One Thing

What is that one thing that you wish you can change? That one thing you wish you can get rid of, or you can be more like? Maybe your one thing is being a little bit taller, or maybe a little bit smarter. Maybe that one thing is wishing you were a little less… you get the point.

Isaiah 43:18 states –“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past”

This word came to the Israelites while they were thinking about their past, their struggles while in Egypt and while crossing the desert in seach for the promise land. God’s message is clear — “Forget the former things…” The one thing that many of us struggle with, that One Thing should be a thing of the past. Verse 19 continues to say – “See, I am doing a new thing!” Once we begin to forget the former things, we are able to see that God is doing a new thing in our lives. I believe that we should live our lives the way we drive a car. The windshield takes up almos the entire width of the car to see what is coming towards us. While the rearview mirror is a fraction of the size of the windshield. In other words we need to look forward to see how God is blessing us. Nevertheless, the rearview mirror is smaller and it should be only be glanced once in a while. This mirror is not used to get our bearing and is not used all the time.

God is doing a new thing!

Preacher man In the train

I want to start this post by saying that I know and understand the importance of evangelism and the commandment left by Jesus to go out into the world kind in Matthew 28:19

My comment or rather question comes after witnessing another preacher in the train that gets into a verbal argument with someone else while trying to share the gospel. He proceeds to condemn the woman and yells at her that she is going to Hell.

My question is

How many people have a positive view of Christianity based on this type of ministry?

I have met some people that have come to know Jesus through a street campaign or evangelism outside, but that was years ago. I have yet to find someone that was saved of came to know Christ after witnessing or seeing a negative interaction between a preacher and another person.

There has to be a better way, a more positive and productive way in which we can share the gospel to an increasingly hostile crowd. Maybe the time of bullhorns, screaming and scaring people out if Hell is gone. Fire and brimstone might of worked years ago but it does not work now. So then what is the alternative?

This past Saturday I went to a block party #refreshnyc in the lower east side and hosted by three churches. The neighborhood seemed to come alive as a great tasting BBQ meal was being prepare and the kids from the neighborhood were playing on the inflatable toys. There was great local christian and non-christian music. Hundreds of volunteers were helping, serving, interacting and building relationships with those in the neighborhood. Can this be the new way to reach people? Can the idea of belonging to a community of believers before believing be too far fetch? Or is this what Jesus had in mind as He travelled and invited people into a relationship before asking them to believe?

Just my 2cents.

Am NO Dummy!

Last Sunday I had the privilege to speak at our second service. The title of my talk was “Am NO Dummy!” as you can tell by the image.

The main verse is found in Genesis 1:26

“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Andlet them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

In light of Black Friday I am surprise to find out that there was a 12% increase in sales compare to last year and Cyber Monday has brought in more than 1 million dollars in sales. Cruising through the corridors of the malls we encounter mannequins who sport the latest fashion. This is a tactic used by merchants to entice shoppers to go in and experience a vast kingdom of product for you to buy.

If we were created by God, made in his image and likeness then we can surmized that we are a type of mannequin that He uses for the purpose of attracting potential people to come in a experience a vast kingdom available for them to enjoy and be a part of. The question that begs to be asked is “What in the world are you wearing? not sure if you got that but let me write it this way. what IN THE WORLD are you wearing? Are you wearing the things that are imposed, sanction and approved by the world? Or are you wearing what God originally intended for you to wear?

Christmas is a magical time. Walking in midtown Manhattan you are bound to see the Macy’s display or Bloomingdales and they are beautiful displays. The one thing that most have in common is that they tell a story. The story might be the Christmas spirit, or a Jolly Time or winter wonderland, but nonetheless there is a story. What is the story in your display? Is it a story of anger, frustration, regrets and bitterness? Or is it a story of Joy and love, one of peace and thankfulness?

When we have the right perspective in our relationship with our creator, God, then we can understand and play our role.  We understand that we need to be mannequins that should be attracting instead of distracting. We should be mannequins who should be ushering people into the store rather than turning them away because we do not offer anything that they don’t already have. When you have the right attitude towards your creator then you understand that there is more in store, a vast kingdom waiting to be discovered and you are THAT mannequin that God uses to attract them.

Just remember that you have to know three things.
1. Know and recognize who is your creator, otherwise we end up doing what we want. Adam and Eve did what they wanted when they took a bite out of the fruit, and now we are still paying for that mistake.

2. Do not follow the patterns of this world, but be renew by the transforming of your mind.

3. Be holy and God is holy. Is not an option, or a suggestion. It is a command.

Keeping these three things in mind we can become mannequins that God can use to attract rather than distract.

Be Blessed