Do you know who I am?

Third Day has a song entitled ‘Who I am’. To me the song is the plea of a sinner that can’t fathom his own salvation. Every time I hear it I envision Saul/Paul singing it as he stands blinded on the road to Damascus.

It starts with the lines:

“I need to be someone who's a lot like you

Easy to see that I sure need something new

Though I try to live life my way

I think it goes to prove

that I need to be someone who's like you”

This plea is like most of us have had. ‘Help me Lord. I can’t help myself’. Next come the lines of acknowledgement that God is God and he is in the business of saving us lost souls.

“And I know that you want to change me
Wanna  rearrange the way I feel inside
And I've heard that you take
The broken hearts of lonely souls
And you make all things right”

Then what follows is the disbelief. Can God really save me, even me? Why would Gad ever even want to look at me, a wretched vile evil sinner?“But, do you know who I am
Have you seen the things I've done?
Do you know who I am?
Have you seen the things I've done?

The things I’ve done”

We ask this question and we agonize over it. We beat ourselves up with it and we make excuses for God to reject us. But I say to you brothers and sisters; if you are not asking this question then be afraid, be very afraid.

If we cannot come the grips with the fact that we ARE wretched vile evil sinners; if we do not see it for ourselves; then why good sir, do you need a savior? What exactly is your crime that is deserving of punishment that you need a pardon for. Are you guilty of only a few misdemeanors, or high crimes and treason? God is Holy. He is separate from all sin. ALL SIN! It does not matter if it is a “big sin” or a “little sin” it is a sin. “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.(James 2:10 NKJV)

We are all Law Breakers and deserving of death. Yes, we are deserving of death, For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 NKJV). So, are you too bad for the Saving Grace of God through faith in Christ Jesus? You are not but you should feel as if you are.

The song concludes with the following word and the chorus repeated until fade out.

“Never before, no there's never been a time
That I would implore you to take what's yours and mine
And use it in the way you will
In any way you find
Never before did I realize”

Do you know who you are? But more importantly, do you know who Jesus is?

Lead Me

    Have you ever heard a song on the radio and said to yourself, “Hey, that song could be about me.” Sometimes the song brings back fond memories of a youthful relationship. Sometimes we are returned to our “Glory Days” like Bruce Springsteen. Sometimes it takes up back to our childhood in small town America like “Pink Houses” by John Mellencamp. Then sometimes it is a painful memory like “Independence Day” by Martina McBride or an inspirational song that makes us feel good.
    A few weeks ago my wife asked me to listen to a new song by the group ‘Sanctus Real’. It was the most personal, painful and gut wrenchingly soul convicting song I have ever heard.
    One of my biggest failings as a Husband and a Father is my failure to lead. 1 Timothy 3:5 asks an important question: “(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)”
    Men, what can we say to this?
    I am undone. There is no acceptable answer that I can give. When my wife asks me to teach her or to explain a section of scripture to her I am more than willing to, but unless she asks, I rarely do. I spend 15 minutes a night at the dinner table leading prayer and discussion, but watch TV for an hour. What is wrong with me that I would neglect one of the most important obligations I have. The head cannot survive if it neglects the body. The same goes for my children. Deuteronomy 6:4-8” Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
    I alluded to the song ‘Lead Me’. There is hope. We can change, the last verse of the song is a prayer for guidance and strength for husbands. I pray that I can change and be the leader at home that I need to be. We often neglect the ones that are closest to us. How can I teach Sunday School, teach Bible Study, lead a prayer group and yet fail to lead in my own family? The Bible teaches that my responsibility is to God first, then my wife, then my family, then the church, then others and last of all self. Why do I place anything but God ahead of my wife and family? I rush out the door in the morning to get to work. I spend hours a month cleaning my boots and ironing my uniform. Then I neglect looking at the picture my 7 year old drew for me or in instructing them on righteousness and teh word of God. What are we doing?
    Men need to step up and be MEN. We need to stop pretending that we are men while we act like boys. Women need to allow us to be men and accept the God given freedoms granted them. We all need to look to the Bible as our guide for living. Not society, not culture, not tradition and not religion. We have the blueprint for living, we have the Holy Spirit. What more do we need?

Behave Like a Christian

Romans 12:9, 18-21 NKJV Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good ./ If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. ( NKJV)
    A recent news event has captured the world’s interest. A Pastor of a small church in Florida plans to burn copies of the Koran. During the debate many have expressed agreement with him, that Islam is an evil religion and therefore we should burn their books and fight them any way we can. Others have said that while he has a constitutional right to burn the Koran, it is not the right thing to do because it could stir up more terrorism. Others said it was wrong to burn the Koran because we need to reach out with love, and Jesus would not destroy any books of other faiths.
    What are we to believe? How are we to behave? Should we burn the Koran or the Book of Mormon, or any other religious books? Romans 12:9 clearly teaches that we are to love without hypocrisy, abhor (to regard with extreme repugnance or aversion; detest utterly; loathe; abominate) evil, and to cling to what is good.
    I am of the opinion that all apostasy and false teachings need to be confronted with the truth in love. No false doctrine shall be allowed equal standing with truth. Evil exists and it is every child of God’s duty to stand against it.
    So do we burn the Koran? Do we shout from the roof tops that all sinners are going to Hell? NO! As verses 18-21 clearly state; we are to live peaceably with all men, let God take care of their salvation. If our enemy is hungry we are to feed them. If he is thirsty we are to give him a drink. We are to pray for them, minister to them and let the Holy Spirit change their heart. We are engaged in spiritual warfare not physical warfare. Confront all men with love. "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, " ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”( Matthew 22:36-40 NKJV)
    But do we roll over and let evil have free reign? NO! We are to expose evil where ever it exists. Saying that a sin is a sin is simply stating the truth. When we confront the believer or the heathen with their sin we are not judging the person, we are judging the sin. Confront the sinner with love and hate the sin. Confront evil with love yet abhor it.
    Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.(Romans 12:10-17 NKJV)
    Love others more then we love ourselves. Serve everyone with all diligence, just as we serve the Lord. Pray for and with others. Rejoice when they rejoice, cry when they cry. Gather together with like minded believers and keep your feet firmly planted on the ground. You are a sinner and no better then any other man. God has chosen you; not the other way around. You are His through no works of your own. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV). You did not do anything to earn your salvation. You do not deserve your salvation. You have received your salvation through Grace (the freely given, unmerited favor and love of god) alone. Do not puff yourself up or let others puff you up. Finally do what is right in sight of all and give no evil to none.

Purpose of this blog

Purpose of this Blog


Greetings, I have decided to start this Blog to post some of my thoughts and to interact with others to further my knowledge and relationship with Jesus Christ. I am a diligent student of the Bible and freely admit that I am constantly learning. As my knowledge and wisdom increases I my occasionally have to revise or recant previous rants and ramblings. Please feel free to comment on anything you may find posted here. If you would like to dispute a point of dogma or doctrine please back up you points with scripture and references. To all from other faiths, please fell free to participate as well but be aware that I am coming from a Reformed Christian world view and regard The Holy Bible as the only rule given by God to direct us in how we may live our lives and Glorify Him. Please keep all comments civil and do not use any derogatory or profane language. Treat all with respect and enjoy. Thank you fro reading my Blog.