Finish What You Start

Have you ever found yourself taking on a number of projects, at home or at work and becoming so overwhelmed you don't really complete all of them? As a writer, it has happened to me, and I feel very guilty about it. There's just not enough time, I tell myself. So for this year, I'm going to make every effort to finish what I start.

A new year has just begun, and you may be thinking it's not yet time to talk about finishing anything. Isn't a new year about new beginnings? Maybe for some people, but for most of us, the new year is just another date on the calendar. Last year I wrote this post:  Just Do It  I hope some of you followed my advice and took that bold step to give your life to Christ. If you did, I'm happy for you, and the angels are rejoicing. If you didn't, don't put it off too long.

For those of you who gave your heart to Christ, I would like to encourage you to develop a habit of daily prayer and Bible reading. Yes, daily. It doesn't have to be an hour every day. You don't need a lot of time to connect with your Lord and Savior. He is always with you, and a few minutes a day may be all you need to acknowledge His presence and thank Him for it. Reading the Word helps you to hear from Him and get His direction for your life. Just as my morning walk energizes me for the day, so my Bible reading lifts my spirits and helps to set the tone for my day.

The other step is becoming a church member. Going to church doesn't save you, but saved people go to church. More about this in another post. Once you become a member, try to get involved in some of the various ministries. Many churches have activities for different ages, so it should be no difficulty fitting in. You don't have to be in everything. Church activity should never be a chore or a duty, but something you do because you want to give of your time to the Lord and fellowship with other believers.

If you do these things, you will grow in the Christian faith and enjoy being part of the family of God.

To help you get started on reading and understanding the Bible, I would like to recommend Know Your Bible by Paul Kent. If you are a woman, you may also enjoy Women For All Seasons written by me. These books do not replace the Bible; they are only companion literature to give you a deeper understanding of the Bible. If you do get any or both of these resources, I receive a small commission.

If you enjoyed this post, I would like to invite you to sign up for my monthly newsletter where you can get news and views about the Christian life, as well as giveaways.

Just Do It

This saying made famous by Nike has become the catch phrase for famous, as well as ordinary people,  the world over. Marian Wright Edelman, president and founder of the Children's Defense Fund, says, "If you don't like the way the world is, change it... Just do it one step at a time."

Is there something you have been wanting to do and have been putting it off until you no longer feel like doing it? When we keep putting something off, it takes on a mammoth shape and becomes almost  impossible for us to do. If we don't take that first step, we will eventually push it to the back burner and may never do it.

Just do it! In this post, I'm not referring to something scary, like bungee jumping or learning to fly an airplane. I'm talking about something that has been nagging at your spirit every time you step inside a church and hear the pastor give the altar call. "Come," he says "come and give your life to Christ." And you sit there, playing with your hands when you know you really want to get up out of your seat and walk up that aisle.

Paul writes,  "I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation, (2 Corinthians 6: 2). 
The author of Hebrews writes, "As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion”(3: 15).

I know what you are thinking. Leaving your seat and walking the aisle in front of everyone may be as scary as learning to fly an airplane. Well, I have some good news for you. You do not have to respond to the altar call. God is everywhere and He hears you wherever you are. The Holy Spirit may nudge you while you are driving your car, preparing a meal or taking a shower. I gave my heart to Christ in the privacy of my bedroom while watching a preacher on television. But when I went to church the following Sunday and the pastor gave the altar call, I found myself at the altar. I meant to go up on his last invitation which is for believers who want to become members of the church, but I guess I couldn't wait. 

What I am saying is, the Holy Spirit will give you the courage to do what you need to do. So, just do it! Right now, where you are, pause in what you are doing and say, "Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come into my heart and make me your child." You can say more if you want to, but that's basically all you need to say, and the next time you go to church, like me, you may find yourself at the altar. God bless.

Racism And The Church

Fibonacci Blue Creative Commons Black Lives Matter

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I toyed for a while with the idea of writing on this subject, not sure how it would be received. You just have to turn on the news these days to realize this is a very hot topic. So hot, in fact, that the church doesn't seem to want to touch it. In recent times, the number of unarmed black men killed by white policemen has grown to alarming proportions, and the response from the pulpit and from Christian media has been a deafening silence.

 But this morning, I was very pleasantly surprised to hear a young, white, visiting preacher to my church speak on the subject. The young preacher spoke about the racism and injustice being played out on our streets gave rise to the "Black Lives Matter" movement. What he said was not anything we don't know already, but it was nice to hear a member of the clergy say it.

So my question is, what is the role of the church in society? Now, don't get me wrong. The church is very vocal about things that need to be spoken about - homosexuality, abortion and politics- to name a few. The church is always in the forefront when there is a natural disaster, distributing food, water and clothing to those in need, even providing shelter in some cases. This is why the church's silence on this national man-made disaster is so disturbing.

This article in the Florida Baptist Weekly not too long ago is encouraging. The opening sentence of the article, "Panel:Racism Cure Resides With Church" by Diana Chandler reads, "Racial reconciliation rests at the doorsteps of the church and can only be achieved through the Gospel in action." This was at the 2016 SBC annual meeting of Baptist pastors in St. Louis. The panelists touched on a lot of core issues, such as the link between racism and sin and the need for the church to "pass the Salt and turn on the "light." All good words, but they are preaching to the choir.

What we need is more visibility from our church leaders - black AND white - in dealing with this matter. Instead of meeting behind closed doors, how about using your vast platform to bring the matter out in the open? How about having dialogue with police and government officials?

Jesus did not shy away from tough issues. John 4: 4 says, "... He had to go through Samaria." Jesus could have gone anywhere else to get water, but He went there to bridge the racial divide that existed between the Jews and the Samaritans, and to spread the Gospel. After Jesus had spoken to a Samaritan woman at the well, she went and told the people what He'd told her. Many of them came to see Him and believed on Him. (v 29; 39)

Jesus also told the story of a man who had been robbed, beaten and left for dead on the roadside. A priest and Levi - church leaders - passed him by. But a good Samaritan went out of his way to take the man to an inn and pay to have him looked after. Luke 10: 30 - 35

Can the church in today's society reach out across the racial divide and demonstrate that "Black Lives Matter" and "All Lives Matter?" We may have to watch and see.


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This is a reminder about my novel Coming Out of Egypt, Book 1 of the Egypt trilogy now available on Amazon kindle. The book is a compelling story of two sisters who were sexually abused by their father. Marva, the older girl, accidentally kills him and she and her sister embark on a roller coaster journey trying to evade the law while trying to forge a new life for themselves. Through all of this Marva's teacher introduces her to Jesus and she accepts Him as her Lord and Savior. However, while she hopes for love and forgiveness, she expects only judgement. What will she get? Click below to read the exciting outcome.

Coming Out of Egypt 

The Value Of Teamwork

 

If it's one thing I've learned from my years of working in the healthcare industry, it's the value of teamwork. No one staff member can adequately fulfill his/her duties without the help and support of other members of the team. With everyone pulling together, the workload seems lighter and more pleasant as each person applies his talents and uniqueness to the task. It's no different with Christianity, and that's why the Bible shows many instances where people got together for a common purpose and God was in their midst, helping them achieve the seemingly impossible.

One of the most amazing pieces of teamwork in the Bible is the fall of the walls of Jericho. The Lord promised Joshua that He would give Jericho into the hands of the Israelites if they would do as He commanded them. God's commands were really simple: "March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in" (Joshua 6: 3 - 5).

So, Joshua did as he was told. He called the priests together and gave them the same instructions the Lord had given him. The people obeyed and the walls came down. As easy as that. But let's look at a few things. The priests headed the procession in front of the ark of the covenant, blowing the trumpets, followed by the rear guard then the people of Israel, estimated to be about 1200. But the walls of Jericho were no flimsy pieces of construction. These were fortified walls made of mud bricks, towering about 46 feet above ground level. Jericho seemed impenetrable. 

So what made this teamwork succeed?

1. A strong leader. Joshua had succeeded Moses after his death and God had promised Joshua,
"Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses" (Joshua 3 : 7). And God did. Just as He used Moses to part the Red Sea, He used Joshua to part the Jordan so the people crossed over on dry ground (v 17). No doubt, this increased Joshua's faith and earned him the respect of the people.

2.  A sense of purpose. The team knew the purpose of what they were doing and they went forward with that in mind.

3. Obedience. Joshua was obedient to God's commands, and so were the people. Not one of them broke the silence or tried to attack the enemy during the six days as they marched around the city. 

4.Confidence. The people trusted Joshua, but knowing that God was with them gave them the confidence that they would be victorious. 

5. Order. Last, but not least, in order for the teamwork to succeed there had to be order. Nothing can be achieved if there is disorder. In this case, every person knew where his position was and what he was expected to do. (Read 6: 3 - 5 again.)

How is it with the church? Do we have a sense of purpose? Do we have strong leaders we can trust and look up to? Are we obedient to God's commands? Most of all, do we place our confidence in God, knowing  that we can succeed in the task that He has assigned us? 

The apostle Paul said, Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others" (Romans 12: 4 - 5). 

Are you part of a team in the body of Christ? If not, ask the Holy Spirit to show you how you can apply your talents and skills to assist the body. 

Do You Follow The Crowd?

English: Church of Jesus Christ (Zion's Branch) in Independence, Missouri (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In recent times, mega-churches have mushroomed all over the country, and while small and medium-sized churches are having difficulty keeping their heads above water, the mega-churches appear to be booming. Why is this?

One of the reasons could be the prestige that accompanies the names of these churches. To say "I am a member of Such-and-Such Church," seems to carry some weight on your Christian resume. On the other hand, if you say "I belong to the 300-member church around the corner," no one is impressed.

The ambiance of the mega-churches is also very appealing. Who can resist a few hours of award-worthy singing and dancing, and stage lighting that can compete with anything on a Broadway scale? Not to mention the dynamic preaching of someone whose face is regularly seen on television.

One would not mind getting to that church at least an hour before the service begins in order to secure a park and a good seat. And after the service you won't mind sitting in your car for another hour to get out the gate. But you would stroll into the smaller church half-hour or even an hour late.

I'm not knocking the mega-churches. If they preach the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, then more power to them. But why leave your cozy little church where you gave your heart to the Lord, where you were baptized and where everyone knows you, for the glitz and glamor of the five-star church on the other side of town?

Jesus speaks of the narrow and wide gates in Matthew 7: 13. He says, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." Now, let me emphasize, Jesus was not necessarily referring to churches. He was referring to things that draw a crowd, things we follow, places we frequent just because everyone else seems to be doing it.

Being a member of a mega-church is not a bad thing. I visited one on Good-Friday night and I enjoyed the service. But do I want to go through the hassle of the overflowing parking lot every Sunday? I don't think so. Do I want to remain anonymous, slipping in and out without any type of fellowship with my brothers and sisters? No, I don't. But that's just me. If you love the mega-church and it feeds you with the spiritual food that you need, then go for it. 

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Are You A Christian?

This question was asked on my recent visit to Turkey as we boarded the bus headed for Ephesus. The one asking the question was our Turkish guide. My friend and I quickly put our hands up, but some people appeared to hesitate, which prompted the man to ask, "Well, are you, or aren't you?"

I looked around and there were no more hands.

How do you answer this question? If you ever took a vow of Christianity, you would answer 'yes', but what does it really mean to be a Christian? A Christian, quite simply, is a follower of Jesus Christ. Therefore if you are following Him, you would do the things He did.

This morning when I awoke, the first thought that popped into my head was the division that exists in the Christian church here in America. Someone said, "The most segregated time in America is eleven o'clock on Sunday morning." Sad, but true. But we are not just divided on Sunday mornings, we are also divided in our thoughts and attitude toward certain issues. The recent Trayvon Martin debacle is a case in point.

As Christians we can no longer see people and issues through a black lens or a white lens, relegated to this corner or that corner. We must see ourselves as belonging to the elite family of God and therefore what affects one member affects us all. When Jesus walked this earth, He went out of His way to show that racial division is wrong. Read the stories of The Good Samaritan (Luke 10 : 30 - 35) and the woman at the well (John 4 : 4 - 27).

Jesus is coming soon for His church, all the signs point to that, and we need to get ready. What the church needs to be ready is not more buildings or even more money, but for "the love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost" (Romans 5 : 5) to so permeate our beings that we cannot help but love everyone the way He loves us. Are you a Christian?

What's In Your Ziplock Bag?

In my last post I wrote about overcoming tiredness. I spoke about the busyness that has taken over our modern lifestyle, leaving us tired and irritable. If you did not read this post, you can read it here. Someone may argue that this cannot be helped, that our family, our work, our leisure pursuits all have to be taken care of, and that may be true, but when they begin to encroach on your relationship with God, then there is a problem.

When I first thought of writing this post, I visualized a ziplock bag full of little balls, representing the way we spend our time, each ball with a label, none of them having anything to do with God. There may even be a few ungodly balls.  Such is the life of a person who has allowed himself to be taken over by the things of the world. If you are a follower of Christ, your ziplock bag should contain more godly balls than secular ones.  

As a Christian, your first and utmost responsibility should be nurturing and strengthening your relationship with God. Everything else should take second place.

Jesus said, "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10: 37).

On one occasion when He called a man to come and follow Him and the man asked to be allowed to first go and bury his father, Jesus replied, "Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead"( Matthew 8: 22).

Was Jesus being callous or uncaring? No. He was only trying to teach us how to prioritize our lives. He said, "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat , or what ye shall drink ; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on . Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?" (Matthew 6 : 25).    

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (v 33).

In other words, put God first and everything else will fall into place.

 The danger in allowing ourselves to put other things first is that we don't realize when they begin to replace God in our lives. Like weeds in a garden, they can easily overgrow and choke out our godly lifestyle if we are not vigilant. Our family, our work, our interests are all important in themselves, but they should not be allowed to erode God's place in our lives. 

If you find yourself being too busy or too tired to pray, study the word or even go to church, then you are in trouble. Step back and take a critical look inside your ziplock bag today. If it's chock full of things that don't pertain to a godly lifestyle, toss them into the garbage and fill it with the things of God. 

What Makes Us Evil?

From the very beginning of the world there was evil.

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. Genesis 6 : 5 - 6.

That, to me, is one of the saddest verses in the Bible. To think that God, after making man in His own image and likeness should repent that He had made man. We had become so evil that even our Maker was grieved at our depravity. Can you imagine what He must be saying today? 

In every part of the world men take the time to carefully plot and carry out evil deeds. Here in the US it seems that evil is visiting us more and more frequently. Psychologists and researchers have found that the brain of psychopaths is different from the rest of the population. That there is a deformity in a part of the brain called the amygdala, which is the seat of emotion. Psychopaths lack emotion. Their actions are cold and calculated and they show little or no remorse for the things they do. 

So where does that leave us? Should we just sit back and say oh, well, these people can't help their actions? Or, is the evil person doomed to stay that way?  Psalm 34 : 14 says, "Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it." If God's word commands us to depart from evil, then it can be done. People who have committed themselves to carrying out evil deeds can have their lives turned around by the grace of God. 

Even researchers agree that children born with a damaged amygdala do not have to grow up to become psychopaths. Criminologist Nathalie Fontaine of Indiana University states,  "We can still help them. We can implement intervention to support and help children and their families, and we should." Another psychologist said, "Biology is not destiny." She said that children do not have to have brain surgery, they can be helped through "social" intervention.

The church is a part of society, isn't it? We can reach out to our youth who may be at risk and pray for them; we can speak to parents and teachers and use the power of the Holy Spirit to help these families.

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted . Galatians 6 : 1. 

Ye which are spiritual, that means us, Christians. We are to do our best to restore or help to bring about change in those people. Can we? Will we?  

Will Jesus Work In A Bar?

From a bar to a church

This question came to my mind as I read about a Kentucky church that started out in a bar. Gospel Light Baptist Church of Hazard, headed by Pastor Chris Fugate, will celebrate its one-year anniversary this year. Pastor Fugate, a state trooper and evangelist, oversaw a policemen's prayer group. One morning as they were praying, a non- Christian gentleman drove up and offered them his bar for a church. The interior of the building had black-painted walls, a dance floor and Budweiser signs everywhere, but the group moved in and within a year their membership had grown to 400 and they had baptized 100 people. Isn't God amazing?

The strippers go to church

I heard this story this week. A stripper from Miami was murdered by her husband. When a group of ladies from a nearby church heard of it,they took flowers to the club and offered their condolences to the manager. No, this club didn't turn into a church, but all the strippers were in church that Sunday.

A beautiful teenager

Which grandmother does not boast about her grandchildren? I am as guilty as any, but one of my co-workers has really great reasons to boast. You see, her granddaughter was born a preemie, weighed less than one pound and was not expected to live very long. My friend brought one of the diapers and a vest the family has kept to remind them of God's awesome goodness. She brought them to show another co-worker who was receiving a lot of scary news from her doctor about her pregnancy. Let me tell you, when I saw the clothing my eyes became misty. That vest and diaper would not fit an average-sized doll. The child's mother had them specially ordered from another state. Today, the child is a lovely teenager who recently celebrated her sixteenth birthday.

Will He work in a bar?

The answer is yes. Jesus will work anywhere you want him to. He will work in your heart, in your home, in the heart of your loved ones, on your job, and even in a bar. Ephesians 3 : 20 says, He is able to do "exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think." Jesus Himself said, "... With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible" (Mark 10 : 27). If you are worried, or having doubts about God answering your prayers, feast on these scriptures and see what God can do.

Are You Letting Your Light Shine?

During the month of February, we'll hear about courageous African American men and women who risked a lot, in some cases their very lives, so we can enjoy the freedom we have today. Names like Martin Luther King Jr., Frederick Douglass and Rosa Parks are among the many icons who are featured on radio and TV during Black History month. However, during those dark days of slavery when slaves were forbidden to assemble for any reason whatsoever, there were still some who managed to shine the light of Jesus Christ and even became missionaries to foreign lands.

Here is a short list:

Peter Claver, born 1581 in Spain, became a Jesuit priest at age 20 and traveled to South America where he ministered to African slaves when they arrived in Cartagena, Colombia. He became known as "Slave of the Blacks," and "Slaves of the Slaves."

Richard Allen, born February 1760, founded the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church in 1816. This church became the largest denomination of African Americans, sending missionaries to Haiti, San Domingo and Africa. Allen developed such a strong Christian faith he was able to convert his owner. 

Henry Garnet was a  Presbyterian minister who became the first African American to preach a sermon in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1852 he traveled to Jamaica as a missionary.

Peter Williams was a slave who purchased his freedom in 1785. At that time, blacks who belonged to white churches had to sit at the back of the church and could not bury their dead on church grounds. In 1796, Williams and other black church members decided to form their own congregation. In 1800 Williams laid the cornerstone of the Mother African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church at the corner of Church and Leonard Streets in New York.

Betsey Stockton was born in slavery in 1798 in New Jersey. While working with the Reverend Nathaniel Todd, Betsey became a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Princeton. Betsey later joined a company of missionaries to the Sandwich Islands (present-day Hawaii) on a trip that lasted five months with no stopovers. Betsey became the first single American woman sent overseas as a missionary.

Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5 : 16).  These brave pioneers could have settled for sitting at the back of the church and all the other indignities associated with their station, but instead they followed the great commission and did what they did to advance the kingdom of Jesus Christ on this earth. Can we emulate them in some small way? Will we let our light shine?

Modesty In Dress cont'd

Image via WikipediaTwo things led me to pursue this subject: One was a sermon I heard on the radio while driving to work in which the pastor thundered about the need for women to dress modestly in church. The other had to do with the increasingly warm days we've been having here in the south. As the days get warmer, the clothes tend to get skimpier even in church, so I thought I would pose this question to an online community I belong to. Do you think women should wear shorts to church?

Modesty In Dress

Cover of Royal WeddingLast week while driving to work I listened to a series on the above topic in which the pastor thundered about the need for women to dress modestly in church. The pastor reasoned that if women knew what goes through men's minds they would be more careful when putting their wardrobe, particularly their church wardrobe, together.

Joseph's Story

In case you didn't know it, and I didn't either, but I heard it in church that today is Orphan's Day. And, according to the speaker, there are approximately one hundred and thirty-five million orphans around the world. Now that is a staggering number. It means that number of children can go hungry, naked and with no roof over their heads unless someone steps in and helps them. Will you?


Fortunately there are organizations such as the Christian Alliance for Orphans, Children's Hope Chest, Orphan Outreach, Watoto Children's Ministries and many others. If you are interested in helping in some way, you can access one of these organizations via the internet or through your church. There is so much wealth in the world, it is said that a small percentage of that wealth can alleviate world hunger. But you don't have to be wealthy in order to give. A little goes a long way. The Bible says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (James 1: 27) NIV.

A few months ago, my church was blessed by a visit from the Watoto Kids of Uganda. It was a moving experience to watch these kids, most of whom had lost their parents to the war or to AIDS, sing and dance their hearts out to a captive audience. Watch the video above and the one below and give as the Holy Spirit leads you.

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Please Pass The Salt

Have you ever cooked something and forgotten to add the salt? I bet you realized your ommission the minute you tasted the food. Salt has such a distinctive taste that just a tiny pinch can make or break a dish. I know some of you may have to omit this precious ingredient from your food because of your medical condition. I sympathize deeply, believe me, but for those of us who don't have to, we even include it in sweet dishes, such as cakes and pastries, to enhance the flavor.

Jesus knew what he was talking about when He said, "Ye are the salt of the earth, but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men" (Matthew 5:13). If Jesus were here today would he call the church "the salt of the earth?" Are we critical to the flavor of the world in which we live? Or can the world go on without us and never miss our taste?

In the same sermon, Jesus spoke about us being "the light of the world" (v 14). He went on to say "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (v 16). The church today has become a major part of the entertainment industry. We have the lights, music and the action, but are we impacting the world with our presence? If we really are the salt and light would there be all this ungodliness that is taking place in our society? I think not. We have lost our flavour; our light has grown dim. People don't taste us, neither do they see us.

If the church has to be "the salt and light of the world" it has to start with each dish, each candle. Each one of us has to do his/her part to "season" and "light" our world. Let's begin by asking the Holy Spirit to help us be all we are supposed to be, then let us go out and impact our world for Jesus Christ. He is coming soon and He needs you and me to prepare a dish that is flavorful for Him to take back with Him. Are you ready?