The Love of God

   Today begins Yom Kippur at sundown, it is the day of at-one-ment (atonement). When I think of God and His love for me, I stand amazed in His presence. That God should love a sinner such as me, His love truly knows no bounds. I was just reading in Genesis where God commanded light, He spoke and there it was. He commanded and it came forth, but God formed man and woman. Why did God form us? He formed us in His image to be His children to live in His Kingdom to Worship the King.
   The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell, it goes beyond the highest star and reaches to the lowest hell. It is the goodness of God that draws men to repentance. We cannot even approach God without His drawing. The Good Shepherd takes His staff and draws His sheep to Him. There He cleans us and washes us whiter than snow, He feeds us, He puts the oil of blessing upon us, He anoints my head with oil and my cup runneth over. Our God is an awesome God. Words are often insufficient to express what HE does for us. The Shepherd does everything for the sheep. What does the sheep do for the shepherd? The sheep are purchased. Sheep offer value to the shepherd when they are sheared (naked) before Him. Sheep are of value to Him when they die. I guess the shepherd likes gyros (not really). It is hard to say in natural terms what value the sheep have to the shepherd. They follow Him, they follow His voice and obey His commands.
   The day of atonement is a day of remembrance. We remember what the great shepherd did for the sheep. He was the "lamb of God" that took away all of our sins. Who could be perfect, without blemish, without fault, and Holy unto the Lord. No one in all of mankind could wipe away the "sin debt" caused by Adam and Eve. The sacrifice had to be perfect, nothing else would do. The law was not enough to make men anew, because it kept the focus on the problem and not the solution. Only the "lamb caught in the thicket" was sufficient to take Isaac's place. Yom Kippur is a day of remembrance, today we remember Ha'Messhiach (Jesus - The Christ, or Messiah). No work was to be done on Holy Days, I guess that is the difference between a Holy Day and a Holiday. On a Holy Day, there is a focus and a purpose.
   The Love of God brought to us the atoning sacrifice of the Lamb of God. The perfect One died for you and for me. Agape (love) is the best love, the love that does not require a gift back. Agape love is a love that keeps on giving. Thank You Jesus for Your Holy Love. Thank You Yeshua for your atoning work on Calvary. Baruch haba B'Shem Adonai!

Reflections on Marriage

   Well, my wife (Pam) and I will be married for 25 years on August 10th. Marriage is a "good thing," not a bad thing. The Bible says "He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and (the bonus) obtains the favor of the Lord. Like most people in marriage, we've had our ups and our downs, BUT God is Faithful!!!
   The institution of Marriage is a "Holy" thing, thus it will not work without GOD! Even with God, it can be tough at times. There is a third cord though, that is the glue that holds things together during the "tough times." Tough times will come in various forms: arguments, disillusionment, false expectations, unrealistic goals and dreams, and so forth. Real love will last to the end. Real love is NOT based on emotion, it is based on commitment. "Feel good" marriages do not last when people no longer "feel like it." That is why it "must be" based on the rock of Jesus Christ and the Word of God.
   Pam and I had good role models, both of our parents stuck it out to the end. That helps!!! We have been blessed in many ways, but there were problems which have extended to even this day. Healing takes time. Learning to forgive can be hard. Learning to effectively "deal" with past problems can be almost impossible, but with God ALL things are possible.
   I give God the glory for making it this far. Twenty five years is a long time, but it is a spit in the bucket compared to Eternity. I have a beautiful wife and I have failed her many times, and vice versa. The Good News is that God has never let us down. When we call upon Him, He is always there to help mend the broken fences, to kiss the "boo-boos," and to offer a word of encouragement.
   We are now at a place where we truly are "one flesh." We often laugh when we have the same idea at the same time, when we finish each other sentences, etc... We are growing old together. I don't know all that God will do over the next 25 years or so, but I KNOW that God is our friend, He's on our side, and like a dear friend says "God is faithful!"
   In closing, I am very, very Thankful to my loving God, Jesus Christ, for all of His blessings. I am thankful for His guidance, His counsel, His love, and for everything. Deus Nobiscum, Emmanuel, He is "God with us" and the lover of our souls. All honor, All glory, All Power, and ALL Dominion are HIS. He is our Father. We have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry "ABBA" Father. "Let every man be found a liar, God's Word is true." Thank You Jesus! Thank You Mom and Dad! Thanks to all of you who have been a part of our lives! Shalom!

Ahmadinejad's Plan for America

This morning while viewing a video by Benjamin Netanyahu, I believe I had an epiphany. I saw in the spirit Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's plan to destroy America. He is developing long range missiles and nuclear bombs which he will use against the "Great Satan" which is America and Israel. What would the target be in America. They destroyed the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. One of the targets was missed that day, and it was a big one. When President Bush shut down the airports, he shut off their plans to destroy the oil in America. Exxon-Mobile will be one of his first targets in America. Ahmadinejad will target large oil centers, one of the largest is in Louisiana, and the other target will be the capital (unless Obama is in office) and other large cities (like Los Angeles, New York City - because of the Jews, Atlanta, Chicago, etc...). If Ahmadinejad is successful, he will ruin America, and that is his plan. Then he will go after Israel, and he wants to completely wipe Israel off of the map.
Baton Rouge would no longer be on the map, a nuclear bomb would do to us what we did to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. My beloved church would crumble like sand, and thousands if not millions of lives would be lost. Panic would ensue and people would panic. Marshall law would take over and America would become like a third world nation, stripped of all power. May we stand in prayer against this man Ahmadinejad, but even more - may we vote in an American President that will act before it is too late!!! In God We Trust!!! He is our best hope, and our only hope (Hatikvah).

On Getting Older

I am 52 years old as of this moment, tomorrow I will be 53 years old. This life is good if you know God, if you do no know God life can be quite miserable. What have I learned in almost 53 years of living? That is a good question, and I don't have all the answers, BUT I do have a few. "Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life, no man (or woman) comes to the Father (Abba) but through Him." When Jesus taught men to pray, He did not say "Pray to me,"  but HE said pray to the Father - "Our Father (Abba-Daddy God), who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name..." If we want to have life, we must come to the Father through the Son. No man can do this unless the spirit of God draws him (feminine always implied) first.
It is the goodness of God that draws men to repentance. Many times we say we are "Sorry" but often it is not true repentance, we are just sorry we got caught. I was helping a friend the other day, answering the tyranny of the urgent (not a good idea BTW), and I got impatient. I passed an old lady that was driving way too slow. I went around her as she was turning, because she was taking her sweet time. We had to be somewhere by 1:00 pm and it was 12:45, so I was rushing. As I came up to the stop sign, I saw two Sheriffs deputies, and I knew - Ticket Time! Well, Thank You Jesus! It really pays to help someone in need. It was not my idea, not my plans, I was just trying to do good. Wonderful! Sometimes things just happen, and most of the time it is our own fault. My worst enemy is the one I stare at everyday in the mirror. Can you relate? We don't plan to fail, we fail to plan.
If you want to be successful you need a plan of action, hopefully one that is tested and true. When God gives orders (His plans), one can be assured that they will work. God NEVER fails! We do, on the other hand, let Him down and that all too often. God is our anchor man! He has never lost a race.
The law is our tutor. The law is not there for the just, but for the unjust. The righteous were never supposed to be ruled over by the unjust. Truth, Justice, and the American way are great ideals, but we live in a fallen world. Men do not always follow the law, they follow their ways, man's ways, the emotions of the people, the will of the people, and they use the law to their advantage to gain wealth, status, and position.
"Life is like a box of Chocolates, you never know what you're going to get." Well, fate determines many things, but not everything. Many things blamed on the Devil and God are our own fault. We are the Masters of our fate. Sometimes we are not successful because we have not failed enough. The system that is successful will allow for failure and mishaps. Perfection doesn't happen. People who are "perfectionists" will fail in many areas of their lives, because they are focused on "One Thing" and that is usually the wrong thing. God (The ONE) helps us to see the bigger picture. Many build Kingdoms and have plans, but not according to God's law. Many plan to go to Heaven, but they will never get there because they strive to get there using their ways, their plans, and their schemes. God wrote the schematic manual for the human being, and in it He details the human being, His plans, and how life should be lived. We have to take the ball and run with it. The problem is that some do not know where the goal line is, some do not know the game plan, some are very talented and seem to do everything right - only to find out later they were doing all the right things for all the wrong reasons.
We can blame and project our failures onto others, or we can take the responsibility and say "My Bad," "I blew it!"
Sometimes we find out too late that what we thought we were doing for good was really seeking to be known, to be recognized, self-seeking pleasures that amount to nothing in the end. "All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give..." We must leave everything at the foot of the cross. All of man's ways will burn in the fire of His love. Our God is a consuming fire. When we stand before Him, He will NOT say "What do you think?" He will say, "Did you do what I asked you to do?" His Words are clear, even a child can understand them. We are to love God with all of our heart, all of our soul, with all of our minds, and with all of our strength. We are to love others in the same way we love ourselves. "Love thy neighbor as thy self." We are to love our enemies and pray for those who hurt us, for those who despise and use us. Our worst enemy is often looking for the same thing we are, and we are fighting for the same rope in a tug-of-war. To the victor goes the spoils, but the victory belongs to God. If we belong to Christ, He leads us in a triumphant march to His glory. God gives us the "booty," or the spoils of war. One place in the Bible, it took the children of Israel three days to pick it all up. He fed the children of God (Israel) manna in the desert for 40 years, yet they still complained.
I have been young and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken nor His seed begging for bread. He is the bread of life (the staff). He is the substance we look for. He is our all in all. He is our ruler, our Master, our King, our Father, our healer, our defender, and our friend - and so much more. God is our life. Bless His Holy Name! I will yet praise Him. He puts all of our enemies to flight!

Tetraphonics play Bach in Mannheim

Jesus, All for Jesus

   When I think about the cross, I feel so unworthy of the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." The first words spoken by John the Baptist, Jesus' cousin, were the quote in the last sentence. Why did John call Jesus the "Lamb of God?" Jesus came to Earth to fulfill a plan. What was that plan?
   In the beginning of time, God created the heavens and the Earth. He created the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all living creatures. He built the mountains, He made the plants, all thins grown by seed, and created a beautiful garden. Then He created man, and man was alone. The first time we see in scripture that God says that something is "NOT good" is when HE says, "It is not good that man should be alone." God created a helper for the man. We all know the story. Adam and Eve ate the fruit that God told them not to eat, and then He casts them out of the Garden of Eden. Man fell and was separated from fellowship with his Father.
   The Jews were led out of Egypt by Moses, a man of patient character but with flaws. Moses stuttered, and he made excuses for not doing what God called him to do, but God had a plan. Moses talked to God face to face. How many of us would like to do that? "Inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these Thy brethren, you have done it unto me." Moses first saw God in a burning bush. This bush was on fire but was not being consumed by the fire. God can control fire so that the physical structure is purified, but not consumed. Did the plant live after this? I imagine that it flourished.
   Joseph was a dreamer, but he had flaws. He told his brothers and family about his dream - BIG mistake! Not to mention the fact that Joseph was "Daddy's favorite little boy" and wore "the Coat" made by the Father's own hand. Most people do NOT approve of favoritism, do you? Yet there are always those who are "chosen by God." Now if they are chosen by God, then God has a plan and HE is faithful to complete the work. Joseph's dreams became reality at the right time.
   Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Peter, and all the great men of God had flaws, but there was ONE greater watching over them. The Almighty God of Heaven brings fulfillment, not to our plans but to His. God has a plan. When man falls, the Good Shepherd knows where to find the lost sheep. He listens for their cries. When a sheep falls down, he has to have assistance to get back up. Left alone the sheep will die.
    God has a plan - imagine that! God knows the end from the beginning. God knew that Adam and Eve would fall and He had a plan to correct their mistake before it was ever created. God sent His Son to die in our place. HE is the "anchor man" that has never lost a race. We always win with Christ!
   The Passover was very familiar to the Jews. Every year they would have spring cleaning in preparation for the Passover. All leaven would be removed from the house. The Father would select a young lamb out of his flock. The lamb would live among his family for a short time. For a whole week, the kids would play with the lamb. The lamb would be petted, caressed, held, and played with on a daily basis. On Friday, the lamb was killed for their sin. The blood of an innocent lamb was killed and he did nothing wrong. How cruel!!!
   The first words out of the mouth of John the Baptist was "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." Jesus was innocent. He was the perfect lamb. He lived among us. Jesus gave His life freely for us, you and me.
   Jesus, all for Jesus, all I am and have or ever hope to be. All of my ambitions, hopes, and plans - I'm surrendering into Your hands. Jesus is the fulfiller of the dreams. "God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved." John 3:17

When Friends and Family Pass Away

Greetings to my friends who actually read this! Yesterday was a sad day for me, a friend of mine passed away. It was not sad for Him, the only suffering is on this side of Eternity. Ed Buggs was a man that grabbed my attention. He was a sharp dresser, always had a smile, looked important, and he above all was a friend. From a distance, some would say we were mere acquaintances, but in the spirit of the living God we were brothers.
Allow me a few moments to reflect on Ed Buggs. Ed just seemed to show up in my life at church one day. I wasn't looking for him, but there he was. After a little inquiry, I found this man had a history, most of it was good. There was something in his demeanor, something that said "He's sharp, He's a thinker!" Ed and I had an instant connection. Why? I could not tell you, other than to say that Ed was an immediate friend. We accepted each other, and he liked my music. He told me that he too was a horn player, he just didn't say how good. I never heard him play, and i guess that is my loss. Ed knew what it took to excel, He knew what it took for greatness. Living in the public eye, His life was lived "in front of the camera." The camera lens tells no lies. Maybe that is why he went into radio, people tend to be more forgiving there. I remember hearing him on the "Ed Buggs Show." He would say "Talk to me!" He had the voice of a Father, very calm and reassuring. He had a way about him that said "Come on, you can do it!"
Was my perspective of Ed correct? We tend to look at people the way we want to see them. Ed was a Black man, but that didn't matter. Ed could be green or purple, it didn't matter. Ed was a "Bud," someone you could trust. Every time I saw Ed, here came a big smile that said "Hey Buddy, how ya doing?" A part of me goes with him, and I will always remember him. So long Ed, it was great knowing you, even from a distance.
Friends come, and friends go. Family comes, and family goes - and one day we too will face the "end of the Journey." What will be said? How will others remember us? Were we someone that others looked forward to seeing, or one that made them run the other way? Those who matter don't mind, and those that mind don't matter. Connections are made from the heart. We choose to love, we choose to be committed, we choose to believe, and we choose our course in this life. Most of us do NOT choose to die, it is thrust upon us. Sometimes it comes quickly, and unaware. We do not see it coming, but BOOM! There it is! There are no "warning signs." Other times, death comes slowly and the end does not come soon enough. At times like these, we hope for a quick end to the suffering, and sometimes it seems an eternity before the end comes, but it always will eventually come. God chooses the end. God puts the double bar line at the end of the score saying "It's over" - Fine!
With the passing away of Ed Buggs, I look at my life and say "What about me?" What have I done that is worthwhile? What do I have left that I need to do? What is it that I want to do? But even more than anything else, What do I have left that God wants me to do? This usually comes with a relationship attachment. Life is not in the dollars earned, not in the number of gadgets, but only in those we loved. Only one relationship truly matters, and if that one thing is right, then everything else will fall in line. When our relationship to God is right, then our world is right. Sometimes we have unrealistic expectations. Sometimes we have dreams yet to be fulfilled. Sometimes we never reach the goal we so desperately were seeking. Along the journey, we meet friends and family, we smile and hug, we laugh and we cry. At the end of my journey I want to hear "Well done Thou good and faithful servant!" Just over in the glory land, I'll join the Happy Angel Band, just over in the glory land. We will see many on the other side. Success for some will only come on the other side. We are just strangers and pilgrims passing through. See ya later Ed!