THOUGHTS ABOUT PI

Posted: June 19, 2013 in Uncategorized
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Tracey and I watched the movie “The life of PI” and I just wanted to share a few thoughts here.

The movie was about a young man from India who seemed to be quite confused about God. Like most, I suppose, in India he started as a Hindu along with 300,000 gods. He seemed to be okay with that until one day a friend of his dared him to go into a nearby church and drink the Holy Water. Of course being a young boy, and not being able to resist a challenge, he did. While in the church taking a sip of the Holy Water the priest brought him a glass of water to drink saying, “I see you are thirsty.” Pi looked around the church and saw a crucifix, with Jesus still on it mind you, and pictures telling the gospel story. He asked the priest to explain it to him.

After the priest told him the story of God sending his son to die for the sins of the world Pi became a Christian. He was still a bit confused about the whole thing, but he accepted Christ at least until he passed a mosque. As he walked by the mosque he heard the prayers and became intrigued so he then became a Muslim. As you can probably already tell he was a bit confused and unsure about God at this point.

As Pi, his brother, mother and father sat at the table to eat dinner Pi’s father told him “You really have to choose one religion. You can’t choose them all because that is the same as choosing none of them.” I thought that was some of best advice he could have given young Pi. Even though there are many who will say to a Christian “You can’t say your way is the only way; isn’t that being a bit narrow minded?” The truth is all religions are mutually exclusive. Each of them think their way is correct or else they wouldn’t believe it now would they?

For the most part the movie is a fantasy or maybe a fable. While the movie doesn’t make it clear if Pi was a Christian or not it seemed to be more about his search for God rather than his finding him even though he is miraculously cared for throughout his adventure.

The main premise is that Pi’s family owned a zoo. At one point they decide to move to Canada so they board a ship with all the animals in tow. As the story unfolds Pi finds himself adrift with some of the animals in a lifeboat. The rest of the story takes place with a tiger and him dueling over who runs things in the small boat. I won’t say any more so I don’t spoil it for any that want to watch for themselves.

Before you comment saying this isn’t a very good review on this movie let me say I didn’t mean for it to be a review. I just wanted to share a few of my thoughts about it. I am a pretty tough movie critic and usually find myself somewhat let down after watching them; but I would say this one was one of the more enjoyable movies I have seen in quite some time. I can’t say it will answer many questions you might have about God but it is an enjoyable tale and visually something to behold.

Written by Louie

SEARCH ME, O GOD

Posted: June 17, 2013 in Biblical insight
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“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.” Psalm 139:23-24 NASB

David wrote these words because he knew in himself he had no ability to guide his own life. He knew he needed God to point out to him if there was anything wrong in his life because he, like us, seem to have a difficult time being completely honest with ourselves. Without the illumination of the Holy Spirit we will make excuses for ourselves, but thank God he loves us and wants us to be clear with him so he shows us the truth.

The Apostle Paul told us in Romans 8 that the Spirit helps us when we don’t know how to pray. He said, “the Spirit himself intercedes for us… because he that searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is.” Christ in us knows how to open the path for our hearts to commune with God unhindered. Our job is to let him be the one to do it.

Jesus told us the Spirit will “convict the world of sin and righteousness and judgment.” He is the Spirit of truth therefore he will lead us into the truth and glorify Christ by revealing things to us. He is our enlightener for all things concerning our relationship to God. If we were left to ourselves we would be in quite a bit of trouble. There would always be something we forgot or conveniently left out of our confession.

Our job according to 1 John is to “walk in the light as he is in the light.” We are to walk in the light we understand at the time, and as we go along he will bring things to our hearts and minds that we deal with but until he does we just continue the walk. He’ll let us know if there is something between us that needs straightened out. It’s all about faith and trusting him. Just like we believed the message of the cross in order to be born again now we just believe he will let us know if there is a hindrance. My friend Brian Coatney says he lives in green lights. Occasionally there may be a yellow caution and maybe a red, but unless there is he just keeps on in the green. God has his ways of getting our attention and usually it’s gentle at first and only becomes a little more aggressive if we fail to heed the message.

Let me just end by saying I believe as a child of God it may take some trial and error in order to learn God’s voice. We may in fact miss it from time to time, but ultimately we have to believe God loves us and wants a relationship with us even more than we do with him. While having some quiet time in prayer and meditation is a good thing; biblically we aren’t told to spend time in introspection. We spend some time to let God speak to us as David did. We say, “Search me, O God…” We let him be the one to tell us and if he doesn’t seem to be showing us sin in our lives we simply take the leap of faith and believe it’s because it isn’t there.

Written by Louie

EXAMINE YOURSELF

Posted: June 16, 2013 in Biblical insight
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Does the Bible really teach us to examine ourselves? I know many people think it does, but what do you say we look at this subject a little bit closer?

I have heard from several that the Bible tells us to examine ourselves before we partake of the Lord’s Supper. While it is true the scripture found in 1 Corinthians 11:28 tells us “let a man examine himself…” What is it he is actually called to examine? I would say it isn’t to see if there is any sin in his life that might hinder his pursuit of holiness. Rather it is an examining in order to make sure he is remembering the Lord’s body. If you read a little further you will discover in 1 Corinthians 11:29, “For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the BODY rightly.”

The best I can tell from commentaries I have read the Corinthians were in the habit of having big dinners together. Some of them would actually get drunk during these feasts and then they would partake of the Lord’s Supper. I believe what Paul is telling them is to stop taking the Lord’s Supper without recognizing what it is all about. They were apparently just going through the motions and it wasn’t given the attention it deserved. The point for us is to not take the Lord’s sacrifice in vain.

Let me back up for just a minute. Do you remember what Jesus told his disciples the night he had communion with them? He told them in Luke 22:19 “do this in remembrance of me.” You see we are told by Jesus himself communion is about remembering Jesus not our sins or failures.

In fact throughout the Old Covenant the animal sacrifices were meant to remind us of sins and could never remove them. Now though, through the blood of Jesus Christ, we in the New Covenant are told by God “I will remember their sins no more.” So when we come together to celebrate communion it really isn’t about sins at all rather it is about what Jesus Christ has done in order to free us from them. Now that is a reason to celebrate!

The only other time I know of in the New Covenant we are told to “examine ourselves” is found in 2 Corinthians 13:5 where we read “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?” What Paul is saying here has to do with the larger context of the letter. Apparently there was no shortage of people that were looking to discredit Paul’s authority as an Apostle. So what Paul is saying here is check yourself and see if you are in the faith and if so that proves I’m sent from God. Paul was the one that shared the gospel with them and since they were saved it proves his authority as an Apostle.

One last thought on this subject is found in 1 Corinthians 4:1-5. There we read where Paul didn’t even examine himself as far as his spiritual condition was concerned he said, “But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord.” So he says just wait for the Lord he will bring to light what needs to be seen.

Now there is a need for examination but it is only by way of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps that will be for another time.

Written by Louie

LIVING OUTSIDE OF TIME

Posted: June 15, 2013 in Sunshine Report
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The mind of Christ Google images

The mind of Christ
Google images

Consider for just a moment, if you can, that we live outside of time. It’s almost impossible to think that way because we have always known time. God lives outside of time and he shows us a glimpse of how He sees us. Ephesians 2:6 says, “And raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” That sounds like past tense; we are already seated with Him, right? That must mean that if we are born again, we have heaven inside us.

Recently I heard the phrase “A healthy dose of hell.” What an interesting set of words. The way an unbeliever goes to hell is when he or she never accepts Jesus finished work on the cross, burial and resurrection. Jesus Christ is life. Consider the unbeliever already having hell inside them. Without the skin/flesh we would float away, so really, the flesh is a good thing to have on us. The problem is we think the flesh pleases God. The truth is the flesh is weak; there is nothing inside the flesh or our works that can save us. It’s only the blood and power of Jesus Christ our Savior.

Maybe that is why the Bible says when we are absent from the body we are present with the Lord. Maybe that is how we get to heaven so fast, because we are already there right now, except outside of time.

At the jail last night I talked about how the human race has been bitten by a poisonous snake. His name is Satan and if we don’t get the anti-venom, we will die in our sin, apart from God. Jesus became sin who had no sin of His own, He was buried for 3 days and then God raised Him from the dead. When we take Him into us, He becomes our life. In comparison to the venomous snake, the venom is extracted from the snake, diluted and then injected into a host animal for a period of time so the animal can develop antibodies against the poison. Then the blood is drawn from the host animal and injected into the infected person and immediately the poison is stopped. That is what happens when Jesus comes into our life. Jesus does for us what we can not do for ourselves.

3 ladies handed me notes tonight requesting that we pull them out to talk. One lady said she had issues. Once we had the chance to talk, she revealed to me she is struggling with not knowing what her gifts are. The other thing that bothers her is if the rapture occurs before she gets out of jail, her 2 sons may die and miss heaven. She beats herself up over the fact she never raised her children to know who Jesus is. She knows Him now and her desire is for her boys and her mom to be saved.

My next girl focused our discussion on how to know its God talking to you and not you. The answer is a little tricky, but I explained to her about the independent I. When we are saved, joined to the Lord, we become one Spirit. I always fall back on the assurance if it isn’t about or for the other person, then it probably isn’t from God.

That seemed to be the focus all night because the last girl wanted to know the same thing, yet they haven’t spoken to one another. We don’t disappear from the equation, but there is a joining and an agreement. He who is joined to the Lord is one Spirit. We are the branch, the wife, the cup, the bride and the vessel. We never act independently from Him; we are joined.

I had such a good time sharing the Word and being love to these ladies. They are so precious and they don’t even know it. They have a story to tell, questions to ask, and love to share. I love the hunger I see in some of them. It’s encouraging and it makes me smile when they talk about Jesus like that.

Written by Tracey

LIFE IS FULL OF WAITING

Posted: June 14, 2013 in JAIL STORIES
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“My life didn’t turn out at all like I thought it would” he said, wiping away the tears. That sounds sort of like the Forrest Gump line “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” A 23 year old young man asked if he could speak with my pastor and I after church service tonight in jail. He spoke softly and struggled to get his words out, but he just wanted to get some things off his chest. From what I could tell he was like most of the other men there. He was stressed out about getting out and not knowing when it might happen. He said, “I’m in here for child support, I’m not a criminal.” For the most part we just listened and he knew we couldn’t do anything about his legal troubles. I think he just wanted someone to listen to him, and sometimes it helps to just say things out loud.

The young man went on to tell us he has children, and their mother on the outside, he badly wants to see, especially since Sunday is Fathers day. He went to court today, but he seemed to be in the dark about the details of his case. The more he talked the more it seemed to me he was just going to have to learn how to wait. This of course doesn’t sound like the kind of thing he wanted to hear but the reality is life involves a whole lot of waiting. We wait in line at the concession stand. We wait in the doctors office. We wait at traffic lights, in line at the store, wait for our spouses and on and on.

One thing that is always true no matter if you’re in jail or not and that is God is all about us learning to walk by faith. The jail is a perfect place to start practicing living in the Spirit is what I told him. When it comes to God things aren’t always what they look like or how they feel. He pulled out a piece of paper he had in his pocket that had a list of goals on it. He began reading them to us and the first four or five involved God and church. “Seems like a pretty good start” my pastor said. He kept worrying about getting out of jail so I said, “It looks like to me the first half of that list are all things that you can start on right now even before you are released. They are all Spirit things and you don’t have to be on the outside to get going on them.” The young man agreed but you know sometimes there isn’t any words to soothe the problem is there? Only God doing what only he can do can really change things for him. So until then we wait and trust him to do it.

After we prayed with him, we walked with him part of the way down the hall to the guard tower, and parted ways. I don’t know if we’ll get to see him again, but most of us can probably agree with him on one thing. Our lives haven’t turned out quite the way we expected either. The good news is we have a God that hasn’t fallen asleep or been distracted, and he can get us exactly where we need to go if we will simply trust him.

Written by Louie

TRACEY SPEAKING AT “GOD UNLIMITED CONFERENCE 2013″

Posted: June 13, 2013 in video
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CLICK TO WATCH TRACEY SPEAKING AT

“GOD UNLIMITED CONFERENCE 2013″

IT MATTERS HOW WE TREAT PEOPLE

Posted: June 12, 2013 in Testimonies
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Photo by Tracey Lewis

Photo by Tracey Lewis

“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:20-21

There was a time in my life that I didn’t care what people thought about me, I would call them out on stupid things they would say and just overall be mean to them. I had an attitude of “leave me alone.” I was not a happy person. All I cared about was me and what I was going to do.

Several things changed my mind about being that way to people. One thing was I started listening to Jesus. I started to realize He was seeking a relationship with me even though I didn’t care about Him. I started seeking out a church and found one. I went to the pastor there and asked him to pray with me about forgiveness and other things that were going on in my life at the time. God gave me complete forgiveness and I haven’t been the same since.  Thank you, Jesus.

I remember during this time of transformation, my step mom walked by me at the entrance of our local mall and didn’t recognize me. It freaked me out at first because I saw her frequently. Forgiveness had actually changed my physical countenance to the point where she didn’t know it was me.

My heart reaches out for people these days; I want to spend time with every one of them. Everyone has a story to tell and everyone likes to talk about themselves. God changed me into a people person. I never saw that coming. One day this verse came to me about storing your treasures in heaven. I wondered what treasures? Then it came to me about people going to heaven. People are precious, so precious in fact, Jesus died for people. He didn’t die for angels or animals, but for people.

This changed everything for me. Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s not easy to love most people or all people, but what God has done through me is to remind me faith takes a second look. At first it appears someone is being rude or selfish, but look again and you may see something completely different. That is where I am today. It’s not always easy, but wait on the Lord and He will open an opportunity to love them. He gives us opportunity to pray for them, intervene for them and even serve them.

They may not even know I love them with the love of Jesus, but that’s okay, that’s not the reason I am doing it. The reason is far reaching, more eternal. I am storing my treasures/people in heaven. God is love and his type of love is unconditional.

Written by Tracey

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