DOXA CYPHER

Rejection

2012-01-04T15:49:00.002-05:00

Driving home from work and the Spirit hit me with the issue that I am dealing with lately. Rejection.. No one likes rejection so much so they really don’t talk about it. Is it because we are in a bad economy or is it that rejection is a part of life. Sometimes there will be no and other times yes. Yet for me I feel like it is always no or your not good enough. There have been many experiences in my life that I would call failures but to keep me moving forward and cover up the pain, I have been told to say that failures make you stronger. All of this is told in order to really on yourself, look I am not perfect so don’t expect me to be so. The one thing that I do know is what scripture tells me and that is found in Rom 8:1 For there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Rejection is sin telling you that you are condemned, but Jesus has done and has given me the authority to do and be otherwise.

Karma vs Sowing and Reaping

2009-07-07T21:46:00.001-04:00

Karma is not as simple as Alica Keys puts it “what goes up must come down” or” what goes around comes around” it is a bit more complex according to Buddhists faith. Karma is foundational doctrine to the belief, meaning that what was done in a past life has dictated the outcome of your current circumstances but your current circumstances my not necessarily dictate your future. What is also believed in conjunction to previous and current life is that outside forces such as nature, pedigree and as well as mentality.

In short Karma is a Buddhist fundamental doctrinal belief in the good and bad that exists in your life, is based on a combination of past, present as well as forces outside of our control which will dictate our future Karma. When it is said that Karma is paying back for a issues that was commented against someone isn’t all necessarily true. Though it is easy in our society to absorb terms, ideas, as well as thought into our vocabulary and even to the way we process our rational understanding and even how we react and believe and worship our God.

Now sowing and reaping is an agrarian term used to illustrate a biblical truth. It is not a biblical doctrine that should, but an illustration used to convey a biblical truth. Basically a seed is planted and reaping would be the result of the growth of that seed. As Jesus used this illustration to describe seed being thrown about by a farmer who threw seed into varying kinds of soil, what was produced in three of the four cases was a poor harvest, but when this seed which represented the word got with the right soil it produced a tremendous stock pile. Many references to sowing and reaping is found in both Testaments of scripture. It doesn’t require much work to find these examples.

Ok, so what is the difference between sowing/reaping and Karma? Sin is the biggest difference. Today sin is not looked upon as a problem for humanity, but a biblical term in a line of other moral human failures. Sin is do against our friends, family member, co-workers and even that person in traffic on the way home, but even more still, sin is the act of disobeying a loving and Holy and sovereign God. The work of Jesus dying the death for the sins of humanity by His love we are able to repent and live and be redeemed for the penalty of all our sins before a Righteous and Holy God

So look, let us not get these things twisted. When we sin, we are going to reap a harvest of wrath against a holy and righteous judge. When we sin we have a righteous judge that is just who can and will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Jesus is our advocate not just for those who believe but for the whole world with a condition that we believe in his atoning sacrifice of all our sins.

A thought provoking concession

2009-02-17T14:32:00.000-05:00

I just had a wonderful conversation about God’s justice with one of my co workers who is a Muslim. His point is that I can not forgive and forget a wrong when in Islam I have the option from God to seek justice on my own. I said since you have the option why not allow God to take on the battle since Justice is always from God he is the only ONE who is Just. The only reason you would rather place justice into your own hands is that you are able. If you were a child or a older man who is incapable to fight you would allow your faith in God fight your battle, he said I never thought of it that way.

Death and Steve Jobs

2009-01-15T09:55:00.001-05:00

"No one wants to die, Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be because death is very likely the single best invention of life. It is life's change agent." Steve Jobs
The quote above is from Steve Jobs the CEO of Apple during a speech at Stanford University in 2005, where Mr. Jobs disclosed his illness and also gave insight into not wanting to die. If you believe that there is only this life and nothing after then you might not want to die or life could be so hard that you might just be ready to die, but I would also ask you to are you ready to die. It isn’t about wanting to die but rather being ready to die. Are you ready to die? are you ready to face every sin that you have committed not to another human being but before a Holy God? How are you looking at death as a destination or a ending of this life into another? Has anyone ever escaped death?
Mr. Jobs understands death as being a destination, but a destination would be an ending to this life and leave all those who have gotten way with it to not see justice. That would be unfair wouldn’t it? That would mean that morality is nothing at all because it doesn’t account for fairness. Death is the inevitable reality which will not just be a destination but a gateway unto eternal life for all, either for eternal paradise or eternal punishment. An ending or a passage from life to eternal life for this is a held belief by many who have a professed faith in a Holy God. A Holy God who requires holy people to enter into his kingdom.
We will never be holy on our own that is why Jesus came down to die and over come death on the cross for the sins of sinful people like myself and Mr. Jobs. That if we believe on Jesus and his work on the cross we will enter eternal life and escape the punishment that we so deserve. God being a gracious and merciful has giving us another option. All we need to do is believe and make a change that we can believe in to the betterment of the lives of ourselves and those we love. Are you ready to die?

Are you ashamed!

2008-12-01T16:12:00.001-05:00

I have to ask this question of myself from now on; and that is “Am I ashamed of the Gospel?” A discussion broke out which really has no bases in anything except to cause divisiveness between, which might seem like a bad joke an agnostic, Muslim and myself the Christian. Well the Muslim in the story brought up how Christian outside of America feel that they have a better brand of Christianity. Let me also be clear that I am paraphrasing his comment, but the intent was too invoke anger within me. So I began to explain the different denominations within the totality of Christianity from Roman Catholics to Orthodox and Protestants. Then we began to disagree on the etymology of Bethlehem in Arabic knows it as house of meat and I believed that it is House of God for bread, I say that because cause it is a compound word which get lost in the English translation. I eventually threw my hands up and said “NO MAS!” Some people you can not discuss truth with. So this bring me to my point of no being ashamed of the Gospel even though the Muslim didn’t want to hear or understand and even comprehend the term Bethlehem or the origins of Christianity we must still proclaim the Gospel to the lost and hard headed even when you might need to throw up your hands and so no more to this one because salvation from the gospel is to everyone who believes and sadly to say the wrath of God is on those who might not believe. If you get a chance check out Romans 1:16-20

Peace

NO OUTLET

2008-11-22T10:59:00.001-05:00

I am currently living with my pregnant wife and son in my Mother’s basement. We still own a home in Waldorf, which is approximately 17 miles from where we are now. We moved in because we had to pay off some bills, which was causing us to sink deeper in debt. Our home is Waldorf is being rented for two years by a couple and their 2 kids. We really didn’t want to move down to Waldorf at the time, but in 2005 homes in our old neighborhood were just too expensive. We also felt disconnected from our friends and family and we didn’t build new roots in Waldorf. We attended a Church in Waldorf called Crosspoint which was a church plant that eventually closed just as we started to build friendships. It wasn’t the same. Our old church we lead the Singles Ministry, which was a blessing and I loved it, but we moved further away from the church. These are just some of the regrets I am feeling and just how I feel left out. It doesn’t mean that I am depressed or that I am losing faith. Have you ever wondered down a street and didn’t pay any attention to the yellow sign that says “NO OUTLET” and you have to turn around to get back on the road that leads to new destinations new scenery and the right course of action. That is were I am at this moment. How you ever felt like that?

Where is my mind these days?

2008-09-03T14:44:00.003-04:00

Well now that I am back to class my head is spinning, trying to juggle family,work and seminary life. You know sometime I fail big time at the work stuff mostly because I am stuck doing the same old thing. It is only to my own detriment since I decided to come back to work here, all things work for there good. So I am not going to complain. Even if I do I am not condemned because of the work of Christ and what God has done by making him a sin offering for my deficiencies and those I have many of. So we have been set free from death to life in Christ. So I will put my priorities in place in and continue to hedge forward to the goal that is in the Gospel of God.

So when we fail at relating or not showing the love to those who may not be in Christ, know that we are not condemned.

Back to Seminary

2008-08-28T12:22:00.002-04:00

Reid went back to school on Monday now it is Dads turn to return to school. Today is my first day back after a four year hiatus. I am only taking one class since I still need to provide for my family, I would love to be able to attend full time and provide for my family. That was the reasoning for me to start my dry cleaning business that failed. So living in my Mothers basement is only a temporary situation until we can sell our home to the family that is renting or save up the down payment for a new home.

Three years of struggles in Waldorf with the losing of our business, I changed jobs to only return back to the job I left last September. Proverbs says that we plan in our minds our ways steps but the Lord directs his steps.

I planned on starting a business in order to be in Seminary full time, but to only work in tech and run a business, that God has lead me to learn how to work to support my family and have the perseverance in a ministry church plant. Thank you Lord for insight.

Our prayer for a new type of Bible Study downtown

2008-08-25T16:48:00.000-04:00

DC IMPROV — Comedy Lounge via kwout

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We are praying that God will provide the funds for us to lead a bible study downtown at the Improv DC during lunch hour or even after work for some professionals who are seeking God, but are uncomfortable entering a church. We are going to be intentional with our approach in this. So if you will pray with us as we endeavor this for Landing Point and comment if you don't mind about it as well. If this is a good idea or a bad one.

The First of many first days of school

2008-08-25T09:44:00.002-04:00

Man time does fly. 4 1/2 years ago I held Landon in my arms for the first time weighing a whopping 10 lbs 10 oz. Now my little slilly little boy is off to kindergarten. Now go learn so me and your mother can live off and jump up and down on you furniture.

Baggage from my old business

2008-08-24T20:29:00.002-04:00

Ok, I was comming home down Indian highway a few days ago and saw a bag from my old dry cleaning pick up delivery business. You have to understand that this business was run about 28 miles from where I saw this bag at a bus stop in Eastover in Washington DC. I pray and hope that our ministry will float around the city just like my bags.

He loves kites

2008-08-24T18:15:00.001-04:00

My little on has found new joy and that is flying kites. This was one
of the most peaceful things I did as a child. When the fall gets here
with the wind really blowing he will really have me out there.

Some Food and Directions

2008-08-23T23:54:00.001-04:00

Starbucks was giving away $2 for Grande cold drinks after 2pm if you return you’re your recipe. Just as I was going to take advantage of my cold drink special, I was approached by a homeless schizophrenic man who wanted to eat before entering the Franklin School Shelter on 12 street downtown DC by 5pm. Normally when the homeless ask for food instead of money I know that the need is greater and that I can chat with them while eating or ordering food. So I asked him what he wanted he said MacDonald’s, but the problem was that it was 4:30 and food is not allowed in the shelter from what he was telling me. After talking with him I gave him some money from a 20 I had to break at Cosi, he could have eaten at Cosi but instead wanted the money. So I told him that he didn’t need to swear to God that he was going to get something to eat for me. It would be easier to lie to anyone giving you money when you don’t have any family, friends in this country that you came to 20 year ago to only be living on the street. So I told him make sure you buy food with that money, but that decision is up to him and is out of my control. I probably want see him even though my office is directly across from the shelter since they will be closing it in October. What will happen to him and the other 259 other men when the mayor shut it down to create a luxury hotel for those who will be willing to pay 250 or more a night.

After I gave up the money and crossing a stop light, I ran into two single mothers trying to find direction to New York Ave, after thinking about it I gave them the wrong direction. I wanted to send them on the roundabout way to get to New York Ave but I thought they would have gotten lost and turned around, since they were already lost. If I went with the Spirit in that situation they would have been fine. Sometimes when we think we know the right way we must first take the time to verify that and line it with scripture to ensure that those directions or instruction is from God and not from my own heart, which in many ways leads people wrong.

Are you willing to get clowned for the Change

2008-07-30T16:05:00.004-04:00

Are you willing to get clowned for change? Maybe you haven't told anyone that you have been changed. Are you even willing to confess or is it something you think should be kept to yourself. Are you afraid of the ridicule.

So, for the past 7 months now I call myself a vegetarian. I slip up now and again, at a cookout. 95% of the time I am the vegetarian type who does not eat any meat produces like beef, pork, chicken, turkey and seafood. I still eat eggs though; yes I am eating pre-animal life.

What bothers me is when people look at me and say “you’re a vegetarian” or “other will say I commend you” mostly it is the prior that I hear. It isn’t just what they say but also how they say it and how they look when it is said.

I become angry and feel their judgment on me, as if they are saying to me “you will be back to our side soon enough”. I start to question, why, am I a vegetarian. Comments land my own questioning is similar to when I became saved and gave up alcohol. People would ask me why don’t you drink I would say that I am a Christian and I need to abstain from drinking alcohol so that God deals will my deal with my issues.

Jesus said in Luke 12:8 that “everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angles of God” So you are not confessing before men for a popularity contest to see how you will far up before people. So that you my be blessed before the angels of God. So do not afraid to tell your family, friends and even those crazy co-workers who you are and who it is that you belong, this confession just might be an example of what people need to see the Glory of God that lives within you.

Not willing to confess Christ is like turning your back on him and he will according to verse nine will not confess you before angels of God. So lets confess and bring disciples to Christ and enjoy our reward in heaven.

Peace

Wearing black does not make you look smaller

2008-06-02T15:45:00.003-04:00

I have dealt with my weight for the last 8 years, but of the last four years I have lost approximately 55 pounds. Prior to losing the weight I was self conscious of my weight thinking that black would somehow make me look smaller and more approachable, confident, intelligent, not lazy, and all of the other thing you might be thinking of yourself about your weight. When the real issue was that I needed to let go of finding comfort in foods, letting go of the hurt, yearning to be a part of the crowd.

What I realized was the stains of sin I was wearing around my heart . So many people wear black thinking that it makes them look smaller, when in actually you look big in Gods eyes. Darkness is one thing that exposes our deeds for what they are. Let us put off and come to the one who allows living water to flow and requires that we believe and we will not die, but that we have been forgiven with our weight, and thoughts our mouths and our minds. It took 3 nails and a tree and a savior and we are free. Freedom is here if you except it.. Do you, then comment or are you willing to wear the black for eternity. It my make you look less noticeable down here, but big in Gods eyes whatever shade of black you are wearing.

WIBO Perry Noble Interview

2008-05-23T12:34:00.001-04:00

Good Stuff.

2008-02-10T20:03:00.001-05:00

http://godwardthoughts.blogspot.com/2006/07/lectures-on-jonathan-edwards.html

Was wisdom in the Garden before the fall?

2007-12-28T23:11:00.000-05:00

During our Christmas game of phase 10 with my family, my sister an I began a discussion on Adam and Eve. This was more than just your everyday discussion on the first couple but that of wisdom in the garden. She exclaimed that she was just in a bible study on the fall and found that Adam and Eve did not have wisdom prior to the fall. Since we didn't fully enter into the discussion I was able to get just how she come up with that understanding. I on the other hand totally and utterly disagree that they didn't have wisdom, but also had knowledge and understanding to add. Adam and Eve had cognitive abilities which are knowledge wisdom and understanding.

When God created the earth and all things in it he created those things fully grown , once he was completed. Adam and Eve would not have been toddlers nor would they have been tweens but adults or at the least adolescence. Adam and Eve would be much different than the animals and the trees, which is that they were giving the breath of life and also that they were made in the image of God in his likeness, male and female. They were in command from God to rule over the fish, birds and lives stock and creatures that move along the ground over all the earth. This would mean that they would have to have understanding of what animals where which knowledge of there habitat and wisdom to be able to utilize there ability to rule over the land.

Genisis 1 26-27

26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, ^[b] and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

Secondly the exchange between the crafty serpent and the woman was an even better example of knowledge and wisdom. The serpent being crafty tried to change the commandment of God by changing what God really said which was not to eat from the tree of knowledge, but Satan said any tree in the garden. Eve using wisdom and knowledge said " we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden" but not from the tree in the middle of the garden. This was and example of knowledge and wisdom of the command. Wisdom not to be taken by crafty words, but Eve was duped into believing she could be more like God if they ate of the tree's fruit. Which is what she really lacked wisdom of evil, but all the while Adam was hanging by.

Genisis 3:1-3

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"

2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' "

So Adam and Eve did have wisdom prior to the fall, but it could also be said that wisdom and knowledge of good and evil is what they lacked and is how they were duped into finding out

STOP YOUR WORRY!!!

2007-06-10T02:41:00.000-04:00

What is worry? Is it an emotion that we need? Is it something we can do without? What benefit is worry?

I’m I qualified to even ask or answer those questions. I worried about how my business was going to grow. How was I going to pay my employees? Feed, house and clothe my family. Did have I have within me the ability to even run a business. Could I satisfy my customers in the even something went wrong or could I even follow through with what I promised? Would I allow commercialism to force me to spend what I don’t have with the small amount of money that was coming in?

Worry is nothing but fear in a disguise. It is an emotion we can do without. It will block you from what ever else that my stand in your way from moving forward or to accomplishing today’s goal. We definitely can do without fear. Fear has a benefit if that is how you make money, we live in a fear based society. Someone is making money off of our fear. From security companies to insurance brokers and real estate agents these are some but a few of fear mongers. FDR said in his inaugural address “there is nothing to fear but fear itself.”

Fear is only good for one thing and that is being fearful of the One who can destroy you today and for eternity punish you that same day. So we are only worried about those who destroy only the body. Being fearful of God the Father is the only benefit to worrying.

In our search for happiness we are fearful, we shouldn’t seek it will be given to us from our Holy Father we ask and share with those that are least it will be given. So watch the greed it is part of our fear of losing what we have. We take but we do not give. We are fearful of what we will not find. Love we want but it is already before us we choose to seeking for worldly love that empty carb love. Here one minute gone the next.

As human we so strongly want to control all aspects of our lives, but in the end we control nothing but our faith. That is something we can control. Have faith in the Heavenly Father who says if the birds have nest, food and are clothed with great splendor how much more valuable then are we in comparison to birds. If we put our faith and trust in him who cares for, us then so what is Fear? We will be just fine.

Is it really that easy? Does it seem like everyone else controls our lives but us. So we must take control of what we perceive to be controllable. We control what we watch, listen and see. So since we don’t see the One who can destroy us. We perceive he isn’t watching listening or seeing us. So I continue down the path of lacking faith of his existence. So I allow myself to be controlled by my environment, my government, and commercialism.

Our fear of the unknown is what we try to control like if we plot and strategize we will take less risk and feeling like we can’t loss, but in the end you relied on the numbers the odds of the bet. The house always wins.

Look we have those feelings or regret of greed and worry. We can’t change the past by regretting and we can’t control the future by worrying. We can only control our faith that is placing that free will in him who says I love you and I died for your sins and that all that you are worried and fearful of I have over come by dying on that cross. Place you burdens upon me and I will carry that load. There isn’t a load he cannot bare. It was paid for and has now been fulfilled in Christ Jesus. Have faith in him and trust and believe that he will do what he says even though you don’t see him but believe that it is working out for the best and these things are life lesson. If you live you learn and if you learn you live. If you believe you will live and you will live if you believe. All these things in the power of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, those who believe he didn’t give you the spirit of fear, but of power and a sound mind.

Be blessed Amen

Freedom for the Prisoners

2005-01-04T13:58:00.000-05:00

We have it made in our great country. We are able to speak so highly and yet do some lowly things to those less fortunate then we ourselves. Those folks who call themselves Christians and yet do not do the work of the Father, will we be judged the same why we have judged those who less fortunate before the sight of God.

When I hear those Christian Conservatives say that they have compassion, but yet turn their backs on those who need compassion are they doing the work of God or is it the work of MAN.

When Jesus went to his hometown of Nazareth after being in Galilee and before being tempted in the wilderness for 40 days, he stood up in the synagogue and was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah and spoke those words. I will just summarize with the point “The Spirit of the Lord is on me” he said he is to preach, proclaim and release. Those who he is to preaching and declaring and releasing are these: the poor, the blind and the oppressed. Our compassionate conservatives friends speak of the poor those who are lazy and need to get up and find work. Even though you can do it for low wages and have to leave your family to fight for themselves and not have the nurturing that parents must do can’t do because you are the working poor. Those whose backs are made for the rich and those attaining wealth to create a better quality of life for those in there circle of concern.

As African Americans were once slaves so are the working poor. That will lead those who are poor to fit into another category as the oppressed. How can you rise up and maintain a better life for your family when you can barely afford to live in a apartment with the rent at a level you can’t even put food on your table. When owning a home isn’t in your reach, WHY because you can’t get a loan because you have been late on your payments and if you do get a loan your doing the same thing you did when you were renting.

The blind are those who are living with this aliment but are functioning bumping around becoming consumers. WHY, because we are oppressed and poor. That you only live once and have life your way, so consume! We can get out of this if we focus on less of ourselves and more on the work of Jesus, with the love of the true follower of Jesus we can make a difference as Jesus has done, by redeeming God creation back to him and giving us his Spirit so that we can Preach, Proclaim and Release ourselves and others.