love God love people part 2

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

Friends, I read a quote recently by Phil Robertson talking about problems with our society.  In a nutshell he stated that it is a common misconception in current times that if you disagree with someone, you hate them.  I've thought long and hard about that.  Do I hate those that I disagree with?  When I disagree with them do I push them out of my life so far that I dont have to deal with them?

You see friends, brother Phil is wise beyond his years.  In my recent circumstances, some have been pushed out because I dont agree with them.  Several have pushed me out because they dont agree with me.  I dont hate them.  I may, in my anger say or think I do.  But, i dont.  I love them.  The conflict is all about difference of opinion.  The bible says to "love your neighbor as yourself."   What it doesnt say is to leave each other behind.

Friends, even if you disagree with with your brother or sister, stand beside them.  They need you...

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?