Keeping it Pure

After a month of purity teaching, talking and praying with several people, and the fall of yet another prominent leader, I am reminded how hard it is to keep things pure in our life. It seems that everywhere we turn the world is trying to draw us in. From television, to billboards, to magazines at the checkout, to the ever-increasing load of trash on the internet, temptation abounds. We live in a world that is morally sick, and yet Jesus said we are in the world, but not of it. It's not easy to keep our lives pure when everything around us is so full of filth, but with the Lord it is possible. It may seem like we're trying to dance through a mud puddle and still come out clean but with the Lord I believe we can keep ourselves pure. It was once said that "lust is like athletes foot of the mind" but Romans 12:2 tells us that our mind can be renewed through the Word of the Lord. In other words, the Bible can scratch the itch. So the bottom line is this, the world may not honor marriage and purity, but the world isn't our standard, the Word of God is. So keep your eyes on Jesus, stay in the Word, and keep it pure in the name of Jesus.
P.S. Check out the youtube video: Doctor Love and Pastor Dan

One Missing Rib

Ge 2:21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man."

Well it's Valentines month once again and our hearts are drawn to that special person in our life. Little boys and girls are giving out the cards and candy. Boyfriends and girlfriends are looking for that special gift to say I love you as they plan for a special dinner at their favorite restaurant, and husbands and wives hopefully just won't forget altogether - HA! But this past week I've been reminded in a very unique way of just how close man and woman truly are and how meaningful one rib can be. A week ago I was in a little sledding accident, but because I'm a guy I didn't want to go to the Doctor. And even after I had made an appointment for Tuesday, I cancelled it and played tough. However, the Lord works in mysterious ways and on Thursday I wound up in the hospital anyway. And low and behold, it was because I choked on a hot dog! Yes, you read me right - I choked on my second bite of a fabulous coney dog - what a waste. Since I couldn't get it to come up or down, I wound up spending 9 hours at the hospital waiting for a surgical procedure, only to find out that I not only had a shrunken esophagus, but when I crashed on the sled I also separated my shoulder and broke my 3rd rib proving once again, I'm not a teenager anymore.

They say that many times we don't value things until they're gone and through this experience I have learned the value of one missing rib. I understand the value of that rib every time I'm awakened from my sleep when I turn over. I understand the value of that one missing rib everytime I turn the wrong way, or pick up something a little bit too heavy or I go to sit up. Sometimes we don't understand the value of what we have until it's gone or broken, but may that never be the case with our wives and husbands. May we never wait till our marriages and relationships are broken or gone to understand their value. Have a great Valentines' month and be sure you tell that special someone in your life how much you value them.

A Blow Torch in a Blizzard

Wow - what a blizzard. It seems like everytime we get ourselves shoveled out there is more snow on the way and I have to admit, there are things I would rather do with my time than shoveling snow. But as with everything, when we take time to reflect, there is usually a lesson to be found. The Bible talks about snow 20 different times. Of course there is Moses who puts his hand in his cloak and pulls it out leprous like snow. Then he puts it back in and it's restored. Then as we know our sins are washed as white as snow which is a miracle when you consider our lives are like filthy rags outside a relationship with Christ. But then there is the picture of Jesus. Even though he was a Jew, it's funny because we tend to picture Christ like some long haired, blond, GQ model which is completely inaqurate. But I wonder - Have you ever pictured Christ like a blow torch in a blizzard? The Bible says in Rev 1:14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. Let's face it - a blow torch in a blizzard could do some serious damage. I mean talk about a hot knife in butter. You could immediately pierce through the ice, and that's exactly what Christ does. He is the creator and the judge and on that day - He will not only be the reflection of purity as white as snow - but he will also pierce through to the core of our very being. For those of us in Christ, it will be the Bema seat judgement of reward, but for those who never received the Lord - it will be a time when they are melted in his presence. Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord.
So the next time your shoveling snow - think of the Lord in all his purity with eyes of blazing fire.
Think about the blow torch in the blizzard.

Party Righteous

Well Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a great time counting down till midnight. My family and I were privileged to bring in 2009 with some old friends in the Youngstown area and it was great sharing laughs, eating all night, and partying it up. And it was nice to know that we would actually wake up without a hangover, without regrets, and with the ability to remember the night. I think a lot of people feel that partying has a worldly connotation and I suppose it does to some extent. But does it have to? Shouldn't Christians have the most fun of anyone? And shouldn't we be able to have fun and party it up without sinning? According to my Bible laughter and fun and joy are a good thing. So why then do some people act like we have to be staunch and stuffy to be Christians? I think we should be showing the world what real fun is all about and let them see that they don't have to sin to be in. It's like an old pastor friend preached one time; If you've got the joy of the Lord then let them see it on your face. PROVERBS 17:22 says "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine!" However, that same verse goes on to say, "but a broken spirit drieth the bones." In other words we can either bring joy to people's lives or we can burn them out. So I don't know about you, but in 2009 I want to strive to be the kind of person that is a good medicine for people. I want to be the kind of person that rubs off the joy of the Lord on everyone I meet. I want to party righteous this year and I hope you'll join me.