Agent of Change

Posted on July 14, 2023 by Tennyson

Did you ever desire to have a friend, a really good and close friend? A friendship that transcends any other relationship found here in this life. It has been my experience that everyone wants a friend whom they can be honest with and share hard times with, not have to put on some fake facade, but just to be real with each other. Well, I’ve found this type of friendship. 

The night before Jesus died, he talked to His disciples about just such a friend (John 16). He goes by many different names, but the name we all have heard the most is the Holy Spirit. I can remember the Sunday mornings sitting in my Grandmother’s house listening to a preacher talk about the Holy Spirit. I remember saying to myself, If I ever take this Christianity thing seriously, I definitely want this Holy Spirit. Well, that is exactly what happen, and I am so glad of it.  

The thing we need to understand is that after Jesus paid the price for the sin of mankind, it also paved the way for a new type of relationship for God to have with us. Notice I said it starts with God, not us. Once a person starts believing in Jesus and accepts him as Lord and Savior, we become born again, meaning your spirit (the real you) becomes transformed, you are no longer a sinner, you are saved by grace, you cannot be both. 

You might be asking… What’s the big deal? This is a major deal; it means there is nothing separating God from us. The following scripture gives us insight into God’s intentions for the type of relationship He has planned for us.

Ephesians 3:17

Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.

This is such a game-changer! Before the cross, the focus and responsibilty of changing our life was on us, but now with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, He carries the responsibility to bring about the change necessary in our life. Our part is to believe, put our faith and dependence on Him, and follow His lead. This type of teaching runs against the grain of most Churches. All I have ever heard is how I have to be so disciplined in my day-to-day life. Sometimes the word discipline is so overrated. 

This agent of change, as I like to call it, starts with a relationship, and like all relationships, it must have communication as a key ingredient. Let’s dispel this ridiculous myth that we do not have the ability to communicate with God. God speaks with His creation all the time. It would be ludicrous to think that God would create mankind and not have the ability to communicate with them. 

My relationship with my Wife started with simply talking. We discovered our likes, dislikes, and our dreams. These were not just casual conversations. These were intimate, life-changing conversations that were built during those early days and now have expanded over 40 years. I’m not the same person I was 40 years ago because of this deep friendship/relationship I’ve had with my Wife. 

THIS IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF RELATIONSHIP GOD WANTS WITH US!  

The Holy Spirit was sent to make His home in your heart, to lead you and guide you. He works with you on changing your desires, desires which will please God (Philippians 2:13).  Numerous times in my life, I’ve needed counsel and direction, and the Holy Spirit has been there to help. The Holy Spirit and I share life together, not just in the bad times but in the good times as well. We are inseparable; we even exercise together, tho I do all the work. 🙂  

I couldn’t imagine if my Wife came home from work and I didn’t stop to acknowledge her or say hello, but just ignored her as if she were not there. Sometimes I feel we do the same thing with the Holy Spirit. Lately, I’ve been making more of an effort to acknowledge Him and to listen to what he has to say. Many times we hear things, and we think it’s just us, but most of the time, it’s the Holy Spirit speaking to us.

So if you are looking for a friend who promises NEVER to leave you or give up on you even when you mess up or think you have it all together, to be with you through the good and bad times of life, to help give you guidance and counsel. The Holy Spirit has been sent to help us and to change us. All you need to do is ask God for the gift of the Holy Spirit.  

Another Blog post you may be interested in.

From The Inside Out

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Love, Grace, and Faith

Posted on June 30, 2023 by Tennyson

As someone who has been a follower of Christ for most of my life, I’ve seen a lot of different approaches churches use to mature/educate individuals along in their Christian walk. Some use Lordship, some use Discipleship, and some use Servanthood, to name a few. Nothing is wrong with this unless they are used to manipulate people into obedience. Obedience is an Old Testament term where the focus of change is on us. In the New Testament, a shift has been introduced from obedience to belief. Your beliefs will influence your actions! If we are going to live like New Testament believers, then we need to stop thinking in Old Testament ways. 

So, how can we help new and old Christians mature in their walk with Christ? After careful consideration, I have concluded that it boils down to three essential components.

  • The Love of God
  • Being rooted and established in Grace
  • Using faith to obtain what Grace has made available 

Please understand that I am summarizing these components. So much more can be said in great detail.  

The Love of God

I’ve said this before and will continue to say it; The New Testament is more about how much God loves us rather than how much we love God. Every new Christian should spend at least the first years studying and learning to experience the Love of God. 

Paul says this about God’s love…

Ephesians 3:17-19 – NLT

Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

When you catch hold of how much God loves you, it will revolutionize your life! You will never be the same again. God’s love is transformative! The things you used to do you will not want to do anymore. For example, In my marriage relationship with my Wife, there are things and situations I avoid because of our love for each other. Ultimately the Love of God leads you to an intimate relationship with Him. Developing a personal and intimate relationship with God is a crucial aspect of a Christian’s life. I cannot stress this enough, without it, you will be prone to wavering and having doubts during the tough times of life.

Being rooted and established in Grace

Hebrews 13:9 (NKJ), it says For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace. We could spend years on this topic of Grace! The first thing we need to understand about Grace is that Grace is not a curriculum, Grace is a person, and that person is Jesus Christ (John 1:14). Secondly, we need to understand that God has given us everything we need to live a godly life (2 Peter 1:3 NLT). 

Here are just a few examples of areas covered by Grace

  • Ephesians 1:7-8 – We are forgiven of Sin
  • Romans 5:1 – We are made righteous
  • John 3:36 – We have eternal life
  • Isaiah 53:5  – We have access to complete healing
  • Philippians 4:19 – Our daily needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter, are provided
  • John 14:27 – Jesus gave us His peace to walk in
  • James 1:5-8 – We can access His Wisdom
  • Romans 15:13 – Hope for the future

The list could go on and on. An interesting point I want to mention is, None of these areas require participation on our part, God has provided this through His grace.  Once you have been born again and filled with the Holy Spirit, God deals with you through His grace, not just in this life but throughout all eternity. It’s a subject that deserves more focus, but I hope you get the point for now. 

Using faith to obtain what Grace has made available

Each of us has been given a measure of faith (Romans 12:3). The purpose of this faith is to be used to access the provisions of Grace. Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith, it is impossible to please God. I like to say; faith is another way of saying I depend on God. Teaching Christians to depend on God will help us avoid the pitfalls of stress and worry we face in this life. For example, there have been times in my life I have stressed out over certain situations, and the Holy Spirit has to remind me, saying that’s not your burden to bear. So from that point, I have to use my faith, knowing God will take care of the situation. 

To sum up, It’s has been my experience that most Churches focus on the external behavior of an individual, such as spending time in prayer, attending church, serving, and reading your Bible. None of these are wrong, however, I think it’s more effective if we focus our attention on How much God loves us, being rooted and establishing His grace, and how to access the provisions of grace using our Faith. Once these internal values have been established, the external behavior will come naturally. 

Some other Blog posts you may be interested in:

Dependence or Independence? 
Thoughts regarding God’s Love – Part 1
Thoughts regarding God’s Love – Part 2

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Sin Does NOT Send You To Hell

Posted on June 9, 2023 by Tennyson

So now that I have your attention and before you start picking up stones to throw at me. Please take the time to read through this entire message. 

In this post, I would like to discuss two issues related to sin. Firstly, does sin lead us to eternal damnation? Secondly, should Churches make sin its central focus?

After being a Christian for most of my life, I’ve had the privilege of being a part of several churches and it seems that the central theme in most churches is this issue of sin. I can’t even count the number of altar calls and sermons I’ve been in and heard. My intentions are not to make light of sin, but I want us to consider this, Should sin be the central issue? Most of us know the original sin started with Adam and Eve which has completely wrecked the race of men, but now that Christ has come, what should be our stance with regard to sin and our eternity? 

Let’s start with Hebrews 9:28 – NLT

Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.

Jesus only died once for our sins. Take a moment to reflect on this fact…. When we sin, it does not mean that Jesus has to die over and over again. If that were the case, it would make more sense for Jesus to simply stay on the cross.

Secondly, He was a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. 

1 Peter 3:18a

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.

The day He offered himself, He said “It is finished”. What a strange thing to say just as He was about to breathe His last. His death paid the price for everyone who had previously died, everyone currently alive, and everyone in the future which included us. Sin is no longer an issue with God because Jesus paid the price for ALL of mankind’s transgression. Notice it says (in Hebrews) “He will come again, not to deal with our sins” – Why? Because Jesus has already dealt with sin on the cross, but somehow churches continue to make sin the central issue.  

So the million-dollar question is, what determines a person’s fate when it comes to where you will spend eternity? 

Romans 10:9-10 – NLT

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.

And 

John 3:16 – NLT

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

The day you believed and put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ is the day your sin was permanently removed. Past, present, and future! It’s really that simple. God is not trying to make this complicated. 

Where you spend eternity comes down to; Do you believe in Jesus Christ? Will you accept Him as your Lord and Savior? I believe the most agonizing and horrifying realization for those in Hell is knowing they are not there because of their sin, but knowing they had a chance, maybe many chances on earth to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. 

Now, let’s discuss what happens to us after we have accepted Jesus Christ but stumble and fall into sin. Romans 8 talks about how we have been freed from the law of sin and death. Knowing that Jesus has already paid the price frees us from the guilt, shame, and condemnation of sin. I’m not advocating we should continue in sin because sin has consequences. Sin hurt you and the people around you, but when we fall into sin, let’s not let it consume us. Repent, and say Thank you Jesus for paying the price for my sin. 

I’ve heard it said, “Do you clean up to take a shower or do you take a shower to get cleaned up?” We do not need to clean up before approaching God. Instead, we come to Him and he cleans us up through the work of the Holy Spirit. I have previously written about this, and if you are interested, a link can be found below. This is the part I believe most of Christianity misses it. Instead of focusing on sin through your good behavior and discipline life, teach people to depend on the work of the Holy Spirit. God is the one who started the good work in us and He will be the one to complete it (Philippians 1:6) by changing our desires and giving us the power to do what pleases Him (Philippians 2:13). 

From the Inside Out

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Dependence or Independence? 

Posted on May 26, 2023 by Tennyson

In my previous blog, I stated, When one puts their trust in the finished works of Christ, it cultivates a dependence on Him. 

Let’s explore this concept further.

To begin, let’s explore the idea of independence before we discuss dependence on God. The angel known as Satan or Lucifer was originally an archangel with a high rank, but his downfall came when he succumbed to pride.

Isaiah 14:13 

You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. 

Here we have a being that was created by God, declaring independence from God. It is important to pause and reflect on this – God is the source of all life, regardless of whether you accept this fact or not, as He is the creator of everything. 

Colossians 1:16

For through him, God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.

He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—

such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.

Everything was created through him and for him.

Now, let us consider what happened to Adam and Eve in the garden. Satan used the serpent to deceive them into thinking they can be like God without Him. 

Genesis 3:4

“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

God told Adam and Eve not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. However, they disobeyed Him because they desired to be like God and have the ability to distinguish between good and evil. Essentially, they wanted to be independent from God and make their own decisions. Unfortunately, this same spirit of independence continues to exist in our modern era.

After careful consideration, I believe that humanity falls short in this particular aspect. While everything else in existence relies on God, we erroneously assume that we can thrive without Him. This independent mentality deceives us into thinking that we do not require God and can function solely on our own, but this is far from reality.

Pride is a big issue because pride will lead you down the road to thinking all you need is you, but I assure you one day you will find yourself in a place where you don’t have all the answers. All the self-help books and the meditations which focus on self will not fill that void inside of you that only can be filled with God. If we are to survive in the world, we are going to need to develop a dependence on the one who created us.

John 15:5

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing”.

As Christians, Jesus teaches us to stay connected to Him. This involves placing our trust in Him and relying on Him. When we learn to depend on Him, it leads to a fruitful life filled with the attributes of God, such as love, joy, peace, contentment, wisdom, strength, etc. Without relying on Him, also known as being independent, we are incapable of achieving anything of value or eternal significance.

As I grow older, I increasingly understand the significance of relying on Him. It’s not just a mere understanding, but I make it a point to repeatedly say the words, “Today, I depend on you God,” to remind myself. Trusting and having faith in Him brings a sense of peace in my life, a precious commodity in today’s world filled with stress and anxiety.

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From The Inside Out

Posted on May 11, 2023 by Tennyson

In my previous blog, I stated, genuine transformation must originate from within. Upon accepting Jesus Christ, based on the premise of Romans 10:9-10, a person undergoes a lifetime of constant change

Let’s explore this concept further.

1 Thessalonians 5:23

“And the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly, and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The essence of a person, also known as their Spirit, is eternal and continues to exist even after their physical body dies. This aspect of a person is renewed by God once they start believing in Jesus. Although we cannot perceive it with our naked eyes, the spiritual realm is genuine. Similarly, we cannot observe air, but we acknowledge its existence as we inhale it every day; the same applies to our Spirit.

As humans, we possess a soul made up of three components – the mind, will, and emotions. Our decisions in life are primarily influenced by our will. The knowledge and information we gain and believe in also play a crucial role in shaping our choices. The Bible emphasizes the importance of renewing our minds through the Word of God in Romans 12:2.

Lastly, let’s talk about the body. It’s what allows us to function and have authority in this world. Through it, we can touch, taste, smell, see, and hear. As Christians, we can look forward to the promise of a new body, as mentioned in Philippians 3:21.

There is much more to explain, but we can discuss these topics at a later time. As I have previously stated, change begins within oneself and radiates outward. The crucial question to ask is: who is responsible for initiating this change? It is God who brings forth spiritual rebirth, It is God who transforms the mind through His word, and again it is God who creates a new body. So what role do we play in this transformation?

Religion will teach us that we must do something to bring about change, but I would like to suggest it’s more about believing in the finished works of Jesus.

When one puts their trust in the finished works of Christ, it cultivates a dependence on Him. Personally, I prefer to rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance rather than my own strength to bring about change. I have failed many times in striving to live a holy, devoted Christian life before God. However, as I shift my dependence on the Holy Spirit’s work, I notice constant transformation within myself. The Holy Spirit works on my attitude, alters my desires, and transforms the way I live and respond to life.

Consider the following Scriptures

Ephesians 4:23-24

let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Philippians 1:6

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Philippians 2:13

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

2 Corinthians 3:18b

And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Clearly, we can see that it is God who has taken on the responsibility to bring about change. I like that the verse in Philippians 2:13 beautifully expresses God’s role in our lives, as He empowers us to do what pleases Him. I have shared this insight previously, but it’s worth emphasizing that as we submit to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, our desires are transformed. We no longer want to indulge in activities that we once did, but instead, we strive to please God in all that we do.

You might wonder why this is such an important topic. Well, many Christians attempt to live a life that emulates God through their own efforts and abilities. Unfortunately, this often leads to failure, or even worse, self-righteousness. This self-righteous attitude results in a greater reliance on oneself rather than on God working in you.

I recently heard this statement, “Do you get cleaned up to take a shower? No, you take a shower to get cleaned up“. The same can be spoken of as coming to Christ. He does the cleaning as you come to him. Instead of giving a new convert the 12 steps on how to be a disciple, why not trust and depend on the Holy Spirit. who is more qualified, to change a person from the inside out.

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Thoughts regarding God’s Love – Part 2

Posted on May 4, 2023 by Tennyson

In my previous thoughts on God’s Love (part 1), I mentioned that the more I delve into this topic, the more I realize that there is no limit to the subject or the experience of God’s love.

Ephesians 2:8-10 – NLT

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

When one chooses to believe in Jesus Christ, many significant changes occur in their life. Above all, their Spirit is regenerated or, in other words, reborn. The previous spirit was lifeless due to sin, but now that we possess a new spirit, nothing can prevent God from filling us with his love. This also leads to a multitude of other benefits, but we can discuss those another time.

A significant aspect of God’s love working within an individual is the positive transformation it brings about. You will notice a change in your behavior as you will no longer be inclined towards the things you used to do. This is where genuine transformation takes place, not by adhering to the do’s and don’ts of religion. It is baffling that some Christians try to maintain their salvation through works after having faith in Jesus Christ! The truth is straightforward – salvation begins with faith and is sustained by continuing to believe. As stated in Philippians 1:6, “The good work initiated in you will be carried through to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Who is the one doing the good work? God is the one who initiated the good work and he will see it to completion.

During my youth, I attended church and vividly recall the sermons that were designed to frighten people into repentance. It was quite overwhelming! While I understand that believing in Jesus Christ saves a person from eternal damnation, I believe that salvation is more than just that. It is not my intention to trivialize salvation, but in my opinion, the true beauty of it lies in developing a close and deeply personal relationship with the Creator. This is where the real joy of salvation lies!

The foundation of our relationship is rooted in the love of God. Over the course of many years, my Wife and I have invested countless hours in building a strong bond. We have learned each other’s preferences and have even been able to anticipate each other’s thoughts (kind of scary). But why would the Creator of the universe give up His most precious gift, His only son? The answer is simple: He desires a relationship with you. He wants to invest years in building a deep connection with you, spending countless hours together, and allowing you to know Him intimately. His love should not just be knowledge, but a personal experience that transforms your life.

It cannot be emphasized enough that living a holy life and doing good works are desires of God. However, it is crucial that these stem from a close and personal relationship with Him. Attempting to attain a good standing with God without truly knowing Him will not result in lasting change. Genuine transformation arises from within oneself.

How do we start a relationship with him? Glad you asked… Like any relationship, it starts with spending time together. If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord, he is always available to listen and talk to you since he now lives within your spirit. To understand more about the nature and person of God, I suggest reading the Bible, which is one of the best books I’ve ever read. Start with the book of John, and you’ll be amazed by the transformation that takes place in your mind as you read it (Romans 12:2). The Bible covers all aspects of life, including your identity, purpose, health, and finances. Everything you need is in there.

Trust me, you will never be the same! 

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Thoughts regarding God’s Love – Part 1

Posted on April 27, 2023 by Tennyson

Over the last year, I have been contemplating and exploring the concept of God’s love. It has become clear to me that, as the Apostle Paul stated, it is impossible to comprehend the vastness of God’s love fully. I am not satisfied with a mere intellectual knowledge of this love; I desire a deeper, more personal experience of it. The more I delve into this subject, the more I realize that there is no limit to the richness of this experience.

It’s commonly believed among Christians that the Christian life is primarily about loving God. However, I propose that it’s actually more about how much God loves us! As stated in 1 John 4:19, we love God because He loved us first. The Love of God should be the cornerstone of a believer’s life and teachings, as it’s crucial to understanding the faith. Without this foundation, we may be prone to misunderstandings and misinterpretations.

Ephesians 3:17-18 NLT

Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

As I read this passage, the first thing that catches my attention is the statement that Christ will dwell in our hearts when we place our trust in Him. This means that we are never alone! God has promised to never abandon or forsake us, not just during the good times, but also in the midst of struggles. Whether we’re going to bed, waking up, heading to work, facing tough times, or even when we make mistakes, He is always present when we put our faith in Him. Though it’s easy to forget, it’s important to remember that Jesus lives within us. This realization helps our roots to grow deeper into God’s love and keeps us strong.

In the latter part of this passage, Paul emphasizes the importance of comprehending the vastness of God’s love – its width, length, height, and depth. It’s worth pausing and pondering over.

While there are numerous types of love in the world, we should exercise caution not to equate them with God’s love. For instance, many of our human relationships are built on conditional love – I love you as long as you love me back. However, God’s love is unwavering and unchanging. It’s crucial to note that we often base our perception of God’s love on our actions, assuming that He loves us more when we do good and withdraws His love when we err. This is not true – God’s love is unchanging and doesn’t depend on our performance.

Isaiah 54:9 NLT 

To me this is like the days of Noah,

when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth.

So now I have sworn not to be angry with you,

never to rebuke you again.

This passage of scripture is truly remarkable, yet often overlooked by many Christians. It’s important to note that when God makes a promise, it is absolute. God has promised to never be angry with or rebuke us. This may come as a surprise to some who believe that God punishes us for our mistakes or distances himself from us. However, this is not true of God’s nature, especially for those of us who have faith in Him.

Before I go, I want you to know that God’s love for you is unwavering. It does not depend on your emotions or actions. As Paul wrote in Romans 8, nothing will separate us from the love of God! 

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The Passing of a Patriarch

Posted on February 26, 2018 by Tennyson

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bid’s me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

The words of this song still to this day send shock waves in my soul. As a boy, my Mom would watch Billy Graham’s crusades on TV. Although I didn’t understand most of the teaching, there was something about his words which impacted my spirit. To this day I can still remember responding quietly to myself to the alter calls. Many years later I took some time to read Billy Graham’s autobiography and did a more in-depth study of his life. What an amazing man of God! There is something about studying someone’s life which helps to make things more personal, even though I’ve never met him face to face. Kind of like reading and studying the Bible — the more you spend time in it, the more personal God becomes in your life.

Jesus once said, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to look at the culture and see the opposite. Culture says you need to scratch, back bite and ram your way to the top, but Jesus is telling us to become a servant. Billy (he always wanted people to call him by his first name) lived a life of being a servant. The many sacrifices he made, and the incredible integrity he displayed, earned him, in my opinion, the status of a patriarch, which is why thousands and thousands of people are mourning his passing.

Some would say, you can never replace a man such as Billy Graham. This is true. Billy had a unique style and an anointing which cannot be replaced. Those of us who were impacted by his preaching and teaching are sad to see him go, but we know that this is how life is on this earth. Many of us are not called to impact the nations with the same calling as Billy, but nonetheless, we are called to impact the lives of those around us. Over the past 30 plus years of being a Christian, there were countless of people who have impacted my life. So the question stands — who are the lives we are impacting?

I don’t know about you, but I have to remind myself, that just because these great men and women go home to be with our Lord, the cause of Christ and the Kingdom of God does not stop advancing. Another way to put it is, we have to be careful not to put our hope in men and women with regards to the advancement of God’s kingdom. No, you cannot replace a man like Billy Graham, but my hearts cry is that God would raise up millions more like him to bring the salvation message to those who are lost. The same goes for Oral Roberts, may God raise up millions more to display the signs and wonders of healing of our God.

Although I mourn the loss of a great man, my hope remains, knowing that one day I will see him again, and I look forward with great excitement to more patriarchs like him, yes even those who have not been born yet. Thank you Billy Graham for bringing the message of salvation to millions, and for impacting my life.

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Family – It’s far better than being all alone

Posted on December 4, 2015 by Tennyson

Every year at Christmas time there are certain movies my wife and I like to watch. These movies may not necessary be about Christmas (though the movies has Christmas time in it), but they carry a core message about life. One of these movies is, While you were Sleeping with Sandra Bullock. Call me sentimental, but this movie always touches something deep within me. There is a certain quote in the movie that goes like this:

“The truth was that I fell in love with you. Yes, all of you. I went from being all alone to being a fiancee, a daughter, a granddaughter, a sister, and a friend. I may have saved your life that day, but you really saved mine. You let me be a part of your family. I haven’t had that in a really long time.”

Think about that first part for a moment, “I went from being all alone”. God said in the beginning, It’s not good for man to be alone. He knew that being a part of a family brings a sense of belonging, the goodness of fellowship, and a knowing that we are not alone in this world.

familyThis is the main reason why I love Thanksgiving and Christmas time because these holidays are mainly centered around family. There is something good and wholesome at preparing and sharing a meal together or sitting around the table sharing old stories and playing card games.

This past Thanksgiving I had the awesome privilege of having my brother visit us. Because we live so far away from natural family, having my brother with us was super exciting for my immediate family. My kids got to spend time and know more about their Uncle, another relationship found in family.

For some of us the very thought of family relationship brings up all kinds of negative emotions, hurts and pains, but before you start with condescending thoughts and attitudes, hear me out.

The thing I’ve learned about families is they come in all different shapes and sizes. What I mean is, every family has diversity, traditions, and core values. Does that mean each family member is in sync with one another? Well not exactly, reality teaches us that we have differences in the way we see the world and that’s ok. In this life we will not always see eye to eye on things, but its far better than being all alone. Being alone may seem to have it’s advantages, but in the end I don’t think its a healthy way to live life.

Several of the big destroyers of family is bitterness, anger, and resentment. I’ve seen and witness this all too many times in my family relations. These act like a cancer which not only destroys the person, but ends up repelling everyone else away. I mean really, who wants to be around that? Jesus hit the nail on the head when he strictly told his followers to walk in forgiveness and love each other. Not that I’m an expert in forgiveness (I’m still working on it), but it amazes me how some people constantly live in un-forgiveness and wonder why they are alone, miserable and can’t wait to make everyone else around them the same way.

I find it interesting that the really good stuff in life are things which God has set in place. Things like marriage, family and good friends. Despite our bad experiences of these relationships, I know when these are built God’s way they can become some of the most wonderful experiences ever to enjoy. For this reason, it does not surprise me one bit to see God join new believers to his family. When God does something I always see it in the context of family. Say all you want to about Church and the fellowship of believers, but where else can a new follower go to find a sense of belonging, the sweetness of fellowship, and a knowing that they are a part of something bigger than themselves.

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The Rainbow

Posted on July 6, 2015 by Tennyson

Ooooo, the beautiful rainbow towering high above the earth with its pretty colors stretch out in the sky. A sight which is not seen everyday. For me, it’s funny how something so beautiful can be so misrepresented. Take for example the magical notion of “the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow”, or the spiritualist who endeavors to find the deep spiritual meaning when they see one (or two). How about the latest trend to use the colors to represent gay pride. Funny how mankind always takes something God created and distorts it.

I find it interesting how, not many people know and understand its meaning; not realizing that there is a purpose as to why the rainbow appears. Perhaps our culture should quit Rainbowdiscounting the Bible and actually READ it. You would be surprise to find the original meaning as to why things are the way they are.

There is a story in the book of Genesis detailing a period of time when mankind became so corrupt and wicked. The wickedness was so bad that God actually was grieved he had made man. Folks, thats pretty bad! We’re talking about some serious stuff here. It was to the point, God had to step in and do something or in my opinion, his plan of salvation would be in jeopardy. So God sent a flood as judgement. Many people don’t want to believe there was ever such a thing as the flood, because that would indicate that God has a right to judge His creation. Whether you want to believe it or not, God does own this earth, in fact He owns it all. We are just stewards or caretakers of his creation.

Fortunately, there was a man named Noah who stood for what was right. God chose him to build an Ark to save his family and two of every kind of animal, most likely they were very young at the time. For forty days and nights water poured upon this earth killing EVERYTHING except for everyone on the ark. This totally wrecked the real estate! You can still see it’s effects in the earth today. We are still digging up animals and all types of plants from that disaster. I personally don’t believe God enjoys destroying things he worked so hard at creating, however, to act as a righteous judge (which He is) we left Him with no choice.

After the flood and the waters receded, the ark came to rest on dry land. Now here is where the rainbow comes into play. God begins to explain to Noah how this new world will be. Letting him know about the different seasons and how the behavior of the animals will be towards man. Then God says:

“This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” – Genesis 9:12-16

This is the true meaning of the rainbow. A promise from God never to destroy the earth again with a flood. This is what comes into my mind every time I see a rainbow. The story of the flood also, reminds me that God continues to watch over the conduct of men. Sometimes I wonder how far we will stretch the limits of His grace. Yes, I know God is a loving, compassionate and forgiving God, but lets not forget He is equally a God of righteousness and holiness. You cannot separate and ignore these as well. In the words of C.S. Louis: “He is Not like a tame lion“.

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