The best BLACK FRIDAY deal EVER

Today is BLACK FRIDAY, and any of us who live in the western hemisphere know what that means. It means long lines, camp outs, waiting for "door-buster" deals and that one thing our kids want for Christmas. I just read a comic on Facebook that said, "Isn't it ironic that on the day after Americans give thanks for what they already have, they spend the most money on brand new stuff?". I agree. It is Ironic. Now, I first want to say that I don't think there is anything particularly wrong with Black Friday in of itself. I work in retail (restaurant) and Black Friday is just as big for us as it is for the big box retailers. There are some very very good deals out there, and I'm all for saving a buck, doing Christmas on a budget and not borrowing for Christmas. However, just as we Americans, and for that matter, us as humans, we take anything and everything to the extreme. I've participated in Black Friday before. Some years I've gone out with my dad early in the morning, gotten some deals, then eaten lunch. One year it was the midnight of Thanksgiving, attempting to wait in line at a popular toy retailer, only to learn it was a four-hour wait to get in. It was in the 20s where I was (Chattanooga) and so I opted to return in the morning.

Four hour plus waits are a little extreme for me.

So if you're out there, fighting the crowds, rushing to the next place for the next great deal, just keep everything in perspective. Yes, you are getting great deals, and saving a buck. Know that it is just "stuff", especially when the store runs out, or someone rudely cuts you off. If you are a follower of Christ, use this opportunity to share the Hope that is within you, the reason we all rush to get these great deals on gifts. Be extra nice in an unexpected way. If there is only one of that item left, give it to the woman in line behind you. God will reward your generosity. You can NEVER outgive God. If you feel led, donate to the Salvation Army bell ringers (there are one of the few who still say "Merry Christmas" in public). Do everything this Black Friday as if you are doing it for the LORD.

If you're not a follower of Christ, or if you're not sure, I have a better deal than a $200 42" LCD TV or a $150 iPod Touch. In fact, the deal that I know about is the BEST BLACK FRIDAY DEAL EVER! are you interested?

The Bible tells us that "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23). God is perfect and therefore His standards are perfect, and no matter how good we are, we will never meet His perfection. That means you and I have all done something to fall short (or sin) of God's standards. Because we are sinners, we are destined to spend eternity away from him. The Bible also tells us that "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus" (Rom 6:23). So here's where the best deal comes into play. See there is no way we could ever earn our way into God's graces, nor can we earn eternal life. Our sin, no matter how big or small, separates us from God forever. However, God has offered us a way to deal with our sin. He gave us the gift of Jesus Christ, His one and only Son. Jesus was fully man and fully God. The Bible says that Jesus lived a perfect life here on earth, but was tempted in every way we are, yet since He's also fully God, He never sinned. Because God loved you so much and wants to spend eternity with you, He allowed His only Son, Jesus to die on a cross for your sins and three days later rose Him from the dead. The Bible says that if you "Confess with your mouth Jesus is LORD and believe that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Rom 10:9). That means if you confess your sins to God, believe that Jesus died on the cross and that his death paid IN FULL the price for your sins, and if you verbally ask Jesus to be your Lord and to save you, that God will save you. You will then get to spend eternity with our creator. So instead of an eternity spent separate from God, you'll get to spend eternity with God in Heaven.

God offers this deal to Everyone! He isn't going to make you trust in Jesus, and He isn't going to force you to believe, but rather in His love for you, He will allow you to read posts like this. He will allow you to hear the Gospel presented at a church service, or on TV, or through a friend. He will give you every chance He can to accept this gift. However, every time you reject it, the Bible says your heart becomes a little bit harder, and therefore, you are more likely to continue to reject His gift of eternal life. But the Good News is that if you feel that tugging on your heart right now, God is calling you to receive his gift. Just like you had to receive that ticket from the clerk for that item you waited in line so long for on Black Friday, you need to receive His Gift. You may be thinking, but Karl, you don't know all the bad things I've done. You're right, I don't. But you don't know all of my bad stuff either. However, the Bible says that when we trust in Jesus, God separates us from our sin as far as the east is from the west. It doesn't matter how much or how bad or how deep your sin may be. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9). All we have to do is place our faith and trust in Him. Now THAT is a good deal! No, it's not a Good deal, it's the BEST DEAL EVER!


If after reading this, you want to receive this gift and take part in the best deal ever, confess your sin to God and pray this prayer:

Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe that you died on the cross as payment in full for my sins. Thank you for dying for me. I believe that God raised you from the dead. Because of that, I want to make you my Lord and my Savior. I repent of my sins and want to turn from my selfish ways. Please change my heart and be the Lord of my life. Thank you for saving me, Jesus. I love you. Amen.

Are you keeping your faith a secret?

Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. -John 19:38 (NIV)

I know, I know, its been like a month since I last blogged.  Please forgive me for my absence.  Yesterday in our Sunday School class, we discussed John 20.  For some reason, my attention was drawn to the passage prior in John 19 (in my Bible it is directly above John 20 on the same page) and specifically verse 38.  You read the verse at the beginning of this entry.  The sentence I want to focus on today is the "Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews."  I think a lot of believers can relate to that sentence.  


Joseph of Arimathea is best known for providing the tomb for our Savior (granted it was only a temporary need - Praise God!!).  Because he was able to do this, we can safely conclude that he was a wealthy man at the time and perhaps a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin. Therefore, he had a lot to lose, in the worldly sense, if fellow Jews found out that he was a follower of Christ.  There are many in the Body of Christ today that are just like Joseph.  Despite the freedoms we have in the United States and other countries around the world, many of us find ourselves in F.E.A.R., or False Evidence Appearing Real, when it comes to sharing with others our beliefs.  Fear is not of God, but of the evil one.  Satan loves to leverage fear to keep the church from growing, and to keep Christians from sharing their experience, strength and hope they find through Christ with others.  


I have certainly suffered from my share of fear about sharing my faith.  I didn't have to fear my life as Joseph my have, but I did have fear about losing my livelihood since my testimony has many things that are so counter cultural to where I work. Again, that was False Evidence Appearing Real.  Once I placed my Faith (the opposite of fear) in God for the results and took a step of courage, I was able to share my story.  I was able to keep my secrets out in the light where they could not grow.  No one laughed at me.  No one mocked me.  No one ceased being my friend.  In fact, most of them were encouraged by my testimony.  And most importantly, I grew closer to God through Christ in the process.


Some of you reading this might be thinking, "Yeah, that's nice for you but still, I have this atheist boss at work...." or you may be thinking, "what will my friends think of me if I tell them I believe?". Have faith.  Remember, it takes a bit of courage.  Even if you still struggle with that there is good news for you.  God is still using you to accomplish His purpose.  Look at Joseph, because he kept his faith to himself, he was able to secure the body of our Savior from Pilate.  I'm not sure if one of the eleven would have been able to take Christ's body for burial.  So God used Joseph's secret faith for His Glory.  Of course, we come to discover that prophecy is fulfilled and the grave was defeated on the third day when Jesus was Resurrected!  Amen!


So if you are trusting in Christ secretly, know that God is still using you.  I encourage you TODAY to take a small baby step, like Joseph did, and do something in faith that will begin to tell others Who you work for and Why you have Hope and Peace.  You may be surprised as to how much God will do for you in what you cannot do for yourself.  God met Joseph right where he was at.  While the bible does not say, some writings from the era suggest that Joseph began preaching in Gaul with Phillip.  Joseph was not living his faith in secret then.  


On this, the day after we celebrate Christs' Resurrection, ask yourself, "How much am I letting my faith infect all areas of my life?"  and then ask yourself, "If my friends were asked if I were a Christ follower, what would they say?"  


God bless you abundantly today!

Come to me all who are weary

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

 This passage from the Gospel of Matthew gives me great comfort this week.  Last week, I was part of another amazing company-wide meeting where we met in Washington, DC.  All of our company goes to this meeting and for five days we discuss the state of the business, the future of the business and have some fun.  Its more like a big family reunion than a typical "boring" company meeting.  We even have an optional worship service on Sunday evening.  Its a lot of work, though.   Most days are 12-14 hours long.  We all come home exhausted (in a good way).  Despite the hard work, it was truly a great week.  


After our five-day meeting, I returned to my home Wednesday night, just in time for church activities with the kids.  On Thursday, I planned on doing some work at home, but it never happened.  I found myself taking about a 30 minute nap Thursday afternoon - I clearly needed some rest.  Friday, my wife and I left for a wonderful marriage retreat.  We returned Saturday and had a busy Sunday ahead.  Sunday School saw a challenging message on fasting delivered by our teacher and then our series on marriage in our church concluded.  My heart, soul and brain were full....but it wasn't over yet...


Yesterday, though, was the epitome of how my last 10 days have gone.  I got up early, as usual, attended a meeting, drove to work, had a busy morning, ran 6 miles at lunch, more work, left the office at 3:30 to head out into the field to address an issue, left from there, had phone calls the entire drive home, as soon as i got home, I made pizza for the family, left dinner early to get to visitation, drove 35 minutes to and 35 minutes from the house we visited, came home, did the dishes, walked the dog and and *whew* the day was done!


Everything I listed above was good stuff - some of it even Godly stuff, but boy did I need some rest....


...Mentally, physically and emotionally.  


Fortunately, Jesus offers us a solution.  In a fallen world, we can take days or weeks like I just had and keep on going.  We can run run run run until we can't run anymore and wonder why we are not fulfilled, why life still seems unmanageable.  I've done that so many times prior to coming to Christ and even a few times since coming to Christ.  


I decided this morning to take refuge in Christ.  After my quiet time, I attended my Tuesday Morning Men's meeting and we discussed how to be better servants.  We are studying a book that talks about the Mind and Heart of Christ for the Lenten season.  It was just the recharge I needed.  See I can either take my last 10 days, be self-centered and say "woe is me, look at all I had to do, or did do".  Or, I can be grateful for all of these opportunities, acknowledge that it was a lot and that I am a little tired and therefore take refuge in Christ.  Today,  I'm allowing my body, mind and spirit to renew by praying frequently, listening to some good music and working at a moderate pace. 

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"  - Matthew 4:4 NIV

I have found (mostly the hard way) that if I stay God-centered, my days go so much better.  Its okay to take rest and refuge when our bodies, spirits and minds need it.  If you are feeling tired, beat down, exhausted, stop.  Take refuge in Christ.  Open your bible and read.  Get on your knees and pray.  Turn on your favorite worship song and listen.  Or simply lay down, close your eyes and allow God to renew your soul.