Voices from the Heart: Why Jesus?

Why would anyone want to submit him or herself to a religion that, for all practical purposes, seems so dogmatic, hypocritical, stringent, and condescending (or judgmental)? Why believe in the “fantastical” story of creationism, and the resurrection of Jesus in the New Testament? How can a supposedly loving God allow for so much pain in this world? The questions go on and on—believe me—I know from my own experience.

Read the full story and more at: http://www.wattpad.com/32644438-voices-from-the-heart-a-collection-of-short

King James - New Single "Waiting For The King"

Looking back on the past

 “But his wife, from behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt” (Genesis 19:26).

The enemy loves to make us look back—don`t look back!

I was riding home yesterday from a great Thanksgiving dinner. I was relaxed. My women by my side. We were laughing and discussing the memories of our Thanksgiving Day. We thought of our grandchildren, our kids (her step kids), and all that God has done in our lives. In comes the enemy.

As we turned into our subdivision, I noticed a car in front of us. I soon realized it was an old club brother of mine. I saw his colors. I saw his face. In a mere moment, all the joy left my thoughts and I went down memory lane. This particular club member was a high-ranking officer that was directly involved in my banishment from the club. It`s been almost two years now since that day. These men have no idea how much my life has changed. When I see them, I can tell they still see the old man—they have no clue.

The truth is that I wish this brother and I could shake hands, trade old laughs, and forget the past; however, that is not the way of that world.

About a year ago, I sent a letter to the International officers of my old club. I prostrated myself in an apologetic letter with the hope that we could all just move along and forget the past. I received no response.  I later found out that the letter was read in front of over 100 officers of the club and used as propaganda against me.

Fast forward. I sat there in my car and watched as this ex-brother of mine turned down the next street (his sister lives in my subdivision). My wife looked at me and said something brilliant that I know came from the Holy Spirit. She said, “Lot`s wife turned to salt when she looked back at Sodom and Gomorrah. We should never look back.” Wow—this was exactly what I needed to hear.

Over the last two years I have thought about writing emails, sending letters, writing instant messages on Facebook—and in some cases I have—and her statement made me ask myself, why? Why would I walk into a den of thieves and ask them to forgive me for stealing? I asked God to search my heart and my motives. He revealed to me that it was my ego, my reputation, my desire to be liked, and my longing for acceptance. Jesus is the only acceptance that we need in this world.

I would love to give these old brothers a hug and forgive and forget; however, that will never happen.  God took me from that world for a reason. As a former regional officer, it was quite unique how I was kicked out and banished—it had never been done before. I knew ex-members of high rank that were forced into retirement to save face with the club and the general full patch population. I knew guys who had done far worse things than I was accused of, and they were not banished. This was proof that God—not the club—threw me out that day. It was his will and his answer to my prayer the prior week. I was saved on May 20^th of 2012. As I knelt before the alter that morning I said to God, “Lord, take anything from me that stands in the way of my relationship to you.” On May 27^th—the very next weekend—I was kicked out of the club and banished without charges, or a trial by the officers and full patches of my chapter. God answered my prayer. He did it His way, not mine.

After seeing this ex-brother, I came home and prayed that God would forever release me from the desire to look back at that life. I`m a child of the one true King. I`m in college finishing my BA in English/ creative writing and publication. I`m currently working on four separate manuscripts for future books I intend to publish. I have a wonderful wife, family, and church. I`m riding in a motorcycle ministry filled with ex-clubbers who now serve Jesus. Why would I ever need to look back at Sodom and Gomorrah?  

WP

Seven Bad Men

I`ve been down some bad roads in my life. I`ve been in some dangerous places. Many of the men I once knew are featured on episodes of “Gangland.” I`m a trained fighter—a second degree black belt—and I used to love to fight, but contrary to Hollywood`s portrayal of fighting, no one can take on seven bad men.

In Luke 11 verses 25-26 Jesus warns us about the seven bad men—seven evil spirits. He speaks about the fact that we must prepare for the enemy and his attacks once we have committed our way to the Lord:

“25 And when it comes, it (an evil spirit) finds it swept and put in order (our spiritual condition). 26 Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first” (Luke 11:25-26, NASB).

I can relate this to a multitude of situations, as could you, I`m sure. Let me give an example from my own life. When I came to Christ in May of 2012, I was a new man. I was filled with His Holy Spirit and felt alive again. Soon after, I began to allow some of the “old ways” back into my daily routine. Little by little, I relaxed my guard, and soon—just as our Lord tells us in Luke 11—the seven evil spirits came and I was once again in a hell of a mess.

This is as simple as bad language or something as complicated and dangerous as porn, drugs, and alcohol. Once we have been set free from the bondage of our past—If we chose to return to these things—we will meet the seven bad men!

I still like to believe I`m a tough guy (laughing). I`ve learned one thing from God’s word—I can do nothing of myself. I used to think I was so “Spirit filled” that I could take on Satan himself—wrong! God plainly tells us how we gain our strength to fight the seven bad men in James 4 verse 7: “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (NASB).  He does not say: “Resist the devil and he will flee,” which is what most of us (including me) think the word says; instead, God says first you must “Submit yourself to God,” then resist the devil and he will flee. We cannot fight these seven bad men—these evil spirits or familiar spirits—on our own power.

For 25 years, I attended Alcoholics Anonymous (and still do from time to time). I was taught in that 12 step program to submit myself in prayer every day. I never did follow those directions (laughing)—today, I take it very seriously.

The Desert

Sometimes in life, it seems that we must walk through a desert.  Often, in these times, it makes no sense to us and we feel rejected, alone, resentful, afraid, angry, jealous, and hurt. I sat this morning as I climbed the next dune of this desert and quieted my soul. I saw another aspect or “take” on the story of Job. I think most Christians either hate or fear the book of Job—it can be quite frightening when taken literally. However, I saw something different this time as I considered the story. I think God said to me—quite simply—sometimes, my son, I must test your faith and train you up in my ways.

I`m walking in this desert with my best friend—my woman. We sat together this morning and felt a ray of sun shine on our faces, a ray of hope, a glimpse of His joy returning as we decided together that we like this desert, and we are grateful for Gods long suffering and care. We decided that if this is the best it ever gets—in this life—we will rejoice and give our Father the glory. We decided to walk this desert and find its flowers, it`s particular brand of beauty, and to explore its endless dunes together.

We believe there is an oasis out there. God is a God of the awesome oasis. However, some of his servants—for His purpose—may never find one, and yet they were grateful and filled with joy. We feel at peace this morning—that if we never find the oasis—so be it. To God be the glory. Amen

Watchin` my bike ride away

I remember the day I left the club. I had a whirlwind of problems, emotions, decisions, and other things going on like a cat 5 tornado—it was rough. The one thing that knocked the wind out of me was to watch my bike ride away on a trailer—my bike—the bike I built with my own hands. It broke my heart, however, it was necessary, and it ended up becoming a blessing later on. I owed a member some money, far less than the bike was worth, and they demanded the bike. I fought back at first, but my Pastor and others told me to let them have it. I did. It sucked.

Man it`s so hard to let go of the world some times. It`s so hard to believe that God has things all figured out, and that his way is always sweeter, better, and wiser than our own. On the other hand, some of the great servants of God had to suffer in this life. Some of these men and women lived in physical pain, hunger, and stark poverty—yet they had joy, and I`m certain they were richly blessed in Heaven.

I hear the song in my head as I write this, “Jesus, more of you and less of me, I want more of you and less of me.” I don`t remember the name of the song, or the right words, but I think you get it. The world looks so delicious at times. I see its fruits and I`m so intrigued and distracted. I walk up to the fruit…I pick it…I tell myself that it must be Gods will…I eat it…and invariably it`s rotten and bitter.

I look at Gods fruit and sometimes it looks plain, boring (just being real here), and completely unattractive—and yet when I eat it it`s always delicious, rewarding, and sometimes exciting. When it comes to Gods fruit, no matter what the flavor, the look, the taste—the reward—the one thing that is always a byproduct of eating it, is peace of mind.

As I sit here today, I feel as though I`m finally focused. I think the world and its distractions have finally become somewhat innocuous; I don`t say this with arrogance or naiveté, I say this because I have tried and tried so many times, and the world has always failed me.

I have a vision in my head of Peter standing on the beach at Capernaum as he told his fellow worker goodbye for the final time. I see him standing there looking at his worker pushing away from the shore—a look of uncertainty in the workers eyes, and Peter`s as well, as he pushed out to sea. Peter had finally decided that he would never again fish with his friend—his worker—because he would never leave the side of Jesus, and his life would never be the same. His motorcycle wasn`t taken away—he gave it away. 

Today, I sit here, and I know that I have a metaphorical motorcycle I must give away. I must stand on the shore, as Peter did, and push the boat out to sea—I am not my own, and Gods peace will replace the world I walk away from. Like Peter at Capernaum, I must watch the boat head out to sea—or the motorcycle ride away—turn to Jesus, and walk with him wherever that may lead. I hope this helps someone. God bless. WP

Take a ride in the word

How often when we ride do we take a moment to really look at what`s around us? Do you sightsee? Do you take the time to “smell the roses” on your rides? Or, do you haul butt down the road “lookin all cool” and thinking everyone is watching you—when in reality they are thinking about themselves, not you. How do I know this? I know these things, because I have done them myself. Now, let`s parallel that thought with how we study Gods word.

My pastor gave a great message yesterday. We hosted a biker Sunday at our church and had over 60 bikes show up. The sanctuary was standing room only. It was an exciting morning, and a great service. The Pastor hit on something that I wanted to expound on in a short post. He was speaking about how we often read quickly over certain passages of scripture without thinking about the realities—the depth—of the actual experience being explained to us in God`s word. For example, in Genesis 3:21 the Bible says, “The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them” (NASB). This seems like a simple statement, something we would normally glance over and keep moving; however, if we spend a few moments imagining what it may have been like, it can be the difference between a modest understanding of the word, and true wisdom and understanding.

To put this verse in context, this is shortly after the “fall” when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. They were naked and ashamed; they had become aware of their nakedness. God loved them so much—even in their sin—that he made them tunics of animal skin. How did God get these skins? Did God kill the animal or animals right there in front of Adam and Eve? Remember, Adam and Eve had never seen death in the Garden of Eden—they had never seen the shedding of blood! If we begin to imagine the depth of this simple passage—WOW—what a difference this word can make to us. Imagine the deep fear, regret, and pain Adam and Eve experienced as at that moment, their lives were forever changed

This brings me to my main point: As I read about the temptations of Jesus as he embarked on his ministry (shortly after his baptism and receiving the Holy Spirit), he was in the desert for 40 days of fasting. The Bible tells us a short and almost plain—non-descriptive—tale of his temptations by Satan in Mathew chapter 4. First, I notice that it says in verse two that Jesus, after 40 days, became hungry. Now, just take that simple phrase and imagine it for just a moment, expound on it as it may have happened in reality. When did Satan begin his temptation of Jesus? It says nothing of Jesus being tempted during his fast, but after…when he became hungry…when his FLESH became hungry.

Satan sees what he believed to be his opportunity to—in a nano-second—change the destiny of all mankind through a very simple thing—hunger and ego.  He says to Jesus in Mathew 4:3, “If you are the son of God, command that these stones become bread.” I ask you my friends, what is it that you would have done? I can see myself sitting there thinking, “Well, I am hungry…I have, after all, fasted for 40 days. My Father in Heaven knows I`m hungry. He gave me these powers, surely he wouldn`t mind if I make some bread real quick” I can totally see Satan sitting there salivating at the thought of a simple egotistical move destroying Gods plan of salvation, however, Jesus was prepared because he knew Gods word. Jesus knew the Father so well, he knew Gods word so well, that he knew he could not allow Satan to put one single though in his mind. Jesus answered Satan from Deuteronomy 8:3, in part. Jesus said to Satan, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God’” (NASB).

Can you put yourself there? Can you sit and imagine the entire scenario? How long did this conversation last? Maybe Jesus was so hungry that all day long Satan followed him continually saying, “Eat…make some bread…you know you`re hungry.” As a former addict, I remember how my addictions would follow me—they would haunt me all day long, every second, until I relented and gave in. Jesus, as we must learn to do, used Gods word—and why?—because he knew Gods word, it was in his heart and mind. Jesus knew the Father could help him break every chain. Jesus can help you and I break every chain. WP