love—love that knows no bounds—real and unconditional love. Love that went on to defeat death, not just for Jesus, but for all who would ever believe in and follow Him; a love that would lead to eternal life without pain or sorrow, toil, or anguish—eternal peace. This is love. Do you receive this love? Do you believe, will you believe? Will you be set free from the bondage of failures, pain, and missing the mark? Haven't you made enough mistakes in your life yet? Why not stop now, turn around, and make things right? Come to Jesus! Just as it was foretold of His coming before, it has been foretold He is coming soon to gather those who believe, to give us our reward. Don't miss out. There are no second chances, no more warnings. He is coming soon. Call on Jesus and be set free. Pastor Gene Burroughs, Missio Dei Navarre

Danger Will Robinson

"Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!" To this day, I remember a phrase from a '60s TV show that obviously had a long-lasting impact upon my mind. It was from the show "Lost in Space." There was a robot that was a companion to young Will Robinson, and at times it would sense danger and foreboding and cry out "Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!" As with myself and many of the youth of my day, we often repeated this phrase at any sign of danger, and even unto this day, when my senses are up and I recognize a foreboding feeling within my spirit, that phrase races through my mind. Where does this sense come from? This sense of danger and foreboding are truly gifts from God; we have been provided this feeling in order to protect us from falling into the trappings of the enemy or those who seek to cause us harm (Romans 2:14). After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, the Lord sent to us the Holy Spirit to reinforce these senses and to provide us with an additional ability not of our own to recognize and avoid the trappings of sin and deception. However, in order to be aware and able to be under this influence, we must desire to know right from wrong and not only desire; we must also be willing to make the tough decisions and sacrifices required to avoid these pitfalls. The denying of our flesh, the standing for truth, the act of living what we know to be true—as opposed to living and making decisions based upon outside influences, opinion, or popularity—this is how we avoid danger. In the following and obeying of the Spirit, we avoid danger and pitfalls, yet in the process of satisfying our flesh, we move forward, unaware or uncaring of dangers and pitfalls, allowing ourselves to be tossed to and fro. While many believe this is acceptable and simply an act of ignorance or out of a desire to be all things to all men in order that they may know God, I say to you, "Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!" In our ever-changing world we see the manifestation of both complacency regarding morality and the desire to be accepted being played out on a daily basis. We see people like me, those who cry out warnings and consequences of such actions, becoming few and far between. The pain and frustration associated with seeing the danger that lies ahead of someone and doing all you can to prevent it, more often than not to no avail, are beyond description. The hurt from being misunderstood, being labeled as judgmental, not accepting, or more could, without the help and strength of the Holy Spirit, make one run to the hills, find a tree for shade, and simply give up; yet something drives us on. While the "Lost in Space" robot was incapable of emotion and love, out of its sense of duty and programming it would cry out when danger was near, not concerned about popularity or standing but simply knowing danger was nearby, and a warning must be sounded! We prophets and leaders of today cry out not only out of duty and love; we cry out because of the calling and passion God has placed within us for His children; children who more often than not will not listen. The desires and passions of the human body have become so intent on rebelling against God that truth is no longer the barometer; no, it has been replaced by acceptance and popularity; all signs of the last days before the return of Christ (2 Timothy 3). Today, I send out a warning, a word from the Word; a word to help some avoid the resulting consequences of their actions and disobedience. This word is in the book of Romans, chapter 1, verse 32. After speaking of the vile things people choose to do, acts of the flesh God hates and will judge, Paul finishes with this warning: "that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them." Paul, in the inspired Word of our God, is telling us that those who know sin to be sin and those who allow and approve of others who practice rebellion against God will be judged just as those who are rebelling. Do you see this? Do you get it? I recently read of a very well-known pastor who, along with another so-called pastor, performed the wedding of his homosexual son to his same-sex partner. Do you think God ordained this? I am not banging on homosexuality; let's go further. If I sell or endorse pornography, alcohol, or any behavior or act of rebellion that is against God's Word, I am just as guilty as those who openly rebel. If you claim to be a believer, you are told not to endorse, support, or show in any way approval or acceptance of behavior that is contrary to the Word of God. Those are not my words; they are His, our God's! If you need more Scripture to back up what I am claiming, here are a few: Romans 2:2, Ephesians 5:11–12, and Jude 1. No, it is not acceptable to God to stand by and watch sin run rampant. It is not okay to let your brother die and not come against that that is killing him. This, my friend, is not judgment, and the excuse of "judge not" will not work. You see, we are not to judge unless there are two or more witnesses, yet when people openly flaunt their rebellion against God there are many witnesses, and judgment has already befallen them. Yes, there is grace. Yes, there is repentance; hence, there is the hope of salvation, and "there but by the grace of God go I." "Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!" Do not accept those things that are against God on behalf of God for He does not accept them, and you who do will be judged, just as those who do them. Pastor Gene Burroughs, Missio Dei Navarre

Do You Have What It Takes?

Do You Have What It Takes? The question is, "Do you have what it takes to be a true disciple of Christ?" Are you willing to lay it all down, trust God, and turn your back on the world? The first twelve chosen disciples of Christ were all men who had walked away from their worldly possessions, comforts, families, livelihoods, and more, simply upon the request of a man filled with the Spirit. They knew there was something special about Him. They suspected He was the Messiah, but had no convincing proof—they only believed and had faith. While this may sound simplistic, it is a reality and one that we, as His disciples, should remember when we are attempting to determine if God is calling us to a task. We have at our disposal far more understanding and truth than those first twelve men. We now have history, the Epistles, the Holy Spirit, the crucifixion, resurrection, and more, all things they did not have knowledge of or had experienced at the time of their heeding the call. All too often, much more often than not, when we speak with people about their calling, we hear far more excuses as to why not than we do reasons to fulfill the call on their life. It is often that I will hear someone say, "I just want God to use me" or "I just need to hear from the Lord what He wants" or "God hasn't told me yet" and thousands more reasons or excuses not to give up what they have in order to be used. The reality is folks that God requires sacrifice in order to bless the works of man's hands. No, I am not saying God wants more blood; what I am saying is "God rewards those who diligently seek Him." Nothing of great value comes without a cost, and to be used by the God of all creation is something of great value, is it not? By the way, if your answer is no, then there is no need to read on; that is, unless you desire to learn more. We are currently in the midst of one of the greatest transitions of all time in this world. We are preparing for the return of Christ; what will He find us doing? Will it be His work, or will we still be praying to find out what His work is when He has already told us what we are to be doing? Jesus made it clear to all that we, as believers, have two very definitive roles: to love and to make disciples (to spread the gospel). John 15 and 16, Matthew 28, Mark 16: these are just a few of the Scriptures where Jesus tells us our role on earth and our responsibility. So go do it! But Gene, I have family, I have a job, my home, and you don't understand how difficult it is. What about my grandkids? First of all, the disciples left all of that and more, and secondly, so have my wife and I. So have many thousands of other families. Am I saying every Christian is called to move away? Absolutely not, but for those of you who say you're seeking God and wanting all He has to offer and that you desire with all your heart to serve Him, you already have your answer—go! The cost of being a disciple is to let go of everything in this world that entangles us. It may be we love money, comfort, sports, our jobs, or even family more than we love or desire to serve God. It's not about moving away and being a missionary (yet many are called to do so); it is, again, about turning away from the world. I can tell you of many instances where people called by God to great things have received gifts, received confirmations, used their gifts, and had people call and offer money or travel, all things they were praying for, and say, "I am waiting to hear from God what to do." Or better yet, "Well, God told me to do this" and then days or weeks later say, "God told me to wait." Then comes the "I'm not sure what He wants," and then comes "I'm not ready," and years go by, and the circle continues on. Can I say this? God does not change His mind. God is not confused. God is definitive; the devil is "the author of confusion." Can we stop blaming God for our lack of conviction and faith to step out? God is not the one hesitating or confusing things, and all we are doing is tainting the reputation of our Savior and ourselves. If you have what it takes, take up your bed and follow Jesus. If you don't, stop talking about it and stay where you are. I know this sounds harsh, but be honest with yourself; you and those who love you will be much happier. Being a true disciple of Christ truly does come at a cost. Jesus did not say the rules would change after He was resurrected and ascended to heaven; no, He said, ‘if you love the world more than Me, you cannot follow Me' (Matthew 16:24). Sometimes we just need to hear the truth in love in order to make a move we already know we should be making. Do you have what it takes—what it takes to be a true disciple, to reap a disciple's reward? Only you can make that decision. Only you can make the sacrifice. You won't be the first, and those of us who have would say it has been worth every cost! Pastor Gene Burroughs, Missio Dei Ministries, Navarre, FL outreachman@gmail.com

The Cancer of Unforgiveness

The Unforgiving Servant. I don't know if it is because I have lived over 56 years on this planet or if it has more to do with my personality. More than likely it is a combination of both that have brought me to this latest consideration. Once again, I find myself at the receiving end of anger and bitterness from someone I trusted and loved. My first reaction is one of justice. I begin to list all of the reasons I should be angry and all of the reasons this person should be repentant, and like most, I begin to puff myself up and become hard. You see, it is a natural human defense strategy; the action we tend to take when we feel attacked or violated. The reality is we humans don't like to be wrong or wronged, yet both actions are taking place on a rather consistent basis in the lives of most people. Now, for the sake of discussion, I am writing this from the perspective of a believer, as one who, biblically speaking, has little or no right to be offended, especially by another brother or sister in Christ. This morning I was reading in Matthew 18:21–35, the parable of the unforgiving servant. As the story goes, a man owed great debt to a king. The king, in doing what he had the right to do, was planning on having the man, his wife, and children sold into slavery to pay the debt, something he had every legal right to do. The man who owed the debt pleaded for mercy, and as the king had compassion, he forgave the man the debt. This man did not only receive compassion he did not deserve, but his debt was paid in full. He was forgiven because the king valued the man and his family more than he valued justice and money. The man whose debt was forgiven, however, did not learn from this lesson, and he began to deal harshly and not have compassion on those who owed him. He beat them, threatened them, and threw them in prison. He valued what he felt he was owed more than the people—he had no compassion. The king, hearing the news, took the man into custody and tortured until he paid what he owed. I read this and think of how many times I myself, being forgiven of all of my indebtedness to the Lord, have forgotten His grace and mercy and attacked others who have offended or attacked me. Am I suddenly placing a lower value upon man than my own feelings, reputation, monies, my pride, and more? Did not God send His Son Jesus to pay the greatest price for all mankind? The answer, of course, is yes, and when we devalue people by holding grudges, making judgments, listening to gossip, making assumptions, judging intentions of the heart, are we not the same as this unforgiving man of whom Jesus spoke? This section of Scripture ends with these words of warning to us: "So my Heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses." When the Lord makes a promise, He keeps it. His words never change, and His promises are true. The reality is, when we fail to have compassion on those we feel have offended us or owe us a debt, we are promised that God will do the same to us! Yes, I struggle with forgiveness at times. I struggle with people who barely know me making assumptions. I struggle with unfounded accusations about my integrity. I struggle with people taking my words out of context. I struggle with being misunderstood. I struggle with hanging on to my righteous indignation for wrongs done to my family or me. Need I go on? Yes, these and more are things most of us struggle with at one time or another in our lives; we are not alone in our battle with the flesh. The answer to this challenge, while sounding simplistic, is far more difficult in action. If you're on the giving end of an offense, ask forgiveness; if on the receiving end, forgive and move on. Yes, maybe you need to talk it through, but when doing so remember the intention is not to be right or justified—it is for the relationship to be restored! Let me end with these final questions. Truly, why are you angry? Can you not trust God to bring righteous judgment? Does God need your help correcting anyone else? What if you were in their position? And lastly, maybe you should pray for your offender, could be they have been deceived into believing a lie, and maybe, just maybe, they need Jesus too. Pastor Gene Burroughs, Missio Dei Navarre

Time Rolls On

As with those who have gone before us, we live in new and changing times: days that are not as yesterday and will tomorrow be new—days of change. Since the beginning of time, man has been in an ever-progressive forward motion toward reunification with our creator. In the times when we have turned away, even the smallest remnant, He has intervened and turned us back, back to a place of forward motion toward eternity with Him. As with any journey, there is an end: a completed state in the human condition that end is either departure from this world or the meeting of Christ face-to-face at His return. Up until recent times, the chances of one seeing the return of Christ were slim at best. The world was simply not in the state of immorality and decay that the Bible predicts before the return of our Savior. However, today, at ever increasing speed, we rush toward that day: the day Christ returns for His bride. The reality is that He could return any day now. No, I am making no predictions nor will I ever regarding knowing the time or day of His return. I will, however, point you to the Scriptures and allow them to speak for themselves as they reveal the time of His return. In Matthew 24:36–44, Jesus describes the condition of the world prior to His return. Study of this and related passages, better known as eschatology, will reveal that we are, indeed, for the first time ever, at a place in time where the conditions of His return are daily being met and reinforced. This is an exciting time for those who truly believe, a fearful time for those who profess belief yet have not separated themselves from the world, and for those who do not believe, there are daily fewer rules and barriers for their morality. The decline of mankind's moral boundaries can easily be compared to those of the times of Noah, and compromise and tolerance have become the most dangerous words and actions of our time. The foundational truths of our nation have eroded to the point that so few know the truth they have simply accepted the most popular believe as truth. As I look upon the past, the fallen kingdoms and defeated nations, the reality is truly quite clear, this reality that mankind, left unchecked, will inevitably destroy itself through the need for immediate gratification, satisfaction, power, and pleasure. Are we there again today? You be the judge. Ponder these things and arrive at your own answer. Abortion: Every day there are an average of 3,288 abortions, or babies murdered. What is a baby? A baby is the product of sexual union between a man and a woman. An abortion, or murder of a child, is the result (more often than not) of two people who have broken God's moral laws and produced life; life they do not want to be responsible for. The result—murder! This practice is no longer called murder in the United States and is more accepted than not, and the realm of influence and accessibility is growing daily. Does this sound godly? Gay marriage: The practice of homosexuality in the U.S., while clearly defined in the Bible as being sinful and unnatural behavior, is now even being accepted in many denominations. Does God change His mind? I think not. Pornography: The porn industry will generate just over $13 billion dollars in revenue this year in the United States of America alone. The sanctity of marriage and monogamous relationships cannot coexist in a home where pornography is allowed. One or the other of the partners will always feel violated or unable to satisfy their partner. Married men and women involved in pornography are robbing their spouses of true intimacy; a practice that will lead to some form of separation. Does this sound like a moral practice, something acceptable to God? Sexual slavery: The lure for elicit sexual gratification has led to the abduction of an estimated 300,000 teens in America for use in the $9.5 billion-dollar-per-year U.S. sex trade, let alone in the world where there have been an estimated 24 million people abducted for sexual slavery! Does this sound like a nation or world based upon the moral statutes of a Holy God? I choose not to go on today; after all, who can stand more depressing news than this in one day? The reality and my reason for writing is this: wake up, America! You cannot see the coming of the Lord if your head is stuck in the sand! If we are looking up, we are looking unto our God whose return is and must be soon. What will you say when all done in the dark is exposed? What argument will you offer to a Holy God for your acceptance and endorsement of the sins of mankind? You say you don't endorse sin? I say if you speak not against something when asked, then you speak for it. Folks, we have at our fingertips the cure for this insanity. We have the truth of the blood of the Lamb, slain for our sins and transgressions—the Redeemer of all mankind. We must stand up for the truth and spread the truth in love, the truth that "Jesus Paid the Price." His death and resurrection are our only hope, and He is coming soon! Pastor Gene Burroughs, Author, "Jesus Paid the Price"

What Happened To Black and White

As age creeps up on me, and I gain in years, I would like to think I am also gaining in knowledge. This knowledge obtained not so much in the reading of great works, but rather gained from walking out the experiences and challenges of life, while increasing knowledge. The understanding one gains from time spent on earth can never be compared to the knowledge obtained by greater learning, and the two, hand-in-hand I believe, lead to wisdom. Wisdom seems to have become something that has waned in value, at least in the eyes of today's information-aged culture. Wisdom has been replaced with information, and information can be a very dangerous and misleading thing if left untethered by the balance of experience. My grandpa was so very correct when he told me, "If you have knowledge without common sense, you may be smart, but you can't do anything with it." While this statement is not all true, it does bear enough truth to be taken seriously. In this age of information, so much of what we are being fed is based upon opinion, theory, or rhetoric, yet because we have no experience with which to weigh out this information, we react without wisdom. Those who have grown up with technology and information so close at hand are being fed information that is largely subjective and often untrue, and yet they have no idea that this is the case. We often respond to theory, opinion, and conjecture with the same fervency with which it was shared with us; we run and react believing in our cause, yet we don't realize the negative effect of that cause until it's too late. And as seems to be the case more often than not, before the true results and effects of these actions are realized, we have moved on to another passionate subject and are not the least bit concerned about the trail of damage left behind. In most cases, I believe we are not even made aware of these damages due to the misdirection of the information being fed to us. This age of technology has created the perfect avenue for the enemy of God and man to deceive more people than he ever has before, and he is now able to do so almost instantaneously. This constant misdirection and deception creates a constant view of gray with few boundaries of black and white. What do I mean, you ask? In the pre instant and social media age, there was a definitive line between right and wrong. These lines were defined by long-term experiences that had seen, with time, the positive and negative results of actions. Immediate gratification, for example, was something our parents and grandparents truly understood the danger of. For example, my grandparents didn't have credit cards because they understood that unless you could purchase something other than major necessary purchases, such as a home or vehicle, with cash, you could not afford it. The practice was to save your money up until you could afford the item you desired, and often, by the time you saved the money, you realized it was not at all what you wanted. Now we purchase things on credit and whims, and if we decide we don't like them or if we find something better, we simply throw them away. Much like items we no longer have use for, we have begun to throw away our values, principles, morality, and more. Why? Because these values, principles, and morality no longer serve our desire for instant gratification—they don't work for us, so out they go. Therefore, as opposed to morality setting the standard, our standard is now determined by need, desire, popularity, and even profitability. Wisdom is now no longer appreciated or needed. It has instead become the old way of thinking; the place we say we are no longer at and the thing we no longer have a need of. My conclusion is this. We must return to moral- and wisdom-based thinking. We must look for the black and the white in life for our standards. We must have truth to base all of our actions and reactions upon; otherwise, truth becomes subjective and inconsequential; useless and thrown aside. Folks, the Bible is the truth, and if you are a true believer in Christ, this fact should never be denied; otherwise, you are like the man who built his home on shifting sand—foolish. If we do not return to the foundation of our beliefs as true believers in Christ, we will fall, and we will fail. We must begin to question our own beliefs, our own actions. We must weigh that which has been accepted against the scales of God's Word, and when we find our error, we must repent and turn away from those beliefs and their consequent actions. You may choose not to agree with me, and that is your freedom; however, not agreeing with the truth does not change the truth; it is rather simply being ignored until such time that truth will no longer be silent. Are you ready to face the truth? Gene Burroughs, Navarre, FL, Author, "Jesus Paid the Price"

Have We Turned Away?

There is a very familiar and often-quoted scripture in 2 Chronicles 7 I would like further to explore in this writing. Its relevance for today is overwhelming, and the message could not, I believe, be more timely. The people of God (the Israelites) had turned from obedience; they had purposed to do things their own way and rebel against God's authority and direction. Solomon, the king at the time, was visited by the Lord to warn him of the coming calamity because of the rebellion of the people. God promised to reward this wickedness with drought, pestilence, and famine, and that locusts would devour the crops. The Lord, in this very famous passage, did what He does so often and so patiently to rebellious people—He gave them an out, a cure for what was about to ail them. In verse 14, immediately following His judgment, He offers these words: "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." Before we go on, let me just say, yes, I know the argument that this passage was for a particular people at a given time; however, may I refer you to the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and is it not the very same message? You see, God is making a promise to Solomon, the same promise He has made to all men. He is saying that when we, as men and women of God, children of the King, turn away and purpose to deny His truths and His Lordship, He will not abandon nor forsake us; He will give us a reprieve. The Lord is not assuming that the people will turn away; He knows our human nature, and He knows we will turn away, especially when times are good and we have no need of Him and His protection or provision. However, when times are rough, and we have need of Him, He will be there, conditionally yes, but He will be there, and He will hear our prayers, and He will restore us! Reading this passage and taking the actions God lays out for us will always result in a response from heaven. Why? Because the God of all creation loves His people more than anyone or any entity ever could, and the depth of that love is far beyond anything we could imagine. The steps to this reconciliation are quite clear. First, we must humble ourselves. The proper Hebrew word for humble here is kana, which means to bend the knee, bring down, bring low, bring into subjection, bring under, humble self, to subdue. The first action we must take for restoration and blessing is to surrender ourselves in all humility to the lordship of God now through Jesus Christ. We must admit to ourselves, others, and to our God that we need Him, that He is God and we are not, that we need and desire His lordship, and that we are completely surrendered to His will and will deny our own! Next, we are told to pray, or again in the Hebrew language, palal, or to intercede, make prayer, to make supplication. Prayer is the connection of man's mind and heart to the very being of God. We are to first acknowledge His power and authority and then recognize it through prayer, seeking that which we cannot attain upon our own. God wants to hear the desires of our heart. He desires to provide for us and bless us, again further confirmation of His great love for His people. Lastly, we are told to "turn from our wicked ways" or to repent. This word "wicked" is derived from the Hebrew word ra', which means evil, adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, displease, distress, hurtful, mischief, vexed, sorrowful, and much more, but you get the point. Therefore, in order to fully achieve forgiveness and the blessings of God, we, as God's people, are called to humble ourselves by submitting to His lordship, cry out to Him for salvation from calamity and repent, or turn away from evil. Is it I, or does this sound rather simplistic? The crazy thing is God has since given us even more blessing by now sending Jesus as payment for our sins and wickedness so that when we now repent, we are immediately under the receiving end of God's blessings; we need not make any further sacrifice! Why do I write this? Simply because God has called me to this very morning, because obviously He has someone or some people who need to hear this message, this message of the gospel, this message for the restoration and blessing for men and nations. This is the prescription for the healing of peoples and lands, and today we need healing. May we now repent and turn away, and, once again, be blessed by the God of all creation. Pastor Gene Burroughs, Missio Dei Ministries, Navarre, FL

STILL ONE NATION UNDER GOD

Over the past few weeks, I have been extremely mindful of the countless sacrifices men and women have made over the history of this great nation—those who began the taming of this land to the Pilgrims, who, at such great cost (many at all costs), and came to form a new nation. That nation is ours, a nation founded upon freedom from tyranny and freedom of religion, freedom to worship the God of their choosing—the God of Abraham and Isaac—the One who sent His Son Jesus Christ to redeem all men unto Himself. I think of how they chose to allow the freedom of religion for all men in this nation and to allow men to choose for themselves the god of their choice, even the ability to serve and believe in no god. They made this choice because they knew and understood the tyranny of forcing a people to worship one god one way and because they desired to be and remain free, for all men to choose whom they served. They placed within our very constitution that right of choice, along with many other freedoms of choice. These leaders, in their wisdom, knew there was only one supreme God, and in an effort to encourage all men to know the truth, they based the very foundation of this nation upon that truth—the truth of His existence and supreme moral authority. We are a nation founded upon the belief of the Ten Commandments; the moral statutes laid out so clearly in the Bible. Argue this truth as you may; you will find no truth to support it, only conjecture, theory, and lies created to change the truth, yet this is not the reason for my writing today. I write today as a man who is more than concerned for this nation, this nation of free people who are daily losing and giving away these hard-fought freedoms, these freedoms that cost so many all they had. It is as if we have decided we no longer desire to be free men, but rather we desire to be governed and controlled. It is as if we, as individuals, have determined that the cost of freedom has become too costly; that we are in a battle that can be fought by others, yet we have lost the desire to fight it ourselves. We have become an extremely selfish people, people who desire what we want, when we want it, and we don't care what it costs or whom we harm to achieve our momentary satisfaction. We have become people of pleasure rather than people of purpose and conviction. The moral absolutes we were founded upon are now not accepted by most, and those responsible for keeping the truth have acquiesced in fear or persuasion: fear of offending, fear of financial loss, fear of being judged, and more—all in fear. Our fear of man has overcome our fear of God, and any nation that fears man more than it fears God is a nation doomed to self-destruction; a fact proven over and over again historically. Our nation of freedom in the name of freedom has become a nation of ever-tightening restrictions with freedoms daily being given over to leaders who have, in fact, turned away from our very foundation and the moral absolutes of our founding principles. In the name of freedom, activists have created laws that restrict the freedoms of those who do not agree with them. Fines and punishments are now being levied at an ever increasing and alarming rate, all in the name of freedom, yet nothing could be further from the truth. Children who once played with toy guns are removed from schools for pointing fingers. The reading of the Bible has been forbidden in many classrooms, and those who profess Christ are being ridiculed in many greater learning institutions. In schools, couples in biblically moral relationships are not allowed to make public displays of affection yet homosexuals are protected under the law of man from being prevented from doing so. Those who discipline their children for misbehavior are jailed and their children often removed from the home. Yet if they had killed them before their birth, they would have been praised by the very same agency that condemns their right to raise those children as they see fit (no, I am not condoning child abuse). We are forced to support a government agenda through the guise of healthcare reform, and the control of and responsibility for our own health-related actions are now no longer our responsibility or right. We cannot support our own people, those who have worked and sacrificed to be citizens of this great nation, and yet we allow illegal aliens to flood our borders all in the name of humanity. They speak not our language, take the jobs from our own citizens, and burden our healthcare and social systems. The reason, no, it is not for humanity, but rather for power, the power to cast a vote, the vote to further the agenda of those who have brought us to this very place of sacrificing our freedoms. We are not unique; we are not so wise. No, we are simply repeating the actions of those before us: those founded upon God, and we have failed to learn. The book of Judges tells the story of the Israelites, God's chosen people, how they were to start a new life and conquer new lands, how they were to obey God and live in peace, and they too rebelled. They lost their freedoms, and they too have suffered the consequences. As a nation, they now thrive and have the blessing of God upon them, along with the hatred of most men. Why? They have the blessing because they have and continue to repent and turn back to God; they have the hatred because they are the chosen people of God. You see, the reality is that the love and acceptance of man is not a blessing. It is not a sign of moral or Spiritual success; no, it is most often a sign of the opposite—compromise! I am not saying that all pastors and leaders of big churches are the results of compromise; however, unless I see the power of God, it does raise the question (2 Timothy 3:5). You see, our message, the true message of the Word of God, is not accepted. Why? Because it is a message that requires a moral standard, one that requires sacrifice, denial of desires, and repentance; everything we desire is not all good! In Revelation 3, Jesus writes to the church of Laodicea and says to them these telling words regarding morality: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth." He then goes on to say this: "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent." Folks, whether you desire to believe it or not, being a Christian comes with requirements, absolutes, realities, things accepted and things not accepted. Galatians 5 gives a very readable list of things accepted and those things not accepted, and there are plenty more. This is not a call to judgment; this is a call to repentance! If you feel angry or anxious, maybe, just maybe, it is the Holy Spirit convicting you, and rather than being mad at me you should repent, for I am not convicting you, He is. So what does this have to do with our great nation? Let me say this. God knows no party lines. He loves and died for our president, for every crooked businessman and politician; He died for all mankind, and He loves all mankind. Therefore, the real issue is with us. We must repent, we must turn away, and we must stand up and be whom God has called us to be. Our freedoms are being taken away not by men but by a spirit that hates God, the spirit that hates men, all men! The devil does not love anyone but himself, and he has fooled far too many already. Men and women of God, the Lord is true and faithful and He never changes, and He has promised us this very thing: "If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14). Here is the hope we all seek. It is not a new president that we must hope for; it is rather a president who has given himself over to Christ. It is not a new congress, senate, or house; it is not a new Supreme Court; it is a revival we must seek, a turning away from sin by all of these and more; then and only then will we see "One Nation Under God" again. It all begins with you and me, no hype, no conjuring, no great music or messages, simply repentance in our hearts and prayer for the revelation of God in men. This is the power of God! Gene Burroughs, Navarre, FL, Author, "Jesus Paid the Price"

A New Day Dawns

While there are many things every human being has in common with every other like being in this planet revolving around the sun, there is one, in particular, we must do each and every day—we must each and every one of us face the dawn of day. With the arrival of the sun upon the morning horizon, knowingly or unknowingly, purposely or without thought, we make many crucial decisions in the early moments of the day that will, at the very least, set into motion events that shape the day to come; possibly many more. Do we take the time to choose this course of action, or do we simply allow life to unfold as it wills, being randomly influenced by decisions or lack thereof by others inhabiting this third rock? I ponder this question today while in my own quandary of thought. I realized that while I may have awakened with a particular desire, I was not necessarily committed to taking every action needed to ensure that this day was the day I, and possibly God, purposed it to be. While we awake with certain hopes and dreams, we all too often allow the actions or lack thereof of others to alter our course and plan, and other than those rare occasions of unforeseen trauma or tragedy, we have no one to blame but ourselves. In my decades of walking with the Lord and having faced more new days in my past than I will in my future, I have begun to realize the preciousness of every new day. With this comes the need to stop looking at the circumstances surrounding me: the need to stop running scenarios, but rather to look upon and to the promises God has given me, and all of us, in His Word. These promises, which are not subject to circumstance, whim, emotions, desires, or any other worldly influence, are today what they were the day they were spoken into existence. They never change. As believers, they are and must be our foundation: the rock upon which we build all else. What are these truths, you ask? There are far too many to list; the Bible is full of them, and they're there for the finding. I believe you can find a promise for every situation you face—every challenge, every need, every want, and every desire. Promises that bring hope to the hopeless: Titus 1:2, "in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began." Promises that bring strength to the weak: Ephesians 6:10, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." Promises that bring comfort to the fearful: Romans 8:38–39, "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, no things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." And this promise, which we all at one time or another need as we face the reality of provision or lack thereof: Matthew 6:25–34, where we are instructed "do not worry" because our God will care for us, and we are reassured that He knows our needs, and He will meet every one of them. You see, it is these promises, and again so many more, which we must remind ourselves of at the dawn of every new day; that is if we desire to determine the path we are to walk. Forgetting to be reminded of and standing upon these promises will cause us to bounce from one crisis or challenge to another, much like a ball in a pinball game. We were not created to bounce to and fro by every whim and influence. No, we were created to stand strong in the promises of God, not to be influenced by circumstance, but rather to influence the world and the people in it with His truths. May I encourage you today, lay hold of the promises of God, lay hold of the truth, and walk in the freedom of who you are in and because of Jesus Christ. Let go of the lies and deception of the enemy; remove the chains of guilt, shame, fear, and doubt. Change your world; change the world—you have that power within you! Pastor Gene Burroughs, Missio Dei Ministries, Navarre, FL www.missiodeinavarre.org

My Heart Aches

My heart aches today. It aches for a nation, for a people who once loved God; a people who once trusted the God of all creation and surrendered to His will—people who once believed. My heart grieves for our president and leaders of this great nation who have rejected the love of God; who have rejected His Lordship. My grief and frustration does not lie so much with them as it does with those of us who believe and who have sat on the sidelines and not spoken the truth in love: Christian leaders who have watered down the gospel and the Word, which has all come at such a great cost to so many, and for what purpose?—and those who proclaim belief, yet are wolves in sheep's clothing leading people astray, doing ungodly works in the name of a Holy God. I am frustrated with myself for falling into the trap of complacency, the trap that keeps me focused on my world while neglecting the people and the purpose God has called us to: "the making of disciples." "To those who have filled their purses in the name of the Lord, you have your reward." You who have used the name of God for your own personal and selfish gain, "you have your reward." For those who have sought the glory for themselves, repent. Now is the time to repent. Repentance begins with us leaders, true repentance, and a true anguish over our nation and the sin we have allowed to become accepted even in the church. We must repent for filling our purses and for receiving the glory and honor due only to God—repentance for looking to man for the glory. We need repentance for neglecting the orphans and widows, the downtrodden, the lost and broken, and repentance for not loving the sheep enough to protect them from the wolves; repentance for fear of man, repentance for hypocrisy, repentance for sin. Revival, true revival, can only come through true repentance. "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14). The prescription is simple: seek God. Repent and turn away, and then our God will restore us and not until then. It begins with me—it begins with you, and so on. May it begin today! Pastor Gene Burroughs, Missio Dei Navarre

Religion or Salvation

“Religion and salvation are two different things, each with their own reward.” “And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 8:11–12). In the midst of a Scripture that shows “great faith,” we find this small passage with great meaning and very prophetic in nature. Jesus has already addressed and reminded us of the importance of faith with the centurion as a shining example, and in the midst of this dialog with the centurion He throws in a very important warning. You see, “the sons of the kingdom” is referring to those who are religious: those who, by birth or study, have been exposed to the law of God. He is speaking directly to those people who have a religious spirit when He says, ‘here is a man of great faith,’ and for those without faith, there will be eternally painful consequence. Have you ever heard someone say something like this: “If God is a God of love, why does He send people to hell?” Many people have taken the stand there cannot be a God of love who would create a place for people to die and spend eternity in suffering. However, what we, as the church, have neglected to tell the world is God did not create hell for mankind. He created it for the fallen angels: the demonic beings and all those who fell from heaven in direct and utter disobedience to God. However, by their own choice, many will join them there. God loves us enough to give us free will, and if we end up in hell, it is truly because we have chosen to be there, not because God wanted us to suffer. Far too many for far too long have used the threat of hell to scare people into salvation, which in turn has led to far too many people seeking fire insurance as opposed to redemption. What’s the difference, you ask? Fire insurance is not worth the paper it’s written on. It requires no change in behavior, no obedience, and no ongoing relationship with our creator. Redemption, on the other hand, allows us to be reconciled to God, to hear His voice, to obey His commands, and when we fail, we are redeemed once again upon repentance. One is religion and the other is relationship; both carry a completely opposite reward, each lasting for eternity. For those who refuse to accept the gift of redemption through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, no amount of good works or sanctification by others, such as priests, will bring them the reward of heaven. Let us not forget, as well, the reward of life on earth directed by the Holy Spirit for those who believe. I had a friend at one time who was a Jehovah’s Witness. I can remember, in one of our many discussions of Jesus, my friend asking me how I knew the voice I heard was not from satan, because the voice he heard told him he was believing rightly. The only answer I could give him was the truth as I knew it to be. The Word of God commanded my unconditional belief in Jesus for my salvation, and Jesus was the One who described the gift of the coming helper; therefore, the voice he hears cannot be from one whom he does not believe in. Needless to say, the subject was changed, but the point remains: without Jesus Christ there is no salvation, and nothing else is needed. † Father, help us to stay focused upon the truth, to avoid confusion, and to test all things by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Believing is Seeing

“BELIEVING IS SEEING AND TO OBEY IS TO RECEIVE.” Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.” For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour (Matt. 8:5-10 and 13). So, just what was it that made Jesus marvel? Was it the fact this man understood the spiritual realm of authority or could it have been the simplicity of this man’s understanding of Jesus’ power, or maybe both? The true answer, I believe, lies in both. We know Jesus was moved by this man’s faith because He says so, but that faith was deeply rooted in the understanding of spiritual authority. You see, the centurion knew Jesus was the Son of God, and additionally, he knew everything was under His rule–now that is faith. Mind you, it wasn’t just faith: it was the kind of faith that impressed Jesus Himself. Imagine that, being able to impress Jesus with your faith! So, what is it that is stopping you from exercising the kind of faith we see exhibited here? Are you 100 percent convinced God is the Creator, Jesus is our Savior, and the Holy Spirit is the helper sent by God to assist us every day, in every way? If your answer is yes, then walk by faith. However, if you say your answer is ‘yes’ and you have no ability to exercise faith, then I would say your answer is actually ‘no.’ You see, this is all either real or not–there is no in-between. I can’t tell you how many times people have said to me and to many of you, “I wish I had your faith.” My answer is this: “Pray for my belief and you will.” Great faith is the result of total belief in what we cannot see yet believe (Hebrews 11:1), so the latter leads to the first. I know my God is King. I know He has authority. Therefore, I believe His will shall be done, and I likewise believe I am commanded to pray for and submit to His will. Here’s the thing, if I am listening to His voice, seeking His will, spending time in the quiet with my Lord, when I pray I am simply asking that which God has placed upon my heart by Him to be done. The result is, of course, answered prayers. However, if I have placed roadblocks up to hearing His voice, I cannot pray His will, for I don’t know it. Oh, I’ll get lucky once in a while if I pray enough, but that isn’t really faith now, is it? The roadblocks are the real issue, things like: pride, unconfessed sin, bitterness, anger, fear, rebelliousness, and lack of confidence in redemption. These and issues like them must be dealt with if we want to live lives truly filled with faith. Are there any roadblocks in your life? MY PRAYER Father, I come before You today and ask You, “Is there anything in my life preventing me from hearing Your voice, from knowing Your will, and if so, I ask You to reveal it to me now that I might confess it as sin and be in communion with You? In Jesus’ name I ask these things. Amen.

For the Sake of the Sheep

When I was in the third grade, my father decided it was time for me to become a shepherd. I started with an ewe (mother sheep) and a lamb, and before too long, I had a small flock. Little did I know that in the later years of my life, the time I spent as a shepherd would someday play such as significant role in my life. You see, sheep are a very unique animal: very peaceful, loving, needy, and not as stupid as many people accuse them of being. They are, no doubt, the most trusting of animals. Once they bond with you, there is little or nothing you can do to break that trust. Recently, I was being reminded by the Lord what my responsibilities as a shepherd are, and one duty, in particular, came to mind: to "protect the flock." In the mid '80s, I was asked to preach on the 23rd Psalm, and as I did my research, I learned many interesting facts, some of which I personally experienced as a shepherd. For instance, every night when I would bring the sheep in from our mountain pasture into the protection of their corral and pen, they would rub against me as I stood by the gate. It was rather irritating at times. Often they would push very hard, and, on occasion, when I was dressed to go somewhere special, the smell of lanolin from their wool would permeate my clothing. During my studies, I realized shepherds are aware that this practice is the sheep's way of acknowledging their trust for their shepherd—it is both a greeting and a proclamation. As I look back on those days and this twice-daily interaction, I now understand much deeper the great responsibility I bore as the shepherd. As I stood at the gate, I knew every animal that came in. I knew them well: their habits, their tendencies, and their needs. I also knew nothing other than my sheep could enter that sheepfold, as did the sheep. You see, neither coyote nor lion was allowed in, and if one attempted to, I would stop it at all costs. If anything or anyone meant harm to my sheep, they had to go through me. Even at that young age, I would let nothing past me, for more often than not I was armed just for that reason—to protect my flock and myself. As the Lord has led my wife and me to once again shepherd a flock, this action has returned to the forefront of my mind, and the Lord has led me to reflect upon it with inspired intensity. This morning, I was reflecting in John, chapter 10, as Jesus described Himself as the door to the sheepfold and that no one may enter the gate except through Him. He goes on to say the "thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy." I was also reminded of 1 Peter 5:8 where we are commanded to shepherd the flock and to be aware "the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." With over 34 years of serving in ministry, I have seen many instances where the enemy has been allowed untethered to enter the flock and lead people astray. Under the guise of grace, mercy, or fear of judgment, we sit by and say nothing of people who have entered the church not to be transformed by the renewing of their mind, but rather to fulfill their own desires and satisfy or justify their worldly passions. Before you get mad at me, let me say that I am not saying we should judge people before they can enter the church. I am, however, saying there are wolves that have entered the church leading people astray. As a shepherd of God's sheep, I am suddenly very serious about the intent of the hearts of those who desire to remain in the church. I desire to know the sheep by name, to have them trust me, and to respect and honor that trust. I desire to protect the flock from the devil, the roaring lion: the wolf that seeks to devour and feed upon God's people. As a young shepherd, if a predator attempted to enter my sheepfold, I stopped it at all costs; again, as a shepherd of God's flock, I shall do likewise. How often do we truly know those who are caring for our babies, teaching our children, singing on our worship teams, ushering us in the isles, sharing with us from a place of authority, the pulpit? Prayerfully, we know them well, but are we able to when the immediate need is met by energized, well-spoken individuals? What are some signs of those who seek to destroy? The first, I believe, would be a rejection of authority; lack of submission to the will and transformation brought about by allowing Jesus to be Lord of your life. If your church were opposed to such things because they oppose the Word of God, why then would you allow those who do not oppose them to infiltrate your church? It is not as if yours is the only church, there are plenty out there that will allow these folks in with open arms. After all, it is not about how many sheep you shepherd; it is, however, about how well you shepherd the sheep God has entrusted to you. Mind you, I am not making any accusations or insinuations; I am, however, raising the point for my own reflection, to remind myself and other leaders that our duty, our responsibility, and our commitment before God is to protect His flock, just as He would. Yes, all are welcome in the church, yet not all are welcome to remain, unless all are willing to be changed. Tough words, I know, but true for the sake of the sheep. Pastor Gene Burroughs, Missio Dei Ministries, Navarre, FL www.missiodeinavarre.org

Intelligent or Foolish?

“People who are too smart to change are often too foolish to understand.” “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall” (Matt. 7: 24–27). Notice Jesus did not say, ‘he who follows a prophet, pastor, or charismatic leader.’ He said, “these sayings of Mine,” which is referring to His Word. God is saying we must follow the Word, not man. One of the hardest things to witness in ministry is when people begin to follow people rather than God. All too often, charismatic leaders either intentionally or unintentionally will, by their very nature, cause others to become enamored with their personality. This can lead to far too many negative consequences such as affairs and disappointments, and yes, even separation from God as a consequence of worshipping man. Men are human; we too are broken. And yes, even pastors are sinners. While it is completely appropriate to follow godly leaders, to worship man is to worship flesh and very much inappropriate. We all have people whom we enjoy listening to more than others; some are equipped to be intellectually challenged, while others are more stimulated by the visual; still others prefer both, and so on. This is a perfectly natural behavior of mankind. Don’t follow man, follow God. Don’t worship men, worship God, and you will avoid a major pitfall. Remember, what Jesus is saying is, once you have heard what is written in the Word, you must then do it. If you need to check it out, do so, but don’t get so caught up in the intellectual that you never really decide to believe the truth of the Word. You see, when Jesus says to love your neighbor, no matter who teaches the message, Jesus is saying, “love your neighbor,” so start practicing loving your neighbor. Far too many people want to justify their own weaknesses or unwillingness to change by overanalyzing, dissecting, and searching out the root meaning of every word in the Bible, when all they need to do is take the Word at its Word. When Jesus says to love, whether it is in the King James, the Hebrew, or the Greek version, He is still saying to love. If He commands us to forgive or have mercy or to extend grace, or whatever the action, could it possibly be what He says is exactly what He means? For example, should we be more afraid of extending too much grace to people or should we not extend any for fear of overdoing it and causing them to be blessed or take advantage of it? What does the Word say? Maybe a little more time spent doing the things we are commanded to do and a little less time figuring out why would be beneficial. After all, for some, the intellectual meaning of the Scripture has become an excuse for not obeying it. Sound a little like a Pharisee to anyone else? † Father, help us to remember to follow Your Word and to obey Your commands. Teach us to trust You, serve You, and to surrender to You, and if we have become too smart for our good, reveal our foolishness that we might repent. In the name of Jesus our Lord we pray, amen.

His Fame, Our Gain

“His name, His fame, our gain.” “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matt. 7:21–23). The power of the name of Jesus transcends all borders in both the physical and spiritual realms. People who have tapped into this power are not always doing so with the proper motivation. From the time of the fall of man until the birth of Jesus, demons had a free hand to do as they pleased upon this earth. Their only active enemies were those who served the God I Am, our God, all the time doing so without the influence of the Holy Spirit and the covering of the blood of Jesus. The demons were having a heyday and it showed. Just look at Saul! However, once Jesus came on the scene, everything changed. Suddenly, the power of His name alone became enough to cause the demonic realm to tremble at the very mention of it. On one of my many trips to the inner city, I had my first of many experiences seeing this power manifested before my very eyes. As I was preaching at one of the stages in Golden Gate Park, a man who was obviously demonized in one form or another approached the crowd with one thing on his mind—to disrupt the work of God. As he began getting louder and louder, I felt compelled to point my hand at him and command that he be quiet in the name of Jesus. It was as if he had been hit with a bolt of lightning. As soon as I mentioned the name of Jesus, the man hit the ground and was totally unconscious until the very moment our event ended, at which time he calmly rose to his feet and marched off down the street. It was immediately apparent to me the power was in the name, not me, and I have used that name for His glory many more times since. However, there are many out there who have recognized that power and have and, possibly still, are using it for personal gain. Those who do such things are those whom Jesus is speaking of, and they have their own reward, for they will not enter the kingdom of heaven. And even worse, they will hear these words from the very one whose name they used: “I never knew you; depart from Me.” Can you imagine the pain, the hurt, and the hopelessness that will fill their souls? Again, a tree will be known by its fruit. When you see people who espouse to be one thing in public and they are another in private, red flags should be going up everywhere! Flee from their very presence, and pray about what, if anything else, you should do. If the Lord leads you, then go with two witnesses and confront them privately. The works of darkness have been allowed to run rampant for long enough, and anytime we can, we should use the name of Jesus to reveal their deceit and glorify our King. If blasphemy or heresy is taking place, expose the works with the Word and prayer, then allow God to take care of the situation. He is able to defend Himself. † Father, please give us the ability to see and the strength to stand up to those who wrongly use the name of Jesus to lead others astray. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

WIde or Narrow?

“Choosing your own path is not a popular decision; however, this is not a contest.” “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt. 7:13–14). Having been a believer since the age of seven, I must confess being a follower didn’t happen until my twenties. You see, that’s when I accepted the fact being a believer was a more difficult way. In order to maintain this walk, one truly must purpose to take the hard way—to take the step away from the popular accepted belief and choose to be different. In my younger days, I worked for many cattle ranchers, some very talented, others not so talented. The most experienced man I ever worked for had been ranching all of his life. He was at least a third-generation rancher, if not more. We would push large herds of cattle from private lower lands in the spring up to the higher public lands where better grass was growing. Along the way, we would find lead cows, ones others seemed to follow. Once we had them pinned up, we gathered those lead cows and placed bells on them. The bells would help us find the cows any time we desired, and as well, they served as a way of letting the other cattle know where the herd was headed. In the fall, we simply located the lead cattle (by the sound of the bells), and then we very slowly pushed them to where we wanted all of the cattle to gather. Sure enough, by the time we got to our corral (or gathering place), the majority of the herd had followed the bells and joined up with the others. When I read this passage, I am very much reminded of those lead cows and the sound of those bells ringing in my ears. Far too many people today have chosen to follow the pack, to listen for the latest buzzword or join the latest craze, and never even know what or whom they are supporting or following. Our lives are far too important and cherishable to allow others to determine what is right for us, especially if we haven’t even checked out the facts. The gate to death is wide because far too many will accept what others say without checking it out; they will, unfortunately, believe the media or a friend or accept an unfounded opinion. But those of us who choose to follow God, and are willing to be persecuted for it, will walk a lonely road. We’re not here for the fire insurance. We’re here because we believe, because we’re convicted and committed, because we have no choice, for the truth is engraved upon our hearts. That’s why I’m here. How about you? Anyone hear bells? † Father, give us eyes to see and ears to hear that we may not be deceived, that we might not be pleasers of men but rather pleasers of You Oh, God. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Forgiveness

“THE ROOTS OF BITTERNESS RUN DEEP AND DEADLY; YET TRUE FORGIVENESS WILL KILL THEM ALL.” “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matt. 6:14-15). The word trespasses here refers to transgression or violation, so in essence, Jesus is warning us in order to receive grace freely, we must freely give grace. All too often, we hear from the wronged they deserve the right to be angry; they are, after all, the victims. In the church today, I believe we have far too many who are walking in unforgiveness, which results in a loss of pure fellowship with God. This means, due to their lack of forgiveness, He is unable to forgive them–a vicious and nonproductive circle. Another result of lack of forgiveness is it can lead to bitterness, and bitterness, like a weed, takes root quickly and is very hard to destroy. The crop of bitterness is torment, which grows all too quickly; it multiplies with little help, growing in the slightest of cracks. Beware of bitterness! I personally believe mental institutions all over the world are filled with bitter, tormented people, most of who don’t remember why their anger runs so deep. So here we sit, wondering why God is not speaking to us, getting angry with Him, when all along we are the ones to blame because of our unwillingness to forgive those who have offended us, and, all too often, they don’t even know or remember they have. Then, others bind us up both in the spirit and in the flesh, when freedom is only a prayer away! Recently, a person very close to me shared how, after years of being influenced by the pain inflicted upon her by a former stepmother, she came to terms and decided to openly and directly seek her forgiveness. After a few moments of sharing with her, the former stepmother said, “Pardon me, but do I know you?” All of the pain, the hurt, and the fears suddenly made no sense–this woman didn’t even remember! Don’t let your enemies hold you in bondage; take away their power with the same forgiveness and grace Jesus used to take away your sins. MY PRAYER Father, help us to not hold onto the hurt, pain, and bitterness heaped upon us by others, and if I have a root of bitterness, please show me Lord that it may be uprooted forever. Help me Lord to walk in the freedom of forgiveness. Amen.

The Untamed Tongue

“KNOWLEDGE IS A FRESH WIND WAITING TO BE BLOWN, OFTEN STOPPED BY THE UNTAMED TONGUE.” And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him (Matt. 4:18-22). Here we see an amazing example of communicating to people in a language they can understand as opposed to expecting people to understand our message as we present it. Jesus knows what kind of people are on the shore–fishermen. Therefore, He speaks to them as fishermen, not as future disciples. Imagine this: four guys are standing on the shore, you want them to be your disciples so you stroll up and tell them something like this: “Hey, I’m the Son of God, and I’m going to do great things on earth, so how about leaving your family, your money, your warm bed, and come hang out with me for a while. Then I’ll be beaten and killed, come back in three days, give you instructions, and send you out to spread the gospel and be persecuted and killed as well.” You wouldn’t be very successful at gathering disciples now, would you? Of course we know the Lord influenced their hearts, and it was more than a statement that brought these guys along, but that isn’t really Jesus’ point. His point was, ‘If you like fishing, how about going fishing with Me? We’ll catch men.’ Do we communicate to people in a language they can understand, or do we communicate with people in the language we understand? Maybe this will help: do you know people who talk all of the time, and it appears they just do it to hear themselves talk? Do you listen? If so, when you do, I would suggest it isn’t long before you tune them out. I had a second uncle who was by far the most intelligent human I have ever met. He was off the charts on his IQ score, and he knew something about everything; however, he literally never stopped talking. I used to wonder how and when he breathed; he would move from one subject to another without a break and seemed to be more robotic than human. The little dirty trick was when a new friend was visiting; we would introduce him to Wolford and walk away, leaving him in the grasp of Wolford’s well-exercised vocal cords, sometimes for hours on end. However, as I grew older, I began to understand what a terrible waste his intense knowledge had become. If only he had learned to communicate: his knowledge would have benefited others greatly, his reputation would have been honored rather than joked about, he would have been sought after rather than avoided, and his contribution to this world would have lived on. This was not the case; when he died, much of his knowledge died with him. Will your life be wasted because of your pride, arrogance, low self-esteem and insecurity, or are you able to watch and wait, seeking the right method and words before speaking your piece? MY PRAYER Father, help us to be people who draw others to us rather than people who others avoid. Give us ears to hear and eyes to see that we may affect the world around us for Your glory Lord. Amen.

It is Not Easy

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 10:34–39). For those who think or have been told and believe that walking with Christ is filled with peace, love, joy, grace, and blissfulness, I apologize. I apologize for my own actions, and I apologize for the actions and statements made by other Christian leaders. We were wrong. This statement and apology of mine will, no doubt, raise eyebrows, cause negative reactions, and more, yet I did not say this—our Savior did. The fact that Jesus says these words and we choose to ignore them is an extremely dangerous and, no doubt, consequence-filled action, and these consequences are negative in nature. For example, if I sell you a vehicle I own, knowing it has a bad transmission, yet I point out to you every benefit of owning it; if I highlight all of the good points, the beautiful paint, the new tires, the clean and fresh interior, the purring engine, and neglect to tell you the transmission is going out, have I done you right? No, of course not. I have simply sold you a vehicle that will soon be going nowhere! I have neglected to tell you everything that I knew about the future consequences of owning this vehicle. I have caused you to lose faith in me. I have given the enemy an opportunity to have you lose faith in man. I have not blessed you; I have burdened you. I have left out some truth that I was aware of. I have lied! When we tell those who are choosing to believe there are no consequences to becoming Christians, when we imply that all will be well and good, when we neglect to instruct them that severe change, rebirth, is required, what have we accomplished? When we manipulate people to make a decision based upon simply the benefits and neglect to point out the responsibilities associated with that decision, truly what good have we accomplished? For those who persevere and are discipled there can be victory. For those who are left on their own, there may be fear, doubt, confusion, anger, bitterness, and even more that the enemy can and will use to draw many away. Christianity is not a club. It is not easy, and we should never falsely make it appear to be so. Jesus was addressing His disciples in this passage, warning them of what lies ahead, and many would say it is not relevant for today. To that, I say you are incorrect. Ask those who have been found guilty of being believers and faced or are facing death if this is easy. Ask their families if this has been difficult. Ask the martyrs of old and of today if their lives are filled with bliss and joy. The countless persecuted believers all over the world, even here in the U.S., ask them. Ask their families of the pain, suffering, torment of not knowing what lies ahead. Ask their children, those left without parents; ask them if it has been easy. It is time for us to stop making this belief a panacea for what ails us. It is time for us to realize the cost, the pain, the change required, and then, and only then, will we understand the responsibility of being a believer, a follower of Christ. No, Christianity is not a club and not always easy, but with perseverance and love for the Lord, victory can be yours. If your love for the Lord is shining in your every being, perhaps those who are left on their own can see that love in you and not be drawn away. Pastor Gene Burroughs, Missio Dei Navarre, www.missiodeinavarre.org

Spirit or Flesh?

“EARTHLY PLEASURES OR KINGDOM TREASURES, YOU DECIDE.” “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:19-21). A few years ago, as I was reading Jeremiah 9:23-24, the Lord spoke a word to me, a phrase which is very relevant to this passage, “Earthly pleasures or kingdom treasures, you decide.” We must make a conscious decision in our lives as to what we are going to pursue–the temporal and material satisfaction or the faith to believe what we do on earth will affect our lives eternally. We can purpose to either focus on creating wealth on earth (which will be destroyed and or stolen) or we can purpose to lay up heavenly treasures that will never be destroyed. Is this to say God will not give us wealth on earth? Of course not. The wealthiest man to ever live was Solomon, and while he asked for wisdom (which God granted), God also blessed him with incredible and incomparable wealth. Yet even he, the wisest man to ever live, when blessed with such wealth, lost his focus and fell to the temptations of this world. The point is this: our focus and our purpose on this earth truly should be upon attaining spiritual wealth. Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” When we get our priorities right, God can truly begin to work in our lives in ways we can only imagine. When I left the corporate world, I was making a lot of money, had a company car, an expense account, and all of the power that comes with it. My relationship with God was largely based on my need for and His blessing of forgiveness. Oh yes, I was serving Him; however, my time and commitment were greatly divided. When I made the choice to obey Him and to go into full-time ministry, my first position was cleaning toilets in the church; our income dropped 50 percent, the expense account and car were gone, and the only power I wielded came in the form of a toilet brush. My relationship with God suddenly became less about repentance and forgiveness and 100 percent about serving Him. By the way, did I mention in this the Lord blessed us with a savings account? We remodeled our home, purchased newer vehicles, and had a much happier life again–all on 50 percent of the income. Where is your focus? Are you wanting more of the things on earth, or are you willing to pursue the things of God? MY PRAYER Lord, I pray my focus would always be on the things of heaven and not of earth, that I might trust You to be my provision, and I might keep my vision. Amen.

Trusting Jesus

“IF I TRUST HIM FOR EVERYTHING, I WILL WORRY ABOUT NOTHING.” “Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny” (Matt. 5:25-26). In the midst of instruction to His disciples, Jesus throws in what seems to be a random line about agreeing with your adversary or those who are against you. First, we need to understand that under Mosaic Law, if someone accuses you of something and he has two witnesses, you are found guilty. Now, you can imagine how corruptible such a system could become. If you upset someone, it would be rather easy for him to pay a couple of people to lie about you, and suddenly, you would find yourself in jail, even though you are innocent of all charges. Therefore, it is much easier to arrive at a mutual agreement with someone rather than bow your neck, fight it out, end up in prison, and still pay out even more in the end. Is it possible that, in this scenario, Jesus is actually trying to tell us to place our trust in Him in all things? You see, if someone attacks you in order to take from you something he desires, God is more than able to replace what you have lost. I believe, in most cases, the Lord will give us even more or better than what we have lost. The reality is, trusting God in all things can be one of the most freeing activities one can undertake. When I completely and absolutely trust the Lord with everything I have–all of my possessions, all of my fears, doubts, and wants–I no longer need to protect them. Everything we own we tend to want to protect and care for, yet once we surrender them to God, we become free from that responsibility. Think about it, if God owns the things I care for, then anyone who desires to take them is taking them from Him, not me! While I may be able to inflict momentary pain upon him, the God of the universe is capable of inflicting eternal misery! Now, while it is not about who can inflict the most pain, it can be somewhat comforting to know this truth. The greater lesson here for us is to become able to let go and let God care for everything in our lives. To come to a place where we are able to trust Him for not only our provision but our protection, as well, is an amazing achievement. I would implore you to trust the Lord with all you have and all you aspire to have. He takes great care of things and the utmost care of you. He is worthy of your trust! MY PRAYER Father, I would ask You give me the faith and confidence to trust You with, and in, all things. I pray I would let go and let You take care of every aspect of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

No Need to Beg

“BEGGING NEVER IMPRESSES GOD; TRUSTING HIM ALWAYS WILL.” “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matt. 6:7-8). Prayer should never look like a shopping list. Prayer is the cry of our hearts coming through our mouths and to the ears of God. As our prayers pass through the stages from inception in our hearts to the speaking of our lips, hopefully, there is much thought and feeling accompanying them. I believe the Lord would have us hear and consider our own prayers as much as we would have Him consider them. There have been far too many occasions upon which I have prayed something, and the moment it comes out of my mouth, I question why I would ever ask such a thing. How is it, when the thought was in my heart, it made perfect sense? Yet now, I’m embarrassed to have spoken it. Sometimes, it would do us well to think a little longer before we pray and maybe spend more time just thanking God for what He has done. One of the more annoying things I witness in life is the child who seems to never stop asking for something from their parent. On recent occasion, and far too often, I see children simply asking, without a breath, over and over the same question: “Daddy can I?” or “Mommy can I?” followed by something they desire–more than likely not what is best for them. I often wonder, “When will this child breathe?” as he continues without ceasing until receiving the desired response. The key is, if you ask enough and become rude enough about it, the parent will become annoyed enough with your persistence to simply say yes, often not even knowing what he is saying yes to. The child now sees, by begging and being an annoyance, he can get whatever he wants, and all the while the parent cannot understand what is wrong with his child. Aren’t you glad God is not like these parents, and He doesn’t give in to our begging and complaining? I for one am elated because far too often I have begged and pleaded with God for something I simply could not live without, only to find later it was not what was best for me. God wants us to understand He is sovereign and He knows what is best for us, so, as we will soon see, it is always best to simply surrender to His will and trust He hears us and loves us. MY PRAYER Father, may I be content with all You determine is best for me and avoid the temptation to beg for things that may not be. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Peace Comes at a Cost

“PEACE COMES AT A COST, BUT THE PRICE IS NEVER TOO HIGH; AFTER ALL, IT HAS BEEN PAID.” “Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God” (Matt. 5:9). Oh, to be called a son of God. Who would not choose or desire to be recognized as a child of the One who cast the stars from His fingertips, controls time, created all living things, and has dominion over all of the heavens? We might say, “Who wouldn’t?” Yet when God chose to manifest Himself on this planet in the form of His Son Jesus Christ, many chose not to. Sadly, this pattern continues on today across the world. One key, they are not peacemakers. What does this have to do with salvation, you ask? Nothing at all: it has to do with sacrifice. Wow, now I have you thinking (it’s OK; I’m scratching my head as well)! Peacemaking comes with sacrifice and cannot be found without it. Peacemaker here is defined as “one who makes peace by reconciliation” so in order to make peace, there must be those who are at odds. Could it be Jesus was speaking to us about those who were at odds with God as well as those who were at odds with each other? Think about it, you are a peacemaker if you can show a person lost in sin the pathway to salvation! Have you ever known a sinner who was not in some way at odds with God? Of course not: it is impossible not to be at odds with God unless your sins are covered in the blood of Jesus. Wow! I never really thought about this until today–the ultimate peace–salvation through Christ, allowing me to be called a son of God. But I thought when I got saved I became a son of God. You did. Our lives lived through Christ should cause us to be makers of peace, lights in a dark world, revealers of turmoil–one who provides hope for the lost, friends to the friendless, and sources of joy for the downtrodden. Recently, my family and I spent an evening at our friend’s Country Inn. There was no moon, and we were in the shadow of the mountain. It was pitch black after the sun went down. Yet I noticed as soon as the sun disappeared and darkness took hold, every path became illuminated so brightly you couldn’t help but find your way. As a matter of fact, the only way to experience darkness was to step off the path. I see us very much that way in this world, people who can choose to follow the path or choose to step off. I said earlier peace does not come without sacrifice. Let’s explore that thought for a moment–the most obvious, of course, is peace with God cannot be found without the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Second, in order to lead others to peace, we must sacrifice our pride, and third, in order to maintain peace, we must all sacrifice our flesh. Maybe you attempted one or all, and possibly you have and failed–keep trying. Maybe you are one who has succeeded–stay on guard and never give up–you are a child of God. Be encouraged! MY PRAYER Father, help us to be peacemakers for You in a world filled with turmoil. Teach us to be humble, upright, and joyful, even when we don’t want to. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Honor your Parents

Honor your Parents With Mothers Day upon us (and Fathers day quickly approaching), my mind has been focused upon exactly what it is that the Word of God calls me to do as a child in regards to my parents. The immediate answer for me was found in Exodus 20:12 and countless other scriptures; “honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” This word honor means to abound, give glory, to be glorious, to make glorious, to bring honor and to honor, to be abundantly grateful! This scripture and it’s reality has caused me to seek out what I would or could do to honor my Mother and Father. By way of explanation and assistance let me digress for one moment in regards to deceased parents, as my own biological father has long since moved to heaven. Even though your parent(s) may be deceased your obligation to honor them has not ceased, we are to honor our parents for life. Now back to honoring our parents: how do we do this, how do we honor the ones who gave us life? For some this task can seem rather easy and mundane after all if you view your parents with a Godly attitude it is easy to honor them, it’s comes natural. When viewing through the eyes of the Holy Spirit and through the covering of the Blood of the Lamb you see them as Christ sees them. However for most people I have met in life the opposite remains to be far more truthful. I hear far more people complaining about the mistakes their parent(s) have made, statements like you have no idea what they have done, or how mean they were, or in todays society how bad my stepparent is. And while I would not intend to discount or give approval to un-godly actions by parents or stepparents, I do not see anywhere in the word where there is an exception to honoring those who gave us life and instruction. There is nowhere I know of that license is given for anyone to judge their parents. The weight and responsibility of being a parent is something that no one who has not experienced it can truly imagine. The trials that are faced as children progress through various ages, hormonal changes, and so much more cannot be appreciated in the least by one who has not experienced each of these stages. The reality is a child will never understand the challenges parents face every day until they themselves face those same challenges. Therefore the parents will always have greater wisdom and understanding in parenting because the last time I checked no child was ever able to have children prior to their own birth. Yes there is much truth to the saying that “the older I get the smarter my parents become”. The reality is the more you experience the more you truly understand the challenges faced by mom and Dad. While your parent(s) may not be perfect they are the perfect parents for you, after all God chose them to bring you life! Therefore today would be a good day to put away your judgments, your accusations, your failed expectations, your emotional hurts and pains and accept this very truth; “honor your father and your mother”, if for no other reason because God commands you to. Honor them in life and in death, both biological and those by other means, today honor you mother! Don’t text her, call her, don’t just send a card, send some love, be a blessing to the ones who gave you your life! It is high time that each of us stops taking credit for whom we are and who we have become and give credit where credit is do. After all none of us would be here and none of us would be who we are unless God had given them to us, and allowed them to not be perfect, but rather to do the very best they could or can with what they had or have. The blessing truly will be yours! Pastor Gene Burroughs Missio Dei Ministries www.missiodeinavarre.org PS: I apologize for any grammar or spelling errors I felt an urgency to deliver this word today without the help of my wonderful editor Patricia Cole.