Wanna Get High?

http://fieldnotes.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/17/8370150-support-for-legalizing-pot-hits-all-time-high

Support for marijuana legalization is at an all time high (no pun intended).  However, so is depression.  What bothers me is that there is that Marijuana is still considered a schedule one drug, which means that it:

"(A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.

(B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.

(C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision."


In other words, this drug has ZERO positive effects.  Oh sure it might help you relax (until the paranoia sets in), and might make you laugh (at things that really aren't funny), but pretty much all of us also knew (or currently know) someone who has become so addicted to the drug that is has negatively affected their lives in numerous negative ways.  


I am convinced that deep down, people use this drug to escape reality and fight a sense of emptiness or depression (whether they know it, or accept it or not).  


People who abuse this drug want to feel good, they want to get high. All of us want to feel good, to get a "high" if you wiil...


But... 


To quote the Christian Rap Group Frontlynaz: "WHAT'S HIGHER THAN HEAVEN?!?!"


I can tell you as a person who was saved by Jesus Christ, there is no better feeling than knowing that no matter what happens, heaven and Christ is waiting for me.  I want to tell you about heaven and how to get there.  But before I can do that, I need to tell you about the harsh reality.


God has standards (laws) that he requires us to obey.  I'm sure you have heard of the ten commandments.  Let's take a look at just a few of them:


Have you ever stolen something?  Lied?  Used God's name as a cuss word?  Lusted after someone?  If you have, that means you are guilty of breaking God's laws.  So if you died right now and stood before God, that would make you guilty.  And since God is a good judge, he wont be bribed by our "good deeds" and must make sure that justice is served.  That means that if you are found guilty, He must send you to hell.


How does that make you feel?  Does that scare you? It should.  


...But there is good news....


2,000 years ago, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for your sins.  He willingly sacrificed Himself, taking the punishment that you (and I) deserve so that we have the opportunity to be with Him in heaven forever.


Isn't that great news!?!  You are probably asking yourself, "What do I need to do to be saved from hell and to get into heaven?".  God knows that we will constantly struggle with sin and trying to do right rather than wrong.  So all he asks of us is that we repent (change our mind and attitude about our sin, desiring not to sin anymore) and believe in Jesus Christ and we can be CERTAIN that we will be saved.


I hope this makes sense to you.  Please feel free to drop me a line if you have any questions.  I also highly recommend watching the video in the upper right hand corner of this webpage for a video explanation of the good news of Jesus Christ.


God bless you!


Kneel

Racing to Eternity

Dan Wheldon died today in a MASSIVE crash at an Indy Car race in Las Vegas, Nevada (sin city).  The crash was horrific with a few cars going airborne for over 100 yards, bursting into flames and others being torn apart by the high speeds and concrete.  Dan Wheldon died later in the hospital.  My prayers go out to his friends and family.    

Every 16 minutes in the Unites States someone dies in a car crash.  We might be doing everything right not speeding, obeying traffic laws, hands at 10 and 2 and then bang: we get hit from behind by a drunk driver and that's it.  We are dead.  

Even if we don't die in a car crash, we all die one day.  All of us really are in one way or another racing toward eternity (our death).

So obviously the question is, what happens next?

The Bible tells us that we die and then comes judgement (Hebrews 9:27).  That means that God looks at our lives and has a record of every bad thing (sin) that we have thought, said or done throughout our lives.  

How would you do?  Let's take a look at just four of God's laws:

Have you ever stolen something?  Lied?  Looked lustfully at someone?  Used God's name as a cuss word (Blasphemy.  Like saying "Oh my G-d!")?  If you have, that makes you guilty of breaking God's laws.  And just like any good judge, God mush punish those evil deeds that you and I have done, even if you and I feel really sorry for them (otherwise he wouldn't be a good/fair judge).  

Does it concern you that being guilty of these things means that you will be going to hell?  I hope it concerns you, because there is a way out that I want to tell you about.

2,000 years ago God sent his only son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross and to take the punishment that you and I both deserve since we are guilty of sin.  Jesus told His father "I want to take the penalty for (insert your name here).  I love him/her and want to take their place on the cross."

Can you see how much Jesus Christ loves you?  He was willing to take nails through his feet and wrists, being humiliated and tortured willingly so that you and I could avoid hell and go to heaven.  He died and three days later rose from the dead, proving His power over death so that we can be saved from hell.  

This isn't something that we can earn (Ephesians 2:8-10, Titus 3:5).  It is a GIFT of God.  All we need to do is to repent (change our mind about sin, doing our best not to do them anymore) and believe in Jesus Christ and will can be given the free gift of eternal paradise.

I pray that would would choose to repent and believe in Jesus Christ RIGHT NOW, before it is too late!

God bless you!

Kneel 

Herman Cain's 999 Plan Preceded by the 777 Plan

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44916676/ns/politics-decision_2012/#.Tprz895KPhI

I am not really big into politics anymore, but what I have heard about Herman Cain, I REALLY like.  Herman Cain's 999 plan has cause a fairly big stir.  But I think if you met with Mr. Cain person to person, he would probably be more concerned about you knowing about the 777 plan.

What is the 777 plan you ask?    

The 777 plan was the plan put together by God before the creation of the world.  Why should you be concerned with that plan?  Let me break it down for you:

Have you ever told a lie?  Stolen something?  Used God's name in vain (Like saying "Oh my G-d")?  Lusted after someone?  

If so, then you have broken God's laws.  So if God is a judge, and you are in his courtroom when you die, that would make you guilty.  

What happens to people who are guilty of sin?  They go to hell...but there is a way out...

2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ, fully man and fully God (Yes, Jesus Christ is God), came to earth and took your punishment.  The punishment you deserved for the sin you are guilty of, Jesus took in your place so that you could go to heaven.  All that Jesus asks is that you repent (which means to change your mind about your sin, doing your best to obey God) and believe in Jesus Christ and you can go to heaven.

Many people think that we get to heaven by how good we are.  Don't be fooled.  We only get to heaven by belief in Jesus Christ.  Jesus HIMSELF said this in John 14:6.

Please friend, repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ today.  Herman Cain and I both love you and want to see you in heaven one day.

God bless you!

Kneel

Occupy Heaven

There has been a lot of coverage about the "Occupy Wall Street" (and locally, "Occupy Portland") movement recently. But I am much more concerned about another movement that started thousands of years ago, that I would like to call "Occupy Heaven".

All of us want to "Occupy Heaven" one day. Who wouldn't? Gone is the hardship and sin of the world. Instead of a 9-5, bills, bosses, disease, pain and the curse of pride, we get to spend forever in an infinitely rewarding relationship with our creator and all of the other people in heaven in a city so beautiful it is beyond words.

Most people think they are good enough to get to heaven just the way they are.  The fact is NO ONE is good enough just the way they are to enter heaven (Romans 3:23).  Anyone who says different is a liar (1 John 1:8).  Since no one who has sinned can get into heaven (Romans 6:23) that means that ALL of us (myself included) are marching toward hell (Revelations 21:8).

Does that concern you?  How does that make you feel to know that as of right now (if you do not believe in Jesus Christ) that you are headed for hell?  I hope that concerns you greatly, because I do not want to see you go there!

But there is good news; If you repent of your sins (change your mind about sin) and believe in Jesus Christ (Mark 1:15) you will be saved!  There is no "catch".  No amount of "good deeds" that can get you into heaven.  Only trusting in Jesus Christ as your lord and savior can get you there (John 14:6, Acts 4:12).

I pray that I see you "Occupying Heaven" one day with me.

God bless you!

Kneel

Waterfront Outreach: 10/15/11

...Yes He is...

Today we had quite a turn out downtown (at least on the evangelists side of things).  There were nearly a dozen people there with the intention of sharing the gospel in one way, shape or form.  I finally got back up on the box for the first time since July and, though it was scary, it felt really good.  

Carlen got up to preach first this morning and I couldn't help but totally dig his sweatshirt.  He preached a very biblical message and it struck me how kind he was in the middle of his sermon to help a lady get a leaf out of her hair.  I know it seems like a small thing, but I think him doing that really shows his heart for how he cares about people, weather it is helping them with a small aspect of their physical appearance, or giving them the life saving message of the gospel.

After Carlen, I got up to preach.

I hadn't preached since late July and in another state, so to say that I was rusty was an understatement.  I tried tying in the "Occupy Portland" movement with my own spin by using "Occupy Heaven" as a tie in.  Foolishly, I tried to depend on my own cleverness instead of simply preaching the gospel, and my preaching suffered because of it.  I should have a video of it posted here soon.  Kind criticism and advice is welcomed. 

Justin  got up and preached after that.  Jared was confronted by someone asking where Cain got his wife (a common objection that is easily answered).  I only caught part of it because I was talking with my friend Jared, who came out for the first time to witness (praise God for his willingness and spirit!) and ended up talking to a man named Todd for quite a while.  Todd's father is having some major health concerns at the moment, so please keep him in your prayers.  Also keep Todd in your prayers as he is wrestling with his faith at the moment.

It was a great day to be down there and I can't wait to try out the prayer stand next week.  My mother (bless her) has the flu and was unable to finish the sign.  

If you would like to join us one day, let me know.

God bless you!

Kneel

Double Standard

I'm not here to try and pick on Muslims or Islam specifically, but I think this video does a GREAT job of illustrating the special treatment that Islam receives from the mainstream media and many ignorant folks out there.

Let us pray that our country sees Islam for what it is, and that many of our Muslim friends come to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Kneel

Gleefully Excited About the Prayer Stand

(This prayer stand isn't the one I built.  I will be posting a picture and instructions on how I made mine in a later post.)

Tomorrow I go out to the streets of Portland to witness for the first time in almost three months.  It has been a long time since I have witnessed on the street, and I am going with a new tool: My own home made Prayer Stand.  Ever since I fist heard about the prayer stand in late July, I have been dying to get one.  Finally after two months of gathering funds, materials, ideas and help from various places, I will finally get out there with my buddy Jared and my dad to witness to the lost at the "Occupy Portland" site.

I am very excited to see what happens over the next few months with this project.  My hope is that, without committing the sin of pride, I can lead and encourage other believers to get out there and share their faith.  My church has been very supportive and I hope that I can honor them with my behavior as a servant leader.

I remember my first time sharing my faith in public was pretty scary...and incredibly rewarding.  The very first person I had approached was a homeless man in his late 20's - early 30's.  It was obvious that he has been without a shower for a while and told me that he had a past of serious drug use and that he had killed someone.  I'm not kidding.  Not that I want to read to much into things, but in retrospect, I wonder if the enemy wanted him to be my first experience to scare me off.  Now it did scare me, but the leading I feel from the Lord is so strong, that I don't think anything could stop me.  I feel like my life's purpose has finally been discovered.  It's like I finally know what God really wants me to do...and i'm totally hooked.

Please pray for me, Jared and my father that we would all honor God with our behavior.

Kneel

Layers Upon Layers of Sin and Evil

Sin and temptation are fought on three fronts in the lives of believers: Deeds, Words and Thoughts.  And the deeper you go, the harder the battle is to fight

I think all Christians start their spiritual warfare with their behavior (deed), since it it the easiest to see and recognize.  We see ourselves engaging in external and obvious sins which makes it easier to identify and combat.  Giving the finger to someone who cuts you off in traffic becomes not only easy for us to see as sinful, but also others as well. It becomes the most external and visible of a person's battle with sin and probably the easiest to win.

The second layer, becomes our talk (word).  There are dozens of verses in the Bible that make reference to the tongue as a source of death, venom, poison as well as other weapons...and with good reasons, words HURT.  I was talking to this with my students during class the past week about the effects of bullying and how I can still, FIFTEEN YEARS LATER, remember, in detail, how I was bullied, what was said, where I was, even the tone of voice of the offender.  These things stick with us and the tongue is truly worthy of the negative aspects ascribe to it all throughout scripture.  On the flip-side, I also remember when my tongue inflicted horrendous damage and pain.  

However, at the deepest and darkest of our humanity lie our thoughts, our hearts: where the darkest and most evil selves reside.  My heart is no different.  I find that all of my sinful desires lie, at their core, with pride.  Unthankfulness, impatience, lust, greed, even boredom all derive from my pride telling me that I "deserve" things.  Oh I deserve something all right: death and condemnation.  My sin, even at the level of thought, has so offended the Lord that all I deserve is condemnation.

Our hearts are wicked and desperately evil (Jeremiah 17:9) and I am no different.  We all have thoughts that go through our mind that shock us, and I think at times will even make unbelievers ashamed of their own thoughts.  This is the hardest and most persistent battleground with sin.  THIS is where spiritual warfare is at it most brutal and most crushing.  THIS is the front-line.  THIS is Gettysberg.  We fight against ourselves our sinful self constantly battling with our new self, found in Christ.  And make no mistake about it, it is ALL OUT WAR.  There IS heartbreak.  There ARE casualties.

But, there IS hope.

Christ is with us throughout the war, reassuring us that we will be victorious, not because of anything we do, but because our Lord has the other guy's number.  It isn't a matter of "if".  It's a done deal.  No matter how much we fail or how much we succeed in this war, though Christ, we will achieve victory and ONLY because of Him.

Let us continue to battle to Glorify God.

Kneel

Widows, Beauty, Forgiveness and Jesus

At church this morning, Pastor Dave gave a moving sermon about our responsibility to widows from Mark chapter 12.  So many things went through my mind: my selfishness in not replying to the dozens of letters from my late Grandmother (the thought of my extreme selfishness and in this situation brings me nearly to tears just thinking about it...Jesus, please forgive me), not spending more time with my great-grandmother who was a widow for 35 years, how difficult a life would be losing Jenn, and how many widows and widowers are out there who just want some companionship.  

In the middle of the service, a video came on from one of the widows in the congregation talking about her favorite hymn and how it can be hard for her, but how appreciative she was for knowing her late husband and in knowing that she will see him and the Lord again one day.  This video touched me and really made me think about "beauty" of all things.    

When we hear the word "beauty" many different things can come to mind.  To the average male (myself included) we tend to immediately think of physical beauty.

Worldly Womanly Beauty
Jennifer Lopez (who is reportedly a Scientologist) is undeniably a physically beautiful woman.  People Magazine named her the most beautiful person in the world in 2011.  I would be lying if I would say that I do not think she is physically beautiful as well.   

Many men will spend their lives either chasing after physical beauty, or will fight their attraction trying to avoid the sin of lust.  It is a constant battle and one that will tear many people and relationships apart in the process.  We must spend more time looking past physical beauty.  Proverbs 31:30 tells us that "Beauty is fleeting".  ALL of us will lose our physical beauty over time.  It does not last, so it is something that would be foolish to use it as the prime attribute we look for in lasting romantic relationships.  

TRUE Womanly Beauty

Proverbs 31:30 also has some other great things to say about beauty as well: "a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."  1 Peter 3:4 says this: "[{Beauty] should consist of] the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very valuable in God's eyes." I must say that the women on the videos demonstrated true beauty that will take many of us decades of walking with the Lord to achieve.  They are truly an inspiration.  

Want to know what TRUE womanly beauty looks like?  Here it is:

The ULTIMATE in Beauty

And finally, we come to the beauty of Christ.  THE DEFINITION of beauty: Selflessness, wisdom, sacrifice, love, grace and integrity.  Who, in our place, took the punishment for our sins, so that we might spend eternity with Him.

Let us focus on what beauty really is: Love that reflects the Love of Jesus Christ.

Kneel    

  

   

Rest In Peace Al Davis

Al Davis passed away this weekend.  I must confess, I CAN'T STAND THE RAIDERS!  But I do have Al Davis to thank for the NFL as I know it today.  He was THE reason why the NFL and AFL merged 41 years ago.  Without him, my beloved Seahawks might not have ever come into existence.     

When I think about the Raiders, two phrases come to mind: "Commitment to Excellence" and "Just win, baby!".  I can't help but think that these phrases are somewhat contradictory.  "Commitment to Excellence" has a very noble sound to it.  Excellence.  Commitment.  These are two things that are now rare in a society today that emphasizes "Do whatever feels good" or "That might be true (excellent?) for you, but it's not for me.".  It emphasizes the fact that there is something objectively excellent and that we should be committed to it.  I couldn't agree more.  

However, the flip side is the "Just Win Baby" slogan.  "Just Win Baby" speaks to doing whatever it takes to win (even if it means cheating or playing dirty).  This seems to be the antithesis to "Commitment to Excellence".  Is that not inconsistent, maybe even hypocritical? 

I don't bring this up to take shots at a dead man.  Anything but.  I bring this up to exemplify the fallenness of human nature.  Even a man who, I would think, would agree that there is objective right and wrong would admit that in his life, did things that were wrong.  I am guilty of this as well.

I pray that Al Davis had a saving relationship with Jesus Christ and that I will get to meet him in person one day in heaven.  But we must all face the reality that some day, we will stand before God and have to make an account for the times that we weren't "Committed to Excellence" in our lives and fell into sin.  

What will you say on that day when you stand before God?  Will you try and depend on some "good" things you have done so that God will overlook the bad?  The bible tells us that our good deeds are "filthy menstrual rags" to God.  We can never do enough good things to undo the bad things we are guilty of.  If a serial killer tried to get out of murdering 10 people by telling the judge that he saved 15 people from a house fire, does that make him innocent of murder?  No.  Justice must still be served.

Our only hope lies in faith in Jesus Christ (John 14:6, Acts 4:12).  I urge you, please turn from your sin and trust in Jesus Christ to save you from your sins.