Are you Sober Minded?

In the last few weeks a lot of attention was drawn to the new book "Love Wins " by Rob Bell. A friend of mine read the book and said his conclusion was that Rob Bell did not have anything biblically solid to say, but rather his book was basically a giant question on Hell with a question much like Eve was given in the garden by the serpent who said " Did God really say you will die? ".


Many people love Rob Bell and his style because they say he makes people think and causes people to doubt things and wonder. Adam and Eve were provoked to question what God first said and looked what happened to them and in turn us. And after they were posed with a question about what God originally said they changed their minds and made a bad decision and we are all still dealing with sin because of it. Adam & Eve intoxicated their minds with another influence beyond God’s.

The bible is very clear from Old and New Testaments that God will hold each soul accountable in the end. God also makes it clear in the Bible that the way to destruction is wide and the way to life is narrow and very few find it. Jesus did not say that everyone will find peace and the narrow path, but few would be on it. Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. Matthew 7:13

It is true that God loves everyone and that Jesus paid a price for everyone's sins so that whosoever wanted Him, the narrow path, forgiveness ,release and eternal life would not be denied.

1 Peter 5:8 says to the followers of Jesus , " be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

Let me pose a Rob Bell style question to you in reverse? Does God's Word really say you have to be sober minded and alert about an enemy? Certainly God will not let anything happen to those he loves. I could write a long article or even a book trying to convince believers that God's power, grace and strength will never allow anything  bad to happen to His children, but that would not be true to life or the scriptures. Just ask the marytrs someday.

I won't write anything like that because I know that the full council of the Word of God teaches a balance between divine protection and personal responsibility.

What does it mean to be Sober minded and Alert? In today's world the roaring lion is still out seeking whom he may destroy.

In the Gospel of John 3:18 it says," whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son." The only solution to our present state of damnation is to turn to Jesus Christ and trust Him and receive His offer of escape. If we accept Him and follow and stay sober minded we have great hope and so much more. If we reject, get sloppy and careless and get intoxicated in our minds with the philosophies of this world then we are warned we will be devoured by an enemy. Let us have a sober mind & heart that feeds upon the Word of God, meditating on it day and night. Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Are you sober minded?

A Special Day called Easter!

Today has been a great day in our church, community and our family. Why?. Because we celebrated the physical resurrection that happened 1,981 years ago today. “Why do you search among the dead for the living, He is Risen”. The recorded historical facts of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ are a truly supernatural encounter that forever changed and continues to change the world. But just like those who denied it then many still ignore Him today.

Christians meet weekly to celebrate the resurrection with worship, fellowship and prayer. However, once a year we put a special emphasis on the actual Sunday when it occurred. In our local community many come out on Saturday night before Easter to decorate rough wooden crosses with flowers. This past year over 50 crosses placed in front of local businesses on the main drag were set up on Friday as blank wooden crosses and by Saturday late night they were displaying flowers all over them for view on the dawn of the forthcoming dawn.

My older daughter is still in Brazil studying abroad through her college. Last week she told us that in that country everything shuts down on Thursday until Monday morning. They truly acknowledge the Passion Week when Jesus was crucified and resurrected from schools, businesses and government agencies.

This past Saturday I went to a local hardware store and noticed the sign ‘closed on Easter’. After discussing it with the clerk I was told It was likely the last year because the new owners wanted to be open seven days a week.

After our worship services and the powerful presence of Jesus our family had a special treat and went out for lunch in a local closed Mall. As we drove we noticed many stores closed down including Target and many major retailers. It was refreshing to see the mail parking lot almost completely empty. As we got into the restaurant my wife told me a comment she overhead between a couple people trying to shop when given an answer by the security guard. The conversation went like this: Shopper 1 ‘Why is the mall closed?’ Guard: Because it is Easter. Shopper 2 to shopper 1: Why is the mall closed? Shopper 1: Because some man named Jesus died along time ago’.

It is wonderful that the cross and the resurrection still have the power to shut down stores. Those stores and business may become fewer and fewer, but it is still wonderful that many of the holidays that commemorate different aspects of the life of the Savior almost 2000 years ago still have the power over hearts, minds and lives in many ways we often don’t realize.

My comment to shopper 1 If I could have heard him would have been. “He did die, but I want you to know he died for you and he is not dead. For He is risen! Thank God for the global holiday called Easter that commemorates the passion of Christ.

Good Friday & The Friendship of Enemies

   Each year as I reflect on the passion and sacrifice of Christ I am always amazed at how His Spirit teaches me something new about the greatest sacrifice in world history. Jesus went to a cruel death for me and for anyone who would trust in Him. Last night as I read the last supper passage of scripture from the gospel of John to my family as our evening devotion I asked a question to my kids. From everything I just read what spoke to your heart about what happened to Jesus? We discussed several things and then prayed and then to bed.


Today I attended a community Good Friday Breakfast in my home town. The minister who shared today did a great job sharing the early morning dealings with Jesus as they decided to crucify Jesus. As I listened and read the scriptures the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart through a scripture as well. It was an unusual verse that slipped past me in times past.


Luke 23:12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends--before this they had been enemies.


If you review the relationship between these two men you will see that they went through a power struggle. Basically in my opinion they both had big egos and wanted more power and because of that they were enemies over issues regarding the people under their jurisdiction.

Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Luke 13:1

Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. Acts 4:27

So in the final deciding moments over who would make the decision over what to do with Jesus these two enemies bounce Jesus back and forth and final a innocent man ( Jesus) is sentenced to death and two enemies become friends.

Jesus has a way of changing the most adverse circumstances around- even that of making enemies friends. Good Friday is only good for those who believe. On that original day that they crucified our Lord we find some of the most interesting things happening that are worth pondering. If the innocent life of Jesus could somehow bring  two power hungry enemies to place of becoming friends what could Jesus do in your life that is against all odds?

I leave you today with a few scriptures verses to ponder and a new and unusual video. It is from the perspective of one of the criminals that died with Jesus. Let your heart be filled with hope today that Jesus still can reverse the most unlikely situations and transform a heart at the last minute. He did 1981 years ago  on the day he died and He can still do it again today with you and your difficult situtation.

Psalm 2:1 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One.

Vanished!

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:14

        Yesterday was a difficult day for many in our local church community. We had a funeral at 10 a.m. for a dear Saint of God who lived to age 83. She was loved and cherished by so so many. Then a few hours later around 2:30 I received a call from the Sheriffs Dept from a lady’s home who attends our church. The news was not good. I
was requested to come to the home of a mom who was being informed her son died in car wreck. Within minutes I was out the door on my way. The rest of the details have since become difficult for many to grasp and understand. Hunter was 18 and a great young man. The circumstances that led to his death at this point are not as important as the reality that Hunter is gone.

Hunter Perez

            Today was the day after his death. Many questions surround many in our youth group and most of our hearts. We got to meet Hunter about 6 months ago. He first came to Church to witness his mom get baptized into the Christian faith. A few weeks later he was at church 2-3 days a week. During that time, he was doing volunteer work to qualify for his high school diploma degree. Another long story, but it was good for all and Hunter was a great young man whose main transportation was his skate board.

            Hunter got to know my whole family and my youngest kids loved to talk with Hunter and my 11 year old son learned stuff about skateboarding from him.

         Now Hunter is gone, dead and beyond this life. But where is he? Many say after you die you just cease to exist. James in the New Testament poses a question regarding our lives and the aspect of how little control we truly have over our time and duration. We are like a mist or a vapor. Seen and then gone, never to be seen again by us on this side of life. Some of our lives go on for decades and a few even make it to a century. Many die within moments of life, others during childhood and then others from accidents, deceases and bad choices.

   Whatever the timing and regardless of the circumstances one question we all should deal with and that is the question of eternity. Our eternal home is based on our trust in Jesus Christ. With hope and encouragement I am glad Hunter was shifting gears and learning to understand His faith in Jesus. Within the time I got to know Hunter I asked Him if anyone had ever discipled him in the Christian Faith. When he told me not really, I asked if he wanted to start doing some bible studies to learn about his faith and grow in his knowledge of the Savior he claimed to know. With Joy Hunter said sure Pastor let’s do it. Below is a copy of the 4 sessions he had completed. He left them at church for us to review and never got to finish the next 4 sessions. But the 4 he did complete gives great evidence and hope to many young people who might not have this same hope.

            Did Hunter make it to heaven with Jesus? I believe the answer is YES. He left these bible studies behind at church the week before He died. He attended youth group on Wednesday night and the following Tuesday he and many others got surprised with news we could not comprehend. I also picture Jesus sending his Angels to escort Hunter from Fort Florida Road in Debary right into the presence of God. I am sure Hunter would like to share what he found out about God and heaven with those he left behind, but of course that is not part of the ability of those who die. If you were to die today do you know where you would go? Hunter knew God and wrote out the his answers and testimony in bible studies that gives assurance to me and many others that there is hope beyond the grave and that Hope is JESUS Christ risen from the dead.

If you wonder about your own eternal home then I invite you to go through these basic steps. Follow this link, pray and let me know if you decided to follow Jesus as Hunter decided. 

Hunters Bible Studies