Just Bloggin' by Wardo

Let’s face it, people will let you down. But sometimes it is our unrealistic expectations of them that are the cause of the letdown. It really wasn’t what they did or didn’t do but our unmet expectation of them that caused our hurt. When I have irrational expectations of them or of their abilities I am setting myself up for disappointment. Disappointment in that they didn’t meet my expectation of them.  But many times we do the same thing with God. We ascribe to him our unmet, unrealistic and irrational expectations as though he is the Jeannie in the lamp and he is there to grant us our wishes! As a Christian what do you expect from God? When my expectation is the realization that I was created for the honor and glory of God then I should not have any unmet, unrealistic or irrational expectations of God. When my expectation is that God wants me to trust Him no matter what then I should not have any unmet, unrealistic or irrational expectations of God. It is when I...

The Apostle Paul said that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. I think Paul understood his humanity, his depravity, he knew his dark side. He knew what evils he had done in the past and what wickedness he was capable of now and in the future. This should cause us to realize that every sin that has ever been committed, you and I are capable of committing or to put it another way had you or I been in the Garden of Eden we would have sinned too. To think otherwise is simply our narcissistic egos or pride talking. Paul’s philosophy is unlike the persona that many Christians put on today. They portray their own spirituality, void of humanity and debauchery, by neatly putting on their hypocritical Christian mask and acting as though there is no darkness inside their heart or mind. The result of all of this showmanship being acted out has prevented the church today from having a community, from having transparency, from showing weakness and living...

I sit here with my ankle wrapped, iced and elevated above my heart as I am recovering from a motorcycle crash. Not only was I injured and taken to the emergency room for x-rays and a cat scan (all negative) but my motorcycle was damaged too. This all happened on Friday. On Monday I found out the wonderful news that neither I nor my motorcycle was covered by my insurance policy. Yes, it was disheartening to find out, overwhelming as I sobbed to the Lord. Thankfully my despair was not long embraced as The Lord has been taking this last year of heartache and sorrow to teach and temper me through trials and suffering. You see one year ago there was an incident in the Central Florida Children’s Home that occurred between two of the residents (we were not on at the time). We believed that incident should have been reported to DCF, however, those in authority (Executive Director and President of the home) over us felt it should not be reported. In hindsight, I believe they would rather p...

I wonder if saying grace at a resturant falls under the category to be seen of men? I wonder if you make a billboard about how abortion breaks God's heart and you put a picture of Jesus on it you violate an image commandment? I wonder how much theology God is involved with? I wonder how many are drive by friends looking for gossip and not true friends looking to build up, encourage and listen? I wonder if we showed our brokeness and absolute need of God and His grace while being totally vulnerable, that geniune community could take place? I wonder if we really think other people are worth all the heart-ache, hassle and inconvience to us but when we have that thought do we think of Jesus putting up with us? I wonder if we really want to understand others or we would rather acknowledge from a distance while sounding spiritual?

What comes into our minds when we hear the word trial? What if the word was catastrophe or tragedy? Divorce, the death of a spouse or child, loved ones with a crippling disease, infidelity, children walking away from God, great financial loss, the murder of a loved one, abuse within the family. When one of these occur in our lives what type of emotions grip our hearts and minds? When more than one occurs, then how do we respond? Trials bring many responses. Trials bring:     Fear & Worry – Disciples in ship ( Matthew 8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.) Doubt – Peter walking on water ( Matthew 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? ) Questions – Man born blind (John 9:1-3 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And h...

There are folks that determine their self-worth from external factors. Because they like their appearance , they have great self-worth. Because they have a financially high net worth , they have great self-worth. Because they know important people , they have great self-worth. Because of their job , they have great self-worth. Because of their achievements , they have great self-worth. Because of their abilities , they have great self-worth. Because of their self-aggrandizement , they have great self-worth. Because of others compliments , they have great self-worth. The difficulty is that these factors can and will change and when they do our self-worth will change with them. May I suggest you look in a different area to have true lasting self-worth. Jesus said "Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" and this answered his own question "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” May I...

We identify ourselves in many ways. We identify ourselves as Florida Gator or Florida State Seminoles fans. We identify ourselves as blue grass, country or folk music fans. We identify ourselves as Americans. We identify ourselves as Southerners or Northerners. We identify ourselves as Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians or Independents. We identify ourselves as conservatives or liberals. We identify ourselves as alumni of institutions.  We identify ourselves from where we grew up (I am a Clintonian having grown up in Clinton, NY). We identify ourselves by our height, weight or age. We identify ourselves with Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks as coffee drinkers. But we who name the name of Christ most importantly must identify ourselves with Christ. You see, identifying ourselves with Christ shows who we are as Christians. But it is much deeper than being with Christ, for we are also in Christ. Because we are in Christ there are some things that have happened and some qualities that have...

As I walk through church greeting people I notice that many folks want a handshake. For others it is the grip of death and the stare down, while others prefer the dead fish. Some people just want a nod to acknowledge them, while some folks are looking for a fist bump and others want a bro hug. Then when I greet ladies at church some only want a “hi” or a wave, while some ladies want a hug and other ladies favor a kiss on the cheek. Through this simple weekly process I’ve come to the conclusion that people are very different. Each person is an individual made in the image of God, as God saw fit to make them and because of this we are each very distinctive and we should acknowledge and celebrate these differences.   We should be very understanding of our differences. We should be very accommodating to those that are vastly different from us. There should be tolerance and acceptance and not ridicule or gossip of those who differ from us. People who are different socially, econom...

I was sitting in church this morning and the pastor spoke about “modeling” Christianity and the need to find someone to “model” after. It is true that I would like to be a good model of God's grace, although much of today's teaching on the subject takes it in a different direction. The modeling I heard about this morning sounded good and probably tickled a few ears, however one of the problems with this philosophy that I see is that this “model” is usually created by a person pushing their version of a Christian agenda. You see, the whole premise of a model is wrong, unless of course Jesus is your model. You know Jesus he is the one who dealt in unconditional love. The one who used mercy, grace and kindness to upend the religious zealots of his day and their wayward philosophies passed off for godliness. The one who deals with people on an individual basis and not some preconceived idea of cookie cutter Christianity where everyone looks the same, talks the same and interacts t...

In choosing a God-centered life, I choose to put God first in all aspects of my life. In choosing a God-centered life, I choose to love God above all else. In choosing a God-centered life, I choose to love my neighbor as myself. In choosing a God-centered life, I choose to love other Christians in such a way as to show the love of Christ to a lost and dying world, even those Christians with whom I disagree with! In choosing a God-centered life, I choose to follow the precepts of the Bible and not man's interpretation or man's tradition of Biblical teaching. In choosing a God-centered life, I choose to place my complete faith and dependence upon the Sovereign God who knows best for me and my life. In choosing a God-centered life, I choose to die to self and allow the Spirit of God to live through me, the only possible way to live a spiritual life. In choosing a God-centered life, I choose to be motivated by God's love in word, action and deed.

Matthew 7:1-6 Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. Here is a passage that the modern day fundamentalist does nor care for. As God continues to take away the layers of motes from our eyes it enables us to see clearly and in love and compassion want to help those trapped in modern day fundamentalism. It is not an aurora of superiority and ar...

I was reading on a forum that I post on regularly about a church that had set a goal of having over 2000 people at their church on a given Sunday. At first glace it seems good and plausible, but as I began to ponder deeper on this I wondered 'but is it scriptural'? Having spent 17 years in the world of IFBx and always pushing for numbers, numbers, numbers ...my mind went back to the philosophy that taught about numbers. The problem I saw was that it just isn't scriptural. I know there were 3000 baptized on the day of Pentecost. I also know there is a book in the Bible called numbers. I am aware of the feeding of the 5000 men along with many other accounts in the Bible. But where in the Bible is the goal of having 3000 baptized? I can't find it. Where in the Bible is the goal of feeding 5000 men? I can't find it. Where in the Bible is the goal of personally having 10 saved in a week or 100 in a day? I can't find it. Where in the Bible is the goal of o...

2 Timothy 4:1-2 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word ; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. The veteran preacher Paul is giving instruction to his 'young preacher-boy' as to how and what he should preach. Much is made of the latter part of verse 2, (reprove & rebuke) but most gloss over the statement " Preach the word ". Why is that? Maybe many think that the statement is so self explanatory and simple that it needs not to be discussed. Although I must say that the modern fundamentalist preacher likes to apply the 'preach' part of this verse by going to Isaiah 58:1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. The reason for this is so that those who are "apt to teach" (NT pastoral requirem...

Luke 9:49-50 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us. This verse is teaching that people may not be following with you who are truly following Christ. Just because someone does not live by "your" prescribed standards or "your" convictions does not mean they are not following Christ. Just because they are not in "your" prescribed religion or use "your" approved methods does not mean that they have no relationship with Christ. Just because they do not listen to "your" music genre or dress in "your" approved style does not mean they are not living for Christ. Yet many in the Christian world will preach against others that don't live as they do and don't follow as they follow and will lead their people to avoid them or to separate from them. Th...

Romans 14:14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Many of my independent, fundamental Baptist brethren have made issues and doctrines out of our culture or the change in our culture. They will make these areas a focal point in their preaching or writing. They will preach against them as though there has been a doctrinal dissertation written in the Word of God. However as the Bible clearly teaches in Romans 14:14 that there is nothing unclean of itself - this means that someone may consider something unclean or wrong while another believer may consider the same thing to be clean or right. But the thing or issue is not unclean by itself, this would also include our culture or the change in that culture. It only becomes unclean by a person esteeming it to be unclean. The emphasis is on the person making something or an issue unclean, not the object itself. The G...

In looking back retrospectively over the last 30 years of my Christian life I can see a definitive difference of philosophy between those who are first and foremost a modern day fundamentalist compared to those who are first and foremost a Biblicist. As myself and other Pastors have noticed a trend of the fundamentalists departing further and further from the Bible in favor of man-made platforms as did the Pharisees in the day of Christ. Concerned more about their 'threatened' authority, with their 'outward' appearance, with the 'results' and not with the plain Biblical commands in Scripture such as John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. "Is it fundamental" is a question that resonates from the modern day fundamental Preacher as they push their congregations further and further from the Bible and look to move to the right and be separate from people and institutions that God never commanded ...

Why is that personal discipleship seems to be so strange to many Christians? We obviously know that discipleship is required (Matt. 28:20) but somehow miss the boat as it relates to us invividually. For those who have been saved for some length of time, we can go back into our lives and see the people that have invested themselves into us personally. We know the benefits we have reaped by them sowing into us, however when it is our turn we seem to pass it up. Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. These disciples (students of Christ) are called Christians first in Antioch! In order for there to be a disciple (or student) there must be a teacher. Obviously Jesus invested three and half years of discipleship or mentoring into the Apostles, who in turn turned the world upside down (Acts 17:...

What has caused many independent, fundamental Baptist church members to live in bondage to a set of man-made, extra-Biblical rules or standards? Why would good, church going folks submit themselves to this 'spiritual' abuse? Why have so many God-fearing, good Christians been duped by well meaning, sincere but blinded or beguiled Pastors? These Pastors are trapped in this spiritual system and sadly are not even aware of it. What can be done to help these hyper-spiritual people who are ensared in this trap? Is there a motivating factor that has brought about this sect of fundamentalism? I believe that guilt, fear & intimidation have been the motivating factors that are being used to keep good Christians repressed into a "Phariseeical" role that they are being forced to play. Hebrews 2:14-15 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power...

How does one go about to prove which side of the KJVO (King James Version Only) vs the MV (Multiple Versions) debate is correct? Is it my scholarship can whip your scholarship or even my scholars are smarter than your scholars? No, there are well qualified, well meaning men on both sides of the issue. Is it because the MV’ers have the oldest manuscripts (MSS) and them believing that the oldest MSS are the best MSS? It is a very valid and logical argument. But counteracting that argument on the other side of the coin the KJVO says that they have the majority of the MSS that have been preserved also a valid and logical argument. The MV’er comes back and says but you have added to the Word of God…where as the KJVO says you have taken from the Word of God. By the way I think it would be an interesting study in both lines of MSS to take the earliest copies and compare them with the latest copies (just in their family line) to see if that line has added to or taken away from the Bible. I...