You Married Your Spouse, Not Everybody Else

When two people make marriage vows under Yahweh God, they are supposed to abide by what He set forth in the beginning.  In Genesis 2:24, the Lord laid it out quite plainly:

"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." (NKJV)

This means that you two have become one unit. You have each other's backs and you work for the betterment of your marriage. Granted we can talk to friends and family for advice, especially if they are married, BUT that advice should never be anything that would be to the detriment of your marriage.

In Samson's case, he found himself marrying a woman who did not believe what he believed. She did not follow God the way that He followed God, but yet he chose to yoke himself to this woman. In these verses, he gave a riddle to the Philistine's, but the only way they could solve it was to coerce Samson's new wife. They threatened to do harm to her family (not her and Samson) if she could not trick Samson into producing the answer. In the end, the wife chose to pester him so much that he gave up the answer to the riddle, to which she in turn told the men of Philistine.

"Some wives will make themselves a burden to their husbands until they get what they want. This tactic is used because it often works in the short term; but it can poison the relationship and ends up costing more than it gains." --David Guzik

One might say that her family's life was threatened.  However, I would like to point out that she was married to the strongest man on the planet - Samson. She could've told her husband and he could have taken care of those who threatened her and her family. She made the choice to side with her people instead of supporting her husband. Again, David Guzik's study guide of Judges 14, sums up everything quite nicely:

"The willingness of Samson’s Philistine wife to side with her people against Samson shows a fundamental weakness in their marriage. She did not fulfill the idea essential to marriage of leaving one’s father and mother to be joined in a one flesh relationship to their spouse... Yet this also shows why it was wrong for Samson to marry a Philistine. We cannot expect someone who does not love the God of Israel to build a marriage on God’s principles."

People, when you marry, you dedicate your life to each other. You do not dedicate your life to each other and everyone else around you.  If you are to love each other until death do you part, then each needs to know that they have each other's back. Again, it is ok to seek advice of others, but it is up to you to not let that advice violate the tenants of your marriage.

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Lessons from Manoah, Samson's Father

Manoah had a wife who had been barren and out of the blue an Angel of the Lord appeared to her. The message? She would have a son who would deliver Israel out of the hands of the Philistines. Now think for a moment.  Here is a women who have not been able to conceive a child and three miraculous things happened to her all at once.

1. She was visited by an Angel of the Lord,
2. She was told that she would have a son,
3. The son that she would have would deliver Israel out of the hands of the Philistines.

After hearing this, the first thing she did was run to her husband, Manoah, to tell him of the incident. He did not doubt her or think she was crazy, but rather his thoughts were, Lord please send this man to teach us what to do with the child. 

First of all most men would wonder who is this strange man talking to my wife! Second, most men's first thought would not be to pray to have the man come back for instruction (probably more so for confrontation). It really tells us a lot about a man who would be the father of one to save a nation.

What lessons can we glean from Manoah?

1. Men, have your wife's back. You married her for a reason and sometimes she just needs you to hear her and believe/support her, no matter how crazy things may sound, and
2. Men, seek the Lord first. Manoah wanted this man to come back to know exactly how to raise his future son. Yahweh was blessing them and he wanted His instructions on how to care for that blessing.  Brothers are we like Manoah in how we treat the things God blesses us with?

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Should You Pay Your Tithes Next Sunday?

I know what you are wondering.  How dare I ask if you are going to pay your tithes this upcoming Sunday?  Of course you are, right?!  Well, while I understand you may be certain about your intentions with your 10%, I wish to offer you some information about what you may be about to do.  I will go ahead now and give you warning that what you are about to read, may challenge teachings you have learned since childhood.  While I understand that these types of challenges can shake us to the core, I encourage you to continue reading.


I Probably Was Just Like You

Once I gave my life to Christ, I was taught that we are to give our tithe and offering.  I was taught that I should be a “cheerful giver” and that I was suppose to “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse”.  You’ve probably heard it too.  Once I learned that I was suppose to give an offering and that I was required to give the tithe (which was 10% of my income) I started to fall into line.  It was a gradual process because after all, one is not use to giving away 10% of their income.  At first it started off with 10% of my net income and then it changed to 10% of my gross income because God is suppose to get my “first fruits”.  That made sense to me, but then God threw a monkey wrench into what I thought I knew.  I had been doing it all wrong and what made it even worse is that it was right there in the Word for me to read.  I just chose to be spoon fed from the pulpit rather than picking up my bible and reading for myself.  Reading is definitely fundamental.


What’s Wrong With Tithing Today?

After doing some reading, studying, and discussing with my wife, I discovered something.  Tithing is an Old Testament (OT) teaching and as where it is taught that you should do it today in the church, it is an incorrect teaching.  There is a lot in the bible that supports this statement but I will simply point you to this.  In the OT, the only people who could collect the tithe were the Levitical Priests which meant you had to be a descendant of Levi (see 2 Chronicles 31:1-12).  In that alone, unless a Pastor today is a descendant of Levi and they live under OT Law, then what they are teaching is incorrect.  Also, in that scripture, there is no mention of money (which is man-made), but rather it is a tithe of things that were created by God ("...firstfruits of grain, vintage fruit, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field").  


If It’s Not Money, Then What Is It?

Well, some would argue that the Israelites did not have money, so they tithed other things. Well that would be an incorrect argument as well.  In Deuteronomy 2:5-7, Moses told the Israelites that they "...shall buy food from them for money, that you may eat, and you shall also buy water from them for money, that you may drink". So, clearly money was present, but God never commanded them to tithe money.  It was always something from the land and/or an animal (of things God created).  One scripture that people love to quote is Malachi 3:10, but this really point to the fact that tithe was not about money. It says to "Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."  Using that scripture alone, it is easy to deceive and keep with the same teachings of tithing today.  However, if you look at that scripture and keep in mind the directive of God as to what to tithe, you will know that it is not money, but the first fruits of God created things (see back in 2 Chronicles 31:1-12).

Let’s look at the BibleStudyTools.com commentary for Malachi 3:10.  (Just an FYI, they are using the NIV version).  You will notice that it points to Proverbs 3:9 which says "Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;".  Here wealth is not money but their increase from the crops.  Going back to the mentioning of the "storehouse" in Malachi 3:10.  The commentary points to 2 Chronicles 3:11, but I would suggest for you to read 2-chronicles 31:9-13 for the full context.  Here "Hezekiah gave orders to prepare storerooms in the temple" because the people brought so many contributions that they "...had enough to eat and plenty to spare, because the LORD has blessed his people, and this great amount is left over."  So, the storerooms (or storehouse) was a place to store the "contributions, tithes [which is not money], and gifts".  Nowhere does it mention bringing 10% of your gross monetary income.  In addition, this again is in Malachi which is in the OT which is under the Law!


What About Paul’s Instructions to Give Cheerfully?

So then, we have to move to the New Testament (NT) because a lot of the times 2 Corinthians 9:7 is used in the context of tithing.  It says, "Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He [a]takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving]."  I do not have a gripe with this at all because we are to give cheerfully.  We are to give of our time, talents, resources (which could include money, but does not have to).  Going back to 2 Corinthians 9:7, you have to read it in context.  If you read verse 1, Paul says "Now about the offering that is [to be made] for the saints (God’s people in Jerusalem), it is quite superfluous that I should write you;".  Directly, he tells you that the offering is made for the saints of Jerusalem who are poor (see verse 9).  It is not a tithe.  It is not 10% of their income, but rather an offering from their heart to support the poor in Jerusalem. Paul gave them notice that he was coming as to prepare before he arrived so that the offering was not as a surprise, but so that it would "be ready, not as an extortion [wrung out of you] but as a generous and willing gift".  Notice again there is no reference to money.  Today, our society has trained our brains to think that when we give something representing a charitable donation that it has to be monetary.  Well, once again I would like to challenge you to believe otherwise and that there is other value found in things outside of printed currency.


But, What About the 10% of My Income Part?

If we cannot find an account of it in the written word, then it only leads to one thing.  Humans made it up.  Now, I would like to turn the question back to you.  What about it?  Can you find any mention of it in the NT scriptures that says we as Christians, living under grace, should be doing this?  It is not my intention to offer up opinions, but rather to provide facts based on the truth, which is the Word of God.  If you decide to keep giving 10% of your income out of the cheerfulness of your heart, then by all means do so.  However, know that you are not tithing.  It is not an obligation and neither will you go to Hell for not doing so.  Those misconceptions are not true and many have been misled.  I encourage you not to take my word for it, but rather go to the Word of God for yourself.  Also, I encourage you not to discount what I write because it goes against anything you’ve ever learned.  Again, read the Word for yourself and if you find different then please correct me as a brother in Christ.  


In Conclusion

By no means, did I provide an exhaustive explanation and or list of scriptures, but what I wanted to do was provide an invitation for you to look for yourself.  God does not contradict himself, so I wouldn’t expect any of the scriptures listed to contradict any others in his Word.  There is a lot of information out there on the topic of “should the church teach tithing”.  Google it when you get a chance. Any time we as Christians give, it should not be a guilt trip, game, or the need to give because we think God is a slot machine.  All of these thoughts have been incorrectly taught and is still preached every Sunday from the pulpit throughout the nation.  The issue is that a lot of us don't pick up the Bible and read for ourselves and simply accept spoon feeding.  I know because I was one of them, but when you know better you do better.  

Be Blessed Folks,

Antoine E. Hall


Some Other Reading Resources:

"Tithing is Not a Christian Doctrine", by Russell Earl Kelly, PhD
“Tithing Today”, Gary Arnold Ministries
NoMoreTithing.org

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Hope, Patience, & Prayer

Romans 12-12   "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. " (NIV)

The verse above is a pretty simple concept and it can hit home for all of us. It says that in my hopes I am to be joyful. Even while I am hoping for something to happen or for God to move, I must be joyful in my current state.

In my afflictions, I must exercise patience. Now, I know this can be a hard one. You mean to tell me while I'm going through suffering and distress I must be patient? Well, yes.  That's what the word says doesn't it? See, a lot of the times we have issues with being patient even when we aren't going through something. To say be patience in time of hardship is one that's hard for us to grasp. Well guess what? It's in the Word and the Word doesn't lie. So, be patient in your affliction.

Lastly, you must be faithful in your prayers. Do you have a broken prayer life? Could you do a little more to improve your prayer life? I cannot speak for you, but I find myself wavering on this one. At times, I make sure that I stay prayed up. Then in times of distress, I get lax. Well, the first step is acceptance. I accept the fact that I do this and now the next step is to fix it. What's the solution? Simple! I just need to do what I'm told to do and pray faithfully, night and day; through good times and bad times.

If you can digest this simple but powerful verse I think it can help you in your every day walk as well. As Jesse Jackson would say, "Keep Hope Alive". As the good 'ole saying goes, "Patience is a virtue" and last but not least pray, pray, pray.

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Freedom: A Double Edge Sword

Freedom. You here it so much in the news. You've heard present and past Presidents say that countries need to be democratic and free like the USA. You here about how freedom is better for everyone, but I would like to offer another perspective on freedom.

First let's get a working definition of freedom. The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary says that freedom is the "liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another : INDEPENDENCE". Let's look at some things from a Biblical point of view. First of all, freedom means free to an extent, but you still have to answer to somebody. Look at 1 Corinthians 7:20-22:

"(20) Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them. (21) Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. (22) For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave." (NIV)

If you are a Christian, then you are still a slave to Christ. So you must answer to Him!

When the Hebrews were slaves in Egypt, what did they want? To be free. But, despite being slaves they stuck together. They took care of one another. Families stayed together. Then, Moses stepped up on behalf of the slaves.  He was called by the Lord to lead his people out of Egypt and it started by Moses approaching Pharaoh.

Exodus 5:1  Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.’” (NIV)

Then what did Pharaoh do? He told the slave drivers to make the slaves find their own straw, but they still had to fill the same number of brick quota per day. Hey, they upset Pharaoh and that's a price you pay for wanting to be free. We know that the Pharaoh's heart was harden and after a couple of times he finally let the Hebrews go to Moses. However, let's look at the turn of events.

With their freedom, they became unruly. People began to buck against Moses and what God had planned for them. False idols began to become their God's instead of the Lord (see Exodus32:7-14, Numbers 32:1-13). Even during Moses' time, we see how freedom is a good thing and bad thing. It was great to no longer be in bondage to the Pharaoh. However, it was a bad thing because the people felt free to do whatever they wanted; free to go against the Lord and his commands.

As an example, let us fast-forward from Moses' time and look at the US slavery of black people. During that time, black people stuck together. They prayed together. They raised their children together. The Lord was the head of their households. All the while being controlled, morals remained in tact. Men went to work and supported the family. You didn't leave your family when the chips were down. However, as the late 1950's & early 1960's arrived (The Civil Right's Movement) there was the desire for more freedom. Of course blacks deserved to have equal rights just as much as any other US citizen, correct? Schools were later integrated and an entire series of events happened that gave blacks freedom  (or the appearance of being free).

Now, look at the black community from then to now. You will notice how morals and the sense of urgency to protect family values have gone out the window. This freedom that was desired has helped to become the downfall of the black community. More black men are selling drugs and leaving their families. Now, it's the norm to have a single parent home. Women support their husbands while the men sit at home and watch TV or run the streets. I speak from the perspective of a black man living in America, but the statements above don't just represent the black community. Look at the United States as a whole. This whole ideology of being free has actually opened Pandora's box. Look at the definition of marriage. Now it is now longer man and woman. It's man and man or woman and woman.  Is this ok in the site of the Lord? NO! Quick reminder, look at Sodom and Gomorrah!

The whole freedom movement is seems great for a sense of not having to answer someone. But it is bad because we do not have to answer to someone (so at least some think). When you get to the point where the US is as a country, you have television showing cursing, sex, and anything else not good for us? Why? Well, we have freedom of speech of course. We have freedom of privacy. We have freedom of ________ (you fill in the blank). We are becoming more and more desensitized to what's morally right and wrong with all the freedom we have to express ourselves.  Not that it is a bad thing because the Lord made us as beings with free-will.  The drawback is that He gives us the ability to choose to live according to His Word.   Yes, freedom is good but so is the side of the sword being swung away from the swinger.  It is the other side of the doubled side sword that cuts and separates when you are not paying attention.

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Tests From Uncomfortable Places

Have you ever been somewhere and from afar, you see someone approaching you?  In their approach, you have already predetermined several things about this person:

• They are living a pretty rough life;
• They are coming to ask you for some money;
• They probably are going to do something with that money other than the reason in which they asked.

There may be a list of other things that run through your mind, but in that moment this person asks you for a couple of dollars.  What do you do?

I have talked about this before, but as we grow the same life learning lessons can take on new meanings.  With that said, I have had this happen to me on many occasions and I use to be that person that would say, "I know this person is not going to do XYZ with this money and they are going really going to buy alcohol, drugs, etc."  I think bigger these are at question in these situations and one is "Who am I to judge this person?"  In Matthew 7:1-5 (AMP), it says:

(1) Do not judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves. 2) For just as you judge and criticize and condemn others, you will be judged and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with the measure you [use to] deal out to others, it will be dealt out again to you.  (3) Why do you stare from without at the very small particle that is in your brother’s eye but do not become aware of and consider the beam of timber that is in your own eye?  (4) Or how can you say to your brother, Let me get the tiny particle out of your eye, when there is the beam of timber in your own eye?  (5) You hypocrite, first get the beam of timber out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the tiny particle out of your brother’s eye.

As normal it is always easier to point out other people's problems than it is to acknowledge our own.  It is true that a person may have some type of abuse problem or they may not have a stable home, but does their problem make your sinful acts any better than them.  Does acting un-Christ-like while driving down the highway with road rage make you not as bad because you are a Christian?  Nope, not really.  If anything it is worst to know the teachings of Jesus and not do it, than to not know it at all (see James 1:22).  If you look at your daily life, it is a constant struggle to walk in Christ and we constantly fall short.  

So now, back to this individual who is asking for you money.  Can you look past what you interpret and give any way?  After all, what they do with the money is not of your concern. I know you may say you do not want to aide and abet a person in partaking in some abusive habit, but really can we predict the outcome of our actions?  I believe a bigger issue at hand is that we may be missing the bigger test.  We miss the idea that this individual could be used by God to test our generosity for those we consider poor and maybe in a bad place (remember that God used the most unimaginable people to carry out His will all throughout the bible).  Most importantly, we are doubting that what we do can make a difference in that person's life AND we are doubting the power of God's ability to work a miracle to instantly heal someone!  Now, I am not suggesting that someone else's healing and blessing is predicated on the actions of other humans.  

The test is can you overcome your own judgmental perspectives in order that you can heal and grow.  You should try changing your thought process a little.  Instead of being apprehensive about what you think, try being faithful in what God can do!

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Where Is Your Heart?

As I walked down the side walk on the way into work this morning, something hit me that I should do.  As I thought about this idea, it struck me how much effort and thought I put into it.  It was so easy to plan and conjure more ideas of how to make the previous idea work! It is amazing that the things we are passionate about are so easy to do.  It doesn't take much to put your best foot forward when you are moving forward towards something where your heart is.

In book of Matthew, Jesus speaks to a multitude of people about a range of subjects.  One of those subjects is about storing your treasures in heaven:

Matthew 6:19-21  - "(19) “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. (20) But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. (21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Man, this is so simple and makes so much sense because Jesus places this exactly where normal people can understand it.  Verse 21 is where I would like to focus, because it has more implications in our every day lives than we care to understand.  Your treasures can be your physical money or possessions.  Your treasure could also be your time and where you spend the most time can also tell where your heart is. 

Everything that you do links back to our values and the things about which we are passionate.  Whether it be for good or for bad, you heart is somewhere.  The question is where is your heart?  What drives or motivates you?  What do you wake up in the morning and think you absolutely need to get done today?  It never hurts to do some objective self-reviewing because as we move through life, we can do so obliviously at times.  Today, take a step back.  Take a little time to re-evaluate where you are placing your treasures.  After all, if you find where are your treasures, there you will also find your heart.

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Try It. You Might Like It.

(Photo courtesy of Mommy B Knows Best)

You should try it.

You might like it! 

Try it. You’ll like it.

Try it. You’ll like it.

Try it. You’ll like it.

Try it. You’re gonna like it. 

I know it’s new, and you’ve never tasted it.

You’ll just have to trust in me.

Just give it a try.

The lyrics above are from the song "Try It, You'll Like It", which comes from the TV show, Yo Gabba Gabba.  For those of you who have kids and watch Nick Jr., the song and the characters in the above photo will be quite familiar to you.  For those who are not familiar, the song is a way to teach kids to try new food in which they have never tasted.  What better way to engage kids in trying something new than with education through music?!

You know how kids, as well as some adults, can be.  We are quick to look at something we've never eaten before and say we don't like it.  It's easy to do, especially if it is not appealing from the outside.  After all, appearance is what gives us our first impressions.   It is this same appearance and feeling that people get when they view followers of Christ.  With so much going on in the world and with the actions from those who supposedly love the Lord, it is no wonder why someone else would not want to believe on Him.  I know because I was one of those people who judged for myself that being a Christian was  not for me because of what I observed of those who claimed to be Christians.  I can admit, for me the appearance was not looking good, but as with everything a couple of bad apples can seemingly spoil it for a bunch.

"O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him" (Psalm 34:8). You have to get past the display to give it a try for yourself.  Until you get to that point, you can never claim to have formulated a decision based off of own experience of "taste".   You have to be curious enough to want to try Him for yourself, despite what you see around you.  "I know it's new, and you've never tasted it", but you will just have to give it a try it.  "You might like it!"

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The Dangerous Feeling of Entitlement

2 Thessalonians 3:6-10   (6) In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching[a] you received from us. (7) For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, (8) nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. (9) We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. (10) For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat."

I typically do not lead directly with a scripture, but this feels a little different.  I felt led to reference this scripture before I started to write.   The scripture above is from one of two letters from Paul to the Thessalonians and this passage is a warning against idleness.  I know and realize that the word "entitlement" is a touchy topic these days especially in the political realm, however, it is something that must be addressed.   I say this because the very idleness that Paul speaks of can carry over into a feeling being owed something, especially if you never have to bare a burden to get it.

We know there is a big debate in Washington between politicians on which government programs should be trimmed back, reformed, or cut completely. There is a feeling that people who benefit from these programs feel that they deserve them (or entitled to them).  You have programs like Welfare, Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid to name a few, but rather than focus on the "buzz words" of political infighting I want to focus on us as a people.  Let's leave the politics out of it and talk about on a main street level and from a personal point of view.

See, when I was growing up, I was raised that if I worked hard, I can earn what wanted.  It's practical and makes sense.  If you go to work, you get paid.  Simple, so I thought.  I know that I talked about this before, but I remember when I graduated from college and I felt that the world owed me a job.  After all, I was a Computer Engineer from NC State University.  I had conquered one of the toughest engineering schools in the country, but alas, there was that feel of entitlement.  I had thought that flashing my credentials would punch my ticket to any position that I wanted, because I had did all the work up front and I figured I could rest now.  To make a long story short, I ended up settling for my first job making nearly $10,000 less than what I felt I deserved!  Surprise, surprise!  I've been in my field for nearly 12 years and it has taken dedication, perseverance, and hard work to make it to levels I thought I would be a long time ago.

So, let's go over a couple of lessons learned:

1. Nothing is free.  Everything has a cost.  Notice I didn't say a price because a price is just the monetary value that someone is willing to pay for something .  The cost is what it takes in time, energy, resources, dollars, sacrifice etc. to create something.  Even if you receive something for free, there was a cost involved to someone else to get it to you for free.
   
2. Free things aren't appreciated.  If you think about it, whenever someone has given you something for free, you never really cared about it as much.   The reason for this is because you had no skin in the game.  You did not have to pay for anything.  There was not lost to you from paying the cost. For example, if I gave you a house for free, you would verbally appreciate it, but if something were to happen to it, you would not care as much.  You'd probably say something like, "well it didn't cost me nothing any way".  BUT, if you purpose your own home with your own hard work, sacrifice, and saving, you will take much care of your home.  The difference is you gave up something to get something.

At the end of the day, the last sentence of lesson #2 sums it all up.  If you never give up something to get something, you will never appreciate that something that you got.  If you always receive something for free, you will never feel the pain of having to go work for it and get it.  Even if you do some work, there is no guarantee that you will get what you think you deserve (ask the people dealing with Social Security).  You always have to be willing to go the extra mile and not be complacent or idle in your thinking, because the most dangerous assumption is to believe that you will always get "B" because you did "A".  It may be that way for a while, but things change with time and time continues to infinity.

Be blessed folks.

Antoine

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This Life Was Never Promised to be Easy

Life can be one of the most interesting puzzles out there.  Believe me, I can speak from experience.  However, one thing that we tend to fall victim into believing is that life is suppose to be easy.  Some how, we have come to believe the notion, that life is suppose to always be full of prosperity but I beg to differ.  Last week, I received a devotional from Chuck Swindoll that spoke on this very same topic and I want to share from my perspective as well.

In this world (well at least in America), we enjoy believing that life should have a plan.  Within this plan, there is a overall goal and at the end of that goal it has something to do with living prosperous.  For example, when I was growing up, I was told that if I went to school, studied hard, and went to college I would get a good job.  In addition, I believed that life would go nothing but up without major bumps in the road.  For example, I would marry, have kids, get a nice house with pretty green grass, grow old, retire, and live on a beach somewhere for the remainder of my days.   Well that's all well and good but God never promised such a life to us.

As a matter of fact we see evidence of this with Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:6-9.  In there it says,

(6) Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, (7) or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. (8) Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. (9) But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Paul was one of the most influential Apostles for the Kingdom of God, but look what the Lord tells him in verse nine.  He say's that, "My grace is sufficient for you....".  Say what?!  You mean to tell me that after all that Paul had done, this is the response he got from the Lord?  Survey Says:  Yes.  That's all he got.

Where we go wrong is that we fail to understand the ways of the Man upstairs.  We have a plan in our brain but fail to consider that God's plans may be different from our own.  For years, people have suffered pain and heartache and that's what we don't get.  We wonder things like "If He's so omnipotent, why would he allow such evil and not give us the perfect life?"  Well if He did, then just like any other free thing, we wouldn't appreciate it.  After all, we are not in control.  He is in control and until we learn to submit to His will, we will always struggle to understand why the things happen to us that make life difficult.

You cannot see it now, but just know that His "power is made perfect in weakness" and your struggle today is a teaching moment for your future.

Be Blessed

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Keeping Expectations in the Face of Failure

Wile E. Coyote 

Well Happy New Year Folks!!  Over this past Christmas and New Years, I got the unusual chance to take a vacation.  A long and well needed vacation unlike I have never taken before.  As such I got to spend a lot of quality time with my wife and kids, so it's still taking a while to get back into the swing of things this morning.

As a family we all got a chance to sit down and watch the Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck movie (to which our seven year old daughter seems to have memorized every line already).  For me it was fun because I got to watch my kids appreciate the same simple cartoons that we watched while growing up.  We literally laughed for most of the movie and as they say laughter is good for the soul!

In the midst of that laughter, I found myself putting my adult analysis on the Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner clashes.  It dawned on me that there was never an episode where the coyote caught the road runner (at least that I could remember).  That means out of years and years of watching the same show, that coyote kept chasing and trying different ways to catch that bird!  He tried and tried and tried, but never could get any of his tactics to work.

Many of us would quit with 100% failure.  I could understand stopping if you attempted to do something the same way every time and got the same results.  That is insanity.  However, Wile E. tried a variety of things with different consequences, but the same results.....no road runner.  The one consistent thing that he did have was determination.  Not matter what happened, he was for certain the next attempt would be the one!

Look at Wile E. Coyote in the picture above.  Despite all the failed attempts, he still prepared to eat.  At least he would have been in the correct position had he caught the Road Runner. Many of us start out things with good intentions, but after failing a few times we lose motivation.  We no longer expect to win, but rather our attempts become a repetitive experience with no expected outcome.

For example,  when I was in college, we had to call into a system called TRACS to register for classes.   When the time frame opened up, the phone lines were flooded and you would just have to hang up and redial to get through.  After several attempts of not getting through, redial just became routine and I would expect to fail instead of getting through.  On occasions I would finally get through then hang up due to routine, only to realize that the phone was actually ringing.  ARRRRRRG!!!  My expectations had changed and I wasn't ready and prepared when the results changed in my favor.

Can you say the same for you and your life?  Have you been running into a brick wall over and over again?  How does it make you feel in the process?  It can be tough, but I would suggest you take a look at Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner for inspiration.  Hold your head up high and keep marching forward.  While catching the Road Runner would surely have marked the end of the cartoon as we know it, but we also know it to be just that....a cartoon.  As for you, failure will happen, but don't let your determination and expectations leave you, "[f]or the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."  So, put your napkin around your neck, get your knife and get your fork ready in expectation for your next attempt!

Be blessed folks and have a good one!

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Physical vs Spiritual Hunger

Hunger.  You hear about it all the time.  There are millions of people around the world who don't eat on a daily basis.  There are numerous organizations out there whose sole mission is to help stamp out hunger.  This is great and the efforts of many to feed those in need of physical nourishment should be rewarded.  However, the same effort that we see to feed the physical body, should be multiplied in order to stimulate and feed spiritual hunger.

According to TheFreeDicitionary.com, hunger is defined as "[a] strong desire or need for food; [t]he discomfort, weakness, or pain caused by a prolonged lack of food." or "[a] strong desire or craving".  I think this captures the meaning of hunger both spiritually and physically, but going further is where the two diverge. Your body is designed so that when it needs energy, nutrients, and/or fluids your body sends signals which alert you to eat or drink something.  The longer you go without nurishment, the weaker the body becomes.  However, once you find food, you consume it until you are no longer hungry and the body becomes satisfied until the next hunger episode hits.  In this case, you are continuously driven to consume by your body's needs.

When we look at spiritual hunger, something different occurs.  The longer you go without spiritual nourishment, the less hungry you become.  It is the moment that we start to read and learn more about Jesus, the more our appetite for a walk with Him grows.  It is like watching a child grow.  For example, yesterday, I went into an auto parts store and my son was overwhelmed with all the stuff in there.  He asked, "Daddy, what's this?".  I answered him and then he would ask another question based on my answer.  Then he would move to another item and ask what that was.  His hunger for knowledge of his surroundings grew as I fed him the answers to his questions.  This is how your walk with Christ should be.  As you grow, you should want to know more about "him that is able to keep you from falling" (see Jude 1:24).  In this case, your hunger is stimulated by the more "spiritual food" you eat instead of a long drought of spiritual consumption.

You see, the moment we become content with all that we know about Jesus and the Word of God, is the moment we start to lose hunger.  We start to lose that aching and nagging feeling to consume all that God has for us to know (which is endless).  As for many who read the Bible, they have different meanings revealed to them by the Holy Spirit, even if it is the same passages.  In that vain, the Bible never grows old or irrelevant which means you can never stop learning and receiving revelations.  

As a normal person in the world, you never know it all and we continue learning until we leave this earth.  Don't fall into the trap of believing you have gotten all that you can get from your walk with Christ.  Always seek more knowledge in Him, and never allow your spiritual hunger to be yanked from your life.

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."  -- Matthew 5:6

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We All Have Wilderness Moments

You know, it has been a while since my last blog entry, but it has not been because of a lack of things to write about.  It has been due to lack of dedication and just the moments of life.  I think that moment has been one in the "wilderness" for me.

"What is this", you may be asking.  Well, I would like to define it as a time where we go through different parts of our lives led by the Holy Spirit, but "seemingly" out of the presence of God the Father.  I put the word seemingly in quotes because we know that God never leaves or forsakes us (see Deuteronomy 31:5-6).  However, it is a time where we seem to draw away from everyone.  It is a time where sometimes we exert ourselves physically and we can get lost spiritually if we aren't careful.   It can be a time of reflection and a time of growth.  Let's look at Luke 4:1-13.

(1) Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, (2) where for forty days he was tempted[a] by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. (3) The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” (4) Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’[b]” (5) The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. (6) And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. (7) If you worship me, it will all be yours.” (8) Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’[c]” (9) The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. (10) For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; (11) they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[d]” (12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[e]” (13) When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

The above verses show a time when Jesus was alone in the wilderness (as a human, but not in the spirit).  If you noticed, He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, but Jesus was tempted all the while by the devil (an evil spirit).  During this time He fasted, but He kept His mind focused and fought the devil with the Word of God.

We know that Jesus was tempted in the wilderness.  I think this is pretty obvious.  What may not be obvious are the conditions in which He went into the wilderness. Most of the time we only focus on the temptation part.  We know that Jesus was God in a human body.  He is not like many of us, but He still sweat, hungered, thirsted, and bled just like we do.  So, let's look at a few things.

Jesus, went into the wilderness by Himself. Granted, He was led by the Holy Spirit, He was still alone.  There was no buddy system in his wilderness moment.  At the same time, the devil showed up.  If you have not noticed, it is typically when we are alone that we can either plug into God to the highest degree or we can become distracted by the devil the most.  It is those moments of quietness, that we can be led by the Spirit or we can fall to temptation by the devil.  The question is how grounded are you in the Word to recognize the tricks of the enemy.  If the Spirit is leading you, then follow Him, no matter how difficult a particular moment in your life may seem.

Not only was Jesus alone, but he had been fasting for forty days.   Again, because He lived as a human, He of course hungered.  It is one thing to be alone, but to be alone where there is no food around, most people would go crazy and would eat anything.  This is where you have to be careful, because you could sell you soul to the devil in order to satisfy your flesh. When you are alone, tired and weak, we agree to some of the craziest things without even thinking about it.  Take Jacob and Esau for example.  Esau had been out working all day long in the fields and was dog tired when he got home.  Jacob, who could whip up a mean stew, knew his brother was hungry.  So, when Esau asked him for something to eat, Jacob seized the moment and tricked Esau into giving him his birthright.  Back then, the benefit of the first-born son was a big deal.  He got the birthright which meant there were privileges and/or possessions that he only would received.  Just think.  He gave this up all for a bowl of stew (see Genesis 25:28-32).  In the words of Esau, "Look, I am about to die...What good is the birthright to me?"  It is in our time of weakness that we become the most vulnerable and not being able to check our vulnerabilities can turn our wilderness moment into a lifetime of hell.

The last thing I want to point out is that Jesus recognized who He was.  He knew that He was in a fleshly body, but He also recognized He was the Son of God.  Also, He knew what the Word of God said.  If we recognize who we are and to who we belong, then we can conquer anything.  No devil or demonic spirit can derail us from our walk with the Lord.  Evil can try, but nothing can hold water to Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, and God the Father.

Yes we all have wilderness moments.  After all Jesus had one.  If Jesus had one what makes us think we are exempt from them?  As long as we recognize what we are going through and the potential pitfalls, we'll be alright with our mind on the Spirit who comforts and lead us.  Let no temptation pull your flesh down and let not desire pull you away from that which God has called you.   At some point, the trees will begin to thin and there will be a clearing to which the Son will shine upon your face as you come out of the wilderness.

Be blessed folks and have a good weekend!

Antoine

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Looking And Not Seeing

This morning on my commute to work, I was listening to Dr. David Jeremiah on the radio and he was talking about the parable of the Good Samaritan (see Luke 10:25-37).  Today, some of the things that I say are my own, sprinkled with some of Dr. Jeremiah's influence. So let's hop to it. 

 In the parable, Jesus tells of a man who was headed to Jericho from Jerusalem and was attacked by some robbers.  There, the man laid on the ground from his injuries and person after person passed by him.  They looked at the man, but they passed right by him.  The did not see him.  Antoine just what are you talking about?  Here, I will tell you.

Let's look at the movie Avatar by James Cameron.  In the movie, the natives, called Navi, would greet someone and say, "I see you".  Those who first saw the movie probably thought, "of course you see the person".  After all, they were standing right in front of them (at least I know I thought that). Later, we would know that "to see" someone is to understand them.  This is what the Good Samaritan did for the man who was robbed and beat. He understood the mans situation and took the time too help.  See, you can look at someone, but chose to focus your attention the other way.  You do not understand their situation.  You do not understand why they do what they do; act how they act; think how they think.  Given this, we can look at someone, but not see them at all.

You looked at the homeless man on the corner, but you did not see him.  You looked at alcoholic, but did not see them.  You looked at the child needing a big brother/sister, but did not see them.  It is easy to look the other way because that means we do not have to become involved.  To become involved would mean a cost to you and/or require you to give up something.  If we never can see past our own lives and what we have to do, how can we ever help our fellow brother and/or sister?  You know, Love our neighbor as we love ourselves (see Luke 10:27).

I have given money to people and offered to buy them food.  At the same time, I am guilty of choosing to look the other way.  We are all guilty of it.  The question is can you take a second to see someone?  If we can ever stop focusing on ourselves so much, we may be able to see someone when we look at them.

Regards,

Antoine E. Hall

Blog:      http://toinebo.blogspot.com
Twitter:     http://www.twitter.com/AntoineHall

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." - James 1:22

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I Really, Really, Want It!

Luke 14-28   For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

We all have things that we want in life.  We see cars, homes, gadgets, and/or potential spouses and we just have to have them.  There are things that we did not have as a children growing up and as adults we tend to gravitate to those things because now we can afford them.  I have done this before and I think all of us have at some point.  The most important piece of the puzzle that we failed to realize is the "cost". 

In Luke 14:28, Jesus is telling the disciples to think something through before going forward with an idea.  He tells them you cannot build a tower if you do not have enough funds.  How would you know this?  Well, it is through proper planning.  With proper planning, different expenses start to flesh out and you can get a good idea what the cost will be.  When I go to the dictionary, it tells me that the word cost can mean, "To cause to lose, suffer, or sacrifice".   In the example of the tower, the cost could be money, time, and any other resources.  All of those are things that you can lose and/or sacrifice.  Given the definition of cost, I want us to think about the cost we incur when we have strong desires for certain items and/or people.  I am going to be transparent here for a minute because I was convicted this weekend, so here we go. 

When I was growing up, I had a few dogs but not all of them lived long.  I mean, what kid does not love having dogs around right?  Well after a while, there were no more dogs.  I always asked but the answer was no, so for many years, I went without a dog, but I always wanted one.   After about my Senior year of high school, my Dad came home with a puppy.  By that time, I got to spend a summer or so with him and then it was off to college.  In this case, I never really "grew up" with a dog around.

Now, fast forward.  I am grown and when I graduate from college and got married, what was one of the first things I purchased?  You got it.  A brand new dog.  Boy, I can say it was a good feeling. I loved having him around and it reminded me of good old times with my childhood dogs.  Then, reality began to hit me.  I started to realize why my parents did not want a dog around.  The are like having another child!  They are hard work to keep up.  They have to get shots, be groomed, walked, etc.  If you have had a sick dog at night and having to run to the Vet you understand that the cost can be quite expensive (monetarily & time wise).  I got what I always wanted, however, I never added up all of the cost.  My dog did not ask me to bring him home, but I chose to do it out of blind excitement and emotions.  Yep, so I had repent after conviction.  Also, I had to eat crow because my wife told me so, but I had to couldn't argue with the sounds of the Holy Spirit.

Everything has a cost associated with it and many times we only see the dollar amount, but fail to recognize other cost factors.  Do you really, really want a house?  Guess what, it not only costs a lot, but it has an enormous amount of responsibility.  If you get into a new home, gone are the days of calling property management to fix something.  Guess who has to pony up for that broken hot water heater or leaky toilet?  You.  If you get a leak in the roof, guess who has to have it repaired?  You.  When the grass needs cutting guess who does it?  You?  To make the lawnmower go, what do you need?  Gas. Guess, what, gas isn't free.  Count the Cost.

You want that brand new top of the line luxury car, right?  I know you just have to have it.  The question is do you fully understand the cost?  Not only does it cost money to bring the car home, but it costs even more to keep the car in good condition.  When something goes wrong, did stop to think that it may cost $500+ for a mechanic to plug up the computer to the car to ONLY diagnose the car (they haven' even started with repairs)? Did you take into account that the luxury car probably required top of the line tires to keep with the luxury experience?  Did you think about the interior that may be difficult to keep clean, because after all it is luxurious?  Count the cost.

I could keep going on and on but you get the point.  We are so emotionally driven by the lack of or the keeping up with the Jone's that we make silly decisions to satisfy a desire or want.  Everything has a cost.  The question is are you willing to pay the entire cost even when you realize it cost more than you really wanted to pay?

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Cleansing: It's OK to Slow Down (Replay)

I started to an entry today and as got about a paragraph into it, I realized that the topic sounded familiar.  Given this, I dug into the archives and found exactly what I wanted to say. It is amazing how things go full circle.  Be blessed folks.

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April 9, 2006

Good afternoon gang!

I pray that everyone is have a great hump day so far.  You know in the year 2006 we find ourselves always and forever on the go.  We are running to this meeting and running to that meeting.  We are working 14 and 15 hours a day, trying to have family time, trying to say hello to friends, participating in this organization and that organization.  When you think about it, where does God get his time in the day or week for that matter?  With so much going on, God and his Word tends to get pushed out of our daily lives.

Mark 6:31-32 says, "(31) And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. (32) And they departed into a desert place by ship privately."

In this chapter of Mark, we find that John the Baptist has just been beheaded and his disciples found out and retrieved his body to be placed in a tomb.  After they had done this task they went to Jesus and He told them to go rest as you see from the verses above.  Although, Jesus was a very busy man, he still found time to slow down and smell the roses; slow down to pray.  See the next verse.

Mark 1:25 says, "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed."

Jesus always managed to slow down and to keep his eye on God.   In our lives we are typically the equivalent of driving down the road in a Ferrari doing 100mph.  When you look to the side everything is a blur and all you know is that you have a destination.  However, going this fast in life, you miss what God has to say to you.  He can catch you but you are always going to fast to notice him trying to talk to you.  But when you are driving your drop top Volkswagen Beetle, you see everything.  God can say hey, "look over there".  Then He can also say, turn here I want to show you something.  When God wants to show you something you probably will want to see it.  But if you are at 100mph in your Ferrari any slight distraction will cause you to wreck.

That's what happens in our lives.  God is out of the midst and minor distraction causes mental, physical, & spiritual crashes for us.  Slowing down, it's alright.  When you do, God will reveal to you those questions you ask.  He will show you your needs versus your wants.  He will show you your faults and how to correct them.  You just have to be willing to drive slow down enough to smell the roses.

Be blessed folks and have a great day!

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A Big Mistake

God, are you serious?  You must be mistaken!  What just happened to me should not have happened?  What just happened to my friend should not have happened?  My career was suppose to go different than what it did!  God you must have me confused with someone else!

Sounds familiar?  Have you ever asked or made one of the statements above?  If you have, you might want to keep something in mind.  God does not make a mistake.  Remember that He is omniscient.  He knows everything that is happening to you and around you.   Luke 12:7 says, "Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."  If He knows this very detail about you, why would we think decisions He has made were not purposefully made?

The biggest mistake that we can make is believing that He made a mistake.  We can get into a lot of trouble when we start to question God because if left unresolved, you can start to doubt.  If you doubt then you open a door for the enemy into your life and that's a downhill slope none of us wish to climb up.  

"God is mighty, but despises no one; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose." - Job 36:5

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Lost In Denominations

Catholicism.  Baptist. Methodist. Lutheran.  All of these are different "branches" of Christianity and all of them have their own set of governing rules which make them who they claim to be. According to Wikipedia's List of Christian denominations, "there are reported to be approximately 38,000 Christian denominations".  I mean, WOW!  Really, WOW!   I bring this up because I saw a bill board this morning for a Methodist church that advertised coming to experience Methodism in a different way.  

Methodism?  I understand that Methodism is the practice of being a Methodist, however, what happened to being just a Christian?  At the heart of the matter, Jesus should be brightly shining but sometimes that may not be the case.  We can get lost in ourselves and get caught up in positions and titles.  We can become frustrated with other people in the church because we think they are not "doing church" the right way. The problem with this is that we start to cut each other off from other denominations and then we justify it by saying this is the why we do what we do and believe what we believe.  The more you start to believe and focus on what you do rather than Jesus, you add further division into the umbrella of Christianity (Actually, we should say that we follow Jesus, because not all those who call themselves Christians follow the tenants of Jesus.  I got that from my wife.  Thanks hun!)   

In Matthew 12:22-26;30, it says:

(22) Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. (23) All the people were astonished and said, Could this be the Son of David? (24) But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons. (25) Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. (26) If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? (30) Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

In these verses, we see that Jesus has healed a man who was possessed, but the Pharisees simply say this can only be the results of Beelzebul.  Jesus then explains that if this was the case, then Satan would be going against himself and his mission to steal, kill, and destroy (see John 10:10).  In order for a team to accomplish its goal, all its members have to be on the same page, regardless of its purpose.  When a team's goal is to head North and different members of the team decide they wish to go in all other directions but North, it is impossible for that team to reach its goal.  It just cannot happen.

Simply, we cannot become lost in all the denominations out there.  We have to keep Jesus our focus and stop worrying about the intricacies of how you do church.  Believe and keep your eyes "[t]o him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy" and all the other distractions will fall by the wasteside (see Jude 1:24).

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You Cannot Do It All By Yourself

Happy Year Folks!

I hope that you all had a Merry Christmas as well!  It feels good to be able to jump back into writing, so without delay, I want to go to Exodus 18:13-22.  It is a little lengthy, but work with me.  There, it says:

(13) The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. (14) When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, "What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?" (15) Moses answered him, "Because the people come to me to seek God's will. (16) Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God's decrees and instructions." (17) Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good. (18) You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. (19) Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to him. (20) Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. (21) But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. (22) Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you.

You know what?  I probably needed to read and meditate on this verse all while growing up and probably to this day.  How many of us try to do things all by ourselves?  After all, as American's we pride ourselves on getting to the point where we are independent and can do it all alone.  Independence is like a mark that says, "I did it and I can do it all by myself!".  This is good and there is nothing wrong with independence, until it gets in the way of getting help when you need it.

It is hard to go back to ask people for help when you've portrayed the role that "you got it".  Sometimes, it can even be a hard pill to swallow, but if you will just step outside yourself to see yourself, you'd realize that you cannot do everything alone.  As in verse 18, "...you will only wear yourselves out."  If you are use to going at it alone that is fine, but keep in mind that you have to be able to recognize when you need help to "make your load lighter".

If someone offers help, it is probably because they see something that you do not see.  Re-evaluate your situation and see where you may need help.  After all, the help that comes may be the bridge you need to get over your current road block.

Be easy folks and have a great Monday!

Regards,

Antoine E. Hall

Blog:      http://toinebo.blogspot.com
Twitter:     http://www.twitter.com/AntoineHall

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." - James 1:22

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God's R.O.I. (Replay)

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March 5, 2008

Good morning folks and Happy Hump Day!

I hope everyone in the Southeast survived the storms and rain last night. We definitely needed the rain here in NC because Falls Lake now looks like a big sand box. That's ok though because we know that God will provide what we need when we need it as long as we are good stewards of what he gives us. This makes a good place to start today's word for the day. Gods investment in us.

This morning I was listening to the Yolanda Adams morning show and Kirk Franklin was a guest (they are on their Caribbean Cruise). They talked about a plethora of things and one of which was God's return on His investment. Well what does that mean though. First let's get some definitions out in the open.

R.O.I. (Return on Investment) - A performance measure used to evaluate the efficiency of an investment or to compare the efficiency of a number of different investments. To calculate ROI, the benefit (return) of an investment is divided by the cost of the investment; the result is expressed as a percentage or a ratio.1

ROI = (Gain from investment – Cost of Investment)/Cost of Investment

For investors and analysts, this formula is very good at letting them know when they should risk an investment. After doing the math, if the return isn't profitable for them, they do not make the investment. Now let's look at God.

We have a known in the ROI formula which is the Cost of the Investment. The Lord has done a lot of things for us. For starters, He created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). Not only did he create the heavens and the earth, He went on to create man in the likeness of Him (Genesis 1:27). This alone is a huge investment, but then Adam and Eve decided to disobey God and eat from the very tree in the Garden of Eden that He said not to eat from. Like children God, punished them -- kicked them out the Garden (where they had a "fa sho" hedge placed around them) creating the first sin and the separation of God.

You know how the story goes, but that's not the end. Not only did Adam and Eve sin against God, they created a domino effect that would cause every human being to be born into sin. Hence, there needed to be an investment made on our behalf. In order for us to regain direct access to God, He had to send his only begotten Son to come to die for our sins that we may have everlasting life (John 3:16).

Let's compare this to the modern world. I know this is a far stretch but work with me. When the US economy seems to be headed for a recession (or a fall), the government had to stimulate the economy by making an investment in it. The hopes are that the people will feel confident to spend while the company feel confident to supply. Gods investment, by having Jesus to die for our sins was the ultimate investment. Now that we have access to Him through Jesus Christ, we should feel confident in spending in the Kingdom of God. The bad news for us is that it is a return that we as a people can never make Him fully recover while we are in the flesh. The good news is that we can strive (in the flesh) to make His investment justifiable, so that on Judgment day all the Saints can have God fully recover from His investment.

So, now that we know the cost God endured for investing in us how can we have God obtain a "Gain from investment"? Well glad you asked. Remember, some time before that we did a WFTD about being a Pew Warmer (see http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wftd/message/601)? Well, being a pew warmer is how God does not recover from his investment. Every time someone sits and does nothing, there is a lost. In this case, lost of a soul. (Note: Just because you are saved, that does not guarantee you go to heaven!) God placed a purpose in your life. Whether it is to help people, be in business for your self, be the best custodian, be the best whatever it is God has given you the talent to be. Ephesians 4:11-13 says,

"(11) It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, (12) to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (13) until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

God has placed in us something to do for the kingdom. If you seek God for what the purpose He's placed in your life and to follow through with it, He will see an increase towards the gain of His investment. Aren't you glad that God loved us enough to take a risk? If he had been like someone on Wall Street, He would have looked at us and said, "this is a bad R.O.I. For me". However, He loved us enough to "take a hit" upfront to have us come back to Him in the end.

Be blessed folks and have a happy, HAPPY, HUMP DAY!

1 Investopedia. http://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/returnoninvestment.asp

--
Antoine E. Hall
"If God didn't do it, well who did?"

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