Sorry Enough to Quit

One Sunday morning a teacher asked her young Sunday School class what repentance meant. A little boy put up his hand and said "it means you are sorry for your sins." Quickly a little girl raised her hand and said "please, it means you are sorry enough to quit."

It has been said that everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die. The Bible discusses this in the sixth chapter of Romans. The question is asked "how can we who are dead to sin live any longer in sin?" The answer is simple, we can't. Jesus didn't die for us so that we could accept him and continue in sin. He died to free us from the bondage of sin. Lets not just be sorry for our sins, lets be sorry enough to quit and know that no matter what Jesus can help us clean the junk out of our lives.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace my abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein. -Romans 6:1-2

Shall we live again?

Four hundred years after the birth of Christ, the Greek Philosopher, Socrates, died after drinking the poison Hemlock. "Shall we live again?" his friends asked the dying scholar. His reply was "I hope so, but no man can know."

Today friends I tell you we can live again! Jesus said "I am the resurrection and the Life." Through faith in Christ we can live a life renewed and when we draw our last breath we can live again with him in heaven.

The Resurrection, and the Life

Many tourists each year visit the tomb of Lenin in Moscow's Red Square. The crystal casket in the tomb bears the insription: For he was the greatest leader of all people of all time. He was the lord of the new humanity; he was the savior of the world."

It's plain to see that the tribute to Lenin is written in past tense. The inscription states he "was" the greatest leader, "was" the lord of new humanity, "was" the savior of the world. When he drew his last breath that was the end for him in this world. I'm so glad the actual greatest leader of all people of all time, the Lord of humanity, and the Savior of the world is not lying in a tomb in Jerusalem because after three days arose from the grave. Jesus Christ came to this earth and lived a sinless life and died that I might have life. If you have not asked Jesus to be Lord of your life please ask him today.

I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes on me shall live, even if he dies.
John 11:25

Beauty For Ashes

The story is told of several fishermen who had spent the day fishing in the locks of Scotland. When the day was done the decided to have tea at a little Scottish inn. As a waitress was bringing the tea one fisherman got carried away with his story while waving his hands and knocked a teacup from her tray and into a nearby wall. Immediately the whitewashed wall was stained with the ugly brown streaks of the tea. As the embarrassed man apologized another guest got up and went over to the tea stained wall and began to trace around the stains with his pen. In a matter of moments the tea stain became a beautiful picture of a royal stag with his antlers spread. The artist was Landseer, England's foremost painter of animals.

Have you ever felt like you missed it? Maybe you feel somehow you have made a horrible mess of life and it can never be fixed? I think we all may have been there or at least can think of several different times or situations in our life where we just messed up. I know in my life I look back and think about the messes I have made. I'm like the Apostle Paul when he said among sinners he was the chief. The good news is all is not lost. We severe a God who in his infinite grace and mercy can make the hardest heart soft, and can cleanse the deepest stain. Even though we in our own choices and ignorance may have made a mess of it all, he can still step in and paint a beautiful picture on the canvas of our life.

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto the beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
Isaiah 61:3

Hurricane Thankgiving Day

On the island of St. Croix in the virgin islands there are two Thanksgiving days. In addition to the usual one celebrated by Americans, they have a hurricane Thanksgiving Day on October 25th. This marks the end of the hurricane season. First they have "supplication day" on July 25th. On this day the citizens pray and ask God to spare their islnd from the horrors of the hurricane season. Then when the season is over they thank God for answering their prayers on Hurricane Thankgiving Day.

Its possible that all to often we have "supplication days" or times where we find ourselves in over our head so we pray and when God moves we forget to thank him for all he's done for us.
This was the case in Luke 17: 11-19 where 10 lepers called out to Jesus and he told them to show themselves to the priests. As they went they were healed but only one turned back to thank him for the blessing. Lets count our blessings today, and then let us thank our Savior each day for all that we have. Lets make everyday a "Thanksgiving Day."

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18

Explaining 180*

Maybe I'm a little crazy but so be it, haha. I wanted to establish a blog so that I could post things I feel God is showing me and doing in my life. Because Michelle gets tired of hearing my constant ramblings I decided to try them out here. I have decided if I ever actually hit the sawdust trail and preach full time one day I would call my ministry 180* ministries. 180 degrees is the turn someone has to make in their life to change, to go in the opposite direction of where they were going. All to often people turn 180 degrees and just keep turning and end up 360 degrees right back where they were. For so long my life was just a series of 360 degree turns and that is the saddest place you can be, very depressing. Saul is a great example of someone who made the 180 degree turn and became a new man, even got a new name. I'm so glad I dont turn in circles anymore in this walk. Hence the name 180* Ministries. I hope to begin posting devotions every few days and would love to get comments and have discussions.



In Christ,

Brad