A Letter to my earthly Father

Today while driving into work this morning I felt directed by the Spirit of God to write you a letter. You have been on my mind recently because I haven't seen or heard from you in well over 28 years. If two of my fingers were cut off on one hand. I would still be able to count on that one hand the times I have seen you throughout my 38 years. Let me say first that I forgive you for not being there. What I remember from the last time I saw you, that you were dealing with addiction of both alcohol and drugs. Your girlfriend at the time looked cracked out. You were living off of Good Luck Rd during that last time I saw you. When I did see you the last time I saw you it was a surprise and it was the first time I spent with my older sister Kimberly, I was gonna say Kim but she hated to be called that. Lol I could tell by your embrace you gave me and how you called me baby boy, with joy. I was so happy that day spending time with my Fam going to a baseball game at RFK, way before the nationals. You taking my around SE seeing other FAM. Let me get to the reason why I am writing. I don't want you to think that I hate you or that I don't want you in my life. I just want to be able to tell you how I am feeling about this great disappointment in you as a man. How could you go around in this life knowing you have children and not make an attempt to reach out to build a relationship with your son, I understand that you were married and had Kimberly and Dorsey before I was born and even the last time I saw you were in here lives. Why weren't you in mine? Even if my mother tried to bar you from seeing me why didn't you fight? I am not sure if that was the case only but let's just say, that is the case. Why didn't you fight? I have a 17 year old son named Lamar and his Mother and I don't get along what-so-ever and she has tried to bar me but I wasn't having it and even tried to have whatever dude she was dating to try to beef to keep me away but I am not having that. I would die for all of my kids. At least they would know that I loved them and died trying to be a part of their lives. I did not want to be like you but I always wonder what my life would have been like, if you were in it? Good the bad or the ugly. However it would have turned out you still would have been in my life and I wouldn't have to write you in this manner. Typing on my IPHONE in a park with the sun beaming down, but the sweat is hiding my tears of the sea of emotions that I have kept bottled up for so many years. I let them out but I finally have to let them go by writing to you. I have two other children with my wife Shannon I have been married for 14 years we have lost two children but we have two wonderful children a boy and a girl. Landon 9 funny and loving kid, but displays anger when frustrated much like me. He is growing up and out of that behavior and Drew 3 she only opens up to me and my wife and her brother Landon and sometimes LJ. Very standoffish and is always watching people I love that about her. That is alot like me I don't want to get my heart broken or be disappointed in people so I keep my distance never really having or wanting friends to get close to me. Never knew love until she came along. When I think about my children I wonder do you ever wonder how i am doing? Do you think of me like I am of you? Am I wasting my time or am I just dumping that little boy in side of me to move on from my daddy issues. Probably. Even my cousin Gymar has been in touch with his Father and he even has started to call him Dad, His Father fought for that right. I have fought for the right to be called Dad by LJ. He lives with me now because I prayed for years after taking him home every other weekend and heard him crying as he wanted to stay longer to have him in 2001 live with me for a short while then to have him snatched away back to his mother then in 2011 have him live with us full time. A boy needs his Dad I needed you. I still need you, the good the bad and the ugly I needed you in my life. I can tell you this even in your absence I have still grown into a man. I have learned from your mistake and vowed never to allow anything or anyone to come between and my Fam. Just saying that brings me to the reason why I am a decent man without you. Simple scripture verse you might or might not know it john 3:16 for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever shall believe on him shall have everlasting life. Gods holiness and mercy and love he gave himself for a humanity that was apart from him because of sin of the whole world, but by his own justice he poured out his own wrath to satisfy himself and reconcile himself to the world. Jesus died a death we couldn't, fulfilled the law when we couldn't and taken those from the dead and freed captives and has given us gifts and the authority to be called Children of God. By his death and resurrection. I know I have asked questions throughout but I would want to know do you believe that Jeaus died for the sins of the world rose three days later appeared before many and has ascended to the right hand of the father. The bible says hat if all men call upon The Lord they will be saved. Whosoever calls upon the name of The Lord confess with the mouth believe in their heart shall be saved. Even if we don't see each other in this life. I would like to see you in Glory before The Lord. I would rather have an eternity with you than a few short years here on a broken and fall world. I pray that you have accepted Jesus Christ as you savior at some point in your life for even our meet g in eternity to happen. May the God of all creation to whom salvation is dwells within your heart, so that you can and will be reconciled to him. God bless you and I will be praying for you which I should have been doing years ago. I love you Dad Lamar

Letter to a Jehovah Witness

Thank you for the warm welcome. I am not really new to Waldorf. My family has lived in the area for 8 years, but prior to moving to Waldorf, we lived in Bowie. When we first bought our home 8 years ago, I can say that no one has sent us a letter welcoming us to the neighborhood. It was only after we have purchased this home that people have sought to invite. It is good to see other like myself interested in people. However there are reasons why people tend to reach out. My feeling is the sense of lostness and the lack of community. The lostness is great throughout southern MD. Your probably questioning what I mean by lostness? Well the fact of the matter is, all mankind is lost because of sin. We are lost and without hope . Sin has condemned humanity to death. We are all going to die as the scripture says in Hebrews 9:27 that “it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgement” Death was the consequence of sin coming into the world through one man (Romans 5:12), therefore making all men sinful. We know that no one is perfect, but why do we strive to be perfect. When the word of God in Romans says that no one is good no not even one(Romans 3:12). For we all have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23). Not only physical death but also a spiritual death as seen in Rev 20:14. When death and hell will be thrown into the lake of fire. Therefore no can stand before a Holy God. The lostness is not being able to stand before the wrath of God and be judged by the works of our unrighteousness. Yet the good news is that Christ having been offered once to bear the sins of many, wil appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him (Hebrews 9:28). Jesus being the scapegoat as seen in the Hebrew scriptures in how the atonement for sins were to be cleansed temporarily every year. That is the works but we are free from works and by faith in Christ Jesus. The Bible is clear as to what we need to do to be saved Romans 10:9 says “ If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. It is so emphatic that it reiterated Romans 10:13 “for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Why do we call on the Lord because we will die and have to stand before God and give an account of our lives. It isn’t based on a Church but on the finished work of Christ John 19:30 no blood of bulls or goats but the blood of Jesus. By placing faith in Jesus you will be saved as it is written John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, whoever does no obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. The words of Jesus are clear he says as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whoever believes in him may have eternal life (John 3:14-15). Jesus says that he is the bread that comes down John 6:41. He is the good shepherd he lays his life down for his sheep John 10:14. Jesus says that he is the resurrection and the life. “Whoever believe in me though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die” Do you believe this? If you do not believe these things you do not have a promise of eternal life you are without hop and the wrath of God remains on you. It is simple as believing and placing your trust hope and faith in the free gift of God, but it is not of works so that anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8,9 It is of importance that you well intention letter does not go without mention. However the bible is clear as Matthew 7:21-23 “ Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” The works that they have done they think it will get them into his heaven no it is not works or well intention letters of evangelism, but those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. Acts 17:31. That is the will of the Father to believe on the Jesus. Again it is of true importance Titus 3:4-7 “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Do you believe? or are you going to believe what is false? Grace and Peace and hope to speak with you soon. Lamar

Know Before You Go!

Know Before You Go! Before going to do hospital visitation today 6/2 on my drive south on MD210. There are signs that MDOT changes to notify drives of road conditions as well as traffic during rush hour. Since today is a Sunday the message on the digital sign read “Know before You Go dial 511”, I thought about that and chuckled a bit and thought it is wise to know before we go. I always hear people say how hard life is, how depressing it can be if you do life alone. I think about it life does suck but the problem is this; you spend your whole life with the emotive feelings of how bad life is or the next it is great. What we tend to forget is that even though we have ups and downs, we still live our lives as if tomorrow or the next year or for the next minute is guaranteed. Let me get to my point as the sign reads dial 511 to gain information about your travels toward your destination. We all must come to grips that we shall all die one day, and yet after we die as it is written in scripture Hebrew 9:27 we will die and face judgement. Yes judgement in the afterlife and when this world will all be destroyed and renewed more on the renewal part another time. However we can know for sure that we will have everlasting life in this life and yet when we hit our life’s end we shall know that we will live forever. Let me just take sometime to share what the bible says. We are sinners in need of a savior someone who is sinless who can bare the iniquities all of humanity.(Romans 3:12, 3:23) Who by his death can satisfy the wrath of God for the sins of humanity.(Roman 6:23) Who’s blood can cover the sins of all humanity, which by our association to Jesus as brothers and sisters we become co-heirs with him. By faith while we were still sinners Christ died. Jesus death on the cross was done so that we my be healed from all our unrighteousness and that believing in him we my have everlasting life. Through God love for the word he gave us his son so that belief in him we may have everlasting life. (John3:15-15) Jesus being the manifested in the flesh full deity and fully man yet without sin was able to die for the world. This is love that a man lay his life down for his friends, not only for his friends but for his enemies. (John15:13) So we are to believe in Jesus and we will have eternal life. Belief is the same as knowing in the illustration is 2+2=4. That if you have paid your electric bill the lights will come on when you flip the switch. You have faith and hope and hope is not life a subjunctive in that you assume something might happen. No hope is the assurance or the certainty that it will occur, that certainty is life eternal because we believe in Jesus, life death burial and resurrection. Therefore we place our trust in him and not in things of this world. Jesus says in John 11 I am the resurrection and the life the one who believes in me even if he dies will live. Everyone who believe in Me shall never die. Than he asks the question “Do You Believe this?” The title entry is know before you go. That is to know that when you die if you place your faith in Jesus that you will be assured of entrance into heaven based on the work and grace and faith of Christ alone. After reading are going to heaven when you die?

He really pays attention

Well I am in absolute joy tonight. I read a story or I make up a story to my 9 year old son before going to bed because he is typically a hype boy before going to bed like most children his age. So tonight I wanted to be sure of his assurance of salvation. So I asked him to get in the bed an be ready to answer this question as honestly as possible. So I asked him the same question I ask everyone regardless of there mental stability. LOL. Which is "if you were to die tonight and we to stand before God and He were to ask you why should I let you into heaven? What would be your answer. My 9 year old said "He would let me in because I love you and you are my savior and you died for me." I almost shouted, but the joy in my heart to know that my children will be alright in the event that this world seeks their demise to know that no scheme will never take them out the hands of Jesus (john 10) I told him you are right and that Jesus is the reason on the gift of eternal life is yours if you believe with you heart and confess with you mouth that Jesus is Lord(Roman 10:9-13) I so began to tell him about John 3:16 and I read John 11 which is the narrative passage I use, however the crux of the narrative is 11:26 where Jesus says not on the last day but that he is the resurrection and the life he who believes in me will not perish be have everlasting life. Yet again Eph 2:8,9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. When I walk him to school and pray with him before he enters school to have a great day and to love all the children in school even the bullies and we gone over the gospel he was paying attention. Now it is time to show him how to share it with his friends as to how they can be assured of salvation for the Glory of God. For by grace alone through faith alone by Christ alone. Thank you Jesus for saving me and saving my family.

If You Were To Die Tonight?

It is not really a question really, but a start the a question. So let me ask it in its entirety; If you were to die tonight and stand before God and God were to ask you why should he let you into heaven? If you answer is you don't know that is a good answer because there is help for you. If you are unsure also there is help for you. The problem is that God will not let you into heaven. Why because we are all sinners and it is written in the bible that for all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God.(Romans 3:23) It also says that there is no one who does good.(Romans 3:12) The bible says that for the wages of sin is death.(romans 6:23) Yes we will all die that is correct but the bible tells us that when we die we will face the judgement.(Hebrews 9:27) We will face a death physically and spiritually meaning that all who have disobeyed God will be thrown in the lake of fire which is the second death. Because God is holy and is light he cannot stand does not want to be in the presence of unholy people. It is like when the dog poops on the floor after you have trained him to stand at the door to go but instead he just goes right on the floor in front of you as if to say see there take that. That is what our righteousness is before a Holy God. Because he has the right to punish in his righteous judgement he also provides righteous love shown to us also. That is done through his son Jesus, who is God. Because he is the only one to be righteous to take the wrath and bare the sins of all of humanity. In doing so Jesus tasted death for everyone (Hebrews 2:9) His death, burial and his resurrection and by grace through faith God has given us a gift in Christ. (Ephesians 2:8,9) What is this gift it is the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus. The bible says For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whosoever shall believe in him shall have everlasting life.(John 3:16) Jesus also says "whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgement but has passed from death to life.(John 5:24) Listen again to what Jesus says "I say to you whoever believe has eternal life" (John 6:47) Jesus when he performed the miracle of bringing his friend Lazarus back from the death, after being in a tomb for 4 days in burial clothes. Jesus said that I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believe in me though he die, yet shall he live and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? Only God is able to rise the dead, tell people to believe on him, break no law and die so that he death might be a sufficient sacrifice for the whole world. Do you believe by faith If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord and believe that in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Everyone who believes in him will not be but to shame. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:9-13) Listen! If you believe that you are saved and you can say without a shadow of doubt that you are saved and if you are to die tonight, tomorrow, next week or 30 years from now you are saved and God will bring you into heaven because the will of God is to believe in Jesus. Jesus says this in John 10:27,28 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand." There are the promises that are found in scripture that you can read an verify and know that you are saved to the uttermost. Please comment and let me know that you are saved.

What is salvation anyway?

What is salvation? The word salvation means different things for different people depending upon an soteriological viewpoint. Salvation is defined as deliverance or preservation with focus on the physical, however the transcendent aspect of salvation is from the wrath of God. Although in systematic theology there are many aspect however my concern is about the assurance of salvation. A clear understanding of the gospel to the believer is of utmost importance therefore without a clear gospel presentation, what then are you placing your trust in. I will not be presenting the gospel message however leading those who are believers who may not understand that there are promises found in scripture that most certainly ensure salvation assurance to the believer in Christ. The assurance of salvation depends heavily upon the believers understanding of the gospel. If the gospel is misunderstood therefore the salvation of the believer is in question. I came across a blog post which was titled “Salvation is not Conversion” it caught my eye and I had some feelings bubbling up within me. As a little background for the last four weeks I have been working as a volunteer chaplain at United Medical Center (UMC) in Southeast Washington D.C. While participating with the ministry I have come across many people who know Jesus, understand his purpose and that they should place their faith in Christ. Which seems that the gospel was communicated to them however the assurance of salvation was not. A question that is easily answered by those who have heard a clear gospel presentation is that "if you died today/tonight and you were to stand before God and God were to ask you why should he let you into heaven? What would your response be?" Out of the 98% of the respondents there answer is they don't what they would tell him. The bloggers point of view from which the post was written was from a Reformed soteriology, so my beef isn’t with the blog post only with the bloggers soteriological viewpoint for assurance salvation. Understanding of the gospel is crucial as it says in Romans 1:16 The gospel is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes. Even my muslim friend understands the brevity of the passage. Reformed Christians understand salvation not so much on scripture but from doctrinal belief found in the Westminster Larger Catechism that a (true) believer is to persevere until the end. According to the Westminster Larger Catechism question 80 and 81 are answered in my summation, that a the true believer in Christ shall persevere unto salvation however assurance of grace and salvation not being of the essence of faith, therefore true believers may wait long before they obtain it. If a believer who holds to the salvation based on the reformed view, as it stands; were to die before having obtained the essence of faith will die essentially condemned. Therefore the Reformed view is meritorious. The promises found in scripture ensure salvation to those who believe, John 3:16, 5:24, 6:37, 8:1-39. These verses found in John does not say that eventually you will be saved if you believe rather we have eternal life if we believe in Jesus. We are being persevered which is the plan of God stated in Roman 5:7-10, while we were past tense sinners Christ died, now here is the good part “we have now been justified by his blood much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.” Paul in Ephesians chapter 1 verses 4 and 5 says he chose us before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him, in love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. What solidifies our promises and preservation is not something that we can boast about through meritorious works but by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God not as a result of words so that no one may boast. (Eph 2:8,9)

Rejection

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.