Memorial Day!

Most of us slept late today because we had the day off. Memorial Day to many is the unofficial beginning of summer, but do you really understand the meaning of Memorial Day. Memorial Day is the day that we as a nations have set aside to remember those who have died serving our nation and defending our freedom. I am a patriotic person, I love America and I make it a point to thank those that I see in public in uniform, but I have never fought one second for the freedom of this nation, however, I do feel obligated to honor those who have. Several years ago I was in the Dallas-Ft. Worth with Bishop Gary Burd, who by the way is finishing a two week bike ride across the country in Washington DC with several thousand bikers and war veterans. Gary, his wife, Carolyn and I met up for lunch at Chilis in the airport. There were maybe two or three dozen soliders in the restaurant and at the end of our meal Gary asked our waiter for all the bills for the soliders. That's right he took care of the meal for every single solider in the place. That made such an impression on me. Though I dont see myself buying meals for 30-35 soliders anytime soon I determined that day that I would not allow anyone in uniform to pass me by without thanking them for their service. What a small price to pay to thank someone who has offered their life to ensure that my family and I can be safe. I often think about Tommy Harris, a gentleman in our church when I was growing up who lost one of his legs in war. I remember as a teenager going to help Tommy do work in his yard and seeing his determination to move around his yard and do what he could with one leg, which often hurt him beyond belief. His attitude and personality was never one of pity or complaining but was always cheerful and joking. I think about the men and women who did not die in Vietnam but are currently dying as a result of the agent orange they were exposed to while there fighting for our freedom. These men and women as well as many others are deserving of our honor for their sacrifice.

Recently we took 48 people from our student ministry to Washington DC for a youth conference. While we were there we visited a number of monuments and landmarks, including Arlington National Cemetery. We all made the hike to the Tomb of the Unknown Solider. I had been there 19 years ago when I was in the 6th grade and had the opportunity to lay a wreath at the tomb. There was so much about this experience that I didnt remember. Experiencing the Tomb of the Unknown Solider as well as the changing of the guard is something that sticks with you forever. Several hundred people gathered that morning to watch something that happens every single day. What an incredible way to honor a solider that died fighting for our country yet for whatever reason was never reunited with their family.

Raising Godly Kids

One of my greatest responsibility here on earth is to lead my family. God has appointed me as the priest of my family. I have a fear that I will fail in this area. As a youth pastor I talk to parents all the time that have children that are far from the Lord and the parents will tell me that they have done all they can to try to raise their children right. They will often say, "We raised them in church." Our society has a misconception of church and its role in the family. For some reason many parents think that all they have to do is take their kids to church and everything will be ok.

As the priest of my family God has given me the responsibility to lead and protect my family. I have to teach them to pray and tell my kids who Jesus is. This is not the church's responsibility. The church's job in regards to the family is to compliment what parents should be doing at home, however, for so many families the church has had to take a role of compensating for what is NOT happening at home. I believe with all of my heart that the churches in America will never see revival until the fathers of the home see revival. As goes the father, so goes the family. As goes the family, so goes the church. As goes the church, so goes the nation. By the way I am not saying if you do everything right your children will automatically serve God. There are children that no matter what you do will chose to rebel. However, the Bible is clear that if you will be faithful in raising them according to the Word of God, they will come back to it.

I was at a conference earlier this year with about 900 other pastors and church leaders. One of the speakers asked for those that had children away from the Lord to stand. Over half of the pastors in the place stood to their feet. This broke my heart. During that night the Holy Spirit asked me this question,

"What are you doing to make sure your kids are spiritual giants?"

WOW!!

We have family prayer time at our house and every time we pray I ask God to use my children and to make them leaders.

I want them to be totally in love with Jesus and to totally understand who He is and what He did at the Cross.

I want them to live this life totally free from the bondage of sin.

I want them to experience the Holy Ghost Baptism at an early age and to seek to live in it on a daily basis.

I want God to fill them with the Fruits of the Spirit and each one to be evident in their lives.

- love
- joy
- peace
- patience
- kindness
- goodness
- faithfulness
- gentleness
- self-control

I want them to be students of the Word. Recently, we saw a young man that had piercing and tattoos all over his body and Gabriel asked about them. I explained to him that Jesus loves that person but we believe the Bible teaches against those things. I have the responsibility to teach my children the Word of God, but I also want them to study and know the Word of God so that they will not be deceived by the world and false teachings and at the same time see people and love people just like Jesus showed us.

There are also some questions that I think every parent should sit down and talk to their children about. I am blown away at the things that teenagers do and their parents never know about, yet if you ask the parents they will say they know everything their kids are doing. Parents can not expect their kids to just come and just start talking to them. It is the responsibility of the parent to initiate conversation with their kids. Here are some questions that I heard Andy Stanley share that I thought were very good for parents to ask their children. This may require mom and dad to swallow their pride. I hope they help.


-Is everything ok in your heart?

- Did anyone hurt your feelings today?

- Are you mad at anyone?

- Did anyone break a promise to you today?

- Is there anything I can do for you today?

Two things that have been very hard for me to do as a parent:

1. Because I am a minister and deal with negative situations often within the church and the fact that I am never "off-duty" it is very difficult for me to protect my children from hearing negative things about Natalie and I, others, our church and even the Kingdom of God. Though I cant always protect them from these things I strive to show them that my faith is in Jesus and not in people. People will fail us and we have to turn to Jesus and believe that He will have the final word.

2. I FAIL! So many times I fail as a husband, as a dad, as a pastor, as a Christian, etc. Life is tough and I want my children to know that though we fail we have to get back up. When we fall we have to get back up and run to the Cross. Daily I have to crucify myself and the sin nature that so often tries to get me down. I want them to understand that they can walk in victory.

An extra bonus:

Discipline: Parents that think their kids never do wrong get on my nerves. Listen, I am the first to defend my kids but I also know that they are kids ad mess up some times. If we don't discipline our kids we will do them a disservice and hurt them, NOT HELP THEM. You will not warp their personality by spanking them. But if you do, would you rather them be warped by your love and discipline or by the world.

May be this scripture will help!

"Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod and deliver his soul from hell.". - Proverbs 23:13-14

Victory Over Sin

6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Romans 6:6-10

The word "sin" is mentioned 17 times in Romans 6. 15 of those times it refers to the sin nature, the other two times it refers to an act of sin. We have to understand the difference in the sin nature and the act of sin.The main problem is the sin nature. Acts of sin are results of the sin nature. You don't smoke because you have cancer. You have cancer because you smoke!

He is helping you understand how you can stay free. He knows that God does not want His children to struggle with sin. He wants the believer to see that the "old man" that enjoyed the sin nautre is crucified and we should not allow him to exist any longer after we but our personal faith in Jesus Christ and what He did on the Cross.

18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. 1 John 5:18

The phrase "whoever is born of God does not sin" here means that the Christian does not practice sin. He is no longer to be bounded and controled by sin. It doesnt mean you are perfect and will never sin. You do not allow sin to control you and therefore no longer habitually sin.

We start out following God. We want to do the will of God and do what God has said to do, but the flesh starts to tell us that we can do it on our on.

Men and women are naturally tempted to look at someone of the opposite sex. Before marriage you can pursue that person in any capacity you wish. There is no commitment to anyone and therefore you have the freedom to look, talk, date, etc. After marriage those desires of thinking someone is attractive do not go away, but that old single person is dead and you can no longer allow those desires or temptations to have a place in your mind. If you give them place in your mind they will lead you away and destroy you. You are now committed to the person you entered a marriage convenant with. Temptations or desires towards anyone else will draw you away and destroy you and your relationship with the one you are in covenant with. This is true in our relationship with God. Anything that seperates you from Him is sin. As a child of God you are in a covenant relationship with Him and any temptation or desire that is not crucified at the Cross and is allowed to grow in your heart or mind will lead to sin and will destroy you.



12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. James 1:12-15



7 steps in temptation

1. we are tempted - the thought of doing evil. at this point it is not a sin.(v.14)

Matthew 4:1-11 - temptation in and of itself is not a sin. Jesus was tempted and sinned not!!

2. we allow the temptation to draw us away - strong imagination.

3. we give place to lust - when we delight in viewing something (v.14)

4. we are enticed by the temptation - weakening of our will

5. we yield our body or mind to the temptation.

6. we act out what at this point has only been entertained in our mind and/or
heart.

7. the result of giving into the temptation will eventually lead to death
(spiritual and possibly physical death )


Christian That Lives A Life of Freedom

- FOCUS - JESUS CHRIST -

GOD DOESNT WANT YOUR FOCUS OR EYES TO BE ON ANYONE ELSE.



WHEN WE GET OUR EYES OFF OF JESUS WE WILL BEGIN TO GET OFF
OF TRACK


- OBJECT OF FAITH - THE CROSS - THE CROSS DOES NOT MOVE

WHEN WE PUT OUR FAITH IN ANYTHING ELSE IT WILL FAIL US.


- POWER SOURCE - THE HOLY SPIRIT - THE HOLY GHOST GIVES US THE POWER TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT.


- RESULTS - VICTORY


Christians That Live a Life of Defeat

- Focus - Works - what you can do.

- Object of Faith - Your Performance - How well you can do it.

- Power Source - Yourself

- Results - Defeat



Victory can only come from God through Jesus (John 14:6) and what He did on the Cross (Luke 9:23). We can only have that victory and freedom through self denial (Luke 9:23-24)