Praying for the victims of the Parkland Mass shooting in Florida

When Death Comes...

DEATH    When it comes, we are reminded of another world; one we pay very little attention to – the spiritual world. It exists! The place to which our loved one departed. Now we’re all alone. People around us, yes, but we can’t help but feeling all alone. We miss you. How will we live without you? You were part of our world. Love you, hate you, can’t stand you, must have you…We miss you. Now you are gone. Where to? How can you do this to us? Why did you have to go like this? A range of emotions we feel at this time. We wish you were still here. We feel lost without you.

Dealing With My Sin - King David (2)

                    The Path To Renewal & Restoration

(Written by Kevin A. Hall)

What do you do when you have hit rock bottom? What steps does a person need to take in order to be restored to God? At some point you will eventually need to cross this bridge, as I have. I have a Tshirt from my trip down that path with safe return, thank God. I thought about the Psalmist David and   found in his writings a guide for such a trip. If you spend time reading his letters of praise and/or reflection, you can sense his passion. My thoughts go back to a time of David's greatest pain – running away from his own son (Psalm 27). Yet again, we see him in reflection after his failure with Bathsheba. 

What do I do to get back in good grace with God? What of my spiritual state after falling so badly? Psalm 51 is a surrounding text in which David describes his experience in greater detail. Do you remember the details of David's failure? He took another man's wife, covered up the affair, she became pregnant, David frames the husband, the husband dies as a result. Some time after, God seeks out David with a confrontation by the man of God:

                                    

                                   The Path to Renewal and Restoration - Psalm 51

o   Call out to God for forgiveness - In verses 1 – 2 David asks God to have mercy on him and wash away his sin. He calls on God after being called out on his sin because he knew and recognized God’s character of love and compassion. This is revealed during the time of Moses in Exodus 34:6 – “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.”

o   Don’t minimize your sins. In verses 3 – 5 David encourages us not to hide or cover up our actions. While our sinfulness affects others, we are really sinning against God.

o   Get back into fellowship with God – In verses 6 – 12 he expresses the contrast between being in fellowship and out of fellowship. He longs for the joy of fellowship:

“Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice” (51:8)

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation” (51:12) 

Spend time with God and the people of God.

o   Pray for a Pure Heart. 

“David had been a slave to lust, drunk with power and stained by murder.” How does such a person get back into fellowship with God? David knew God’s nature so he prayed “Create in me a pure heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (51:10), and he goes on.. “and sustain me with a willing spirit.” (51:12)

We know that God is in the Forgiveness and Restoration business. Guess what? He is also in the Heart Purification Business - The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). The following is a helpful guide along the path to Renewal and Restoration:

Not Satisfied? Are You Looking Back?

Not Satisfied? Find Yourself Looking Back?

Written by Kevin A. Hall (03/21/17)

"We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic we wanted”.

The children of Israel got me thinking. How many times do we look back and wished for things we left behind? Friends, Positions, Way of life, Level of Devotion?

The Israelite nation had been under bondage for years. Maybe you too know what it means to have been bound. Your source of bondage could by physical or emotional. In their case, the Egyptian government made them slaves out of fear. They cried out to their God. He answered their prayer. Their salvation came in the form of Moses. One day, God visited Moses in the desert. Sometimes it takes a desert experience to occur before God will show up. He said “Moses, I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows” (Ex. 3:7)

You can’t tell me that God doesn’t care about His people. Please note that God’s sovereignty dictates that He does not respond to every injustice. Sometimes our pain is the result of our decisions. I think of King David who (1) Saw the woman (2) Called for the woman (3) Entered into a relationship with the woman (4) Covered it up by setting up her husband (4) Issuing a command to kill the husband…. There was a consequence for his actions. 

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Structuring My Relationships under God’s Divine Order

Written by Kevin A. Hall (03.18.17)

The world and the devil fights against God’s Kingdom Order. If you are having trouble with your marriage, with your children, with the people in your church, with the boss, with your co-workers then this applies to you.

Consider this. Is my life structured under God’s Kingdom Order?

As a Pastor, Bishop, Teacher, are you teaching this to your people? The main responsibility of the Elder/Bishop/Pastor is to be a faithful overseer (shepherd), guarding the flock, teaching them the Word of God (encouraging godliness) and protecting that which is under their care by “confronting and rebuking sin” while guarding against error. How do we know it’s error? Does it line up with God’s Word? Not man’s word. Not just what the preacher says… Check to see if he or she is speaking truth!  How about at home? Are you living under God's Kingdom Order?

The Good News Is... The Bible has provided us with some advice to live a fulfilled life.

Qualities of a Sound Church. It also defines a Healthy Family (Titus 2)

Men:

·         We should be SOBER (not given to strong drink) – Don’t be a drunkard. You Ruin Your life!

·         We should be REVERENT – Dignified, sensible, honoring God

·         We should SOUND in LOVE, FAITH & PATIENCE – Healthy and strong in these areas (Go to church. Be a leader. Be patient with our wives and kids. We do not lay hands on our own blood.

·         We should remain CHASTE if we are unmarried – NO FORNICATION! NO CHEATING!

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Guarding My Mouth - Following in the Apostle Paul's Footsteps

The Apostle Paul’s attitude before Felix (Acts 24:10ff). What can we learn from Paul here?

Written by Kevin A. Hall (07.21.2016)

If there is one thing I would say of Paul, it is that he had confidence; a confidence wrapped up in Christ. He had already settled his faith – “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” [Phil. 1:21]. This is a man who had been down this road before. This is a man who had seen God work on his behalf before. Not to mention assurance given to him by the Lord himself a short time before telling him to “Take courage”

Acts 23:11 - But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, "Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also."

Reese puts it well “There might be delay and suffering, but in the end he would reach the goal at Rome” (Reese, 823). Here is a man whose total reliance was upon God. Jesus had already prophesied to his followers “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” (Luke 12:11-12). So Paul, without any witnesses, without time to prepare, pulling on his skills as a former prosecutor, defends himself honorably. Unlike the opposing side “Paul’s tone was one of frankness and truthfulness, not of lying flattery and distorted facts” (Reese, 842). There was no need to play their game. I also did not hear hints of hate and upset for the treatment he received in his voice. God knows I need some help there.

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