Salt & Light: Heart Condition

If we could see the hearts of the men and women who live on planet earth would we see how much love and compassion we have for one another?  If we believe the news and social media or spend time observing the leaders in the current political climate of this country and others, love for each one would seem to be a rare occurrence. But what does it mean when we who also claim to be Christians and are included with those who don’t show love or compassion for those in need or for those who don’t look like the faces they see in their mirror. Is our care for our neighbor determined by the color of their skin, nationality, economic class, or gender? (Matthew 15:21-28, NIV)

This is what I find to be the most disturbing, but it's not the first time that we who call ourselves to Christians have manipulated the Gospel as a tool of oppression. History details of the times when armies were marauding nations and communities in the name of Christ. The scriptures have been misquoted and manipulated to enslave and oppress others. Now more than ever the world needs to see what faith in practice looks like and how it shows up for those in need. 

The Bible reminds us to remember those who are hurting as if we were the ones suffering. When preaching on the subject of compassion and in reference to the story of the good Samaritan, Martin Luther King Jr. said, ""The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: ‘If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?’ But the good Samaritan reversed the question: 'If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?’""

“You are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13, NIV)  is not just for a few.  It is the calling for all who believe and follow Christ.  Salt is used to enhance flavor and as a preservative. To 'be salt' means to deliberately seek to influence the people in one's life by showing them the unconditional love of Christ through good deeds. “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14, NIV) applies to you too. Light drives out darkness and shows us where we are in the world around us.  When the light switch is on, each person has the same opportunity to exercise God’s gifts to improve their lives and their surroundings.

I believe this is what a community of Christians ought to be in a world full of those in need and souls who are lost. At the center of living a life as salt and light is the measure of the condition of one’s heart.  The question that we need to answer, Do we have a heart that loves God and loves his creation?  If so ... be the salt & light in your community.

Now, let us grow together as the women and men our Father called us to be in the world.  

2019 Salt & Light (Project I)

Blessed by the efforts & commitment of our Covenant Shepherd Church family.  We served 100 bag lunches to the homeless and those in need last Sunday.  Check out a few moments from this event.

Be Determined

"For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God, I can leap over a wall." Psalm 18:29, ESV

Often when we read this scripture we focus on the “leap”, not realizing there’s a battle taking place. We’re facing an army, and there’s an obstruction, a wall we have to get over. You will face many walls.

One common trait that keeps coming up in stories and accounts of women and men who overcame trials and tragedy in their lives, is that somehow, they found courage in themselves to say, I can overcome, I will survive or I won’t take this lying down. They refused to quit, give up or walk away. We’ve heard many heroic stories resulting from painful and sometimes tragic experiences. Naturally, most of us lose sight of the fact that life isn’t meant to be an easy walk in the park. God never promised a life of ease on a bed of roses.

1. Over the course of your life, things will go wrong, despite your best planning
2. Personal Challenges, including failure & success, are a part of life
3. Loss is a part of your faith journey

“By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” Genesis 3:19 (NIV)

Work makes a person sweat. We will never be able to avoid all of the negative and horrible things life dishes out, however, as people of faith we should stand and fight, not cowering to the challenges we face. Horrible things happen in life, but life is not horrible.

The Apostle Paul said, “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12 (NIV)

Be determined. Stand and fight.

Crossing Over - 2017

The day before new year is traditionally a day devoted to making resolutions.  However;
most  of us find ourselves repeating the same resolutions year after year. So much so, that it becomes an opportunity for our friends or family to make fun of our lack of accomplishment. "Here they go again” is often said in laughter.

As we transition to a new year, allow me to share some thoughts gleaned from a recent conversation with a dear brother.   Many things happened to the children of Israel before the transitioned out of Egypt, among them are three things I wish to share with you.

1. God gave them favor
2.  He led them out with a mighty hand
3.  Blood on their door post

God gave them favor

‘The Lord had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians’. Ex 12:36

Every Israelite was paid in full for their labor in Egypt. The same masters who cheated them of their wages suddenly became friendly, but by no choice of their own. Somehow, every Egyptian realized that it was in their best interest to be generous to their slaves.  When God gives you favor, your enemies and all who once hated you will quickly become gracious toward you out of self preservation and not because you have done something extraordinary. Remember that they were robbed, cheated and abused till God favored His people

Led them out with a Mighty hand

You brought your people Israel out of Egypt with signs and wonders, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with great terror. Jeremiah 32:21 (NIV)

For over 400 hundred years, the Egyptians and their Pharaohs showed no sign of graciousness nor kindness till they conceded that the holding of Israel in slavery is the reason all of Egypt was under God’s judgement. Through out this coming year be mindful that without God’s judgment on your behalf the world won’t acknowledge how special and peculiar you are to His purposes. Trust God for a miraculous year. Miracles happen every day, more so to those who expect. If you know you serve a supernatural God then live every day of 2017 with expectations of the miraculous.
'Where there is no expectation, God won't show up'   

Blood on their door posts

‘Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the door frame. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning.  When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the door frame and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down’. Ex.12:22-23

Before leaving 430 long years in Egyptian bondage, the blood of an innocent lamb without blemish was used to make peace with God and to cleanse the children of Israel from the filth of their past.
By blood, He made atonement for the sins of His people so that the devil - who is also known as the adversary of every saved believer will not have occasion to accuse, afflict or hold anyone henceforth in bondage.

Instead of making another one of those new year resolutions which say ‘I will do this or  I will do that; may I suggest another approach.
This year invite God to lead in this transition and cross over  into 2017.

• Remember that as a child of God, you have the Lord’s favor.  Ps 67:1, Ps 89:17 & Isaiah 62:4.

• Remember that our victory does not come by the strength of a horse nor will of men. True and lasting victory comes only from the Lord.  Ex 14:14, 2 Chronicles  20:17.

• And finally remember that our own righteousness is but filthy rags and would never ever measure up to the righteousness of God. Accept and embrace God’s gift of grace and you will never again feel unworthy or unloved.

Take a bold step into this new year and don’t look back to your past. Seek God for His best in your life. #CrossingOverWithGodsFavor  Happy New Year!

For Future Generations

This is the position of Scripture when it says:

“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are his reward.” Psalm 127:3 (TLB)

Unlike the days of Abraham when fathers were encouraged to apply divine instructions in raising children, today’s father is under obligation and subject to laws enacted by governments of the day. Here in the US, parents tread carefully and in fear sometimes when dealing with correction and discipline of children. Lawmakers in their effort to address abusive parenting, have greatly limited the tools and incentive parents need to do very the important work of discipline in our children’s lives. We are the generation that embraces rules and laws that penalizes offenders with severe penalties including death and yet are less enthusiastic about strengthening and supporting parents to instil deterrence in children at an early age. We have done very well in other forms of discipline and failed miserable on some.

Scolding and spanking a child helps him to learn. Left to himself, he brings shame to his mother.

Proverbs 29:15 (TLB)

As a father, the testimony of his character was this …‘ For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. Genesis 18:19 (KJV)

When we look back at our own lives and that of others, who denies the impact of a firm, loving and disciplined father ? 

From My Father to You

Father & Son

Couple of weeks ago I watched as one of our sons began his first week on a job at a construction site. He

wanted to accomplish some financial goals during this summer break so with the help of some friends in the profession, he was assigned a job with utility crew.

He looked out of place the first day. Every now and then he will pulled up his protective clothing as they kept falling off his skinny frame.  He appeared to be unsure of himself. As I watched my heart ached for him. I thought to myself whether this was the right thing to do.

It’s been three weeks now.  His foreman says, “ I like the kid and his attitude at work”. My son tells me he loves the job --   now whether its because of the size of his check or the new comradery he has built with members of his crew is not certain.

But as I pondered on what to share this Father’s Day, my thoughts went back some 40 years when my father took me with him to the construction site; where he worked as a site superintendent. He handed me over to the carpenter foreman the first year. For the second & third year,  I was with the  brick masons and plumbers.  The difference though was that most of my checks including the first one went to my mother.

Today, our son is the recipient of a legacy. A legacy which began with my father to me . If and when he passes down the same to his children we will have a tradition in our family of raising young men who possess the qualities of hard work, responsibility and accountability.

My father wasn’t a saint. By that I mean he didn’t do well in many things as other fathers did for their children. I do not recall ever playing ball with my father nor camping with him. What I will never forget is that my father modeled to me the value of work. He guided and placed me in the right environment where men prided themselves in the fact that each day, rain or shine they showed up to earn a living for their family.

Whether there’s a father present or not; a child may learn something of value from an uncle, teacher, mentor or another person of influence. Even if that experience is just a brief moment.

Your lesson may not be the same as mine. But you can take away an understanding of self respect, discipline and the importance of surrounding yourself with positive people. Be determined to pass on a legacy for your family and loved ones. 

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty - Proverbs 14:23


Happy Father's Day

This is what Love looks like

“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved."  Matthew 10:21-22

I think it’s safe to say that the times we live in are both frightening and hopeful. Last night I went to

Peter Kassig

bed thinking on the letter Peter Kassig wrote to his parents. He wrote the letter in anticipation of his own death.  This morning, those of us in the eastern time zone woke up to the news about the gruesome murders of 5 worshipers in Jerusalem by two Palestinians young men. As l considered both tragedies it became apparent that the last decade has seen a significant increase in the level of violence as it relates to religion.

As Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC Hardball read Peter's letter to his parents, I couldn't help but admire Peter's courage and be inspired by his faith. Here is a young man who went to Syria to help those suffering from the horrors of war. He didn't wait for an  invitation, he was compelled by compassion and paid the ultimate price. The ultimate price for daring to love and serve where the powerful and capable refuse to go. Those professing the same faith as he did stood over and cowardly murdered him.

Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of ... you didn't do it for one of the least important of these, you didn't do it for me. ... to you, as long as you did it not to one of these least, neither did you do it to me. [Matthew 25:31-46]

Peter Kassig lived a short life, yet his life was courageous and fruitful. He will be remembered long after his murderers are forgotten. His life is in contrast to some of us who profess Christianity yet practice a life style contrary to the tenants of our faith. Peter lived by the example and teachings of Christ. He reminds us that there are some Christians who are willing to defy the madness and hatred sweeping our world and dedicate their life to Christ.

Peter is among my heroes of faith.

Greater love has no man than this, that a man should lay down his life for his friends - John 15:13