Passion:

It's hard for me to fathom that someone would intentionally and purposely lay down his life and die so that I might live. What's even more amazing to me is the fact that He did it even though He knew about my wicked heart.

I have asked myself many times whether I would give up my own life for those most dear to me. I'd like to think I would, but no one truly knows the answer to this question until the moment you're put in that position. The 'thinking' and the 'doing' are just not the same. Our instinct for survival is so great that we may not be able to run into the burning building or push someone out of the path of an on-coming bus, only to put our self in harms way. But, there is One who made a choice to do just that for you and I His name is Jesus.

His entire life was lived for this one ultimate purpose - to be the spotless sacrifice so that you and I could receive forgiveness and eternity with the Father.

This week in Christian churches all over the world believers are observing, remembering and celebrating the historic last week on earth of Jesus "The Son of Man". We call it "Passion Week". Why? Let's consider that question for a moment. What is passion? According to Dictionary.com;

Passion: 1) related to an emotion applied to a very strong feeling about a person or thing. 2) An intense emotion compelling feeling, enthusiasm, or desire for something. 3) A lively or eager interest in or admiration for a cause, activity or love.

Passion can be expressed as a feeling of unusual excitement, enthusiasm or compelling emotion towards an idea or person. A person is said to have a passion for something when they have a strong positive affinity for it. A love for something and a passion for something are very similar. This compelling feeling of love and desire is exactly what drove Jesus to the cross.

Jesus has a passion for you and I, for our eternal souls, a desire to bring us all back into a right relationship with our creator.

As you read this right now, you might be saying, "there's no way, I'm beyond help!" or "If you only knew where I've been and what I've done." Believe me I know the feeling well, I was there once myself. There was a time that I lived a gang member's life, drive-by shootings, drugs and alcohol, violence and criminal activity, that's what I lived for. But something was missing.

Then one day I transitioned from that lifestyle to one of a Pot grower and drug dealer. I moved to Humboldt County (Northern California), lived in the mountains, and carried a gun everywhere I went. I had a descent size plantation, doing the whole marijuana farmer thing, living outside the law. I made a pretty good living that way but there was still something missing.

"But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8

Twenty eight years ago I discovered what that missing component in my life was. It was grace and forgiveness and it came in the person of Jesus Christ. I had a difficult time believing that God cared anything about me. That the creator of the universe would include me in His promises of forgiveness and salvation, me this wicked, mean, uncaring person. Yet, the more I heard, the more I read and more I trusted, I became convinced that he did have me in mind when he intentionally and purposely allowed Himself to be nailed to that cross two thousand years ago.

This week as we look forward to Easter Sunday I wanted to take a moment to ask you this question. Is there something missing in your life? And if you are already a believer, to simply remind you of what it's all about. It's about love. It's about acceptance. It's about compassion. It's about God having such a passion for your eternal soul that he became a man, lived on this earth for a relatively short period of time, for the sole purpose of dying as a sacrifice for our sins. We are offered forgiveness and the gift of everlasting life only because of His passionate love for you and me.

Keep that in mind as you go about your weekly business and as you make it a point to go to church on Sunday morning. Be sure to thank Him and praise Him for all He has done. If you are on the bubble today, still searching for something but feel that maybe this is not for you I want to let you know with certainty that there is no sin to great that His love cannot cover. It's just a matter of recognizing your need of a savior and accepting His gift to you. So if you are one who is seeking that missing thing in your life, I want to tell you that it's not a thing, it's a HIM, and His name is Jesus.

"And the angel answered and said to the women, 'Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said.'"
Matthew 28:5,6

So far I've only told you half the story - the most important part, the reason we celebrate Easter Sunday is not because He died but because He is risen. "HE LIVES". He died so we don't have to, He conquered death and the grave so it would no longer have a hold on us, and so we no longer would have any reason to fear it. He was victorious in death so that we can be victorious in this life and the life to come.

"Death Is Swallowed Up In Victory. O Death Where Is Your Victory? O Death Where Is Your Sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." I Corinthians 15:54-57

God Bless and Press On
Larry

THE LETTER

This is an actual letter from a father to his adult son during one of the most difficult times of his life. Hear the father's heart, and know that if you're hurting or need some encouragement, this letter is also for you. God's "father's heart" of love is reaching out to you today. Be blessed.

My Son,

Just want you to know I am praying for you and that you are truly loved. Not just by your family, but, more importantly by your Heavenly Father. The Lord wants your attention to be on Him and the hope that He makes available to each of us. He tells us in Peters letter:

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." 1 Peter 1:3

We see here Peter's obvious emphasis on Christianity being a faith based on birth into a living hope. But, he didn't stop there. Hope in what? Next verse:

"And into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade, kept in heaven for you." 1 Peter 1:4

Did you get that? He said that our hope is for an inheritance, not on this earth, but kept in heaven for YOU.

In his summary of our faith Peter undermined all that we hold dear and try to cherish on earth, and pointed to everything we can't yet taste, touch or see - heaven (how disappointing, in an age when we want, we need, we demand everything now). But we do have something now, new birth, salvation, His peace, and a living hope.

"You, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." 1 Peter 1:5

Peter is saying that we are saved, but that salvation won't be totally revealed until we go home to be with the Lord. In the mean time, we have great power through faith to sustain and protect us, but the goal is eternal life, not the fading pleasure of this life. There's more:

"In this salvation you greatly rejoice (as well you should), though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith, of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire, may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." 1 Peter 1:6-7

Not only are the gifts of this world subject to spoiling and the pleasures to fading, but Peter is saying that we can expect grief and trials here. But not to worry, because it will all be worth it later, when Jesus Christ, our salvation, is revealed.

Christianity's foundation rests on a living hope that fills us with an inexpressible joy for that which is to come. Without this hope, our faith will fail; we won't have the power to withstand our trials.

"We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us." Romans 5:2-5 Jesus is our hope and He will never fail you.

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints." Ephesians 1:18

We rejoice in what? HOPE. Not hope in an easy road paved wide by the good news that Christ came to set us free from difficulties, but the hope of glory. An eager expectation of that which will be unveiled, In fact, he set an agenda for hardships by stating that although this world will bring us suffering, it's okay, because that suffering leads us back to the grand prize. Hope. And hope will not disappoint. There can be no mistake, Christ has called us to hope in a very rich glorious bliss, and this is our inheritance.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23 Yes He is, Amen!!

So son, keep your eyes focused on Him, recognize your trials for what they are, try to rejoice and accept them, as difficult as they may be, and allow them to mature you. Always remember, you are not alone, we are here to hold you up, and let the Lord be your strength.

With The Love of a Father

Dad

I hope and pray the Lord will bless you as you go through the trials of this life. Set your eyes, not on your circumstances, but on our "blessed hope" which is eternal life in heaven. If you would like some additional words of encouragement check out my blog from Feb. 24th, entitled "The Valley of Brokenness".

God Bless and Press On

Larry

How Committed Are You, Really?

Remember the old saying, "When things get tough, the tough get going"?

Well today there seems to to be a new twist to it, it goes something like this; "When things get too tough, you should just go".

Whatever happened to committment?

Hernando Cortes had a plan.
He wanted to lead an expedition into Mexico to capture its vast treasures. When he told the Spanish governor his strategy, the governor got so excited that he gave him eleven ships and seven hundred men. Little did the governor know that Cortes had failed to tell him the entire plan.

After months of travel, the eleven ships landed in Veracruz in the spring of 1519. As soon as the men unloaded the ships, Cortes burned the ships.

By burning the ships, Cortes eliminated the options. He didn’t know what he would encounter on his expedition to the interior. He didn’t know the strength of the people he would be fighting. But he did know this: there were now no escape routes for his men. If the fighting got too fierce, or exhausting, there would be no talk of going back to Veracruz and sailing home. In one fell swoop, he had not only eliminated their options but had created an intensely powerful motivation to succeed. Like it or not they were now committed.

Burning your ships expresses commitment. Commitment is saying that no matter what comes in the future, you’re going to stick it out. Commitment means that you have obligated yourself to follow through on your word. A commitment is your personal guarantee that you will do what you promised.

We live in an era where commitment is cheap. It’s cheap in marriage, business, politics, and even in athletics. Commitment is cheap in professional sports when a running back will sign a six-year, multi-million dollar contract, and then stay out of training camp in his trade year because the team won’t renegotiate his contract. Why does he want to renegotiate? He wants to renegotiate because his contract is no longer personally convenient, and he refuses to keep his commitment until he gets his way.

Just by watching the news these days you'll notice some disturbing trends in our society. Statistcal evidence pointing to a lack of commitment in most all areas of life.

People aren't committed to their marriages. According to Enrichment Journal, "the divorce rate in America for first time marriages is 41%, for second marriages is 60%, and for third marriages is 73%." Just the fact that the statistics are broken up like this is telling.

People aren't committed to their children. More and more parents (mainly fathers) are leaving their children behind after a divorce. According to Custodial Mothers and Fathers and their Child Support: 2007, released by the U.S. Census Bureau in November, 2009, there are approximately 13.7 million single parents in the U.S. today (84% of custodial parents are mothers), and those parents are responsible for raising 21.8 million children, about 26% of the children under 21 years of age. Judy H. Wright, parent,educator and author says one out of every four American children lives in a single-parent home..., divorce, incarceration, drug and alcohol abuse are just some of a myriad of reasons that parents are absent in the life of a child.

People aren't committed to their job. America's workplace productivity and quality is waning. In a City Journal article by Steven Malanga, entitled "Whatever Happened to the Work Ethic?" he says: "After flourishing for three centuries in America, the Protestant ethic has begun to disintegrate, with key elements slowly disappearing, from modern American sociey..." and, "As the editor of the American Work Ethic noted, affluence, hedonism and radicalism were turning Americans away from work and the pursuit of career advancement, resulting in a sharp slowdown in U.S. productivity. "

People aren't committed to their faith. Church attendance and involvement is on the decline. According to research done by the Barna Research Group, "Church attendance across denominational lines has suffered a five-year decline and has sunk to its lowest level in two decades. In telephone surveys of 1,004 U.S. adults 18 and over, 37% of Americans now report going to church on a given sunday. Attendance peaked in 1991 at 49%." "Increasingly, we are seeing Christian churches lose entire segments of the population: men, singles, empty nesters... and people who were raised in mainline Protestant churches," wrote pollster George Barna.

The spirit of this age, whether expressed in marriage, parenting, work ethic, or our faith, maintains that commitment should be honored only while convenient. When a commitment becomes inconvenient, bag it. Burton Hillis once said, “there’s a mighty big difference between good sound reasons, and reasons that sound good.” Our society believes that only one commitment sounds good: our right to be happy.

How about you? How do you live out the committments in your life?

We are called to be different, The Word of God instructs us in Colossians 3:23

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."

It's easy to just quit, to give up when things get tough. However, it's in those times of difficulty, pressure and struggles that our faith is put to the test and our greatest spiritual growth occures. We are not supposed to be looking for the easy way out, but rather the proper way, the righteous way to accomplish all that we put our hands to. In the life of a believer this is what honors God.

"Commit everything you do to the LORD, trust Him, and He will help you." (NLT) Psalm 37:5

"Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." (NIV) Proverbs 16:3

God Bless and Press On
Larry

What Do They See In You?

Do people come to you for answers?

Do they trust your judgment?

Do people rely on your honesty?

Do they trust you with their secrets?

Do people ask you to pray for their private, intimate concerns?

Why? or Why not?

We tend to open up to people we can trust. But what is it about a person that causes us to trust them? If we were to stop and answer this question about each person that has gained our trust, the ones we know we can rely on, I believe we would come to the conclusion that they have something that sets them apart from others. There's something obvious in their life, something that's not so common these days. That "something" is called integrity.

Integrity means keeping your word, being faithful to your commitments, doing an honest days work, not doing in the dark what you would never be caught doing in the light. It's being loyal, trustworthy, and faithful. It means being true to the Lord, yourself and honest with others, being genuine, authentic and real. How do you measure Up?

A man of integrity stands up for what is right, no matter the consequence. He lives it out in his life every moment of every day. It's who is, not what he does. He is not swayed by his emotions or feelings, nor by political correctness or personal gain, he doesn't change his mind because of other peoples feelings, thoughts or opinions. He lives by a high moral standard and doesn't deviate from it. Honesty and righteousness are paramount in his thoughts and conduct, but always tempered with love.

Sound impossible? It is when you try and be a man of integrity in your own strength, you will soon let your gaurd down and falter. Jesus provides the path to integrity; He will work out integrity in your life if you allow Him to have full control.

Luke 9:23 says, "Then He said to them all, 'If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me'."

We should expect normally, following Jesus would make us better husbands, fathers, wives, mothers, sons, daughters and so on. The disciple must follow Jesus even to the place of taking up his cross; when a person took up a cross in Jesus' day, it was for one reason only- that was to die, for the cross made no negotiations, no compromises, no deals. There was no looking back when you took up your cross, and your only hope was in a resurrected life.

Matthew 10:38,39 says, "And he who does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. He who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for my sake shall find it."

Your "cross" isn't really your particular trial or trouble; the cross means one thing, death to self, death to the flesh. the follower of Jesus lives in a paradox; he can only find life by losing it, and he can only live by dying; resurrection life can only come after we've taken up our cross to follow Jesus.

Isaiah the prophet wrote in chapter 33:15,16 "He who walks righteously, and speaks uprightly, He who rejects unjust gain.... He will dewll on high, his place of defense will be the fortress of rock."

God promises nothing but good to a man who lives a life of integrity. But how will you know if you are walking righteously and speaking uprightly? What is your standard? Read your Bible, let that be your standard. It will tell you what righteousness is. God's Word will help you identify and maintain integrity in your life. When you chose to follow Christ instead of your own path you can't help but change into the person God created you to be, others will recognize it, and hold you in high regard because of it. And, in that God will be glorified.


God Bless and Press On
Larry

KOINONIA - Fellowship

Help, I need somebody,
Help, not just anybody,
Help, you know I need somebody, help.

Sound familiar? No, not the song, we all know the song, "Help" by the Beatles. I'm asking if this has ever been a familiar cry of your heart?

It's so important to be connected to somebody. Not just connected to anybody, but to people who genuinely care about you, people who love you. It's these relationships, with people that care about you, that will hold you up in difficult times.

Recently my wife Patsy and I went through an emotionally draining and anxious time in our family. It was a situation that we had little or no control over, and no say in the outcome at all, yet it would affect our family for years to come. We were feeling paralyzed. During this time, all we could do was cry out to Jesus and pray. Thank God we have positioned ourselves to be in a place of fellowship, or "Koinonia" where there are caring people who love us enough to hold us up, and believe with us for God's best outcome.

The New Testament church used the Greek term "koinonia" to describe this type of fellowship, or community. These early Christians had a communion with God that allowed them to share their common experiences of joys, fears and sorrows. Because of this fellowship, those who were bound together in Christ believed their true wealth was not in what they had, but in what they were able to give to each other (not necessarily material things). Koinonia is never passive in its correct application, it is always linked to action, not just being together, but also doing something together.

I recently taught a message on a Sunday morning using the Gospel of Mark, chapter 2, verses 1-11, as my text. The story is about a paralyzed man who needed a healing. Jesus came to his town teaching and healing people. It paints a mind picture of Jesus standing in a house full of people, so many people in fact, that they are crowded outside the doorway and around the outer walls of the house. The paralyzed man had four friends, people who cared for him and obviously loved him, they loved him enough to carry him on a stretcher to the place where Jesus was. You see, because of his physical condition, the man was unable to get to the Lord on his own and needed his friends to carry him there.

These friends went to some extraordinary steps to put their buddy in front of Jesus (read the story, it's an awesome display of love, perseverance and faith). What happened next was the main point of my message: verse 5 says, "When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, 'son your sins are forgiven you'." and then in verse 11, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." He was healed!! And Jesus stated plainly that it was because of their faith, the faith of his friends that he healed him.

Couldn't we all use friends like these? Someone to stand in the gap for us when we are going through our own personal trials? Yes, of course, because we never know when we will be the one on the stretcher, layed out with some form of paralysis. But where do you find such people, and how do you know they will be there when you need them?

The guy in this story suffered from a physical paralysis but, there are other types of paralysis that people suffer from that are less obvious to the casual observer. Things that can devastate us and bring our normal everyday life to a screeching halt. It could be an emotional paralysis, a social or relational paralysis, or even a spiritual paralysis. Regardless of the issue, it could make you feel like you can't move and you don't know what to do next.

It's at this time in a persons life that koinonia is needed. It's fellowship in action, it's a loving friend carrying you to the foot of the cross. A friend or group of friends whose faith you can lean on, people who care about you and will encourage and support you through your difficult times. Friends that can pray for you and bring you to Jesus so your healing can take place and your needs can be met. In order to have this type of friend though, you have to be this type of friend.

Philippians 2:1-5 says..."If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being likeminded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus."

This verse describes Koinonia! So where do you find such fellowship? How can you be sure people will be there when you need them? First of all, you must position yourself around folks that share the same values and priniciples you believe in. People who abide by the standards that you live by, that believe in and serve God and his Word. Next, be a part of a church fellowship where you're involved in ministry. Then, be a person who uplifts others in their time of need. That's how it comes back to you, that's how others will know when your hurting and in need of a helping hand. When your connected on a regular basis you get to know people and they get to know you. You become that type of friend, you become a part of that fellowship in action, that Koinonia.

I'm so greatful for the fellowship of the believers, the friends I have in the faith, and my church family that are always there when needed. It's a blessing to know that I don't have to deal with all of life's challenges alone. To know that there are people who care enough to carry me to the Lord, when necessary. It's also a blessing to be used of God to lift others in their time of need.

What about you? Do you have this Koinonia fellowship available to you right now? Have you positioned yourself to be blessed and to bless others? Or, would you say that you've gone through some difficult times in your life lately and felt like you were all alone? Well, I want to encourage you to be a part of a church family in your community. Find a place to be connected. Are you in a place like that today? If not, or your in the area, you're always welcome to come and visit us at Desert Reign Church in Downey, allow us to minister to you, or just be your friends in the faith. Nevertheless, there is no need for you to stand alone any longer, but be proactive and get connected.

God Bless and Press On!

Larry

This is just one aspect of the importance of being part of a church family, of having that Koinonia fellowship.