IT'S TIME TO PUT UP OR SHUT UP!

2010-08-01T13:45:00.000-07:00

"It is our faith that is the victory that overcomes all of the fears that the world brings (1 John 5:4).

The Lord will go before you and fight for you, just as He did for the Israelites."

The message for us two-fold: we need to be aware of how our fears influence others and we need to be wise of those whose fears can influence us. Fear is a deadly weapon and a powerful tool used by the enemy. Unfortunately, it is easier said than done to rid ourselves of fear. Even if we can identify our fears, this does not mean we can overcome them on our own. The first step is to be honest with ourselves and with the Lord. When we bring our confessions to Him, the healing process begins. The next step is to read God's Word and believe what it says. Faith and fear cannot exist together. Faith is built on knowing and believing the Word of God. Does it still take time to change old habits? Yes. Will the Lord lead us to make certain changes? Yes. Are we responsible for obeying and following God's guidance? Yes. And, will the enemy continue to remind us of our fears? Yes! But, the Truth sets us free, if we are truly willing to believe and apply it to our lives.

more of Him, more of His Word in your life—more faith

2010-06-21T20:09:00.000-07:00

Did you know that when you start reading His Word, you will start hearing His voice? When you start hearing His voice through His Word, then you will see His intervention in all areas of your life. You will pray in accordance with His will because you will know where He is leading you. You will see God answer your prayers. And the end result: more faith!

Take a moment to ask the Lord to help you in your faith by helping you hear His Word. Ask for more of Him, more of His Word in your life—more faith.

2010-06-07T20:37:00.000-07:00

"My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense." 2 Chronicles 29:11

2010-06-06T20:06:00.000-07:00

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? Psalm 42:1-2

Have you ever had that kind of desire for God? Has your soul ever longed for the Lord to the point of thirsting after Him, and panting after Him?

Through prayer and the study of the Bible, you put yourselves at His feet. Through a daily commitment to spend time with Him, you build a relationship of love and trust with Him. Through worship and praise to Him, you open your hearts to an intimacy of love and adoration. Once you have tasted of His living water, you will thirst for Jesus so intensely that all you will want is to be with Him, to see Him face-to-face. Many Christians do not experience this level of intimacy with the Lord.

If your soul is longing for relief, pray today for the Lord to give you a thirst for Him. And once you have that thirst, act on the things that will bring you closer to Him: prayer, the Word, worship and time with the Lord everyday.

2010-06-06T13:19:00.001-07:00

The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory rests with the Lord.
Proverbs 21:31

2010-06-03T17:24:00.000-07:00

How often do we overlook the good deeds of those around us? Have you ever promised to return a favor but for some reason never really did it? When we are in trouble or need help, we tend to pledge whatever someone wants in return for helping us. This bargaining is not always a requirement or necessity for getting help, but it often comes in times of desperation. Have you ever prayed so hard for God to answer a prayer that you vowed something back to Him in return? God is gracious in how He answers such prayers, as most of us can never keep our end of the bargain.

Joseph made a sincere plea to the butler who was about to be set free. "But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house" (Genesis 40:14). God had a different plan for Joseph as to how he would be set free from prison, a plan that would bless his life and his family's lives in amazing ways. God has a plan for you as well. Pray against discouragement in your circumstances and ask the Lord to give you peace as you wait on His perfect timing. God is sovereign and always knows what is best for us.

God’s Guide to a Fruitful Life!

2008-01-25T15:33:00.000-08:00

Jesus told His disciples, “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit” (John 15:5). As we carry out the Lord’s plans through the power of His Spirit, our lives will have significance, and two characteristics will become increasingly evident.

1. Treasuring God’s Word in our hearts. When we value something, we think about it often, study it regularly, and learn all we can about it. By studying the Bible, we learn many important things about our God, including His character, plan, and promises. Regular Scripture meditation develops our ability to think biblically and deepens our relationship with the Lord. One of the indications that we treasure His Word is a change in behavior— decisions will increasingly be guided by His principles, and actions will reflect the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

2. Adorning ourselves with kindness and truth. These two virtues are to be our constant companions on the Christian walk. God’s truth has the power to expose ungodly attitudes and behaviors. When this happens, the presence of kindness helps to protect relationships from damage; it can also prevent discord and division in churches. The Lord wants us to speak the truth to one another—but to temper it with loving compassion.

The Christian life is a journey filled with temptations, obstacles, and difficulties that are common to man (1 Peter 4:12). At the same time, it is to be characterized by the fruitfulness that comes from following our Guide.

Joshua Out~

Cause of Christmas Day, Man will live forever!

2007-12-16T14:45:00.000-08:00

Finally I m decided to blog again. I was off from months. I was kinda lazy and not wanted to blog anymore.

Well we all are waiting for Christmas and Christmas is the time which brings joy in our life. When i think deeper in my mind that what is Christmas all about, i realized that what cause of this Christmas day we have real joy if on this day our Lord and savior were never born we will be leaving the darkness and we could of not had the joy, salvation that we have now.

On this day our Lord and Savior born so we could have the everlasting life, peace, joy, freedom and victory.

So As we get ready to celebrate this Christmas lets give thanks to our Lord for the life that we have and lets share that joy with our friends, family and neighbor's.

I believe that you all will enjoy this Christmas.

Marry Christmas!

Over and Out!
Joshua

The "Inner-Stances"

2007-09-28T15:12:00.000-07:00

Why is it that while the same things can happen to us all, they may not have the same effect upon us all? The same thing happening to two different people may have entirely different effects. Why should this be so? It depends not so much on the circumstances, but on the ""inner-stances"" - or, in other words, our inner attitudes. As someone has said, ""What life does to us in the long run depends on what life finds in us."" Life's blows can make some people querulous and bitter, others they sweeten and refine; the same events, but with opposite effects. The Gospels tell us that there were three crosses set up on Calvary on the first Good Friday. The same event happened to three different people, but look at the different results. One thief complained and blamed Jesus for not saving Himself and them; the other thief recognized his own unworthiness, repented of it and found an open door to Paradise. Jesus, of course, saw it as the climax of His earthly achievements and made it the fulcrum on which He moved the world. What counts, therefore, is not so much what happens to us, but what we do with it. The same sunshine falling on two different plants can cause one to wither and die, while the other will blossom and flourish. And why? It all depends on the response the plants make. Although, of course, they both need water, one plant is more suited to hot sunshine than the other, and therefore responds with more life and growth, while the other shrivels up and dies.

----Sarvesh Out~

To-Do List!

2007-08-14T13:23:00.001-07:00

Throughout the Bible, there are a variety of “to-dos” for Christians concerning how we are called to treat each other. They are referred to as the “one anothers.” Here are a few of them:

Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another.

Romans 15:7 Accept one another.

1 Corinthians 12:25 Care for one another.

Galatians 5:13 Serve one another in love.

Galatians 5:15 Don’t spitefully hurt one another.

Galatians 5:26 Don’t provoke or envy one another.

Galatians 6:2 Carry one another’s burdens.

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another.

Ephesians 4:32 Forgive one another.

Colossians 3:9 Don’t lie to one another.

1 Thessalonians 4:18 Comfort one another.

Titus 3:3 Don’t hate one another.

Hebrews 3:13 Encourage one another.

James 5:9 Don’t bear grudges against one another.

James 5:16 Pray for one another.

When the day gets busy and time gets short, I must admit, these things tend to get put on the very bottom of my priorities. I tend to focus on myself and how others should be treating me, not on how I am treating and reaching out to others. However, as Christians, the “one anothers” list is one of the most important “to-do” lists to have on hand. All of these are ways we show each other love and respect. It is how God has called us to treat one another.

-----Joshua Out~

Worldly Planning!

2007-07-30T18:34:00.000-07:00

Planning from God's view is a process. It isn't merely an exercise in reason and analysis. It requires entering into the mind of Christ together with our minds to determine which course to take. In the Old Testament, the priests wore breastplates with the urim and thummim in a pouch on their breasts. It was like a roll of dice that the priests were required to perform to know which direction they were to take on a matter. It was the ultimate release of all decisions into God's hand. God did not want the priests to rely on their own intellects for final decisions.

We have an uncanny ability to make decisions based on our own needs and wants. However, God desires that we seek Him to know His plans for us. David was a skilled warrior who never lost a battle. He consulted God on every decision. He knew the results of the battle rested in God's hand. So, if he was to gain victory, he had to know God's mind on the matter. Sometimes this requires more time given to the process in order to hear His voice. Sometimes it may even require fasting and prayer. Sometimes it may require input from other godly friends.

Are you a man or woman who makes decisions based on God's purposes for your life? Do you take every major decision and put it before the throne to determine God's mind on the matter? If so, you will avoid making decisions in a worldly manner.

-----Joshua Out~

You Are Not Alone!

2007-07-23T08:26:00.001-07:00

Do you sometimes find it difficult to manage your thoughts, attitudes, behaviors or emotions? Are you continuing in a destructive habit even though you know you are hurting yourself and those you love?

If you answered "yes" to either of these questions, you are among many. Many of us have operated in a self-destruct mode at some time in our lives.

Perhaps you have determined to do right, to change. For a while things might be better and then you find yourself right back where you started.

Consider this…Remember two things: First, you can't make this kind of change by yourself. Second, that's ok because you don't have to do it by yourself. God is standing by to help you. He is inviting you to turn your problem over to him. He wants you to know this is not a person-size problem — it's a God-size problem. He loves you and he wants to help you.

The beginning steps to overcoming any destructive pattern in your life are to admit you have the problem, admit you cannot correct the problem by yourself, tell God you are sorry for what you've been doing and that you truly want to change. And then trust him to help you.

Things won't change overnight, but you will be moving in the right direction. And God will be with you throughout the process. With him, all things are possible (Philippians 4:13).

------Joshua out~

The Passion

2007-07-07T23:08:00.000-07:00

Selfishness vs. Servanthood...

When the war is waged in our lives, we side with selfishness. We major in "me." We have this me, my, mine attitude in our lives and forget about others. We want someone else to serve us, to give us the massage, the pedicure, or the shoulder rub. We don't want to serve anyone else because we think of servants as weaker than, less than, or below us.

But Jesus Christ, God's only son, came to this earth to blow the doors off of our pre-determined ideas of servanthood. He taught us that serving is the way to freedom, the way to God's heart. And he modeled true servanthood by performing the ultimate act of service.

When we accept what he did for us, when we bow the knee to Christ, we become armed in the battle against selfishness. God instills in us the character quality that Jesus showed every day of his life - servanthood.

When Jesus walks into the doors of your life, he places the person of the Holy Spirit inside of your heart. And the Holy Spirit is the one who helps you battle against selfishness - he gives you the strategy, the way to win, the way to serve with an honest heart.

This week, when you feel the pull of selfish thinking in your life, remember the act of service that Christ performed on the cross. Remember that Jesus himself came, not to be served, but to serve. Then, reflect that teaching in what you do; reflect the servanthood that God has so passionately shown you.

----Joshua Out~

Still Counting - Subtraction!

2007-06-27T19:59:00.000-07:00

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away (subtracts) the sin of the world! John 1:29

To most people, math is no fun. We tend to think of it as the subject in school that was just there to bring our GPA down. But math is important-especially in God's equation for our lives. He uses math in our lives to work out his supernatural equation.

When it comes to applying God's math to our lives, most of us don't mind adding. We love to add new things because it can make life exciting and new. Too often, though, we forget that addition is not the only part of God's equation. He also tells us that we need to occasionally take things away from our lives. But we tend to balk at applying subtraction to life.

What we need to understand is that subtraction is just as important in God's math as addition is. God does not always ask us, "What are you doing?" Many times he asks us, "What are you not doing that you were doing before?" He wants us to subtract those things from our lives that are hurtful or unproductive. God tells us that subtraction is vital for our growth.

What is God telling you to subtract from your life? Is it a harmful habit or a draining relationship? Whatever it is, God wants you to subtract it from your life so that you can grow. This week, listen to God's instruction and apply his mathematical equation. Don't just focus addition-remember that subtraction is just as important.

------Joshua Out~

Choices!

2007-06-12T23:33:00.000-07:00

Jesus is interested in helping us make choices. Perhaps one of the biggest choices for us to make is whether or not we are going to trust him to guide us.

The Bible promises us that if we follow Jesus, all things will work together for our good. I have found this to be so true. As I trust Jesus to help me make the right choices, I know without a doubt that no matter how things may look right now, in the end they will work out for the best. His way is always the best way ... and his time the best time.

----Joshua Out~

WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH WHAT YOU HAVE?

2007-05-30T22:52:00.001-07:00

We all have a tendency to compare our gifts, talents and blessings with others. When we fall into that trap, we can start to become ungrateful and wonder why we did not get as much as someone else. Perhaps you are a one talent person, resentfully wondering why others received five times more than you did. Listen, the question is not why did you not get more, the question is what are you doing with what you got?

Pastor’s can be the worst at comparing themselves. They can easily start resenting bigger churches, bigger ministries and better preachers/leaders. They can secretly whine, “Why did God not entrust me with that church, that gift, that ministry?!!” God’s answer… “What are you doing with the ministry I did entrust you with?!”

The time is now for all of us to quit whining and griping about what we do not have… and start using what we do have. Jesus told us that if we are “faithful with a few things,” He will put us “in charge of many things.” Are you being faithful with what you have… even if it is only a little?

-----Joshua Out~

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LEADERSHIP!

2007-05-17T12:08:00.000-07:00

Our ability to speak with authority stems from the same source as was true of Jesus Himself. The authority Jesus possessed was not based on any earthly position, but in the quality, conduct and character of His life.

The true shepherd exercises spiritual leadership with the heart of a servant. As servants, we are subject to the needs of those we are called to lead. That's why Jesus said we will know His disciples by their love. The requirements to be a spiritual leader in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 are all character requirements. All of this is made possible by the indwelling presence of God, the Holy Spirit. Peter writes, "Shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock" (1 Peter 5:2, 3).

You never hear Jesus say, "You do this because I'm God." What happens to a marriage relationship when a husband authoritatively demands obedience because he is the head of the home? Nothing good, let me assure you. The spiritual head of a home, church, Sunday school class, Bible study group, etc. assumes his responsibility by meeting the needs of those under his care. Being a leader is an awesome responsibility, not a right to be demanded. A wise leader listens carefully to the counsel of his charges and depends on the Holy Spirit. With the Holy Spirit's enablement, he can live a righteous life out of which he can lead with loving authority.

As spiritual leaders, we must be like Christ and base our leadership in the quality, conduct and character of our life. We may speak with authority if what we say is true according to God's Word and when our character is Christlike.

---Joshua Out~

DO YOU KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES?

2007-05-03T00:01:00.000-07:00

From the beginning of time we find Satan actively at work doing what he does best…deceiving and destroy. Make no mistake, Satan is real and he’s out to destroy you and your faith. In fact, Satan is the ultimate terrorist…the terrorist of your soul!

I find it fascinating that many people blame God when tragedies occur. They say, “Why would God allow this to happen to us,” or “Where was God when this happened? Doesn’t He care?” But these questions omit the fact that Satan and his evil work are real. And that he is still active today deceiving and destroying.

Evil is real, and Satan is the author of every bit of it. That’s why he shows up when he sees an opportunity to trip you up. Have you ever noticed that many temptations seem to just come out of nowhere? Everything is going well, and suddenly you’re faced with an incredibly tough temptation to sin.

That’s because Satan is an opportunist. He knows your strengths and weaknesses, and knows exactly where to hit you…and the kind of evil suggestions that will tempt you most.

So be careful not to blame God for your struggles, because they come from our adversary, the devil. Instead of blaming God for the temptation, you need to turn to Him for the strength to resist the devil.

Our world wants to blame God for evil—but we know who is really to blame. Your calling as a believer is to stand in Christ’s strength against the devil’s temptations and not allow him the victory in your life today.

SATAN KNOWS YOUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES. DO YOU?

-----Joshua Out~

God’s Trade-in Deal!

2007-04-26T13:26:00.000-07:00

Most of us are suspicious of the trade-in deal. Maybe you have tried to buy a car and trade in something else. The salesman says, “Trade that in, and I’ll give you a deal.” Then you tell your friends, “I got this great deal for my trade-in.” The real question, however, is what they charged you for the new one you bought. You can’t get something for nothing.

God Almighty says to us, “I will give you eternal life. I will give you the forgiveness of sin.”
So we say, “What’s the catch? Surely there is something I need to do.” It is hard for us to accept that God could simply forgive us.

God says, “No, you have broken all the laws. There is no way you could earn My grace or forgiveness. I offer it to you for free. I give you everything. Now you give Me your life. I don’t care what shape it’s in. I’m in the restoration business. You watch what I can do.” So you bring your life to Him.

Jesus said, “Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25). You will be a new creation, because in Him, all things have become new (see 2 Corinthians 5:17).

“Do you want to find life?” Jesus says to us. “You won’t find it by looking within yourself. You won’t even find it by looking for life. You will find it by looking to Me. And as you trade your life in, I will give you life. The very thing you want, you’ll find by coming to Me.”

This is God’s trade-in deal.

Joshua Out~

Open Access!

2007-04-19T15:58:00.000-07:00

How often we hear about what we are supposed to do for God. Yet the emphasis of the Bible is not on what we are supposed to do for God. Rather, it is on what God has done for us. If we can get hold of that in our minds and hearts, it will change our outlook and actions. The more we understand of what God has done for us, the more we will want to do for Him.

This is important, because the devil loves to keep us from praying by telling us that we are not worthy to approach God: Do you think that God would hear your prayers after what you have done? But the real question to ask is this: “Is Jesus Christ worthy to come into the presence of the Father whenever He wants?” Of course He is.

The fact is that we are made “accepted in the Beloved.” Because Christ has open access to the presence of the Father at any time, we have the same access as we come to God the Father through our relationship with Jesus. It is not on the basis of what we have done for God. It is solely on the basis of what Christ has done for us.

----Joshua Out~

2007-04-08T22:08:00.000-07:00

Happy Resurrection Day!

When Doubt is at Work!

2007-03-31T14:12:00.000-07:00

Doubt is destructive. It fills us with uncertainty and makes us indecisive. It affects our ability to connect with God and receive His wisdom. We will know doubt is at work when we struggle to believe the following truths:

First, God loves us all the time. Most of us accept the Lord’s deep affection for us when we’re “good.” But how about when we’re disobedient? Our behavior doesn’t change His love. We can be certain of this because of the promises in Romans 5:8, which says, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” God loved us while we rebelled against Him. That’s amazing grace.

Second, doubt is working in our lives when we struggle to believe that God has forgiven our disobedience. We know God promises to forgive us when we confess our sins. But we may have trouble believing we’re forgiven. Feelings don’t determine truth. We know God’s word is true. Psalm 103:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” That’s a description of complete forgiveness.

Finally, we know doubt is a problem when we forget that God has called us to serve Him. The Lord often invites believers to join Him in His work. This can include teaching a Sunday school class, helping a family in need, taking a leadership role, or telling another person about Jesus. Doubt can cause us to make excuses for our disobedience, just as Moses did in Exodus chapter four. In Ephesians 2:10, God promises that He’s equipped us with everything we need to follow His will.

The opposite of doubt is faith. Which word best describes your state of mind?

-----Joshua Out~

2007-03-21T09:59:00.000-07:00

Did you know that God loves to bless you? Did you know that God loves to pour His grace out upon you? Did you know that the Lord enjoys working in your life? He wants to bless you more than you want to be blessed. He wants to answer your prayers more than you want them answered. He wants to speak to you even more than you want to be spoken to. And He wants to use you even more than you want to be used. He loves you. Jesus said, “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). It is His joy, His pleasure, to give you the kingdom.

And what is that kingdom? The Bible says the kingdom of God is “righteousness and peace and joy and the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). He wants His righteousness, peace, and joy to permeate every level of your life.

----Joshua Out~

2007-03-15T14:39:00.001-07:00

Do you ever feel righteous indignation as you look at our confused society today? Righteous indignation is the result of seeing something that disturbs you deep in your soul.

Maybe you see something on television that is wicked and perverse. Maybe you see someone misrepresenting God. Maybe you see a situation in which you realize that people are turning to false gods. It grieves you and causes you to be stirred deep within.

The Book of Acts tells us that when Paul arrived in Athens, he was grieved to see the absolute absence of the living God, and in His place, every conceivable substitute. Acts 17:16 says that Paul’s spirit “was provoked within him.” Another way to translate this is, “His spirit was exasperated,” or “He was irritated or aroused to anger,” or my favorite, “He was hot and mad.”

This doesn’t mean that Paul lost his cool and he was basically ticked off. This was righteous indignation.

Does it grieve you inside as you see generation after generation going down the same path that leads to destruction, buying into the same lies the generation before them bought into? Does that concern you?

Here is what it comes down to. We can take as many classes as we want on how to share our faith. We can memorize verses. We can prepare ourselves. But unless we have a God-given burden for unbelievers, it won’t matter.

Paul said, “Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16). But if some Christians were honest, they would say, “Woe is me if I have to preach the gospel.” We need to ask God to change our hearts.

-----Joshua

2007-03-04T11:38:00.000-08:00

When we come to Christ, His forgive us and cleanses us from all sin.

Yet many Christians are still keeping books on themselves! If you have come to Jesus Christ…if you have experienced His salvation…you need to recognize that the books are closed on your account.

Some Christians are always remembering what God has forgotten. And on the other hand, some Christians are always forgetting what God wants us to remember.

But do you know what God has forgotten? He has forgotten your sin. When God forgives, He forgets. Now, it’s good for us to ask God to search our hearts and to see if there is any wicked way in us, according to Psalm 139. And we need to always be transparent with God and open to God.

But we shouldn’t keep recording our sins that are forgiven and cleansed by the power of Jesus Christ! God doesn’t keep a record of them, so why should we?

You know what would be a good confession for you to make every morning of your life? When you have your time with God, make these three confessions. Say, “I am forgiven!”, “I am filled with the Spirit of God!”, and “I am forever secure in the righteousness of Jesus Christ!”

Stop keeping books on your past sin…sin that has already been forgiven by God.

DON’T LET YOURSELF FEEL GUILTY FOR SINS THAT CHRIST HAS ALREADY FORGIVEN.

----Joshua Out~

One Thing I Know!

2007-02-23T23:02:00.000-08:00

You know what? The most aggressive witnesses for Jesus are brand-new converts. You’d think it would be the people who have known the Lord for a long time, who have walked with Christ for years. With all that accumulated Bible knowledge, with all of that time around God’s people, attending church and growing spiritually, they would just be out there changing their world. But it’s usually people who are young in the faith.

The blind man Jesus healed hadn’t even figured it out yet. But he was already beginning to talk to others. At first he simply referred to Jesus as “a man called Jesus” (John 9:11). As his understanding grew, he referred to Jesus as a prophet (John 9:17). Then he said, “If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing” (John 9:33). You can see how his faith was growing.

There is something invigorating spiritually about making a stand for Jesus Christ. Have you ever noticed that? When you start telling someone else, you might not know much. But you do know this much: once you were blind, but now you see. You can say, “Once I was trapped in sin, but now I am forgiven. Once I was empty, now my life is full. Once I was going to hell, now I am going to heaven.”

I have found that when I share my faith, it grows stronger. Why is that? Because the Holy Spirit will inspire your thoughts and He will speak through you. Faith is a lot like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger you grow. The less you use it, the weaker you become. It’s important that we use our faith.

Joshua Out~

2007-02-11T17:02:00.001-08:00

Now, I know this isn’t a popular statement to make in our culture today. No one really wants to hear that they’re a sinner, much less that they’re lost on their own. We all want to believe that we’re self-sufficient.

But that’s not what the Bible tells us. In fact, if I could reduce the message of the entire Bible down to two words it would simply be, “Jesus saves.” The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. This was promised and provided in Christ only.

The salvation spoken of in today’s verse includes everyone. No one is excluded! Jesus didn’t die just for a select few. He died for you and He died for me. Jesus came to be the Savior of the world and God’s desire is that every man, woman, boy, and girl be saved.

God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance! So take time today to thank God for sending us His Son…and for the eternal life you have in Him. And take the time to share that good news with someone who needs to hear it today!

----Joshua Out~

Still Counting - Multiplication!

2007-02-06T15:01:00.000-08:00

Polarized sunglasses are amazing. When you are out on a lake or skiing down the slopes, these glasses help you to see with more clarity and definition. They allow you to be able to see things around you that you could not have seen without them.

The same thing needs to happen in your life and mine. But to gain that new perspective, we need to ask God to give us those polarized glasses. We need to ask God to give us x-treme insight to be able to see those around us that need Christ in their lives.

---Joshua out~

Precious Repentance!

2007-01-27T14:23:00.001-08:00

When we are accepted of the LORD and are standing in the place of favor, and peace, and safety, then we are led to repent of all our failures and miscarriages toward our gracious God. So precious is repentance that we may call it a diamond of the first water, and this is sweetly promised to the people of God as one most sanctifying result of salvation. He who accepts repentance also gives repentance; and He gives it not out of "the bitter box" but from among those "wafers made with honey" on which He feeds His people. A sense of blood-bought pardon and of undeserved mercy is the best means of dissolving a heart of stone. Are we feeling hard? Let us think of covenant love, and then we shall leave sin, lament sin, and loathe sin; yea, we shall loathe ourselves for sinning against such infinite love. Let us come to God with this promise of penitence and ask Him to help us to remember, and repent, and regret, and re- turn. Oh, that we could enjoy the meltings of holy sorrow! What a relief would a flood of tears be! LORD, smite the rock, or speak to the rock, and cause the waters to flow!

----Joshua Out~

My Burden Bearer "YAHWEH"

2007-01-20T14:04:00.000-08:00

Life is too short to live it all stressed out. Furthermore, anytime we are all stressed out, it reveals a heart that is not actively trusting God. God did not make you to carry the burdens of life. He wants to carry them for you and work through you to get everything accomplished that He has for you to do.

Take time right now to lay all your burdens and deadlines and pressures at His feet. You will be amazed at the change in your perspective as you relax… and let go… and trust Him to do it through you.

----Joshua Out~

GOD!

2007-01-12T21:36:00.000-08:00

How does God feel most of the time?

Is He happy… sad… concerned… detached… upset… angry… disappointed… frustrated? Your honest answer to that question speaks volumes about how you interact with God.Lots of people see God as a sad God: He is sad over their sins and disobedience. He is grieved over the state of the world. Others see God as a mad God: He has a hair-trigger temper and often goes ballistic. He will zap you if you get out of line… and enjoy seeing you punished.

THE BIBLICAL VIEW

What is the biblical view of God? The Bible teaches that although God gets sad (Gen. 6:6) and gets mad (Ex. 4:14), God is not mad or sad by nature. God is a glad God. To be in His presence is to be in the fullness of joy (Ps. 16:11)… because His heart overflows with joy and gladness.And when God thinks of you… He begins to shout and sing with joy. You are His special treasure (Ex. 19:5). You are His trophy of grace (1 Tim. 1:16). He is SO excited about you!!

Appearing at Christ's Throne!

2007-01-04T19:51:00.000-08:00

At the end of his life the great Reformer and servant of the Lord, Martin Luther shared what kept him going through such lifelong adversity and hardships. He said he lived by this simple truth:

"I have but two dates on my calendar: today, and the day of the judgment seat of Christ!"

In other words he lived each day like he was on his way to explain what he did with his life to the One who gave him life - Jesus Christ.

Jonathan Edwards, one of the greatest minds ever produced in an American had this as his constant plan:

"Resolved, never to do anything I would not want to be found doing--by Christ, at His Return.”

Are you ready this evening to appear before Christ's Throne? The Throne we will appear before was described by the Apostle Paul in several places, none is clearer than 2nd Corinthians 5:10. Turn there with me as we begin this evening.

When we take pilgrims to Greece, the most moving spot of all is in the city of Ancient Corinth. I have seen travelers who were just tourists the whole trip until they reached that spot. And there beneath the raised stone platform called in Greek the bema suddenly the awesomeness of the moment overtakes them and they see themselves at a future day standing at Christ's Throne. Often tears, often deep silence – and always reverence fills each one as the scene unfolds before their eyes.

Are you ready? What will matter when you stand alone right in front of Jesus? What do you wish to have in your hands to give to the One who loved you and gave Himself for you? What ever that is – that is what we need to live for TODAY!

Tonight will you come with me to that Throne? Will you let the Holy Scriptures transport you out of this world and into God's?

His Throne, Our Appointment, His Fire, Our Crown, and the Glassy Sea

While we are here seated with songs of Heaven on our lips – something is happening in the place we have pointed our hearts. What we do, say, think, pray, and give rises above and enters into God’s presence. Do you realize how much what you do today and each day matters to the Lord?

So as we sing, give, and worship -- what is happening right now, at this very moment in Heaven? Often we think of Heaven in the past (when Christ left for earth and the angels came) or in the future (when Jesus comes as King of Kings) but forget that at this very moment the epicenter of the Universe, the Throne Room of God is very active. So what is going on right now?

God's Word can take us by angel wings to see the very center of the Universe, to the Throne of God in Heaven. A few moments there will get us in touch with what God is doing right now and how we can TODAY be in tune with Heaven.

-----Joshua Out~

Relationship!

2006-12-31T20:54:00.001-08:00

We need to realize that genuine maturity and effectiveness are tied to our relationship with the Lord. When we take our focus off of what we can do for Him, our entire thought process will start to shift. This truth puts all believers on the same level, from the high-profile preacher to the quietest, most humble member of the church. Talents, gifts, and personalities do not matter anywhere near as much as the commitment to simply know God.

----Joshua Out~

2006-12-25T08:30:00.001-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

----Joshua~

Prince of Peace!

2006-12-20T11:48:00.000-08:00

Your arrival brought great promise: peace to all the world. Some came seeking an end to oppression; others expected a prince to rule. As Prince of Peace, You brought the only lasting peace—not with the world, but with God. And You came to rule in the heart, not on an earthly throne. Thank You for Your peace, Lord.

----Joshua Out~

2006-12-14T16:33:00.001-08:00

Most people fear demonic things they can't see, but have no fear of God. That's just the opposite of what Scripture commands. We are told to fear the Lord (Proverbs 1:7), but we are never told to fear Satan. Fear of the devil is an inappropriate response to the reality of the spiritual world. Knowing his schemes and learning to resist him and take authority over him is the biblical response.

----Joshua Out~

2006-12-07T17:33:00.000-08:00

Nobody tears another down from a position of strength or judges another without being judged. Judgmental people are people in pain. If you can learn not to be defensive when someone exposes your character defects or attacks your performance, you may have an opportunity to turn the situation around and minister to that person.

----Joshua Out~

Multiple Choice - A-Maze-Ing!

2006-11-27T21:23:00.000-08:00

We face a multiplicity of choices in the maze of life. Whether big or small, highly impactful or uneventful, the decisions that we make form who we are. And inversely, how we are designed, how we are wired will effect how we make decisions.

Our decision making styles and abilities vary greatly - from choosing what we think is best in the moment to stewing over the choices for far too long. Some of us even try to put off making decisions as long as we possibly can.

Christ, though, showed a perfect balance of patience, trust, forgiveness, obedience and decisiveness in choosing his actions and behaviors. The choices he made reflected the way God wants each of us to make decisions today. But how do we do this? How can we reflect Christ in what we decide?

Every time a decision presents itself, we should ask ourselves the same questions that Christ asked himself - some of which are macro questions, others are micro questions. We have to ask ourselves if our decision follows the guidelines of God's written word, if our decision reflects God's love, and if our decision is on God's agenda. After answering these macro questions, we need to ask some micro questions - is the decision the best possible choice considering our past decisions, present conditions and future aspirations.

This week, run your decisions through the macro and micro funnels of the right questions. As you ask yourself these questions, your decisions will filter down to reflect a perfect balance of what God wants - a balance of the decision making styles that Christ reflected. And as you discover the answers that God has in store, you will be much better equipped to negotiate the maze of life.

----Joshua Out~

Praise!

2006-11-23T12:37:00.000-08:00

Our praise is limited only by our knowledge. The more we read and study the Bible, the better we understand God’s many attributes and assurances. Then, when difficulty comes, we can celebrate His past faithfulness while awaiting His promised help.

----Joshua Out~

Relationship!

2006-11-16T13:04:00.000-08:00

Your Relationship with God. This should be the most important relationship in your life. Don’t say that you don’t have time– you do. We make the time for what is important to us, don’t we? The way to get to know God better is to spend time in His Word. Try spending at least fifteen minutes of uninterrupted time with the Lord every day. More would be better, but do what you can to develop the habit. God’s Word will teach, equip, cheer, encourage, and guide you.

----Joshua Out~

The Friend of God (Abraham stood yet before the Lord!)

2006-11-11T17:05:00.000-08:00

The friend of God can plead with Him for others. Perhaps Abraham's height of faith and friendship seems beyond our little possibilities. Do not be discouraged, Abraham grew; so may we. He went step by step, not by great leaps.

The man whose faith has been deeply tested and who has come off victorious, is the man to whom supreme tests must come.

The finest jewels are most carefully cut and polished; the hottest fires try the most precious metal. Abraham would never have been called the Father of the Faithful if he had not been proved to the uttermost. Read Genesis, twenty-second chapter:

"Take thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest." See him going with a chastened, wistful, yet humbly obedient heart up Moriah's height, with the idol of his heart beside him about to be sacrificed at the command of God whom he had faithfully loved and served!

What a rebuke to our questionings of God's dealings with us! Away with all doubting explanations of this stupendous scene! It was an object lesson for the ages. Angels were looking.

Shall this man's faith stand forever for the strength and help of all God's people? Shall it be known through him that unfaltering faith will always prove the faithfulness of God?

Yes; and when faith has borne victoriously its uttermost test, the angel of the Lord--who? The Lord Jesus, Jehovah, He in whom "all the promises of God are yea and amen"--spoke to him, saying, "Now I know that thou fearest God." Thou hast trusted me to the uttermost. I will also trust thee; thou shalt ever be My friend, and I will bless thee, and make thee a blessing.

It is always so, and always will be. "They that are of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham." --Selected

It is no small thing to be on terms of friendship with God.

----Joshua Out~

Love!

2006-11-06T20:02:00.000-08:00

“The Bible is a revelation of the fact that God is love. Many people misunderstand this attribute of God. ‘God is love, ‘does not mean that everything is sweet, beautiful and happy, and that God’s love could not possibly allow punishment for sin. When we preach justice, it is tempered with love. When we preach righteousness, it is righteousness founded on love. When we preach atonement, it is atonement planned by love, provided by love, given by love, finished by love and necessitated because of love. When we preach the resurrection of Christ, we are preaching the miracle of love. When we preach the return of Christ, we are preaching the fulfillment of love. No matter what sin you have committed, or how terrible, dirty or shameful it may be, God loves you.”

----Joshua Out~

Is it a Need or a Desire?

2006-11-04T14:21:00.000-08:00

A need is something that is essential for us to develop into who God wants us to be or to accomplish the things He calls us to do. On the other hand, a desire is something we think will bring enjoyment to our lives. The key word here is “enjoyment.” It describes a temporary pleasure. We tend to want things that will bring us happiness for a season and then fade away. It’s important to note there’s nothing wrong with a desire, as long as it is within the will of God and is an outflow of a Spirit-filled life.

Our wonderful, adoring heavenly Father loves to shower His grace upon us (Matthew 7:11). However— and this is critical—we must remember that God never promises to supply all of our desires. He surely provides many of them, but only at His discretion and for His own glory. So, your inability to acquire a large-screen television, for example, is certainly no indicator that God
is unfaithful!

What do you need in order to become the person God has called you to be? What do you desire that will help you gain more enjoyment in life? Make a list of these things, and make both categories a regular part of your prayer life.

Romans 8:32, He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

----Joshua Out~

BEYOND THE BOUNDARY!

2006-11-01T10:12:00.000-08:00

Most of us won't often be tempted to commit obvious sins such as armed robbery, murder or rape. Satan's tack is to entice us to push something good beyond the boundary of the will of God until it becomes sin. He treats us like the proverbial frog in the pot of water: gradually turning up the heat of temptation, hoping we don't notice that we are approaching the boundary of God's will and jump out before something good becomes sin.

Everything is good and lawful for us because we are free from sin and no longer under the condemnation of the law. But the following statements reveal how we can wrongly take good things beyond the boundary of God's will:

physical rest becomes laziness ability to profit becomes avarice and greed enjoyment of life becomes intemperance physical pleasure becomes sensuality interest in the possessions of others becomes covetousness enjoyment of food becomes gluttony self-care becomes selfishness self-respect becomes conceit communication becomes gossip cautiousness becomes unbelief anger becomes rage and bad temper lovingkindness becomes overprotection judgment becomes criticism same-sex friendship becomes homosexuality sexual freedom becomes immorality conscientiousness becomes perfectionism generosity becomes wastefulness self-protection becomes dishonesty carefulness becomes fear.

----Joshua Out~

The Power of Surrender!

2006-10-26T20:40:00.000-07:00

Jesus longs for us to come to Him in total surrender. Matthew 22:37 goes straight to the heart of abandonment when it says, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.'” (NIV) In this verse “heart” literally means “thought and emotion”, “soul” literally means “life or whole person” and “mind” literally means “understanding”. In other words, to truly experience God we must lay down everything! Every thought and emotion - every dream and plan - every bit of knowledge - our past, present and future – just like the woman in Luke did. Luke tells us that a certain woman came to Jesus bringing “an alabaster jar of perfume.” Alabaster jars were very common and of little value. It was the substance hidden inside that was so precious. The perfume was the woman’s most priceless possession, very expensive but very necessary in her line of work. She was a prostitute, working the streets, selling her body in order to live. The money given to her by the men she slept with paid for the perfume she brought to Jesus. She could have put a small amount on His feet and it would have been a great financial sacrifice. But she brought it all and gave it all! She came, totally abandoning herself and all that she had to Him. “Abandon” literally means “without restraint or hindrance, a total relinquishment”. This woman came to Jesus walking through her shame, straining against every hindrance and relinquishing her old way of life. She came, ignoring the ugly whispers and judgmental stares of those who knew her so well. Why? It is really very simple. She was weary. The emptiness and sin were eating away at her soul. She was tired of being used, unloved and unwanted. She came ready to give up everything and in a desperation that is always winsome to God. He met every need of her heart and changed the course of her life.

He is calling you to that same kind of abandonment.

Are you longing for home?Are you desperate for Him? The Father is patiently and tenderly calling you to His arms. Come and rest in Him.

----Joshua Out~

Psalm 122:7

2006-10-18T23:23:00.000-07:00

Some people's homes are war zones. Families in conflict abound in our society. So much unhappiness comes from people no longer knowing how to share and give. Too many people are looking out for themselves, and they aren't willing to look out for each other. Mothers fight with daughters, sons with fathers, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, each feeding the beast of hurt and discord. We are lost without a peacemaker; one who knows our hearts and can pave the way to reconciliation. Luckily, Christians have such a peacemaker. Christ came to unite all God's children, brothers, and sisters in the faith. He works in the home to call us to a deep love that is consecrated in blood. If we strive for peace within the walls, then we are one step closer to peace between our nations. God will heal all wounds, if we will only welcome Him in.

----Joshua Out~

The Winsomeness of Holiness!

2006-10-13T15:04:00.000-07:00

John the Baptist would never get hired today. No church would touch him. He was a public relations disaster. He “wore clothes made from camel’s hair, had a leather belt around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey” (Mark 1:6). Who would want to look at a guy like that every Sunday?

No, John would never get hired today. His tactics lacked tact. His style wasn’t smooth. He made few friends and lots of enemies, but what do you know? He made hundreds of converts. “All the people from Judea and Jerusalem were going out to him. They confessed their sins and were baptized by him in the Jordan River” (Mark 1:5).

Look at that. “All the people of Judea and Jerusalem.… ” How do we explain such a response? It certainly wasn’t his charisma or clothing. Nor was it his money or position, for he had neither. Then what did he have?

One word. Holiness.

John the Baptist set himself apart for one task, to be a voice of Christ. Everything about John centered on his purpose. His dress. His diet. His actions. His demands.

He reminded his hearers of Elijah. And he reminds us of this truth: “There is winsomeness in holiness.” You don’t have to be like the world to have an impact on the world. You don’t have to be like the crowd to change the crowd. You don’t have to lower yourself down to their level to lift them up to your level.

Nor do you have to be weird. You don’t need to wear camel’s-hair clothing or eat insects. Holiness doesn’t seek to be odd. Holiness seeks to be like God.

You want to make a difference in your world? Live a holy life:

Be faithful to your spouse.

Be the one at the office who refuses to cheat.

Be the neighbor who acts neighborly.

Be the employee who does the work and doesn’t complain.

Pay your bills.

Do your part and enjoy life.

Don’t speak one message and live another.

Note the last line of Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12.

Do all you can to lead a peaceful and Holy life. Take care of your own Life, and make every effort to live a Holy Life. If you do, then people who are not believers will respect you.

----Joshua Out~

Expressions of God’s Goodness!

2006-10-11T21:44:00.000-07:00

Imagine someone asking you if God has been good to you. What ideas pop into your head? Do you think about material possessions like a luxury car or a big house? Those things are nice. But even if you don’t have any external signs of His blessing, you can still say God has been good.

God’s goodness is expressed through His mercy. We usually talk about the Lord’s mercy in relation to His salvation plan. It provides for our rescue from slavery to sin. But, God is also concerned when we are suffering. The blind beggar, Bartimaeus, called out to Jesus for mercy, and the Lord responded by healing the man’s eyes (Mark 10:47-52). Nothing in Bartimaeus deserved mercy, but it’s God’s nature to respond to the needs of His children.

God’s goodness is expressed through His grace. None of us, no matter how “good” we might be, deserve God’s favor. And yet, because of His goodness, the Lord took our guilt upon Himself. He suffered the death penalty in our place because we are helpless to save ourselves. When we accept Jesus Christ as Savior, we’re invited to live by God’s grace and constantly receive His help and support.

God’s goodness is expressed through His love. An ocean is like a drop of water when compared to how much the Lord cares for us. No sin we can commit could ever place us beyond the reach of His caring. Because of God’s great love, He sent His Son to die for your sins. Now, He offers you mercy in times of trouble and grace to live by. God is indeed good to you.

----Joshua Out~

Defending Against Temptation!

2006-10-07T17:11:00.000-07:00

Temptation never completely goes away. The intensity and form of what tempts us may change with time and spiritual maturity. But as long as we’re in these earthly bodies, we will never be entirely free of it. That’s why we must learn to build a defense against its pull.

The first step to defeating temptation is trusting that the Lord is in control. Believe that He will limit temptation to what you can handle through His strength. Before a tempting thought even enters our head, be determined to resist with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Second, we need to be proactive. We need to identify weaknesses—those areas of our life where we are easily persuaded to sin. Likewise, it is helpful to recognize the conditions under which we are more prone to give in. Satan prefers to attack when believers are hungry, angry, lonely, or tired (H.A.L.T.).When facing temptation, we usually have little time to decide on our response. Once we are already feeling stress, the path between fantasizing and doing is particularly short.

The third step is training our mind to focus on the big picture rather than the immediate pleasure. The following four questions can help us make wise choices: Is this a violation of God’s Word? What are the consequences? Am I prepared to pay that price? Is there a right way to meet this desire?

We can’t be totally free from temptation, but we can defend against it. Begin now. Make yourself mentally and emotionally ready for the next time you’re tempted. Preparation helps build a barrier of protection around your mind and heart.

----Joshua out~

Learning to Stand!

2006-10-04T14:40:00.000-07:00

A person with conviction is hard to find in our culture today. Very few people will stand up and say, “This is what I believe. . . . ” And when you do stand up for your convictions as a Christian, people may laugh. They may even get mad. But I will tell you something else they will probably do. They will probably respect you. Don’t be surprised if they give you a hard time in front of their friends. But then when everyone is gone, they may walk up and whisper, “Listen, the next time you are praying, put in a good word for me.”

Make your stand, because if you think compromise works, if you think lowering your standards and compromising biblical principles is going to help bring someone to Christ, then consider Lot, the nephew of Abraham. Lot lived a compromised life. The problem with Lot was that he wanted a friendship with God. But he also wanted to flirt with this world. But the Bible says, “Friendship with this world makes you an enemy of God” (James 4:4).

There are many people like Lot today. They want to know God, but there is a weakness in their faith and character. When they are around their Christian friends, they are fine. But the moment they get away from those believers, they immediately drop their standards. Their faith is dependent on the faith of someone else.

Though there is great benefit in Christians fellowshipping together, we have to learn how to stand on our own, because many times temptation will hit us when we are alone. As it has been said, “Character is what you are when no one is looking.”

----Joshua out~

Do you have true, lasting joy in your heart today?

2006-10-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

How would you describe true joy? Do you think you have it?

Happiness is just a feeling, an emotion that’s based on circumstances and the environment around us. But joy is the heartfelt and internal confidence, peace, and contentment of a believer. It’s something that can be found in Christ alone!

So let me ask you, are you living each day with joy…or mere happiness? If you don’t know the joy I’m talking about, I invite you to come and share in the true joy of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The only way you can live each day with true joy and celebration in your heart is by knowing Him!

Do you have true, lasting joy in your heart today? If not, why?

----Joshua Out~

Selfishness vs. Servanthood...

2006-09-28T13:34:00.000-07:00

Selfishness vs. Servanthood... When the war is waged in our lives, we side with selfishness. We major in "me." We have this me, my, mine attitude in our lives and forget about others. We want someone else to serve us, to give us the massage, the pedicure, or the shoulder rub. We don't want to serve anyone else because we think of servants as weaker than, less than, or below us.

But Jesus Christ, God's only son, came to this earth to blow the doors off of our pre-determined ideas of servanthood. He taught us that serving is the way to freedom, the way to God's heart. And he modeled true servanthood by performing the ultimate act of service.

When we accept what he did for us, when we bow the knee to Christ, we become armed in the battle against selfishness. God instills in us the character quality that Jesus showed every day of his life - servanthood.

When Jesus walks into the doors of your life, he places the person of the Holy Spirit inside of your heart. And the Holy Spirit is the one who helps you battle against selfishness - he gives you the strategy, the way to win, the way to serve with an honest heart.

This week, when you feel the pull of selfish thinking in your life, remember the act of service that Christ performed on the cross. Remember that Jesus himself came, not to be served, but to serve. Then, reflect that teaching in what you do; reflect the servanthood that God has so passionately shown you.

----Joshua Out~

Meditation!

2006-09-25T14:25:00.000-07:00

Meditation sets our whole mind and spirit in a proper mood for encountering God. We are made ready for hearing the Word of God in our hearts. It also makes it easier to spend time with God. Meditation opens doors to God that we might have missed before. Take time to quietly contemplate the glories of the Lord.

---Joshua Out~

Always Remember!

2006-09-22T16:12:00.000-07:00

Let us remember that we are called not to comfort, but to a cross; not to security, but to suffering; not to immediate triumph, but, maybe, to tribulation.

--Joshua Out~

Unlocking the Power!

2006-09-21T14:17:00.000-07:00

There have been certain breakthroughs in the world that have changed the course of history: electricity, the automobile, the atom, and the telephone, to name just a few. If we never recognized the applications of these inventions, we would still be sitting around in the dark, riding horses, and communicating by pony express. However, we have seen the opportunities and the applications, so the world is a different place now.

Jesus made a profound statement that has the potential to change the world if we simply apply the truth. What if I told you that this one truth would allow people to see Jesus and respond to the gospel like nothing we have ever experienced? It is the key to unlocking the door of salvation to so many that remain lost. Yet it is the one thing we, as His children, fail at the most.

What is this one thing? It is unity. Lack of unity among His Body of believers prevents Christ from being revealed to so many. Efforts have been made, but our Body remains fragmented and weak. Consider that there are more than 24,000 Christian denominations in the world today and five new ones beginning each week, according to the 1999 September issue of Moody Magazine. Does this sound like unity?

God has called each of us individually and corporately to represent Christ to the world, but our independence, pride, and ego prevent us from becoming unified in the purposes of Christ.

Are you a catalyst for unity in His Body, or an instrument of division? Are people seeing Jesus because of the unity they see in your family, your church, and among your workers? The old adage, "United we stand, divided we fall," is not just a good battle cry; it is a spiritual truth that will determine the fate of many souls. Pray that God will allow you to be an instrument to unify His Body.

----Joshua Out~

RIGHTING WRONGS!

2006-09-19T19:16:00.000-07:00

How can you know if you're being led by the Spirit or the flesh? Very simple: Look at your behavior. If you respond to a given situation by exercising love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, you are following the Spirit's lead (Galatians 5:22, 23). If your reactions and responses reflect the deeds of the flesh listed in Galatians 5:19-21, you are following the flesh.

What do you do when you discover you are not walking by the Spirit? Acknowledge it for what it is. You have consciously or unconsciously chosen to live independently of God by walking according to the flesh. Walking according to the Spirit is a moment-by-moment, day-by-day experience. Acknowledge your sin to God, seek the forgiveness of anyone you may have offended, receive forgiveness, and be filled with the Spirit.

Here are a couple of things to consider when you are faced with righting fleshly wrongs.

First, the scope of your confession should only be as broad as the scope of your offense. If you lashed out at a relative with angry words, you need only confess to God and that relative. If you entertain a secret, lustful thought or proud attitude without any overt, offensive behavior, you need only confess it to God. Confession literally means to agree with God. When you recognize an internal fleshly response, immediately acknowledge it in your mind. That's it; just agree with God and walk in the light.

Second, the process of restoring a relationship through confession and forgiveness is a step of spiritual growth. Your role as a spouse, parent, friend, coworker, or fellow-Christian is to model growth, not perfection. If you're trying to keep up a front of Christian perfection in order to encourage saints and win sinners, forget it; it will never happen. But when you openly admit and ask forgiveness for your fleshly choices, you model the kind of spiritual growth which will touch saints and sinners alike.

-----Joshua Out~

THE DEATH OF FEAR!

2006-09-16T15:48:00.000-07:00

How do you respond to fear situations in your life? The following steps will help you identify and hopefully eliminate any irrational fears.

First, analyze your fear. Most people aren't aware of what is controlling their lives. If you are struggling with anxiety attacks, determine when they first occurred. What experience preceded the first attack? People struggling with agoraphobia can usually identify one precipitating event. It is often associated with some tragedy or failure in their lives, such as a marital affair or an abortion. Satan takes advantage of victimized people if they don't seek a scriptural solution to their crisis (Psalm 38:18).

Second, determine where God's place in your life has been usurped. In what way does any fear prevent you from responsible behavior or compel you toward irresponsible behavior? You may need to confess any situations where you've allowed your actions to be controlled by fear (Psalm 28:1). We will always live less than a responsible life if we fear anything other than God.

Third, work out a plan of responsible behavior.

----Joshua Out~

Truth?

2006-09-14T23:24:00.000-07:00

“What do you think about truth? Some people think there is no absolute truth. ‘Truth’ for them s simply what they think. But what is truth for one person might not be truth for anyone else, hey think. Everything is relative. Yet how disillusioned with life many become because they on’t recognize the existence of truth. In the absence of solid, basic truth, we are adrift on a churning sea of ideas with no compass to tell us which way to go. Jesus taught that there is truth. Not only that, He made the bold claim, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life’ (John 14:6, NIV). Jesus also taught about lies. He said that Satan is a liar and the father of lies. Satan’s lies started in the Garden of Eden. When God created man and woman, He placed them in a beautiful and perfect environment. God said, ‘All this is for you. You can eat of every tree in the garden except one. If you eat of that tree, you will die’ (Cf. Genesis 2:16-17). Then Satan came along in the form of a serpent and said, ‘That is not true. You will not die. God didn’t really say that’ (Cf. Genesis 3:1-5). Satan phrased it in such a way as to question, ‘Did God really say that?’ In our generation, people question whether the Bible is really the Word of God. They put doubt in people’s minds, asking, ‘Did God really say that?’ I want to affirm that from beginning to end, the Bible is God’s Word, inspired by the Holy Spirit. When I turn to the Bible, I know I am reading truth. And I turn to it every day.”

----Joshua Out~

Are you satisfied?

2006-09-11T16:55:00.000-07:00

Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 5:12, ?The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.?

For many people possessing great wealth is the goal of their life. But they forget that things can shift over time, and possessions will not satisfy! Greed is an excessive desire for material wealth and gain, and when people are consumed by greed they forget those things that truly give satisfaction - God, people, relationships, and helping others.

Have you ever watched interviews with movie stars and other famous people? So often, though they have great material wealth and fame, they are not happy and are searching for satisfaction in life. If all of our labor is for material gain, we have wasted our life. We go to the grave with nothing. What counts in life is what we do for eternity. Our relationship with the Lord and fulfilling His will for our life is what brings true satisfaction.

Jesus said ?For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.? Matthew 6:21, There are four myths concerning wealth:

1) Money will bring you happiness
2) Money solves every problem
3) Money brings peace of mind
4) Money brings security

Solomon addresses these myths in Ecclesiastes chapter five. He says that ?he who loves silver? will not be satisfied. Money does not bring fulfillment. In fact, those who are greedy are the loneliest people on earth. They do not have a relationship with the Lord and they do not have close relationships with people. The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil because it succumbs to temptation and rejects every form of righteousness and holiness.

Rather than money solving our problems it often creates them! When Solomon said that the laborer sleeps peacefully and the rich man is not permitted to sleep he was referring to the fact that those who are controlled by riches constantly have to maintain a certain level of income to satisfy their greed. They are troubled by both the problem of attaining and keeping their riches!
One of the greatest desires that most famous people have is for peace of mind. Harrison Ford, the well-known actor who has been very successful, was interviewed by Barbara Walters and asked what he desired in life and didn't have? His answer? Peace of mind! Money does not bring peace of mind, and very often, great amounts of money produce turmoil and tremendous burdens.

There is only one source of security - Jesus Christ. Only a relationship with the Lord can bring true satisfaction. What about you? What have you been looking to for security? Real peace, happiness, and fulfillment will be found when you look to the Lord and not to wealth or possessions.

----Joshua out~

Rejoice!

2006-09-10T15:34:00.000-07:00

“Christians are to rejoice. To do that, you need only to think of the great things God has done for you. Then we are told not to be anxious,but in our prayers to make our requests known to God. In your biggest problems you have One to whom you can go; and before Him you can pour our your heart with the assurance that He will not leave you without an answer to that great problem. Then we are to fill our minds with those things that are good. They are mentioned in the Scriptures as being things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, of good report and of virtue. It is upon these things we are to think. Live positively, not negatively. Once you learn that secret, God will have given you the victory.”

----Joshua Out~

2006-09-09T15:54:00.000-07:00

Lots of things happened last days in my life.

1. Enrolled as a Senior Soldier of the Salvation Army.

2. Graduation from The War College

3. Moved from Vancouver (B.C ) To Melfort (S.K.).

Enrolling a Soldier was a great moment for me the moment I was waiting for a while and specially to enrolled in 614, Vancouver Corps is Honor for me because Steve and Danielle were mine a great leader that I have seen after my parents. I love them too much.

Graduation from the War College. Hmmm How I will explain that How much I am different now than before 12 months when I got in Vancouver to join the War College. The War College had changed my life.

Moving to Melfort, I moved to Melfort to start a Cell Based community and to reach out people I mean Souls those are lost. My vision for this year to grow more spiritually and work for the harvest.

I miss my buddies from Vancouver BC. They were my family for a year and to leave from family Its always hard.

If you have nothing to do for upcoming year Don't seat back apply in the "The War College".

----Joshua Out~

Identity Theft!

2006-09-01T13:37:00.000-07:00

Consumers lose millions of dollars each year due to identity theft. Identity theft occurs when a person’s social security number, credit card number, phone number, address, and other personal information is discovered by a thief who uses the information for his own personal gain.

As as result of this, many people have purchased paper shredders for their homes to help prevent the theft of their mail or private information from a trash can or dumpster. While this kind of theft can almost ruin a person and is a great travesty, we must be wary of having our true identity stolen.

Satan steals a person’s potential in Christ by convincing them they are not worthy of God’s forgiveness, grace, and love. He rips off others by using peers to influence them in negative ways or creating enormous amounts of guilt. Through fear, guilt, and shame, Satan can prevent many from discovering God’s ultimate purpose for their lives.

The devil’s goal is to keep you confused about your spiritual gift and purpose, trying to dilute your true identity in Christ. Remember that God loves you and you are “precious and honored” in His sight (Isaiah 43:4). You are valuable. So much so, that Christ hung on a cross for your sins. How’s that for value? And you are capable of being all that God’s called you to be because He has specifically gifted you to serve and honor Him (see 1 Peter 4:10).

It may cause some problems to have your personal information robbed by the common thief, but it would be even more devastating to have the sneakiest crook of all steal your identity in Christ.
Deuteronomy 33:12

----Joshua Out~

Healer of the Broken!

2006-08-30T15:00:00.000-07:00

One of the snapshots of God that means the most to me and many others is that the God we worship and serve is a Healer of the Broken. Brokenness is something that every single one of us has experienced in life. That’s why we need to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is the Healer of broken hearts, lives, emotions and people. In fact, sometimes it is God Himself who leads us to brokenness.

Sooner or later, every person who wants to seriously follow Jesus must face the fact that God is going to have to allow something to break you so that you will let go of the stubborn vice grip you have on your own heart and life. In order for God to guide you the way He wants, you’re going to have to be broken. You are going to have to be broken from self-reliance in order for God to heal and restore you to the place where your trust and reliance is on Him.

Personal brokenness is God’s way of moving you into a new identity and a new life. Because God is the Healer of the broken, you can trust Him to put you back together when you’ll never be able to put yourself together on your own.

----Joshua Out~

Opportunity and Challenge 4!

2006-08-23T18:51:00.000-07:00

Continue from my last 3 post.

Keys to a Successful Retreat

What does a successful spiritual retreat look like? Extended time away (a week or more) at a cottage in the woods, the mountains or on the shore may be helpful for some. For others, time in a monastery, either in silent retreat or a guided retreat, proves useful. Several fine retreat organizations cater specifically to pastors and Christian leaders who desire time away to seek God.

Whatever the setting, the key is to follow a good plan, use appropriate resources and maintain the proper frame of mind. In every case, the most important resource is the Bible. A personal journal is another indispensable tool — essential for recording observations, insights, decisions, questions and other “outcomes” of the time away. And for the duration of the retreat, the pastor must unplug from the stresses and demands of daily life, choosing instead to truly listen for God.

Through retreat, pastors learn to leave the church in God’s hands — it’s His anyway — as they discover experiences and personal reflections that draw them closer to God. Some pastors hear God most clearly while fishing on a lake or hiking a trail. Others find him in the quiet, or in the details of creation. For some, music is a key element. And some need to process the journey with others of like calling or with the help of a trained counselor or spiritual director.

While the specifics will vary, none of this will happen in the neighborhood coffee shop!

I think that is my last post on Opportunity and Challenge. I just wanna say that Find your place. Healthy Leaders = Healthy Churches = Healthy Communities!

What you think Guys?

----Joshua Out~

Opportunity and Challenge 3!

2006-08-21T20:02:00.000-07:00

Continue from my last 2 post.

The Need for Retreat

In the face of these challenges, we nevertheless find thriving pastors building strong communities of faith and outreach. They and the people they lead are learning to be the hands and feet of Jesus. By building relationships and meeting the practical needs of others, they bring hope and opportunity to the poor and marginalized of their communities. They inspire, teach, preach, support and walk alongside people in every circumstance of life.

In the healthiest congregations, parishioners share the work of the church, learning to minister to each other and their neighbors. Compassionate outreach is the work of the entire congregation, not just the pastor. The marginalized find a place to belong and opportunities to make meaningful contributions to others.

Healthy churches play a major role their communities. And it takes healthy clergy to lead healthy churches. Pastors who serve long and well cultivate healthy habits: regularly scheduled time away from ministry responsibilities, a commitment to build their marriages, accountability with peers and other practices that meet their personal spiritual needs. In essence, healthy pastors minister from the overflow of their relationship with God, and they value that relationship as their number one priority.

How, amid the demands of a busy ministry schedule and family obligations, can clergy maintain and deepen their personal relationship with God?

Without question, commitment to regular times of personal retreat is among the most important contributors to pastors’ spiritual health. Pastors must take time away to refresh their spirit, reconnect to God and regain (or reaffirm) their passion for ministry.

It’s a bit like the speech that air travelers hear before take-off: “Put on your own oxygen mask first, and then help others around you.” Spiritual retreats (as contrasted with conferences, meetings and denominational gatherings) are one way pastors can “put on their oxygen masks” — listening for the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit in a setting designed specifically for that purpose.

What you think?

---Joshua Out~

Opportunity and Challenge 2!

2006-08-17T18:03:00.000-07:00

So I will continue with my last post, which was on Opportunity and Challenge!

It could have been the downtown in any small city, a place of transition where many cultures meet and people learn how to live together:

Pre-school children romped in an enclosed playground…
A group of developmentally disabled adults boarded a bus….
Members of an AA group assembled for their weekly meeting….
An elderly gentleman walked into a free dental clinic…
On her way to work, a middle-aged woman escorted her mother to senior day care…
Unemployed men and women finished a free, hot meal with full stomachs…
Parents received much needed clothing for their young children…
A recently widowed woman obtained helpful counseling.

The venue for these acts of service might surprise you. All took place in various local churches in a single southeastern Wisconsin community.

The churches represented here are not mega-churches. In some ways, they are congregations in transition. Their architecture reflects the stately traditions of many years ago, when the wealthy and successful members of the community built beautiful houses of worship. Today, those benefactors are long gone, the sanctuary may need a fresh coat of paint and the pastor wears many hats. But each of these congregations is actively and creatively carrying out its God-given mandate to love and to serve.

Who leads these communities of faith and outreach? An African-American man in his 30s called into ministry from a successful career... a bilingual pastor who conducts services in both English and Spanish... a woman and her husband who each pastor a different church... an elderly priest who moved from a larger congregation to a place where he could directly make a difference... a bi-vocational minister whose other part-time job helps his family make ends meet.

What you think?

---Joshua Out~

Opportunity and Challenge!

2006-08-13T17:59:00.000-07:00

Opportunity and Challenge:- A quick look at the American Church reveals a culture in change. Research identifies several major trends that provide both opportunities and challenges for local church pastors:

Churches are either getting smaller or larger. According to the National Congregational Survey, 71 percent of U.S. congregations have fewer than 100 regularly participating adult members, and the median congregation has just 75 regular participants. Only 10 percent of U.S. congregations have more than 350 participants — though those congregations account for almost half of all churchgoers.
Rural churches face special challenges as increasing numbers of people move to urban areas, taking their financial resources with them. As a result, many rural churches have difficulty finding full-time pastors.
George Barna (The Barna Update, October 10, 2005) has reported that more than 20 million adults throughout the nation are “revolutionaries.” In Barna’s words, “These are people who are less interested in attending church than in being the church. We found that there is a significant distinction in the minds of many people between the local church — with a small ‘c’ — and the universal Church — with a capital ‘C’. Revolutionaries tend to be more focused on being the Church, capital C, whether they participate in a congregational church or not.”
Clergy are leaving parish ministry in greater numbers and after shorter tenures, according to a 2005 report by Patricia Chung for Pulpit and Pew. The average pastor changes assignments every three years and has little opportunity to advance to larger, more prestigious positions because comparatively few are available.
The average salary for pastors of congregations with less than 100 members is $32,500 (Christian Ministry Resources report, 2004).

What you think guys?

----Joshua Out~

The Value of Hard Places!

2006-08-10T19:01:00.000-07:00

Being forced into hard places gives us a whole new perspective on life. Things we once valued no longer hold the same value. Small things become big things, and what we once thought big no longer holds such importance.
These hard places allow us to identify with the sufferings of others. It keeps us from having a shallow view of the hardships of others and allows us to truly identify with them. Those who speak of such trials from no experience often judge others who have had such hardship. It is a superficiality of Christian experience that often permeates shallow believers.

Those who have walked in hard places immediately have a kinship with others who have walked there also. They do not need to explain; they merely look at one another with mutual respect and admiration for their common experience. They know that death has worked a special thing in them. This death leads to life in others because of the hard places God has taken them through.

It is impossible to appreciate any valley experience while you are in it. However, once you have reached the top of the mountain, you are able to appreciate what terrain you have passed through. You marvel at what you were able to walk through. The valley of the shadow of death has yielded more than you ever thought possible. You are able to appreciate the beauty of the experience and lay aside the sorrow and pain it may have produced.

Death works in you for a greater purpose. If you are there today, be assured that God is producing something of much greater value than you will ever know.

----Joshua Out~

GOD PUTS A PREMIUM ON PATIENCE!

2006-08-08T16:38:00.000-07:00

To be a faithful follower of Christ, you must be a patient and prepared person. Many times it’s just our human nature to rush off and take swift action when we hear about a problem.

But patience pays off — and few people in the Bible illustrate this better than Nehemiah. In the first chapter of Nehemiah, Nehemiah heard that something was terribly wrong back in Jerusalem. But he prayed and sought the Lord as to what to do.

Nehemiah could have gone off shouting, but he knew that he would not be successful without waiting on God.

Bible tells us that it’s not only dangerous and unwise to rush into the unknown, but it’s sometimes even sinful. Nehemiah prayed and prepared for four months! When was the last time you took four months to pray about and prepare for something?

God puts a premium on patience. We need to align our schedules with God’s heavenly timetable. And the only way you will know God’s schedule is if you talk to Him constantly… and wait on Him patiently.

Many of us want to give up if we don’t get an immediate response. Patience is a hard lesson to learn in today’s fast and furious society. But you can learn it! Imitate Nehemiah today, and seek the Lord fervently to hear His answer!

GOD PUTS A PREMIUM ON PATIENCE.

----Joshua Out~

Eternal Life: You Can Be Sure!

2006-08-04T13:12:00.000-07:00

1. The unchanging promises of God. Over and over in his gospel and letters, the apostle declares God’s assurance of never-ending life. For example, he quotes Jesus’ promise of eternity in John 3:16, 6:37, and 10:27-30.

2. The unconditional love of God. Our Father loves us so much that He wants an everlasting, intimate relationship with each one of us. To accomplish this, He demonstrated His love in a remarkable way: by providing our salvation at a great price (Romans 5:6-11; 8:33-39).

3. The finished work of Christ on the Cross. By offering His life as a substitutionary sacrifice on our behalf, Jesus provided the means of salvation once and for all. Our part is to accept the gift He so freely gives (Hebrews 10:23-28).

4. The witness of God’s Spirit to our heart. Our Father places His Holy Spirit within every believer to testify to the truth of our salvation (Romans 8:15-17).Scripture tells us that we can have complete assurance of our salvation in Jesus Christ. Does your day-to-day life reflect this confidence?

----Joshua Out~

Victorious Living is Possible!

2006-08-02T22:00:00.000-07:00

It is possible, for those who really are willing to reckon on the power of the Lord for keeping and victory, to lead a life in which His promises are taken as they stand and are found to be true.

It is possible to cast all our care upon Him daily and to enjoy deep peace in doing it.

It is possible to have the thoughts and imaginations of our hearts purified, in the deepest meaning of the word.

It is possible to see the will of God in everything, and to receive it, not with sighing, but with singing.

It is possible by taking complete refuge in Divine power to become strong through and through; and, where previously our greatest weakness lay, to find that things which formerly upset all our resolves to be patient, or pure, or humble, furnish today an opportunity -- through Him who loved us, and works in us an agreement with His will and a blessed sense of His presence and His power -- to make sin powerless over us.

These things are DIVINE POSSIBILITIES, and because they are His work, the true experience of them will always cause us to bow lower at His feet and to learn to thirst and long for more.

We cannot possibly be satisfied with anything less -- each day, each hour, each moment, in Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit -- than to WALK WITH GOD. --H. C. G. Moule

We may have as much of God as we will. Christ puts the key of the treasure-chamber into our hand, and bids us take all that we want. If a man is admitted into the bullion vault of a bank, and told to help himself, and comes out with one cent, whose fault is it that he is poor? Whose fault is it that Christian people generally have such scanty portions of the free riches of God?

"Nothing shall be impossible unto you" (Matt. 17:20).

----Joshua Out~

You Are Special

2006-07-31T13:26:00.000-07:00

You are unique. You are special. God created you, and there is not another person in the world exactly like you. True, there are things about us that we really don't like. I wish I were taller, richer, and more intelligent. There are some aspects of our lives that we can work on to improve and other aspects that we must learn to accept. The people who learn to accept the good with the bad are the ones who find happiness. It simply reads:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change those I can, and wisdom to know the difference.

Great advice for those who sometimes forget they are special in the eyes of God!

----Joshua Out~

Satisfaction In Life!

2006-07-28T15:42:00.000-07:00

Satisfaction in life comes from living righteously and seeking to raise the level of quality in the relationships, services and products you are involved with. Matthew 5:6 says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." Do you really believe that? If you did, what would you be doing? You would spend more time feeding your spirit than trying to satisfy your fleshly desires. Have you ever tried to satisfy the flesh? It can't be done. The more you feed it, the more it wants.

What causes you to become dissatisfied? It's usually because the quality of the relationship, service or product has diminished. I often ask people when they became dissatisfied. Inevitably they identify the time when the quality of a relationship, the service rendered, or the product produced diminished.

Satisfaction is a quality issue, not a quantity issue. You will achieve greater satisfaction from doing a few things well than from doing many things in a haphazard or hasty manner. The key to personal satisfaction is not in broadening your involvements, but in deepening them through a commitment to quality.

The same is true in relationships. If you are dissatisfied in your relationships, perhaps you have spread yourself too thin. Solomon wrote: "A man of many friends comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). It may be nice to know a lot of people on the surface, but you need a few good friends who are committed to a quality relationship with each other. We all need the satisfaction which quality relationships bring.

Paul accomplished what he was called to do. He left a lot undone, but he fought the good fight, finished his course, and kept the faith. Jesus also left a lot undone, but He did His Father's will and was able to say, "It is finished." You may not be able to do all you want to do for Christ in your lifetime, but you can live obediently and faithfully day by day.

----Joshua Out~

Unconditional Acceptance!

2006-07-27T10:05:00.000-07:00

God's first response to our failure, no matter how terrible, is grace. That's an unconditional acceptance of you, regardless of your past performance or lack of it.

That's what Jesus teaches Peter, and He shows it in an unusual way. This professional fisherman has failed, and what's Jesus' response? A lot of big fish-153 of them, to be exact.
Grace is getting something you don't deserve, and Peter knew he didn't deserve Jesus' love. Jesus taught Peter that when someone fails, He still offers unconditional acceptance, not focusing on our behavior but on our personhood. Instead of honing in on where we blew it, He focuses on His love toward each of us as a person.

But a lot of times, accepting grace isn't our problem. Restoration is. How does God put our life back in gear so we can be useful again, so that joy returns?

He says, ?Hey, come and grab a meal.? We're afraid God carries a big club around, waiting to use it whenever we've messed up. Peter has betrayed Him in the thick of battle, and what's Jesus' response? ?Let's get together and talk about it. You want another piece of fish?? Grace means God is easy to live with; He's not a demanding boss.

God's grace always comes in meaningful ways-like fish for a fisherman. And, like Peter, we love it enough to dive right in after it. We realize it's worth everything.

Our view of failure will greatly determine the extent of our true success. Most of us spend the greatest energy of our life hiding our failures so no one will see them. But when we can view failure as a stepping stone-when we focus on grace-failure is not the end of the world.

So you blew it? A marriage failed? A business? A promise or a high standard? OK, then you failed. Was it God's plan? No. But is the world over? No, of course not. If you perceive it to be over, however, you will not come to God and find grace, and your failure will be a stone that will drag your life down.

Until we admit that we're all going to fail and then deal with it, we'll make very little progress.
But when we can confess it, we can experience the gentle grace of God and grow from it.

----Joshua Out~

Missionary!

2006-07-26T10:49:00.000-07:00

“Jesus Himself was the first missionary. He did not sit by passively and let those who happened to be interested in His teaching come to Him. He went out where the sick, the sorrowing and the sad were, and expounded His message of joy, healing and salvation. Even at a tender age, He went to the Temple and ‘taught’ the doctors and lawyers who were entrenched in the old traditions. He found his way to the seaside and intruded upon the life of the commonest of laborers, saying, ‘Follow me … and I will make you fishers of men’ (Matthew 4:19, NIV). Wherever He went He challenged, uprooted and changed men. And at length they nailed Him to a cross because He had upset their selfish, secure, smug way of life. Not only was Jesus a missionary, but He pledged His followers to be missionaries, too!”

----Joshua Out~

An Apostle's Failure!

2006-07-25T13:54:00.000-07:00

In John 21, Peter was a real failure. He had denied the Lord three times. He was discouraged, not sharing his faith and winning the world like we see later in the New Testament. He was probably questioning his future. Peter was in a crisis, and in a crisis we always go back to something comfortable and safe. So when John 21 opens, we find Peter in his comfort zone-fishing.

One night, Peter and his companions caught nothing. Now you really have to feel for the guy. Not only is this macho follower of Jesus kicking himself about denying the Lord, he's not even productive at his own profession. Once again, he has fallen short.

When we fail, our confidence is shaken. Failure reduces our self-worth and causes us to doubt ourselves. Like Peter, we go back to what's safe. We try to avoid the fact that we failed. We may get depressed, become a workaholic or a sleepaholic, or withdraw from relationships. We may turn to pleasure, watch TV all the time, obsess about our hobbies, or eat. Instead of helping the problem, we complicate it.

Jesus certainly wasn't surprised about Peter's failure-in fact, He predicted it. But when Peter and the other disciples got to shore, Jesus extended a gracious invitation: ?Come and have breakfast.? He didn't say, ?Hey, you betrayer, what are you doing out fishing? Why don't you get with the program?? He said, ?Let's grab a meal together.?

Is this how Jesus would respond to the person who has had an affair, betrayed a confidence, or inflicted incredible pain on someone that he loves? Who violated a friendship or broke an agreement? Who pledged to remain pure but last weekend was sexually immoral, or got caught up in those late-night cable shows and Internet sites? What is Jesus' attitude toward everyday people who are struggling with everyday temptations and everyday flaws?

The first part of the answer is grace. The second part is truth.

----Joshua Out~

A Stepping Stone to Growth

2006-07-22T15:07:00.000-07:00

Failure. It's the bottom line on many of our fears. We fear failing as a spouse, a parent, a friend, a student, or a professional, and it wreaks havoc on our sense of peace.

It's amazing that with some people, failure is a stepping stone. Their failure makes them stronger and results in great things. For many, it's a millstone; they were cruising along, hit a divorce or a disease, and then everything went downhill. The millstone goes around their neck and hangs there forever. What makes the difference?

The first thing to realize is that failure is universal. If you are a human being on planet Earth, I have news for you: You will fail. The only issue is how you're going to deal with it.

The second thing to realize is that the fear of failure can be a dominating force in your life. Often, the fear of failure is worse than failure itself. Some people shy away from starting a business, getting into a relationship, or exploring their desires because they just might fail. They miss the marriage or the career they could have had-all because of fear.

John 21 is a biblical model of how God deals with each of us when we fail. And since we are all going to fail, this is really important to understand: How will God deal with us afterward?

---Joshua Out~

“YOU DO NOT HAVE, BECAUSE YOU DO NOT ASK.”

2006-07-20T10:54:00.000-07:00

Effective and sincere prayer puts us in the position to receive what God desires to give us! God wants to give us good and wonderful things. He wants to bless our lives because He loves us!

But as Christians, we need to pray and make ourselves ready to receive His gifts. We can ask God for anything that is within His will, according to Ephesians. And when we do, God is able to do abundantly more than we could ever even hope for Him to do!

We must keep this in mind as we pray. Prayer is not pointless; it isn’t just a religious exercise that we perform. Prayer, in a sense, is like reporting for daily duty. It’s asking God “what would You like me to do?”

The book of James says, “You do not have, because you do not ask” (4:2). This implies that we can receive so much more from the Lord if we just ask Him for it. James also says that the prayers of a righteous man accomplish much (5:16).

Prayer puts you in a position to receive what God has for you. Today I challenge you to report for duty and pray consistently…expecting God to answer you!

“YOU DO NOT HAVE, BECAUSE YOU DO NOT ASK.”

----Joshua Out~

God Desires Your Success!

2006-07-18T23:10:00.000-07:00

God wants you to be successful. This does not mean He has an automatic plan for you to become rich or famous, although either of these may be included in His ultimate design for your life.

God's idea of success begins at the Cross where Jesus died. Success is not measured by what you do in life or what you gain financially. Your love and devotion to Jesus Christ measure your success.

In 1 Samuel 15, we read how Saul decided he would offer a sacrifice that only God's anointed priest was commissioned to offer. Since Samuel was not present, Saul felt justified in his actions and made the sacrifice himself.

This one act of disobedience cost Saul the kingdom. Here is a lesson we need to learn if we are going to be successful. God anoints certain people to do certain things. He has placed leaders in our lives for a reason. If we want to lead, we must first learn to follow.

If you fail to submit to your God-given authority, then success from God's perspective will be difficult to achieve.

A successful person has learned humility to the point that he no longer thinks about whether he has gained it or not.

We are called to do the will of God, but this only can be done at the feet of Christ.

--Joshua Out~

Christ is Coming Again!

2006-07-14T16:46:00.000-07:00

“One of the best ways to get rid of discouragement is to remember that Christ is coming again. The most thrilling, glorious truth in all the world is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. When we look around and see pessimism on every side, we should remember that the Bible is the only Book in the world that predicts the future. The Bible is more modern than tomorrow morning’s newspaper. The Bible accurately foretells the future, and it says that the consummation of all things shall be the coming again of Jesus Christ to this earth. If your life is dismal, depressed and gloomy today, Christ can turn those dark clouds inside out. The sunlight of His love can still shine into the darkest part of your life.”

----Joshua Out~

Kingdom Come!

2006-07-12T21:51:00.000-07:00

“Today, the Kingdom of God is substantially larger than it was during the time of Jesus' earthly ministry. Nevertheless, it is small and weak compared to the power and glory it will have when Christ returns to establish the new heaven and the new earth. The Kingdom of God still faces trial, heartache, mortality and, many times, persecution from the kingdoms of this world. But the day will come when the blessed followers of Christ will inherit the glorious Kingdom prepared for them. Until that day comes, believers today are, as were believers during the time of Christ, to be assured that what now appears small or weak will one day be universal and powerful. Christ’s kingly power is now hidden in the invisible means of prayer, the ministry of God's Word, and the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Yet this power is real, and it changes forever hearts that will one day dwell in transformed bodies in a new world. As we look within ourselves, and at believers around us, we may sometimes wonder if God’s Kingdom has come. But when those changes that seem so small now attain their full expression when we are glorified, we will be profoundly impressed with the kingly rule of Christ. And when we now observe pain, sorrow, disappointment and grief around us, we may wonder if such will ever disappear. At such times we need to remember that the miracles of Christ, performed in one small part of the globe for a brief period of time, are promises of another world altogether, in which the same Christ will wipe every tear from the eyes of his saints”.

----Joshua Out~

I am 22!

2006-07-10T16:32:00.000-07:00

Yahooooooooooooooooooooo!

So today I turned to 22.

The 21st year was really blessed for me. Thanks to God for everything.

I believe that God will use me for his glory in New Year too with more Power, Spirit and his Gifts.

---Joshua~

Sinning After Salvation!

2006-07-09T14:33:00.000-07:00

How many times have you sinned since you first received Jesus as your personal Savior? This is an impossible question to answer. The harsh reality is that every single person sins — yes, including Christians.

All transgression, before or after salvation, stems from the desire to have our needs met apart from God. Whenever we take matters into our own hands, outside of His will, we are headed down a sad, sinful road.

Faith in Christ brings many things — a new relationship with God, a new spirit, a new outlook on life; however, it does not eradicate all traces of our old life. We still have the same body and the same mind, and that can lead us into some of the same difficulties.

Why do we still sin after salvation? It is because that same old “programming” directs our thinking in certain patterns, which leads us into trouble. War has been declared in our lives, as the sin nature struggles against the new life brought about by Christ. If we do not make a commitment to retrain our minds, we can expect a lifetime of trouble.

Scripture offers the remedy for this ongoing conflict: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). That is to say, we must intentionally fill our minds with the things of God, allowing Him to realign our thoughts.

Where are your thoughts taking you today? Are you grounding your thinking in Scripture, or does your thinking simply lead you aimlessly through life? That way leads to sin. Begin now to focus your mind on the Lord.

God's Temple!

2006-07-08T14:53:00.000-07:00

For Christians, God's temple is one of two related things: either the Christian's body (1 Cor. 6:19-20) or the group of people who make up His Church (1 Cor. 3:16). Because of the flaws of the people in our churches, many are hypercritical of them. But God's Church is precious to Him and should be to us. Anyone who destroys his church through division will be utterly destroyed. God's faithfulness to his people is seen in his preservation of the Church through all the ravages and persecutions of history. But God is still the center of the Church and he alone is to be exalted and the Church is still to be governed by his word and not just their own will.

---Joshua Out~

Who will go to heaven?

2006-07-05T16:16:00.000-07:00

Many people have a misconception about God and what is required for us to go to heaven. They think of God as if He held a balance or pair of scales in His hand, weighing our good deeds on one side of the scales and our bad deeds on the other. As long as our good deeds outweigh our bad deeds, we think God will surely reward us with eternal life.

But that is a serious misunderstanding and is wrong. Instead, God's standard is perfection, because He is a holy God who is without sin. That is why the Bible warns, "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it" (James 2:10). There is only one conclusion: "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

How then can anyone be saved and have eternal life? Only by God's grace and forgiveness. And God has made this possible because Jesus Christ took our sins and our punishment upon Himself when He died on the cross. He is without sin, but God put all your sins on Him and He willingly died for you because He loves you.

Do not trust your own goodness; you can never be good enough to earn your way to heaven. Instead, turn to Christ for the forgiveness you need, and ask Him to be your Lord and Savior. Do not let your pride get in your way, but admit your need to God and trust Christ alone for your salvation. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

----Joshua Out~

Where does our soul go?

2006-07-03T12:03:00.000-07:00

Today mostly Christian's always ask or think that, "Where does our soul go when we die if we are believers? Does it go into some kind of sleep until the last judgment, or does it go immediately to heaven?"

Our souls or spirits go immediately into the presence of God when we die. The Apostle Paul wrote that those of us who are Christians "would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8).

Although the Bible doesn't answer all our questions about life after death, it clearly tells us that we can look forward to heaven's joys when we die, if we know Christ. Shortly before His death and resurrection, Jesus told His disciples, "I am going there to prepare a place for you ... that you also may be where I am" (John 14:2-3). The Bible also says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

The most important truth: - however, is that we will be with God, and nothing evil or harmful will ever touch us again. In heaven, God "will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away" (Revelation 21:4). Why would anyone not want to go there?

All this is possible because Jesus Christ took upon Himself the death and judgment we deserve when He died on the cross for us. And by rising from the dead, He showed that He has conquered death and Hell and Satan forever. Is your faith and trust in Him for your salvation? If not, commit your life to Him today.

--Joshua Out~

Are the gifts of the Spirit valid for today?

2006-06-30T15:55:00.000-07:00

We believe that it is possible for Christians today, as well as in New Testament times, to receive special gifts of the Spirit. In regard to the spiritual gifts as they are listed in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, it is important to note especially verse 11 where we find that the Holy Spirit gives the gifts according to His own will. In Mr. Graham's book "The Holy Spirit," he states as follows: "He (the Holy Spirit) chooses who gets which gifts, and He dispenses them at His good pleasure. While we are held accountable for the use of any gifts He gives us, we have no responsibility for gifts we have not been given."

"Every one of the fruits of the Spirit [Galatians 5:22-23] should be characteristic of every single Christian. But the gifts of the Spirit are different. Every believer should have the same fruit as every other believer, but not every believer will have the same gifts as every other believer. No, the Holy Spirit distributes the gifts in such a way that every believer has at least one gift which is uniquely his. You may have been given a certain gift by God, but it would be a mistake for you to say everyone else should have that same gift."

We must keep in mind that the spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit and must not be considered unimportant. The use of them is to exalt the Lord and build up the body of believers. The possession of a spiritual gift is not to be thought of as making one believer more holy or more spiritually advanced than another. It is important to note that Paul admonishes that these gifts must be governed by love and that all things should "be done decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40). A good test of any spiritual ministry or experience is whether or not it honors God and exalts the Lord Jesus Christ.

--Joshua Out~

What's Our Calling?

2006-06-28T12:52:00.000-07:00

During the past several years we have seen a dramatic rise in violence, societal intolerance and civil unrest. Watching news reports of suicide bombings, torture, war and terrorism, as well as seemingly intensifying natural disasters, has become a part of our evening routine.

Yet, for the most part, we bury our heads in the sand. Some Christians caught in the middle of a tragedy are thrust into the recovery process by necessity. And certainly others have volunteered to serve with relief, humanitarian and evangelical organizations. But I believe that churches in general remain in tragic denial, hoping that someone else—some government agency, some overworked disaster relief organization or someone—will take care of the recovery and all the hurting people.

New Culture
As the impact of recent catastrophic events unfolds, we are seeing a new culture emerge.

This "post-disaster culture" is made up of individuals who have experienced terror and its accompanying losses from such tragedies as 9/11 and the bombings in Oklahoma City, Bali, London, Paris and Nairobi. Millions have been traumatized by recent natural disasters as well. The 2004 tsunami affected many nations; multiple hurricanes pummel Florida each hurricane season; and the Gulf states, Mexico, Haiti and the Caribbean have been hit hard as well, resulting in loss that defies comprehension. Earthquakes have rocked Pakistan, India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. Wildfires in California have devastated homes and businesses.

And yet all the people who live in these places are merely representative of a whole world in chaos—without answers, without hope, without direction. Depression and grief are ever-present forces in a culture struggling to establish a sense of normalcy and equilibrium.

Encounters with a catastrophe and the resulting loss and suffering need not be linked to destructive fanatics or to a natural disaster. When people around us experience the effects of a fatal or serious car accident, a missing child or a sudden heart attack, the necessity to "manage" pain, loss and grief becomes a very real part of life.

The 'Why?'
In John 9:1-3, Jesus and His disciples came upon a man blind since birth. The disciples asked Jesus, "Was this man born blind because of his sin or the sins of his parents?" We may not phrase the question quite that way, but in a culture desperate for answers, a determination to answer "Why?" so often follows a trauma of any sort. Some might quietly ask, "What do you think they did to deserve this?" or say, "God must be really trying to teach this person a lesson."

But look at Jesus' answer to His disciples: "This was not due to the sins of the man, nor of the parents, but so that the power of God might be seen in him" (Cf. John 9:3). What a concept—God is not out to get us. Trauma can shatter, alter or strengthen our notion of who God is, but we must understand that within His redemptive plan, emotional and physical pain have been experienced by His choicest saints throughout history. It is often when we are at our weakest and most vulnerable that God's strength is revealed in us.

An Asian man had both of his children by the hand as they ran away from the tsunami wave that took thousands of lives. As the wave landed, his two children were wrenched from his grip and all were swept in different directions. Both children were killed.

Days later the man was reunited with his parents. Upon hearing his news, they disowned him, saying, "Clearly the spirits of our ancestors were punishing him. He should never have let go of his children." He was crushed.

In this condition, he returned to the site of his nightmare, and it was there that someone asked him to tell his story. The Christian worker who sat down with him that day was able to empathize with his loss and understand his deep grief and his sense of loneliness and desperation. Her empathy prompted him to ask her how she could be so interested in him and in his story. In response, she led him into an understanding of a heavenly Father who loved him and who grieved for him as well. In that setting he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior—and was joined to an eternal family.

There's no way to fully understand the emotions of someone who has lost a loved one; someone who is trying to envision moving forward while carrying an overwhelming experience of loss—unless you are that someone. We must be careful not to minimize people's pain. And we must be grounded in an accurate understanding of how a loving God permits suffering and loss in a fallen world that is attempting to find solace and answers outside of Him.

Our Calling
To engage with hurting individuals is a calling to the Church. Jesus said, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40, NIV). We must reach out to these individuals, recognizing that we live in a post-disaster culture where we rub shoulders with broken people every day. Our calling is to reach out to them and to offer Christ's presence in crisis.

Pray that God would continue to work through the chaplains and Christian leaders who are initiating movements of love and concern to those in Indonesia, Pakistan, the Gulf Coast region and in the lives of many who suffer. And as the Church of Jesus Christ, we ourselves need to be willing to step forward. In the aftermath of tragedy, we must respond to the trumpet call that resounds in the lives of people God desires to have as His own.

--Joshua Out~

Homosexuality V/s Christianity!

2006-06-19T23:28:00.000-07:00

Can there be a compromise between the two, can a gay person become a Christian and still retain a gay life stile?

There have been many that have tried to get the church to under go a change in its approach to sin. The spirit has given the evangelist a unique approach to delivering the gospel. It’s a type of hell fire and brimstone approach. The evangelist works well on the topics of the day and at times is ridiculed by not only the lost but sometimes by the church.

Doesn’t the scriptures state that, we all minister, with the ability that has been given to us?

Yes it does. There have been talking about Christians in some Churches that want us to be more tolerant to the gay communities and accept them as Christians in our churches. But my question, knowing the scripture, is this, "Where in scripture does Jesus say that a Christian, can wilfully sin and disregard the laws of God?’

It Doesn’t. This has become an unpopular topic with a lot of Christians, it seems that no one wants to express their opinion on the subject.

Where does Jesus say that ministers would be popular or even accepted in a sinful society?

Jesus told the disciples, which, by the way were ministers and preachers also, when you go into a city and was not accepted, brush the dust off your feet as a testimony AGAINST them. The society today, thou, wants us to be, religious and sin tolerant, toward any one with opposing view points. I’m not pointing out any particular church or organisation, I’m pointing out what Jesus told us, that would happen. " In the days of Noah." Remember Soddam an Gamorriah? When Jesus spoke the truth, it was truth. After 30 years preparing to preach, Jesus preached only 3. Look what they did to Him, look what society did to our Saviour, look what the self proclaimed righteous people did to Him without sin. The religious intolerant and sin based society, crucified our Lord, for telling the truth about sin and repentance. We were all guilty of sin, our righteousness was as filthy rags, before God. Those of us that are saved are saved by the grace of God, and those that are lost are lost because they haven’t repented of the sin they commit willfully. Was Jesus afraid to go to the cross? Look at the prayers at the garden for your answer, ponder what He said, and then answer this question. Are we afraid in telling the truth, are we afraid of retribution for standing up for righteousness, didn’t Jesus tell us that we would be hatted above all men for our belief in Him? What was the condition for our admittance into the Family of God, what was our promise to Jesus if He would forgive us of our sins, what did we vow to God, so that we could be called by His name? My promise to Him was to, turn away from sin. Pretty simple isn’t it. Is that too much to do, to inherit eternal joy, to inherit eternal life with Jesus? So then if it isn’t, why all the talk about being tolerant to sin, sin of any kind, the word says, that if you transgress against one law then your guilty of all the law. Most Christians that I’ve talked to, don’t understand that, in Gods eyes a thief is just as guilty as a murderer. In Gods eyes a liar will go to hell the same as an adulteress. The biggest thing I’ve noticed in the last couple of weeks is a deceiving spirit, getting into some Christians, having then to believe that civil unions between gays, is al-right, the newspapers from coast to coast are printing articles from well meaning Christians, calling for piece for all gay Christians, even the schools from east to west are calling for faith based creation stories to be replaced by the theory of evolution, stating that the children are going to be confused if they are taught both. We all need to pray very hard, for God to intervene in our children’s behalf. Don’t allow this spirit of deception, deceive you, call sin, what it is and reach out to the gay people and tell them the truth, if they continue in their way of life, they will never be able to inter into the kingdom of Heaven, but a devils hell awaits them. Everyone’s life style is their own choice but we, as Ministers must give all mankind information to make a decision.

Lev 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.God condemned it we have to also.

Scripture references Gen19:1-28, Romans 1:16-32.

---Joshua Out~

Q: Does the Bible approve of some homosexual relationships?

2006-06-12T20:20:00.000-07:00

A: The Bible, in Genesis, in chapters one and two, provides God's blueprint for marriage and for His good gift of sex. The gift is only to be enjoyed within a marriage between a man and a woman. There are no exceptions suggested, such as homosexual partnerships. From Genesis on, the Bible praises the marriage of a man and a woman, but it speaks only negatively of homosexual behavior whenever it is mentioned.

The Old Testament states, "Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable" (Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13). The New Testament agrees, listing "homosexual offenders" among a list of people who "will not inherit the kingdom of God" unless they are cleansed through Christ (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Other passages are Genesis, chapter 19; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Timothy 1:8-11; Jude, verse 7. However, it is important to note that the Bible speaks only of homosexual behavior (which would include lust—choosing to fantasize about behavior), not unchosen feelings. God will not judge a Christian guilty for his or her involuntary feelings.

Sometimes it is said that the Bible does not record any words of Jesus about homosexuality, and therefore it must be acceptable to God. However, the Bible does not record sayings of Jesus about a number of other specific sins either. When people asked Jesus about marriage, He told them to remember what Genesis said about God's plan for marriage (Matthew 19:1-12). So, in this sense, Jesus did have something to say about homosexual partnerships. If people had asked Him, He would have told them to remember what God said about marriage in Genesis. God only blessed sex within the committed marriage relationship of a man and a woman.

Some have tried to reinterpret what the Bible says, in an effort to approve homosexual relationships.

Joshua Out~

Proverb!

2006-06-06T20:32:00.000-07:00

Proverbs can help shape and transform our lives. The Proverbs cover many ares of life.

A Law: A Law is a command that you must always obey.
A Promise: A Promise is a guarantee that is always true.
A Proverb: A Proverb is a catchy - observations about the way things generally are.

Proverbs 10:25 (NIV)
When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone,
but the righteous stand firm forever.

This Proverb acknowledges the fact that storms do come in life. The question is not if, but when! Yet, at the end of the day, God helps the righteous stand strong. Even in the toughest of times we can rest assured that God will be with his people. For those who are facing times that demand endurance, faith, and a steadfast spirit, this is a great proverb.

Joshua Out~

Reincarnation!

2006-06-02T12:05:00.000-07:00

One reason Christians don't believe in reincarnation—the belief that we come back to life over and over again—is because they believe in heaven.

After all, if heaven is real (as Christians believe), then there isn't any need for an endless cycle of dying and coming back to Earth. In fact, why would we want to return time and time again to the pain and insecurities of this life? Ahead of us is the glory of heaven! As the Bible says, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18).

There is, however, another reason why Christians reject the idea of reincarnation. It is this: No matter how long we lived—or how many lives we had—we could never erase the stain of sin that keeps us from God. In other words, we could never reach perfection. But God loves us and has provided the way for all our sins to be forgiven. That way is Jesus Christ, who died as the one final sacrifice for our sins.

Don't be misled by false hopes or deceptive dreams that will only take you down the wrong path. Instead, face your own need of God and by faith commit yourself to Jesus Christ. In Him we have hope—hope for this life and hope for life with Him in heaven forever.

Joshua Out~

An Interview!

2006-06-01T15:39:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys,

Greetings!

So I think we all heard that Jack is Out! And their is one Interview of Third World and Western World which was published in Jack this month. you can read my Intreview from their.

http://armybarmy.com/article12.html

Bless You!

Joshua Out~

The Passion - Something to be Passionate About!

2006-05-30T21:43:00.000-07:00

The church has been called a "body" of believers with Christ at the head. And just like our human bodies, the body of Christ has many parts. But what are these parts? What does this body consist of? Is it the church building, the classrooms, the landscape, and the parking lot? No. The body of Christ consists of much more profound and important parts than physical locations or buildings.
The parts of the body of Christ are you and me.

Without each of its parts, a body will not function the way that it is designed. If your nose were missing, your body would not function to its full potential. Without your shoulder, your arm would not be as useful. For the church to function as the vehicle to spread God's message of truth, hope and love, all of the parts of the body must be present.

But there is one more thing necessary for the body to reach its potential. The parts of the body must be functioning - they have to work. If you have ever broken your arm or leg, then you know how useless that broken limb is until it is working again. That is true with the church too. Just showing up for one hour a week to worship corporately is not enough to keep the body healthy and working. God wants each of us to use our gifts for his glory and to use those gifts to serve in the church.

Too many of us, though, put church and service at church on the back burners of our lives. We cram our schedules full of events and activities until there is no longer room for everything. And too often church is what gets pushed aside. But that is not what Christ intended. He wants us to live our lives with the church - to do life with church as a priority. And nothing should take priority over living the life that Christ wants for each of us.

This week, remember that you are a vital part of the body of Christ. Remember that you are needed in order for that body to reach its potential. Use the gifts that you have to help spread God's message. Remember, the church is one thing that Christ was passionate about. It is something that you should be passionate about too.

-Joshua Out~

One Word!

2006-05-26T21:29:00.000-07:00

Acts 20:24
I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given to me -- the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

Thoughts on today's verse

How important is grace? Paul said it was more important than his life! Telling about grace was more important to Paul than his life! In fact, that was his life!

Joshua Out~

GOD RESPONDS TO YOUR PRAISE OF HIM!

2006-05-24T19:19:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered why the Scripture instructs us to praise God? Three reasons can be found in the verses above from Psalm 34.

First of all, praising the Lord encourages others. I think you’d be amazed at how people, Christian and non-Christian alike, respond to something as positive as honest and sincere praise to God when something good or bad happens to you.

Second, praising God naturally brings fellowship. There is a closeness… a bond… that is created when you’re praising God together.

And last, praising the Lord gives you power for your day-to-day life. I don’t know what you may be facing today, be it a temptation you can’t let go of or a sin you can’t escape. Whatever it is, praise will bring you out of it!

My friend, God responds to your honest, genuine praise of Him. So I urge you to make praise a habit no matter what you may be going through today!

GOD RESPONDS TO YOUR PRAISE OF HIM!

~Joshua Out~
Psalm 34:2-4

No Standing Still!

2006-05-23T12:56:00.000-07:00

Backslider is a harsh word. When we think of a backslider, we think of someone who has really blown it, whose life is in the pit. But did you know that you can come to church every Sunday and still be a backslider? That’s because backsliding is a matter of the heart.

Now you might say, “I still go to church, when I can find the time. I still read the Bible, if I get around to it. And I still obey God, unless it conflicts with what I want. But I wouldn’t describe it as backsliding. I’m just not as active spiritually as I once was.”

Consider this: the moment that you cease to progress as a Christian is the moment when the process of backsliding will potentially begin. When you cease to go forward, it’s only going to be a matter of time until you start going backward.

We as Christians constantly need to be aware of falling away and backsliding. The Bible warns that in the last days there will be many who will fall away. I have to keep my guard up, because if I am not moving forward as a Christian, I will be moving backward. There is no standing still. It would be like parking your car on a hill and putting it in neutral. In the same way, if I put my Christian life in neutral, if I stop seeking to learn and grow as a believer, I will naturally go the wrong way. I will go backwards. I will go down.

Keep moving. If you stop, you are in danger.

~Joshua Out~
2 Peter 3:17–18

How To Wait!

2006-05-21T16:11:00.000-07:00

"Blessed is he that waiteth" (Dan. 12:12).

It may seem an easy thing to wait, but it is one of the postures which a Christian soldier learns not without years of teaching. Marching and quick-marching are much easier to God's warriors than standing still.

There are hours of perplexity when the most willing spirit, anxiously desirous to serve the Lord, knows not what part to take. Then what shall it do? Vex itself by despair? Fly back in cowardice, turn to the right hand in fear, or rush forward in presumption?

No, but simply wait. Wait in prayer, however. Call upon God and spread the case before Him; tell Him your difficulty, and plead His promise of aid.
Wait in faith. Express your unstaggering confidence in Him. Believe that if He keep you tarrying even till midnight, yet He will come at the right time; the vision shall come, and shall not tarry.

Wait in quiet patience. Never murmur against the second cause, as the children of Israel did against Moses. Accept the case as it is, and put it as it stands, simply and with your whole heart, without any self-will, into the hand of your covenant God, saying, "Now, Lord, not my will, but Thine be done. I know not what to do; I am brought to extremities; but I will wait until Thou shalt cleave the floods, or drive back my foes. I will wait, if Thou keep me many a day, for my heart is fixed upon Thee alone, O God, and my spirit waiteth for Thee in full conviction that Thou wilt yet be my joy and my salvation, my refuge and my strong tower." --Morning by Morning

Wait patiently wait,
God never is late;
Thy budding plans are in Thy Father's holding,
And only wait His grand divine unfolding.
Then wait, wait,
Patiently wait.
Trust, hopefully trust,
That God will adjust
Thy tangled life; and from its dark concealings,

Will bring His will, in all its bright revealings.
Then trust, trust,
Hopefully trust.
Rest, peacefully rest
On thy Saviour's breast;
Breathe in His ear thy sacred high ambition,
And He will bring it forth in blest fruition.
Then rest, rest,
Peacefully rest! --Mercy

---Joshua Out~

A Matter of Perspective!

2006-05-17T21:49:00.000-07:00

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God's right hand in the place of honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.”

Joshua Out~

Table Grace!

2006-05-15T14:03:00.000-07:00

Table grace was originally intended to help people turn their attention to God. The meals we share are a gift from God, and He is to be thanked, but we are also to reflect on the many other good things we are given. By praying morning and noon and night, we cover our day with a knowledge of God's presence and abiding love. We should take every opportunity to sing praises to God for all that He has done. Take time to pray. Make time to share your life with God.

---Joshua Out!