this is the story

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  John 1:1

The gospels tell the story of Jesus.  It is undeniably the greatest story ever told.  It is an inspirational story.  Not a documentary, or a tragedy, or a romance, or a comedy, or a lifetime original movie.  It is a story of faith and love.  Honor and glory.  I am not worthy of even being compared to Jesus.  But, He is who I aspire to be.

Shift your focus here for a minute and forgive me if I ramble.  I am tired and in for another sleepless night but these words tear me from the inside trying to get out.  Out to you to make you think.  To inspire.  To make you look inward.  To ask those tough questions to yourself.  The kind that hurt.

So, here's my question to you:  If a book were to be written about your life, would it be inspirational?  Would it make the New York Times Best Sellers List?
If a movie was made of your life, would people go see it?  Would you get rave reviews from the critics?  Or would people ask for their money back as they left the film?  Would they complain that they wasted their life watching your story?

Wanna hear the story of Scotty Northcutt?  Several have told me its inspirational.  A story of do's and dont's, faith, heartache, and love.  A story thats real.  A story with an unwritten ending.  A story that's Christ centered yet dark at times.  A story with no heroine, she hasnt been written in yet.  Few know this story of darkness and light.  But, if you ever want to know it, you wont read it here.  You will have to ask.  It's worth your time.

love God love people part 1

One of the scribes approached.  When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked Him, "Which command is the most important of all?"  This is the most important,"  Jesus answered:  Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is One.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.  "The second is:  Love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no other command greater than these."  Mark 12:28-31

If the bible could be summed up in 3 verses, this would be it.  No other verses in the whole bible speak to me on a more personal level than this.  You see friends, back in 2003, I hit rock bottom.  In a very short time I lost my wife, my kids, the dog, most all household possessions, all my money, my freedom, my pride, my dignity, and almost my will to live.
God kept speaking to me through this verse.  Enough so, that I tattooed it on my arm.  I believe that I had not put God first in my life.  There were other things I put first.  Namely my family.  Understand this my friends and listen closely.  God did not take away the marriage.  That is against His word.  However, God did allow me to be sifted as Peter was.  And as Job was.  I am a much stronger Christian because of that too.  Refined, molded, chiseled, a created warrior for Christ.
Friends, if you put ANYTHING before your relationship with God prepare for disaster.  Christ said this is the most important commandment for a reason.

We will address the love people next time.  To be continued...

assets and liabilities

And let us be concerned about one another to promote love and good works,  Hebrews 10:24

I recently filled out a balance sheet for my financial adviser.  It is a form that has a vertical line through the center.  On the left side are your assets.  These consist of money, property, and other valuables that you own.  On the right side are liabilities.  These are what and who you owe.  At the bottom of the sheet you add up all the lines in the asset column and write a total.  Then you add up all the liabilities and write a total.  Finally, you subtract the liabilities from the assets.  This magic number is you net worth.  Ideally, your assets should far outweigh your liabilities.

Lets talk about our spiritual balance sheet.  As I was doing the financial balance sheet, I couldn't help but correlate it with the Christian walk.  We as Christians are called to help one another down this road called life.  Make up a spiritual balance sheet for yourself.  If you are kind and giving, that's and asset.  If you are a complainer and rude, that's a liability.  Make yourself a balance sheet if you are brave enough.  Are you an asset to others?  Maybe your a liability?  Be careful if you're the latter... you may be wrote off!

This one's about me and David.

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
    for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles of my heart
    and free me from my anguish.
18 Look on my affliction and my distress
    and take away all my sins.
19 See how numerous are my enemies
    and how fiercely they hate me!

20 Guard my life and rescue me;
    do not let me be put to shame,
    for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness protect me,
    because my hope, Lord,[c] is in you.     -Psalm 25:16-21

If there is any character in the bible that I can relate to, its David.  David is a real man among men.  He's a warrior.  A sinner.  A lover.  A writer.  A man after God's own heart.  A leader.  Hated and loved.  Alone...He is alone.

He is alone when he is in a crowd.  He is alone when he is in the wilderness.  He is alone.  David cries out to God when he is alone.

Tonight, I showed my face in a crowd.  There were a lot of people there that I knew.  I spoke to several.  Lots of smiles and handshakes were given and received.  Some asked me where I've been.  One thought I moved away.  I was alone.  Alone in the crowd.

Friends, recent circumstances have carried me into the wilderness.  I have learned to rely on God more than ever.  He is my comforter and my strength.  Much like David, I have been let down by men.  The only earthly satisfaction to be found has been a few intimate conversations and visits with dear friends.  So, if you wondered where I've been... I've been here all along... Alone with God.

                                -Scotty Northcutt

Haters be h8tin

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  
-Romans 12:9

     There are several things in life that I hate.  Here's a list of a few things I hate in no certain order:  snakes, when people oppress others, spiders, dodge trucks, when people lie, the devil, ect...
     There are more things that I love:  a young couple in love, a rainbow over chinaman's hut in Oahu, a good romantic comedy, when my children say "daddy I love you," a walk through the woods on a brisk fall morning, when a sinner gives himself to Christ, ect...

I encourage you to make a list of things you love and hate.  Is it deep or shallow?  Check yourself before you wreck yourself... 

How deep is it?

Someone once said, “The Bible is like a pool.  Shallow enough that a little child can come and get a drink without fear of drowning, yet so deep scholars can swim in it and never touch bottom.”

I love this quote that Pastor Adrian Rogers used.  It says so much and says so little at the same time.  The reality is the truth behind it.  My children have no problem understanding that there is a God.  That He created the heavens and the earth.  That He sent His one and only son to die on a cross for all man's sin.  That He was resurrected on the third day and ascended to heaven.  It's so simple when you have just a little faith.                    
In contrast, it can be deep.  How deep?  Real deep.  There are many things in the bible that no one understands.

So lets apply this to our lives.  Your daily conversations say a lot about how "deep or shallow" you are.  We want to be deep but not drown.  Are your conversations typically about some score of some game, or the person that cut you off at the store, or what that one gal said about someone else?  That's quite shallow.  Or are your conversations deeper, about the meaning of scripture, blessings, praises, and the will of God?

 

Picking a fight in church.

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.  
1 Thessalonians 5:11

I recently attended a dinner at a local church.  I'm a new face and know very few people there.  As we were eating dinner there were a few men at my table that proceeded to slam one of the church staff.  They were negatively commenting on the staff member's way of doing things.  These men were introduced to me minutes before and were told that I was a new guest.  One of the men's wife picked up on my disgust for the comments.  She politely said to her husband that maybe they were "just two grumpy old men."  I (being the person that takes no lip from anyone) adamantly looked them both in the eyes with my intimidating stare and loudly said "your exactly right about that!)  One of the guys picked up on my anger real quick.  He got up and left and did not return.  The other sat oblivious to the things that just transpired.
Now, why would I tell you this?  Because, I hope your not "that guy."  The one that doesnt agree with every little thing a staff member does.  The one with verbal diarrhea that is condemning his pastoral staff in front of a new prospect. Staff work countless hours in an unappreciated role to make the church tick. I will stand up and fight for them. Am I right for picking a fight in church?  Or am I wrong for not calling the guys out and physically throwing them out of the temple like Jesus did?

where's your heart at?

20Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.  Matthew 6

In life there are patterns.  Some are very defined.  Some a subtle.  I was reconciling my checkbook today as i usually do each Monday.  There was a definite pattern.  I noted several consistincies in the the check register.  One in particular that made me smile.  God is good and God is faithful.  Are you being faithful to Him?  Connect the dots of the pattern of your treasure.  Then you will know where your heart is... 

BE ALERT

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

Lions are interesting creatures.  Since we dont live in Africa here's a few quick facts:

1)      With some males exceeding 250 kg (550 lb) in weight,^[4] it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger.

2)     They sneak up to the victim until they reach a distance of approximately 30 metres (98 feet) or less.  The attack is short and powerful; they attempt to catch the victim with a fast rush and final leap.

3)  The prey usually is killed by strangulation,^[73] which can cause cerebral ischemia or asphyxia (which results in hypoxemic, or "general", hypoxia). The prey also may be killed by the lion enclosing the animal's mouth and nostrils in its jaws (which would also result in asphyxia).^[4]

4)     A lion may gorge itself and eat up to 30 kg (66 lb) in one sitting;^[83] if it is unable to consume all the kill it will rest for a few hours before consuming more.

So, now you know your enemy the lion.  How well do you know your enemy the devil?  Check out the bible to study your enemy.  Because, as we speak, he is stalking you.  And he may be within 30 meters of you...

got money$?

6 “I the LORD do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty.
“But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’
8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.
“But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’
“In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the LORD Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty.-Malachi 3:6-12




All of my life God has blessed me.  Most of the time in ways I dont see or understand.  One thing I never understand is tithing.  But it doesnt have to. It just works.  The math never makes sense.  You dont have money, you pay money to God, and money flows to you from somewhere else.  It's more about faith than common sense.
Did you catch that line about robbing God?  For a visual, picture this:  Every time you dont tithe its just like stealing money out of you parents wallet.  Are you a thief?  Pay your tithe and He will "open the floodgates of heaven."

Why are you afraid?

And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” (Matthew 8:24-27 ESV)

I could really picture this scenario. The disciples were freakin out about the storm. But Jesus was asleep!  How could he be asleep when they're fixin to die?  The disciples are like dude you better wake him up cause we're gonna die!  Jesus calmly raises up and tells the winds to die down. 

Does the storm you're in have you scared for your life?  Do you feel like Jesus is asleep?  Don't forget, just like with the disciples, He is right there in the storm with you. 

All you have to do is reach over and wake Him up. He will calm the storm just in time. 

Are you happy?

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33 KJV)

"Do what makes you happy" is the most dangerous advice to give anyone. It's not in the bible. And when does anyone really know what happiness really is?  

Happiness is usually found by changing the focus of your current circumstances. Let's look at some examples:

1) "I'm not happy with my job, I'm quitting."

Reply;  good jobs are hard to come by right now. You have been there for years and are respected in the company  didn't God provide that job for you when you needed it most?  It's God's will that you stay and continue to influence people for Him. 

2)  "I can't stand this old truck anymore. I really want a new one. "

Reply;  that truck has carried you back and forth every day for years and never left you on the side of the road. It's paid for and a new truck payment is $800/mo. Didn't God bless you with that truck for a good deal years ago when times were hard?  It's God's will you continue with that truck and use the extra cash flow to support in the ministry. 

3). "I'm mad at my friend.  They made a destructive lifestyle decision. I'm not going to talk to them anymore."

Reply;  that's your friend!  You have encouraged each other for years. Aren't they going to need your support and biblical advice in their new endeavor?  It is the will of God that you stick with them to help them through !

Friends the best advice comes from the bible. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God". Change your focus. Happiness will follow.