How's Your Alignment?

Our spiritual life can be like our cars alignment, if its off it effects everything around it and if you ignore it, it can get real expensive real quick. So how do we check our spiritual alignment? From what I've been taught and understand from God's word is that there is a very specific order of importance of things!
It follows: God first, family second, ministry third! We have to remember to always keep this balance otherwise we are no good to God. We sometimes as Christians fall into the trap of doing God rather than being with God. That's the whole point He wants to commune with us.
So to be honest i have had to recheck and fix my alignment. i was helping out at after school program, being effective and doing Gods' work, but was neglecting my own kids. I was missing out on the most important time of day with my kids< from when they got home,did homework,ate, and did family devotional study. I and my family were missing out on so much. I had been struggling with this for quite a while and one day my babysitter cancelled on me so i couldn't go. this brought up the opportunity for me to be honest with my employer how i felt and the struggle i was facing. Thank God this man too values the God, Family,Ministry order also.
But anyways, i found that through my obedience and keeping to that order resulted in a gift from God last Monday night.

It was beautiful, a young man from youth group begged me to give him the floor for a little while because he had something he felt God wanted him to share with the group. normally i wouldn't do this but all of my spirit was at peace with this. This kid has a gift for preaching and on Monday he just exploded with this ultimate firework display of Gods' word and cultural relevance of stepping out of the world and arming yourself with the Armor of God. It was absolutely beautiful!
But it gets even better, one of the guys that has been straying a bit from the Lord had came back after a jail experience and he shared his testimony. He shared that he once new the Lord but strayed, he messed up bad because he was weak at the time to the enemies attacks, he suffered the consequences and while in jail he renewed his relationship with Christ and got that same peace he had once had. Prodigal son!
But then another one of the guys tells me he has heard Gods calling on his life and he needs to stop ignoring it and be obedient. He is being called into children's ministry, which i totally see him being awesome at!
See what happens when u keep your life in balance, God,family,ministry. God blesses u with awesome gifts like myself and the other leaders at Edge with witnessing awesome transformations, just like these few here that i just mentioned. This is why Jesus did what He did, and as followers of Christ that's why we continue in His work in reaching out to the lost! What a privilege it has been to be part of Gods plan in these kids lives, this is the true blessing being used to bring Him glory and honor.

So till next time, keep the faith, check your spiritual alignment and always remember that God wants to use you to change lives for eternity!
your bro in Christ
john

High Expectations of the Father

Father God, thank you so very much for continually expecting growth in my walk! Thank you for providing your son Jesus as sacrifice paid in full for forgiveness of my past, present and future sins! Thank you for sending the great councilor, Your Holy Spirit, to convict and guide me through life! Thank you for your Word and Your obedient servants who wrote it down so Truth i can find in You! And thank you for finding me worthy of redeeming and giving me Hope! I Love You Father God with all my heart, please continue to speak into my life and use me as a tool for Your glory and honor not mine. I give u permission to re-shape and mold me as You originally intended, before the world corrupted my sight, thank you for removing the scales from my eyes! And last but not least, thank you for providing good brothers and sisters in my life to fellowship with and to be held accountable to. You are a Gracious and Giving God! Thank you! in Jesus name i pray, amen!

On July 29th it will be 4 years since i admitted that i needed God to help me clean up the mess i had made of my life, and that through His sacrifice of His son for my sins that i was re-born, a new creation. What an awesome and challenging journey it has been. I am still and always will be learning to be what God intended me to be. I am grateful for the correction in my life, which is really no longer mine to live. I belong to the Father and i need to continue practicing that. I used to hate correction and authority in my life, i have been humbled and continue to be. At first i thought submitting myself to God was enough, oh i was so wrong! Another lesson learned hard, and is still a struggle but it has been made easier as i surrendered that to God. Anger, wow that is another big one that God has been working on me with. Diplomacy, this too He is working on with me. Love and forgiveness for my fellow man, believer or not, has been a big one too, just a few areas He has been polishing and refining me in. I am no where near done in surrendering all of myself to God, this i ashamedly admit. This too He is working on my heart.
I used to pray for patience, i don't pray for that any longer, instead i pray for Gods' strength, wisdom, endurance, mercy, forgiveness and love. I used to pray for my needs and wants, now i pray for Gods' will be done and for my fellow brothers and sisters needs to be met, and yes i sneak in a need or two for myself and family, cuz its not about me any more. When i pray for a job, it is for a job that i could be most effectively used to bring Him glory, when i pray for provisions and favor, it is only for what we need as a family, when i pray for others it is because God has laid them on my heart and because people have asked me to. I don't pray for perfection anymore, just simply to be better today than i was yesterday and allow myself to be rebuked and corrected as often as needed.
Life hasn't gotten any easier, its just become more peaceful, cuz i know that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit have my back. Its been covered, so i need to be concerned about life's troubles, just not consumed by them. And i always need to remember that it is not my job to save anyone, just to lead them to their Savior.

John 16: 33
" I have told you these things, so that in me you will have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! For I have overcome the world."

There is great comfort in this promise of Christ, and in this promise i find strength to press on in full faith that Christ really has overcome this world so i can be obedient and as loud as i want to be about my faith, my God and my Saviour! Praise be to God!

Till next time, remember keep the faith, cast off your fears of getting a little dirty to lead others to eternal salvation and the love of a Father that never gives up on His Children!

Much Love, your bro in Christ,
brother john

Picking The Unusual

Just some thoughts i've had lately as i have looked more at the relationship Christ had with each of his disciples and when they were asked to "follow" Him. He chose some quite unusual and looked over people as the ones He was going to trust His work to be continued by. Back then if you were good enough u had already been chosen by rabbis. Jesus chose those deemed not worthy to be his followers, and look what they did. If they truly were not worthy, i wouldn't be talking about Christ today, no one would. But to the world His disciples were not qualified to say the least.
That's why i love working with the group of kids myself and my fellow brothers and sisters work with. Because these kids have been looked over, labeled unteachable, and just thought of as not worth the investment. I have seen so much fruit from these kids that they give me great joy. Don't get me wrong, sometimes nights can be quite challenging, but the Holy Spirit always finds a way to turn it around.
So this coming monday on the 8th is the Edges 2nd year anniversary. Last monday we talked with the kids about a new devotional series we were going to be studying. Basically it came down to us reading to scriptures; Mark 1:16-20 and John 1:35-45. This was the launching point for our discussion that night. so after reading those scriptures together, we discussed who Christ chose as his followers and how all he had to say was "follow me", and they dropped everything and did so. So i i said to the group, you know we have been doing this for two years now, and the Word have never been failed to be taught, so i asked the guys a honest question. Do you think you guys have applied everything that u have been taught, are u satisfied with your growth although all of you have made progress in your lives, some more than others? It got real quiet and then they all one by one said no. so then i told them that like Christ all the leaders here including myself aren't looking for this huge group of kids to teach and hang out with. the truth is that each of us is looking for a few good men to follow us as we follow Christ. This was my challenge and decree that from this point on we would be looking very closely at Jesus' life from birth to transcendence to heaven, his full deity yet full humanness. My friend and pastor gave me an awesome devotional called "Knowing Him" by Sonlife Ministry.
The last challenge i added for them was for the next 7 days to take some time and reflect on each day; how things went right or wrong, how you treated people, and what could you have done differently. maybe even make amends for the things u did wrong. Then pray and spend time with God about what they came up with.
I hope they all did it, but would be overjoyed if just a few got what i was trying to get them in the habit of doing and find peace in doing so. These kids have been a huge blessing and investment in my life, i thank God everyday that he trusts me and my fellow brothers with mentoring these young men.
The steps forward however small are a huge celebration to me and i praise God for each one. I feel blessed to watch these young men begin a journey of life long change and the gift of eternal life. Some Might not really see the change, but when these kids don't know we are around or paying attention, we catch snap shots of wins in their lives. For example some it might be with how they handle anger, where 2 0r 3 years ago most of these guys would just assume hit you and talk later, to now watching just letting things go, even when the world would not blame them. They are changing little by little whether they know it or not. That is the power of Gods' Word at work! can i get an Amen!
so this following scripture is a big part of why we do what we do on monday nights at the Edge, this scripture was following Mathew the tax collectors conversion at a gathering at Mathew's house, Matthew 9:10-13
11. when the pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, " why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 12 On hearing this Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means; I desire mercy not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

I couldn't possibly say it any better or more clear so i wont. till next time.
remember keep the faith, don't be afraid to get a little dirt on you for Christ, God wants a relationship with all of us not just a certain group.

your bro in Christ
john

"He's Just a good kid making bad decisions!"

This post is being very transparent about myself, sorry if any of this shocks or insults you. But i was once a very lost boy, young man and an adult. From a very young age i had a very rebellious and a dangerous curiosity for seeing just how far the limits in anything were. Yet at the same time had a genuine love for people, especially the underdog! Bipolar, should figured that one out alot earlier. ooopps! I grew up in what was a small little nowhere place, Chesterfield Township. My family was big and influential in the area. But anyway, getting to the title of this post; " He's just a good kid doing/making bad decisions/things!" My great grandmother would always say that in my defence while acknowledging that her grandchild is doing some really stupid stuff. Her and a cappucian monk were the two most life lasting mentors i ever had, and it was because of their strong faith and devotion to the Lord that even kept my mind open to God. Eventually leading to my re-birth. so anyways, as a youth i would spend all week long raising havoc where ever i went, including Catechism school, and then on the weekends hanging out with family and often i would spend the weekends at my great grandmothers house. We would stay up late playing cards and watching TV. But during these weekends i would watch a true servant of the Lord at work. She would all week long make batches of soup and give them out to those in need, and she also spent alot of time raising money so that all kids in the area rich or poor could play baseball with nice uniforms and equipment. She eventually raised enough money to purchase a big peace of property and then build a bunch of full size baseball fields. All she would ever talk about is seeing all those kids playing ball on lit fields like the pros. She died not much longer after seeing the fields lit up for the first time.She is one person that i really grieved hard for and still till this day. I miss her and wish she could have been around to see all her hard work and investment in me pay off!before she took her last breathes of life she shook her fist at me and them motioned blowing me a kiss. She couldn't talk anymore at this point. she would always do that to me, it was her way of not repeating herself to me anymore, when she shook her fist at me it always meant that she knew what i was always up to, to stop doing bad things, turn my life over to God, and last but not least to "keep it in my pants." its weird i am now laughing and crying at the same time. And of course the blowing of a kiss was simply that, she loved me and goodbye.
This is when i truly just lost it in life, for a long time i was mad at God for taking such a great person away from myself and all the other people she had touched. I didn't understand it all like i do now. But what followed was a lack of concern for myself and rules. I now realize that i wanted to die but just couldn't do it myself so i just kept putting myself in really dangerous places in life. But obviously our Father in heaven had different plans for me. this may seem off but i believe that God allowed me to walk through fire without getting burned. figuratively speaking. Cause seriously i should not be alive today.. This is my only conclusion is that it was by Gods' hands that i was shielded and protected from death before i could be born, it was sort of labor pains of my coming to choose life over eternal death.

So anyway, it was my great grand mother who first showed me how to separate the person from the sin. love the person, dislike and reject the sin. A truth from God is what she was always modeling, love,servant hood, compassion, mercy, grace, encouragement and forgiveness. This is why i always go with the saying "He/she is just a good kid making bad decisions.'
Some times your seeds are sown on infertile ground, but sometimes a tree just needs to fight amongst the weeds and vines to reach the light and begin to blossom and produce good fruit. My tree took 34 years of fighting against the weeds and vines that tried to keep my soul tied down. So to all out their frustrated by good kids just not getting it, well we do, for some or most it just takes a longer time fighting to reach the light. Not all the seeds that u have sown have been done in vain. Like my great grandmother, you might not be here on earth to see them mature, but i Think God will bless u with the transforming moment anyways to see.
Keep the faith, don't be afraid to reach out and get dirty, cuz there are a whole lot of Gods' children waiting to be labored to a new life in Jesus Christ!

Monday Night Thoughts by Brother John

Lately in our bible study time, i have given the option to my core student leaders to teach on any topic as long as they can back it up scripturally. Yes i preapprove thier main scriptures before i set them off. But anyways, they have been coming up with topics like being who God made u to be, lust, relationships/ and deeper relationship with Christ, anger and such. all really great subjects, but last monday we were talking about forgiveness and the importance of forgiving others so that we may be forgiven. This was a very interesting discussion. then it got real tricky,and so real that we were faced with a real life delema that is truely hard to forgive someone.
Come to find out two of the young men we mentor both had thier parents violently taken from them at a young age.Emotions were becoming to run high because of the rawness from the enitial wounds that hadnt been fully heald yet. But the main question that was posed to these young gentlemen, that by the way love Christ with all thier hearts, have they been able to forgive those responsible for the deaths of thier parents? They both really struggled with their answers but were honest. One said that for a long time he harbored a hate and agrudge, almost wanting revenge. but eventually he came to realize that he had to forgive them no matter how hard it is in the flesh. young man number two was even more forthcoming with responding that although he is a believer, that the loss of his parent has left him number one very tragic tragic felling, and two a feeling of guilt because he at this piont hasnt been able to forgive who ever it was that was responsible for his parents death.
the room wich is normally filled with alow background noise of chatter was silent as we talked about these vey issues. so in Gods' word it says that to be forgiven u must forgive others who have sins against u or that u hold a grudge on. this is clear.
so here is my question?
is this young mans sins been forgiven yet, or has his not being able to forgive whoever it may be yet in his way of true forgiveness?

This is one i am battling on because as i said this young man truely has excepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Isnt Christs death and this young mans love for Christ enough?

Personally i feel that this is just another thing that he has to work on just like anyone else with addctions, anger issues, trust issues, and such. We all were taken freely by God when we accepted that His son died for our sins. He has taken us where we were at and is bringing us on a journey to where he wants us to be.
this how i understand the process of following the narrow road to heaven is. Constant progress in the areas that we fall short in, we all have whether we want to admit them or not.

What do u think?

Becoming a "Renegade Soldier"

Definition of renegade;
(n.) A common vagabond; a worthless or wicked fellow.
(n.) One who deserts from a military or naval post; a deserter.
(n.) One faithless to principle or party.
(n.) An apostate from Christianity or from any form of religious faith

I found it interesting that the word renegade has such a deep and condemning root meaning. So why title this post " Becoming a "Renegade Soldier""? Great question, and it is one that got me thinking about what i thought it was to be a renegade? From the earliest time i can remember, a "renegade" was always some one who stood out from the crowd, dared to question authority or the status-quo, refused to live a false life. Before i was a christian i saw characters or people like Joesy Whales, Jack Nicholas's character in "one flew over the co-coo nest", comic book character "the Punisher", Malcolm X, JFK, MLKjr,and such as having qualities of a renegade, revolutionary, and or rebel.
I am an educated man that decided to bypass the dictionary and have my own understanding of this word renegade. Well i guess that was 70k wasted, no just kidding because i believe that all knowledge whether misleading or fact, leads to truth.
Anyways, so now i become a follower of Christ and i start learning about Him and others that followed Christs example. i keep hearing about all these "renegades" of the faith and in the bible, people like Noah,David, John, Jesus Christ,Peter, John, Paul, Augustine, Martin Luther, Calvin, Knox, Wesley and others were all labeled as renegades, rebels and lets be honest some even called them crazy. So my old definition of renegade still fits to people even Christ. One who stands out from the crowd, someone who dared to question authority and or status-quo, and refused to live a false life or lie.
so i am sitting there thinking and wondering then, why after someone like Christ is characterized as a renegade, does it have this negative connotation? then it finally came to me it was because i didn't write the definition for renegade. or maybe as always real renegades like Christ, scare, intimidate,and convict others of their own personal falsehoods that their living. we all either have or had them at one time in our lives.
so what fear, intimidation or conviction is keeping you from receiving eternal life?

So going back to the dictionary definition;
yes i was once worthless and wicked
I was cleaned and redeemed by Christ' blood
yes i was once faithless
I found faith and hope in Christ
yes i have deserted my old ways and worldliness
this is evidence of my acceptance of Christ as Lord and Savior
yes i will always appose false teachings and ways
always using the Word as the guide for truth!
So renegade i am
In Christ Jesus i am!