Where is the truth?

In reading the stats on the ezraproject.net page I wasn't surprised at all, but it was further confirmation from the evidences I have seen throughout my life. Here's the stats I read:

* Only 16% of Americans read the Bible daily
* Only 29% of men and 43% of women say they read the Bible either weekly or daily
* 75% of Christians overlook the Bible when shaping their worldview
* 41% of Americans rarely or never read the Bible anymore

That's sobering when you read it. Some may say "that's no big deal" - but if you know and cherish the Word like I and others do, you can never respond that way. There are so many evidences, the list is nearly endless of evidences, with the archaeological evidences being unearthed often, that solidify the claims of the bible as true. The testimonies of hundreds of thousands of people as to the life-changing truth in the bible can't be refuted. Just in the past year I have watched the truth of God's Word transform several people in my life. Nothing I could have said or done would have done what the Word of God did in their life. I couldn't have explained to them the feeling or the power that is known through knowing His Word - it had to be experienced - by faith.

If we agree that Satan is against the church (the Christ-followers), than you must admit that much of these statistics are in direct correlation to his own plans to remove truth and provide deception in it's place. What better way to marginalize "christians" and leave the rest of the world grasping at every passing wisp of "truth" for some sort of foundation to life than to remove absolute, life-giving truth from their lives? Socialism/communism/humanism have as a kingpin to their regulations a removal of the Truth - just another ploy of our great enemy of our souls.

My challenge in all this is what am I going to do in my life that can help change this statistic for the better? Here are a few things that I am challenged with:

* Read the bible daily, but not just for readings sake, but for transformation. The bible is written for our transformation, not information. Go into it as a treasure seeker would - having faith I WILL find truth - transforming truth.

* Read the bible to my family regularly. Spend lots of time studying God's word with my children - help solidify the life-changing truth in their lives. Take time away to study the word 1-on-1 with my wife - we need to be unified in and by the truth of God!

* Constantly evaluate my walk according to God's word:
Ephesians 5:10-12
10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.
I need to make sure that the bible I am communicating to others is clear and uninhibited by hypocrisy and rationalization (I may be the only bible that some people read - thereby the only truth that could draw them to Christ)

* Constantly evaluate my environment (i.e. - know what's coming, not so I can live a sterilized life, but so I can be ready for the spiritual battle)
Colossians 2:8
Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ

* Share the truth with others - knowing the Word, I can't help but share the truth with others. How can I watch the pathetic excuse for purpose that the devil has proposed to this world and not seek to displace it? EVERYONE is seeking for truth - when they are presented with it they WILL react, I can't be surprised but encouraged knowing that the persons soul is caused to think.

May God work these out in me - by His grace and power.

I challenge whoever is reading this to the same - where is the bible in your life? Is it a token of your religion or is it the very rock and foundation of your daily walk of life?

Bonjou

I have been in Haiti for a week now. My amazement hasn't stopped. In some aspects it's surreal to be back. I didn't think I would really be able to come back here. Praise You God. In other ways, I am amazed how God is continually moving in this church. God has anointed Seige as a pastor and leader. Him, his team and everyone here are doing mighty mighty things. It is incredible. Last week was spent at their young adult retreat. We were able to integrate into the whole event in such a supernatural way. We had amazing small group time, even with the language barrier. We had testimonies a few of the nights. People giving up old lives, people getting saved. It was incredible. I am tearing up right now in joy just typing this. God is amazing, the gospel is powerful no matter what language, no matter what color. Jesus loves us...He really does. We can't ever forget that. All he wants, all he has ever wanted was to get back with His love. This next week we will be serving at the church and at a few orphanages. I know God has amazing things for us this upcoming week and I can't wait. On a personal note, I miss the heck out of my family :) Also, my creole is growing like crazy, I have been able to have meaningful conversations fully in creole, and if you know me, that's an INCREDIBLE blessing for me. Praise God. I am journaling each day the details and hope in the next few weeks to get parts here on the blog to share God's glory and power that is moving with force through Haiti from Calvary Chapel Port-au-prince. Orevwa, e Bondye benye ou.

Haiti - 2009

Good morning all, in a few hours I will be getting in a van with 11 others to head to Haiti for a 12 day mission trip. We will be going to work with Pastor Seige at Calvary Chapel Port-au-prince, Haiti. We will be involved with a young adult retreat, village churches, the local church, a few orphanages, and many "Spiritually Spontaneous" things. I email this to ask for your prayers. Our team has already (and is still going through) gone through spiritual attack upon spiritual attack and we need and covet your prayers. God has really grown a bond that I know Satan despises. Here is our prayer request:

- Please pray for: unity, open hearts, safety, joy, filling of the Holy Spirit, health, spiritual protection, effectiveness, wisdom and God's favor

Bondye benye ou

In the name of....

John 14:14 (New King James Version)
14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

So many times we read this verse for what we want to see in it instead of what's actually in it. I don't want to talk about the context in detail. Just one note about it, this verse was explicitly spoken to a special group of men (the disciples) and a disciple is to have their life totally sold out to Christ. Hence, the reason why this verse was applicable to them. Ok, now onto the portion I wanted to discuss. This is Jesus talking to His disciples. If I ask anything He will do it. Oh wait, no...it says, if I ask anything IN HIS NAME, He will do it. So what, I end my prayer with "in Jesus name, AMEN" I am good right? Was the prayer answered? "No, not really, but that's normal, I just kinda pray because I feel better and I know I am supposed to" I struggle with this mentality myself. I pray out of duty and not out of a desire to talk with God or to genuinely place a need before Him. So when I pray I struggle with expecting it to be ignored or go unanswered. Totally my fault, I will admit that, but what am I doing wrong? Well, the beauty of God's word is that it always has an answer, we need only look. In the same chapter, a few verses previous, Jesus gave us the explanation of "asking in His name: John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" Ok, so we know that only by Jesus can we approach the father. We also know that the father is who we are praying to when Jesus taught us how to pray by what we call "The LORD's Prayer" He starts it out with "Our Father, who art in heaven" I think I have the overall concept down in my mind, practicing it in spirit is another thing entirely. So, here goes:
I heard a great analogy in a book titled "The power of prayer and the prayer of power" he went about it like this: To come to the Father we must come in Jesus' name. Because by our own name we were rejected, and will always be. If you wanted to talk to a very high up official in a corporation or in government, how do you get in to see them? The easiest name is to name-drop. "Hi, I want to talk to the president, I know so-and-so" Knowing this high-up official has now enabled you to come in their name. The same is true for our relationship with the Father. We come to Him, not because of who we are or what we have done, but because of what Jesus has done and who Jesus is. My attitude must be one of total humility in Jesus and what He has done for me. This attitude must carry on in prayer. When I approach my holy God, I come to Him THROUGH Jesus, not through myself.

Let me close with this:

- God wants to answer our prayers
- God can answer our prayers
- God will answer our prayers
- God the Father is who I am praying to
- God the Son is who I am praying through
- God the Spirit is who prompts and ministers to me in prayer
- To get to the Father (in prayer) I must go through Jesus (name drop my Savior)