I started out trying to figure things out for disabled people and I have, but along the way I have determined that there are more problems for more people regardless of whether or not they have a disability.

Evidently there is a goal to make money so honesty and ability to pay seem to have absolutely nothing to do with the goal of making money.

Wealth is the ruling key. Whether or not things help someone is of no importance at all because can you make any money on it takes precedence over everything else!

Am I stupid? Evidently so because I have never seen this before. But examples keep coming up blatantly and often I don’t expect to uncover them-but they’re there!

I am not going to change my faith in God or my beliefs, so I guess that this is an issue of faith.

Here’s a good thought

Life is full of issues that you as a person are supposed to deal with, so life can be difficult for you.

But putting your faith and trust in God eliminates the worry about those issues. His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

I just saw a commercial for the ASPCA that says: “These animals only know what it’s like to be abused and neglected…” and these are animals and that’s exactly what disabled people experience and we are people. We are only abused and neglected too. If you were not aware of that before I’m telling you now. It’s true!

I’m writing a book on disabilities so that people will learn how difficult it is not just for me but for anyone whether they are born with one or end up with one. I will publish it both as an Ebook and a printed book and every day I email Obama and every week I send him a letter.

I have reread and written in it pretty much every day for more than a month. But as I write more and think about how it’s been for me I have come upon some truths that I didn’t expect and things that I don’t think you even realize!

So I’m telling you this now because I live this so it actually is true and the book will be worth reading when I am done. I plan to publish it about mid 2011.

If you hear nothing else today here’s one for your books: God is so real!

Every moment of every day He’s there. Not just close or maybe, He’s there.

I pray about things that I think are important and He answers me!

The thing that many people don’t realize is that if you are His child then not only did the Father adopt you and gave you an inheritance, but He’s living in you!

Sometimes the things of each day are enough to try to pull us away from Him and that’s Satan’s plan. But regardless of what happens stay focused on God.

That’s how I stay happy.

I have written & published 5 books on LULU.com called Words from my Father volumes 1-5 and I am writing a new book on disabilities to be published next year at Barnes & Nobel & LULU.com. It will be an Ebook and a printed book.

The most difficult thing that I run into time and time again is that people do things based on themselves and I am supposed to be happy. If I say anything at all they tell me all about themselves again.

It seems to be imperative that a blame is placed on someone for everything. But it is possible that there is no blame at all. As humans we freely say: “What is one man’s trash may be another man’s treasure” meaning that people think differently, and that seems to be fine but when you add “doing” to that it all stops and fault MUST be placed.

For example, you gave up control of something because to you it was trash but if someone doesn’t agree they may get angry with you. That happens before it becomes another man’s treasure…

I’m not operating on my principals I’m operating on God’s principals. It is entirely possible that someone may still disagree with me but run the principals side by side. If the principals aren’t God’s then place blame but if they are then most likely it’s a personal thing and there is no blame.

If attaching blame is the only was to deal with things that bother you, then you’re going to have a rough life.

It’s December and it’s close to Christmas. Most people celebrate this as a holiday, he best one of the year. But I would like for it to be celebrated as THE BEST ONE EVER! Because it is!

The first Christmas didn’t start with Santa & the reindeers, no, God came to Earth and was born of a virgin to save us.

We give gifts, the best that we can buy, but God gave us the very best gift that money can’t buy!

So enjoy the holiday but remember that God has given you a wonderful gift already!

There is something to be learned here.

Unconditional love means love without conditions.

God loves us without conditions.

He just loves us and all He asks for is faith.

It’s not a question of what we’ve done or how we’ll be, He loves us and we have faith.

But people have chosen to make more of that than it is. It has been turned into a lengthy list of DO’s and DON’T’s and MUSTs therefore it is no longer unconditional and people can’t do it.

The people may have changed but God has not changed.

Scripture supports this and it hasn’t changed.

So where are you?

When we come to God He doesn’t change us He forgives our sins. He doesn’t erase them He forgives them. Basically He says: “Those things don’t matter to me anymore”.

But somewhere someone seemed to forget that and they said “Don’t do this and don’t do that. Or…” So Churches teach that. God didn’t say that people did.

But Jesus told the parable about prodigal son to show us where we belong and that our wrongs will be erased.

So contrary to many religions our relationship with God matters way more than what we do.

That’s why He talks about the heart so much.

I was just thinking about the parable about the wayward son. He did live wrong but he came back to the father. But the elder brother was angry. He had lived right and he couldn’t understand the difference.

We’re all just people who may do right or wrong but the Father wants us back. So it’s not about behavior it’s about a relationship.

No matter what disability or ability a person has everyone has faith. Faith is a gift from God but where they direct their faith is up to each individual. It may be about something in their future or it may be about God, it’s up to each individual.

So there are people who don’t have faith in God and there are those who have marginal faith in God meaning: “if I do this then that will happen” but faith is a gift and how we use it is up to us.

So the next time you believe that something will happen if… just ask yourself what you believe in. Because if it’s not God it may or may not happen.

I haven’t written in a few days because I’ve been reading and working on two books that I am writing at the same time! And someone asked me last night: “Don’t you write anymore? Because you haven’t written in a while.”

So I‘m just saying: “I’m here. You’re important!”

Eph 2:8-10
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
NIV

Grace not works. Straight from the Bible.

So if you are thinking that your salvation stands or falls based on something that you do or don’t do think again. Why would Christ do all that He did to hope that you would do anything?

Our salvation is a gift from God. What you do or don’t do may have an impression on people but it has nothing to do with God or salvation because if it did then we would boast about it.

Which is wonderful for people like me because there is so much that I cannot do but I do have faith.

Before we came to Christ we were lost but Christ forgave our sins and everything was new.

But every day our flesh causes us to sin. So do we think that we need to come to Christ again and again to be cleaned up?

Oddly enough believers believe that Christ continually will forgive them (although that’s not why He came) but the sin comes back day after day. The scriptures also say (a lot) that Christ gave His life: once and for all.

In scripture it says: “The old is gone and everything is new” but I used to define that to mean: you shouldn’t do that anymore. But it clearly says that the old is gone and everything is new

Satan has much to tell us each time we fail like: God won’t like that and he may not forgive that. So we ask for forgiveness again and we’re fine until the next time.

But God is omni and He wrote every day of our lives in His book before we were born so is this new to Him? I think not. He decided to come and give His life for us knowing all about us.

So to me “new” means that we’re viewed as Christ (who did not sin) because we came to Christ. God sees us as Christ.

I’m not making this up it’s in scripture.

The scriptures very clearly say that we are the body of Christ:

1 Cor 12:27-28
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
NIV

But where did the body of Christ exist? On Earth. Where do we exist? On Earth. So it we’re Christ’s body where will things come from? The Earth.

I’m not saying that we’ll never receive blessings from Heaven. Jesus fasted for 30 days and 30 nights on Earth and I don’t know but I can guess that we couldn’t do that.

So that made me think about things very differently.

People will continue to be the way they are but I am not that way and that’s ok. I just need to continue to be the way I am because I am patient enough to wait until judgment.

Just remember that what we want to come true may or may not happen NOW but we will win in the end.

It’s the Christmas season and once a year we buy & give gifts, decorate everything, have parties and build memories.

But we have souls and God gave us many gifts and He’s not watching to see if we’re “good or bad” to give them, He just gave them to us. He does ask for faith but that’s all.

So what if every day we were given gifts far beyond what we deserve and all we had to do is believe?

We are! That’s what grace is!

So go ahead and enjoy the holiday but when the gifts are done, the decorations are down, there are no more parties and no more holiday memories to build the holiday may be over on earth but the joy of eternity is just beginning in Heaven!

Priorities

Everyone alive has priorities. Those things that have to get done before other things get done. They are important tasks and each person sets their priorities.

Somehow in all of our efforts to meet our priorities some of God’s commands become missed. You may have a good life now…

I say that because I am your neighbor and God said to love your neighbor as yourself. I try to do that by making phone calls, delivering bread, sending emails, having a BLOG and a Website.

But no one has ever come to see me on their own. Just because they wanted to.

So as your neighbor am I being loved as yourself? I don’t think so.

Why isn’t that a priority?

There are all kinds of programs out there to teach people anything! That is if you are like everyone else. Unfortunately there are no programs for people like me!

I could learn anything and I could do just about anything (ok, maybe not sing) and I can’t make money so it would be free but there is nothing for people like me. So sometimes I get a little bored.

That’s a little strange because God gave me plenty of ability but the people that God made don’t seem to need much help. Humm…

I’ve been watching “My First Place” on HGTV and there have been some things lately that I didn’t agree with but this last thing was just way too much.

They have this commercial for a show where they say: “It’ll take a miracle to get these people home for the holidays” and then it shows this star of HGTV.

So is this star going to create and perform a miracle? I don’t think so. This person was created by God who can do miracles!

Have people’s understanding of what a miracle is come down to normal things? Leading the Jewish people out of slavery in Egypt was a miracle and making a virgin pregnant was a miracle and bringing Lazarus back to life was a miracle and saving us was a miracle and none of those things required a person’s effort!

So television shows should not be advertising that their people can do miracles!

Anything Disney is called “Where dreams come true”. But think about that for a moment…dreams are called dream because they don’t come true, they’re just dreams.

So let me ask you, “When you go to Disneyland or Disneyworld is Cinderella
or Snow White real? Or is anything else real?” No, everything is just costumed and made to look real. It is the way it is to fool people because there is money in that.

Now, let me ask you another question: “Is it better to go to Disney or to God”.

People are very hesitant to believe in something that they cannot see hence many people do not believe in God.

That’s probably semi ok for now but it’ll be worthless later. We are eternal beings some for Heaven and some for Hell but there will be an eternity.

Doing all that you can to make your Earthly boss happy and making yourself look good may help you on Earth but with life being eternal thinking about making your eternal boss happiest makes much more sense.

So as weird as that may sound to some people remember that your role is to inform them and God takes over from that point.

So it’s not fully up to you. You tell them and God does the rest.

So your Earthy boss may demand 100% perfection but your Eternal boss gives you 100% grace.

When people want to sell something to you and there is a possibility that there are other “like” products out there to make sure you pick theirs they tell you it’s the best.

Unfortunately this “the best” thing has caught on among humans too.

So now people have to become “the best” in all kinds of things. So now we have terms or names like “professional” and “licensed” and “expert” to identify them and this becomes their commercial that people choose.

I used to do that too. I had a prestigious degree from a prestigious college and I had a prestigious job. I was prestigious.

Now I’m not. I’m very handicapped. I lost my job, I lost my home in Virginia, I lost my wife & everything else.

But I’m happy, why? Because I’m no longer concerned with being the best because I know who is the best, it’s God! He made the world that we live in and He gave it to us! And He made us! There was no best product or best price to pay, no title either He just gave it!

Being satisfied that I no longer have something to prove in this world and all He asks for is faith is way more than I could do. And there is NO LIKE PRODUCT out there so there are no names to identify you. He knows your heart and that’s all He needs.

The fact that God made this Earth and everything in and around it and then came here to save us to spend eternity with Him is the most exciting thing I know.

But right now it’s holiday time on this Earth and to many it’s the most exciting time of the year. People do all kinds of things, give all kinds of gifts and cook all kinds of food because it’s the holidays and people appreciate it.

But somehow what we do is more important to us than what He did and that makes no sense to me.

Whatever we do it is nothing in comparison to creating the world, or creating people or making a virgin pregnant or coming to live with us and save us. But the world and people (both that He created) have developed Christmas stuff, Santa Claus, reindeer, celebrations and more for this time of year.

To me that is very limited because we’re not God and the stuff He did can be celebrated every day not just once each year and I can remember that whereas I might forget your celebration details from this year.

Sin is not something that you do, it is where you are.

Even saved people sin but Jesus knew that they would (and did) but He took our penalty as the Bible says “once for all”.

And we have His righteousness forever and that’s why we have been adopted, in other words that is why we’re part of His family.

We’ll never be good enough but that’s ok because Jesus was and He was our substitute!

This morning my cereal had this printed on the box: “Eat Right Live Right” and I thought: “ that’s all I have to do is eat my cereal?”

Many many people are going to read and believe that today but only a few will pick up their Bibles and read what God said about this.

When I was hurt I was supposed to die but I didn’t and while I believed that I lived because of God but for years I have not understood why He would do that for me.

And his morning in Church the pastor was talking about God pruning:

John 15:1-4
15:1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
NIV

John 15:5-8

5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
NIV

Now I know that at one time I did bear good fruit then there were problems. So the Father pruned me a bit. And I feel good knowing that if I could do nothing I would have died but I came back to bear more fruit.

As humans we think that our life is about what we can do but life is actually about what God can do.

Last night I went with a friend to his class and while there I saw a movie that made a big impression on me. In hopes that you may look for this movie I will tell you the name. it was called: King gimp.

It was about this boy who was born with Cerebral Palsy. I’m not kidding he was really bad but he had a very driving spirit. He insisted on school and graduated and then went on to college for an art degree. He painted pictures with a paintbrush tied to his forehead.

At college two of the instructors told him that he would never be an artist so stop. He didn’t stop but found another teacher that would work with him and graduated college with an art degree and several of his paintings are in galleries.

So what did I learn from that?

I learned that as humans we see people like him as messed up birth defects but God made him not as a birth defect but to show His power. And He showed His power big time.

People aren’t always the same or they may even change but instead of comparing them to each other and seeing inequality we need to look to the maker and expect results.

When I used to listen to music I used to note the melody but now I listen differently. I listen first to the words and then to the melody. In the old days to like music the melody came first but now the words come first, so as you can imagine I have had some favorite artists for years and…I have given some up because the message though true I’m sure had nothing to do with God.

When we work we get money and we can get things which is good and appropriate and that’s one of the reasons that we work. And depending on what we either do or have done, our position and money increases and says that we have done well. And if we have done well enough then we are proud.

But when you’re someone like me that has had the position and the money before but I don’t now, what can I do? Be sorry? No, I focus on my only goodness from God.

I can see that that’s what got me to where I
was before and because of God I still have it! So now I use it for Him where before I probably used it for my benefit. But it came from Him so I should use it for Him. So there won’t be any celebrations, awards, rewards or trips for me here only later and I’m still proud.

People won’t notice and I’ll get nothing special now but God notices.

Unfortunately I often see something going on a lot that I don’t like at all. Say whatever you want but I don’t like it.

The Bible says that God makes people. The Bible also says that God wrote down all the days of your life before you were born. Psalm 129 talks about how close God is to you.

So, per the scriptures God made you, He knew what you would do before you were born and He is incredibly close to you and you are here to serve Him. It is written in God’s word so I’m NOT making this up. It is NOT my interpretation or my opinion.

However I see people getting excited over and trying hard to achieve awards and recognition from human organizations. If it was me, then I would just give the credit to God and not have anyone give me an award.

Sometimes I think that we forget just how close God is to us. And at times we think that we (not God) have done good things, but I would simply thank God if people were happy.

I’m not avoiding recognition I’m just putting it where it belongs.

I could feel that it was cold outside this morning and I thought “It’s winter!” and so I began thinking about snow and skiing. Then I thought about to do so make sure that they have to make sure that they have the latest and most popular ski wear and then I thought “You always have to be fashionable, you HAVE to look good” and then the question becomes: “Can I afford this?”.

Right now I can’t afford anything!

So I glad that God isn’t a human!

Now is when accepting your neighbor becomes even more important.

As Christians we don’t realize how good we have it!

God is OUR God and our Father
Our future is wonderful
God lives in us
The One who created everything is our
parent and He watches over us
Nothing can challenge us
Nothing can take His love away from us

Life is good!

There are many examples in the Bible about how we can please God and we should follow them but some things are certain:

God is omni
God created each of us
God wrote all the days of our life before
we were born
We needed help so Jesus came
God adopted us
God promised us an inheritance

So in addition to all I do God is happy with me!

How we live our life on Earth has nothing to do with salvation. That’s why there’s grace. You had nothing to do with it. It’s a free gift from God so you can’t say you earned it.

However there are humans that insist on feeling and saying that you should do this or must do that if you are saved but that takes the free gift out of it and it becomes something that you do or don’t earn.

So remember it is a free gift and don’t spend your life trying to earn it. People may be happy but it does nothing for God. You’ll just end up having to tell Him why you thought it wasn’t free.

I’ve been thinking a lot. I went from confused to upset (and in some trouble) but God came through.

I was confused and I say confused because for me I couldn’t see a resolution.

I couldn’t see how a person was required by scripture to make everyone happy. I looked and looked and I could see how we (me included) are required to live for God and teach for God but I also knew that some people were never going to be happy with me and I would never be accepted by everyone.

But God made me to be as I am and He makes NO mistakes. So I had to look deeper…

I have looked deeper and with no question I AM LIVING FOR HIM! Some people will accept that and some people won’t but it’s the same for you too! Our message is the same but we’re not the same and the people that we tell it to are not the same either.

Sometimes people get caught up in the rewards that they get but our reward from God is not something that we get, He makes things happen. So I’m going to relax and leave it to Him.

I’m a little puzzled.

What I am trying to understand is this:

I know that Christian people are representing Christ but where is the scripture that says that we have to be sure that we are properly appealing to the most people possible?

Jesus didn’t worry about that. The MOST PEOPLE decided that He needed to die.

I don’t worry about the fact that I’m handicapped either. The story is the same.

Let’s talk about disabilities. Why are things called disabilities? Dis refers to something that is missing. I know many people who are named Disabled but they can do anything so what is actually true is that they don’t do things in the same way as others do. Their abilities may be different but they are NOT disabled.

In Sunday school we worship the Lord. Nothing takes front seat to Him, nothing. And most importantly but most often they are neglected: just because we do things differently than you do, we are not DIS abled! We just do things differently than you do.

We are still humans and we ARE YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST AND WE ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS!

So why is it that a very large percentage of people are not welcomed in Churches? It seems that your neighbors AND what God said are BOTH being neglected.

What is a parent?

Physically it is a child’s Mother or Father until the child makes negative decisions that the parent does not approve of but that’s the parent’s choice.

Spiritually, God adopted us regardless of our decisions and He’ll be our Father forever. Some people may choose not to be with Him but that’s their decision.

So clearly spiritually is a much better deal because physically everything depends on the parent and children don’t get to choose their parents so life becomes a guessing game. Therefore spiritually is the way to go.

Take it from me because I’ve had extremely negative physical parents but an extremely positive experience with my spiritual parent.

The most difficult thing in life is to simply evaluate your position with God.

Jesus told us what things to do but if you don’t read the Bible or have faith and you’re on your own then you’re going to lose.

There are many things that are designed specifically to get and take your attention away from God. They are things of this world but who developed them? Well who is running this world?

Satan is running this world and he would like nothing better than to take your attention away from God. So situations and outcomes which equal results have been carefully and skillfully developed to do just that.

So when things are pending or when they come up the best thing that I do now is put it up to God. If I had always done that I would be able to walk.

Success is extremely attractive but it’s only available in this world however God is always available everywhere.

Because I write to you often and always about God I want to tell you something that I am going to do. I am going to divorce my wife.

We will still be in communication and we will still visit but we will not be married and I will never marry again.

Ok, that’s what I am doing but how does God feel?

Mal 2:16

16 "I hate divorce" says the LORD God of Israel
NIV

So this is not a positive thing to do but for reasons that would not let me continue living as the human I am, I will do it.

I hope that you are not too offended but if you are then ask me to delete you from my list and I will and I will not think or say a thing.

God spoke to me tonight. At first I had a simple thought but then it made so much good thorough sense that I decided to write it down.

Everything and I mean everything in this world is geared to make something (or you) appear better than average. That is what things are based on. Performance, looks, status, pay, etc. are all based on that. Jobs, school, degrees and everything else even something as simple as how white your teeth are is based on that.

So people try very hard to always appear “good enough” or “perfect” and unfortunately the older you get the more important or critical it gets and the harder it is to achieve. That’s why becoming a celebrity is so important! What other people think of you builds status, pay, your future and the like. But I have been given the blessing of having gone from one extreme to another and remembering that so I do see a huge difference but God treats me very well even though other humans don’t.

I attend a Sunday school class for handicapped adults and those people are my family and my celebrities. Why? Because we know that God accepts us for who we are and so we’re already good enough and perfect because of Jesus. There’s nothing to prove.

The most difficult thing for us is getting other humans to accept us. We all know that God loves unconditionally, now if humans just felt the same way…

When we are treated a special and positive way by people we like it and if it happens enough then we feel that it is “normal” but what does scripture say?

It says that the last shall be first and as far as I know the last will not be treated well in this world. But God says that is His world they will.

So Celebrity, status & money are not important to Him & He seems to establish His own position for people.

He knows your heart and satisfaction now is not what He’s looking for. Are you?

Each day God gives me something to remember or experience again. Because I was so close to death to me it’s a gift and because it’s good it’s from God.

I have so many things at times to tell you but this is not going to be well accepted. But I live it!

Many people will say that there is a right way and a wrong way to live your life. Now this is correct per the Bible, God’s word. And for the most part I agree with that.

But what I was doing when God saved my life was clearly the wrong way to live my life but He still saved me. So I had to try to look a little closer.

God knows our hearts and from what I’ve been told was found my heart was genuinely His. My behavior was mine but my heart was His. That’s all I can see now.

So I’m not here to tell you to behave as you desire. But I am here to tell you to check your heart and make sure that it is His.

I know that people think that it’s their responsibility to make everyone happy so that they will make them happy.

If my boss is happy…or if my spouse is happy…or if my kids are happy…Etc.

Well surprise! I never make anyone happy but I am happy. Why? Because God makes me happy! Even when I’m not doing good things He still loves me.

Hmmm, that sounds like when He came to this Earth…

One thing that really strikes me hard about Christianity in Society is that people do think of Jesus but they try so hard to make Him accept them. So now we are back to trying to be “good enough”.

That will never happen and that’s why He came here and died for us! He took OUR place because WE could never do it! We’re NOT good enough but He IS.

So trying will do nothing. We’re Humans so we will continue to do bad things but He knew that and came anyway. So all we can do is try to act as He did and thank Him for the forgiveness.

It is done. So for all the things you know about you can try not to repeat them but if you do (and it will happen) just thank Him for the forgiveness which even applies to the things you don’t know about.

Recently Trinity upgraded to a new video player for Gary’s
sermons. Our new player didn’t work with the old one. All the
videos needed to be reloaded...from scratch. Fortunately, Toby
Hoff volunteered to take on this task. Toby Hoff is one of our
adults with disabilities. Toby was not born with a disability…he
was brutally attacked, robbed and left for dead, spent years in
coma. He is now in a wheelchair with many physical handicaps.
Toby types at about 5 words per minute, and I have a hard time
understand him when he talks.
But since he wanted to volunteer I thought the video project might be something he could do. Each video sermon takes
about 1½ hours to upload. When I told him this project would take a lot of time, he told me “I have nothing BUT time.”
Since then, Toby has spent hundreds of hours on a volunteer basis entering and uploading
ALL 18 years of sermon content. This has been tremendously helpful to us…and incredibly
stimulating for Toby. Toby said “I always thought that I learned computers so that I could have my
job, but now I know that God taught me computers so that I could serve Him.”
One of the things that he said that I’ll never forget was “You know…I’m not stupid”. That hit
me like a ton a bricks. Here is someone that the world thinks is useless…and he started to
believe it himself. How tragic!
On a regular basis we have over 50 countries that visit our website. Toby has a worldwide
ministry, right from home in his wheel chair. Pray that God will use this ministry to further
His kingdom.
Now you can watch Gary’s sermons online or on
your iPhone...perfect for preparing for Koinonia!
Toby Hoff

by Bruce Herwig

I have been bothered, shocked and surprised at what I am told that I did while I was married but this is where faith comes in. Yes I have talked to God about it even though I can not remember.

But in His word He says that it has been thrown as far as the East is from the West and He remembers it NO MORE, so I will remember it NO MORE.

I often wonder how many people realize this:

10 years ago I started & managed a computing department, was up for a promotion to Senior Manager, traveled all over the world, made major dollars and then was beaten up and left for dead. At the trauma center ALL OF THE HUMANS said “He’s going to die or at best be a vegetable”. But, did I die? No. Am I a vegetable? No. In fact they said my coma was over in 3 months yet I completely lost 5 years! And when I came out of a 5 year coma I asked for a Bible!

We’re talking about a miracle here!

It’s been 10 years since my attack and I’m happily volunteer working (well) for my Church! I can remember nothing about my education or my former job but I’m doing well putting years and years of sermons on the Internet helping people in at least 50 countries!

And I couldn’t wait to write to you!

Is that not God?

I’ll just admit right at the beginning that some of you will not agree with this.

However, I agree with Paul (and with good solid reasonss) that what I have is not because of me but because of God in me.

For quite some time some of the things I see are not exactly what I read in the Bible even among Churches. Read the following thing that Jesus said:

Matt 6:8
8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
NIV

It doesn’t say anything about needing to ask Him several times by many different people. No. it says that He knows what you need before you ask. So why do organizations have prayer chains? He already knows what is needed!

Which brings me to my point. We trust God for:

Life
Death
Hearing our prayers
Forgiveness of sins
Eternal life

Why not something as simple as needs?

The Bible says that He knows our needs before we ask. But it does not say: “so don’t ask” and it also does not say “be sure to have many people ask”.

It’s a reassurance to us of how vast His caring is. We don’t need to try to “be good enough” because face facts: We’re not good and we never will be!

Last week I lost a friend and a brother. He died. He was in my Sunday school class.

So how do I feel?

As a human I was not expecting that at all so shocked would explain it. But as a Christian I know that God would not bring him home unless He was ready for him. Plus I know that he’s now healed of all his problems so I am happy for him and he’s not gone cuz I’ll see him later. Yes. He’s away for awhile but not forever.

As Christians we’re brother and sister because we have the same Father. And we will spend Eternity together in Heaven! So while it may be difficult to accept when they die, they’re just moving from one world to another and we’ll see them again and that is much easier to deal with.

I have been working and I just realized something that is probably obvious to you but I just figured it out.

We are all eternal beings because of Christ. Some will have eternal punishment in Hell, and some will have eternal life in Heaven but both are eternal. But we get to choose one or the other.

Eternal means forever, it will never end.

So with that being said our role or destination for eternity is extremely important because it will be forever.

So this is not just a religious idea. No, it’s much bigger than that because eternity has no end, and God is willing to wait.

Jesus told us how to choose our eternal destinations so there is no guessing. I have chosen mine but have you?

Too many hypocrites I heard her say
I even saw it in the headlines today
How can I follow God when His own people turn away?

Nobody’s perfect but I just want to see
Somebody living what they say they believe
They’ve got all this world needs they say
But I’m wondering why they won’t give some away?

Can she see God for who He really is
In what she sees in you and me?
Can she see God for who He really is
Cause who He really is is all she really needs to see

He slips into Church and he puts up his guard,
They look so happy but his life’s been so hard
He keep’s his distance so they won’t see the scars

It’s all religion all dressed up in white
And God is love as long as you’re living right,
But does he know that Jesus also has scars
And His love can reach him no matter how far?

Can he see God for who He really is
In what he sees in you and me? Yeah..
Can he see God for who He really is
Cause who He really is is all he really needs to see

The skeptics are watching just to see who will fall,
While those disillusioned search for the truth in it all,
Maybe someday we’ll cross their paths unaware
And when they stop and look what will be there?

Can they see God for who He really is
In what they see in you and me? Yeah..
Can they see God for who He really is
Cause who He really is is all they really need to see

Can they see God for who He really is
They really need to see who He really is.

Because God is God in 3 parts (Father, Son & Holy Spirit) and God is OMNI, if God wants for you to do something and you have surrendered to Him then He’ll know what you are going to do and He’ll guide you. He does this so that “no one can boast”.

Just pray and relax! People often tend to put this and that with this and that but He’s God! He can do things that you never would have been able to do or even thought were possible. That’s why He’s God and you’re not!

Do you know that faith is gift from God? It is, so do not be afraid to talk to anyone because God has given us each a measure of faith. Read this:
Rom 12:3
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
NIV
Now what that measure IS and IF they agree with you is between them and God you just need to try to teach them.

Think about Eternity.

Forever is a long time to be wondering: “Why didn’t I ever talk to my friends who are in Hell?”

I don’t know how we’ll be but I would hate to wonder that!

What people choose is their responsibility but MINE as a Christian is to teach them what I know. That is why it’s called “The Good News”!

The time is now cuz it’ll be too late later!

I have been taught an extremely valuable lesson: DON’T WORRY! Yes the God of Psalm 129 is that close to you. Look at what He said

Matt 6:25
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life.
Matt 6:27
27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
Matt 6:32-34
your heavenly Father knows what you need. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Until you deny yourself as Jesus said this will be easier said than done. But once you know that everything is not about you it is much easier.

Imagine the next time you drive thinking that, or when your boss demands something or when you or someone gets sick? What a relief! It’s God’s game NOT YOURS!

I just had a friend die and I could have been very upset but I thought God wanted him so I could not complain. It wasn’t my choice but it was God’s.

Being a Christian does not mean only good & proper things will ever come. I mean, come on… we live in a world that is being run by the enemy so how could that happen?

Jesus told us to LOVE OUR NEIGHORS but I’m finding out that we DEFINE our neighbors carefully so they don’t often turn out to be people who we actually need to help and so we simply ignore people who need us.

That is NOT what Jesus was talking about. He even gave us many parables to help us understand what He meant. Remember the parable about the man who was attacked and everyone BUT a Samaritan ignored him but the Samarian took care of him and Jesus said: GO AND DO LIKEWISE.

But do we go and do likewise? No we don’t. We take care of our own priorities and everything else just has to wait.

Is that what Jesus meant? NO!

I am here to tell you that Christianity means so much more than what I’m seeing and I believe that one of my jobs (this time) is to be Jesus for you to tell you that you’re living to be way more than you are now.

You’re NOT a Pharisee, you’re a Christian!

I am part of many ignored groups and I may be poor and handicapped but I have my brains and I don’t like what I am seeing. It took me awhile to sort it all out and see but I have and God expects more from you.

Children are being hurt and no one knows it and there are so many more things but for some reason, a bad reason, Christians aren’t helping.

Remember that Jesus said to deny yourselves right before He died for our sins? And if you deny yourselves then God will take care of you.

But what I’m seeing is that a bunch of people are taking care of themselves.

Stop it!

Most people have never been where I’ve been. But where I have been IS confirmed in Scripture.

I have been in the very good and I have been in the very bad but I have always been God’s child.

That was difficult for me to realize for a long time but now I know that He promised to complete the work that He began in me and He doesn’t lie.

Was it right what I did? No! But He is completing the work He began in me and that makes me very happy!

Yesterday I was upset about some things that had happened that I did not agree with, so upset that I prayed and asked God for help in knowing what to do.

This morning I got the answer. Not in a normal way but in another way. One that I would listen to but not expect to hear an answer from God.

But it was pretty obvious.

I learned:

1. Don’t underestimate the power of
God.
2. YOU may think it’s wrong and He respects that but YOU will not be in control at judgment.
3. He is God.

I was surprised at that and thankful. And remember: He is God and you’re not.

OK my most primary goal is to teach you about the gospel (good news of Jesus Christ). And I know that I can do it. Now whether you believe it is up to you alone.

Without Jesus in our lives our relationship with God is not good. We are unable to change this and God knew that so He sent His son, Jesus to rectify what we would not do for us. And He did.

That should be why we are Christians.

However, after many problems I contacted my Sr. Pastor today and said this:

I have been told several times that if you sin you must specifically confess what you have done to remain saved but because of my injuries I have lost most of my memory so for me to do that is very much impossible. I just can’t remember things.

So if that was true then Ephesians 2:8-9 is not true because it states that salvation is a gift from God and it has nothing to do with you so that you can not boast.

However I am being told that I did… and so for me to confess that is totally incorrect and 100% opposite of what the Bible teaches. My salvation is not because of me! Nor is the fact that I live the life that I live.


And this was the answer that I got:

Toby,
You are absolutely correct - we are not saved by confessing every sin, but by trusting in the Lord Jesus who has paid the price for all our sins, and we aren't even aware of most of them.

So his answer coincided with what I said.

Salvation is a gift from God that He gave you, you cannot earn it yourself. And that is what makes it the good news!

If you have any questions on this then please email me at toby.hoff@gmail.com and I will respond.

Since I woke up this morning this song has been playing in my head. The chorus says:

What I see
Is telling me This world’s gone crazy
But what I feel
Is Gods still on His throne
So what I need
Is to remember one thing:
That the Lord of the gentle breeze
Is Lord of the rough and tumble
And He is still King of the jungle
Yes He is

What a great way to start my day!

Read this:
Eph 5:18-21
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
NIV

It is talking about being filled with the Spirit of God & things that you can do IF you are & it says to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. It does NOT say “if you are happy with them” or “if you are comfortable in doing so”. In fact it does NOT say “if” at all, and why? Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

However, few people do this for a number of reasons. So what aren’t they doing? Giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ & giving reverence to Christ.

Jesus told us to deny ourselves. So it’s not about you anymore. Therefore if you are uncomfortable then YOU still need to deny yourself.

God is not at all insignificant. We even breathe because of Him:

Acts 17:25
25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.
NIV

Without breath we wouldn’t have life!

So because we can breathe we should thank Him but some people don’t.

As Christians God has forgiven us.

But because we have been forgiven we must recognize it & be thankful for being forgiven. How I choose to be thankful may or may not please God but I’ve been forgiven.

So when all we do is employ concern over other things first and foremost it shows a concern primarily over other things and not God. God was already concerned over our other things when Jesus came and took care of those and made the way for forgiveness. So to be thankful and glorify Him should be normal for us.

However this world is being run by Satan and he does not want to glorify God therefore our list of other things may not glorify God and our job now is to examine things and prioritize what do for His glory. That is what we’ll do in Heaven.

Read this:

Rom 5:8
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
NIV

So we weren’t pleasing God but He came, taught, fed, healed, lived & died for us and only after His death He gave us His righteousness and that’s why we can go to Heaven.

That is a lot to do but He did it!

And for some reason I see people who are more concerned with deadlines, other responsibilities and status than they are with God.

Do you think that is why He made Heaven? Because He wants to spend eternity with people who don’t put Him first now but maybe they’ll learn to later?

Good luck!

This morning my roommate left me a printed document to read. I had a choice but I chose to read it. And I was very pleased at what I read. This has been on my mind for along time so I was happy to see it in print!

However I knew that society did not like it so I looked up the meaning of the word society.

The term society is defined as:

Society is used as a noun and it refers to a group of humans that have similar thoughts or beliefs.

A group of humans that have similar thoughts or beliefs. So how can a human define something that God (who is NOT human) said?

And similar thoughts or beliefs says it all.

So I would define society this way:
A group of humans who may or may not be able to define things but still do agree to have similar thoughts or beliefs.

I am NOT part of society.

The way things work in this world is that people are born and then they go through life growing up and being taught by other humans and IF they do things that OTHER PEOPLE THINK ARE GOOD they think that they have done well and as they grow older the rewards change and status grows. And humans try very hard to accomplish that.

But God knew it all before they were even born.

And people tend to forget God and rely on what they or other people can do. And that’s life?

I am very very fortunate because I grew up that way and accomplished much and had much, got beaten up, lost it all and God is still there.

I don’t have to feel lost or wonder why I was born-I know!

So I don’t have to be accomplished or accepted by others to feel good. I know that God loves me and that is all that matters!

Some one else was not highly viewed by society either: Jesus! Read what Isaiah said about Him in Isaiah 53:2-5.

He wasn’t popular or accomplished in this world but He is your Savior. So if He runs your life then you’re ok. Society won’t like you but God will.

I only tell you things that I have read in God’s word and lately I have been told that I’m wrong or criticized so this is my attempt to explain.

This is all from God’s word:

Before we were born:
God formed us
God wrote down all the days of our lives
God is OMNI
Jesus is God too
Jesus is the Father’s son
So being ONMI He still loved us and came and became just like us and gave His human life for us.

Now most Christians believe that much but what they don’t realize is that since God wrote all of the days of our lives in His book before we were even born there is absolutely nothing that you’re going to do that He does not already know about yet He still came to help us.

He knew that when He saved us.

He adopted us.

He gave us His inheritance.

We will live forever.

Sinning is not good but Jesus took care of that once and for all. So a savior is a savior.

I got this from God’s word.

I may not be the most intelligent person but I am God’s child and I live for Him.

Forgiveness is a God thing NOT a human thing.

I’m not happy with many things that I know that I did but there are things that I didn’t even realize too!

But God said that I was forgiven.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean that I didn’t do them it just means that it is no longer held against me.

I do owe a price for my sins but Jesus paid that price for me once and for all.

No, I’m not perfect but I’ve been forgiven and I’m thankful for that.

I have come to where I am today to realize that. I can realize many bad things and there are many that I can’t realize at all but this is the best thing yet!

This has taken me several hours to write. I have made some notes and printed them out and gone by them while writing because this is not an easy thing to acknowledge or understand.

I have experienced some hard times today. I have talked to people about things who have told me what they thought and I have told them what I thought and why I thought that. And both times what I thought did not agree with what they thought.

So what does this mean?

It means that we have to be very careful because not everyone knows what you know. People have preconceived ideas but there are no true experts on anything but God.

The way most people believe is generally based on societal standards. Many people even go to school to learn those standards but not everyone or everything is standard.

For example even Biblical standards can be screwed up by some people for others and if you understand some Biblical principles that does not mean that you understand everything that you’ve experienced.

Even relatively intelligent people can be lied to or led astray by others and not even know it.

You can tell if someone may be able to help you with some things but no one but God can help you with everything.

So my suggestion to you is to ask people questions and do not just assume anything. If you need to then talk to God.

I imagine (just imagine) that God helps me to see some things because 1) He knows that I need them or 2) He knows that I will share them or 3) Both of those and this is a number 3.

I have been thinking about therapy lately. At Robert H. Ballard Rehabilitation Hospital years ago I used to get good Physical and Occupational therapy but after some time they told me to leave and not come back and it upset me! After a 5 year coma these were my friends.

I used to be given recipes and directions by God and they ALL turned out great and I have saved them all. And I used to practice waking a lot with tools and I always did well. That was my goal. To always do what they asked me to do, but they threw me out.

And one time at a Christmas party I was in my wheelchair and on my own I stood up, walked across a room and stood by someone for a picture (I have a copy of that). So why did they kick me out and why am I still in a wheelchair?

Good question. That’s what I asked God and He has answered me.

Therapists are taught that people have to be 1 way only. I am a good example that that’s not true but I am not generally accepted. Hmm, that sounds a lot like Jesus. He was not “standard” and He was not generally accepted either and He had no handicaps.

So instead of being upset and giving up I’ll take pride in being like Jesus and keep pressing on! When He couldn’t win any more Jesus knew and I will too.

I cannot be limited because of their limited knowledge. I know more so I’m not going to stop yet !

Normally I would not write about something as simple as faith but what I see going on around me has changed my mind.

Hebrews 11:1 has an excellent description of faith and it is the backdrop on my computer. Many times Jesus referred to faith so you know that it’s important to have. But what I am seeing is faith is not so important as it is trendy.

So for the sake of popularity people say that they are Christians when in fact popularity and the things of this world are actually more important to them.

Jesus expects more from us than that.

He said to deny yourselves.

Now, you tell me how popularity applies to a nonexistent person?

It doesn’t.

So look at yourself very closely. Do you have faith?

I am back and better than ever! Now for I can realize so much that for years I wondered about! What a gift!

I really liked my Church in Kentucky so I was hurt when I was thrown out. For years I have worried about it but I just realized that it was ok. It’s where they were then and God had other plans for me.

That applies to what I’ve gone through all long! At face value it’s not good but at spiritual value it is good because it’s part of His plan.

I am so much more relaxed now. After years of tension I can finally relax. I am healthy & happy & God has been very good to me.

I am still very handicapped but because so much negativity is now gone I feel as if I’ve been rescued and the best part is that my rescuer was God!

Obviously I'm not working right now because I'm listening to music but a song like this can make your day better:


You Shine by Brian Doerksen


Why should I fear man
When you made the Heavens
Why should I be afraid
When you put the stars in place

Why should I lose hearts
When I know how great you are
Why should I give up
When your plans are full of love

In this world we will have trouble
But you have overcome the world

You shine brighter than the brightest star
Your love purer than the purest heart
You shine filling us with courage and faith
To follow you

There is a song byRich Mullins called: Brothers Keeper and it says:

My friends ain’t the way I wish they were
They’re just the way they are
And I will be my brothers keeper
Not the one who judges him
I won’t despise him for his weakness
I won’t regard him for his strength
I won’t take away his freedom
I will help him learn to stand

And I thought that this is good and helpful so I wanted to share it.

This is for today.

There is song by Clay Crosse called: Somethin Missin and in those chorus it says:

It don’t matter what you’ve got
If you don’t know the love of God
There’s somethin missin in your life…

And that is true! So tell your friends that you feel are missing the love of God.

Saved by Love


I have a CD by Amy Grant where she sings a song called: Saved by Love and I like it a lot. In fact this morning I woke up with that song playing in my head and I thought about writing to you because in this world that is a very good thing and it just doesn’t happen much at all, but read this:

John 3:16

16 "For God so loved the world…
NIV

That’s NOT AS A UNIT but individually! And to me that matters more than anything else. People may love some people and hate other people and it all depends on what is happening. But God loves us all no matter what’s happening!

He made us so He cares! Who else is like that? No one!

Even if you’re going through hard times now just remember that God loves you. Things may not be going the way you wish that they would but this life is not about you so turn & talk to Him because you’ve been saved by love.

I am BIG on disliking competition among anyone.



This an example of what I prefer. It is about Jesus and John the Baptist. One was God and the other was a human and they did not compete. One worked to help the other but they did not compete.



John 1:1-9

1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.



3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.



6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

NIV



John did not get excited about fame or earn a lot of money, he ate locusts and wild honey so he wasn’t living a high life but he continued to do what he did for another reason. God’s reason.



That’s what we are supposed to do too.



10 years ago I was an executive and I made a lot of money. I was living the high life. Everything was wonderful at the time (or so I thought) but now I am handicapped, I live in a wheelchair, can’t drive, walk or work and I am on public assistance but I don’t compete with anyone. I just serve God (not a popular job) every moment of every day.



But you can do the same thing. No you don’t have to get brutally beaten, lose everything, be poor or have everyone get disgusted with you but you can serve God every moment of every day and compete with no one.



You won’t win friends or make people happy but God will like you.

I am aware that this is different than most people think and that it may offend some and if you are offended then please read this to the end and if you are still offended please email me at toby.hoff@gmail.com and explain how you feel.

Confession

Most (if not all) religions see confession as a way to regain lost salvation. However there is no scripture to back that up. But there is scripture that says that Christ died once for all and that salvation and forgiveness is a free gift.

So let me ask if anyone has ever received a free gift and had it taken away from them and if so then it wasn’t a free gift because it depended on something.

God wrote all the days of our lives in His book before we were born. So there is nothing that we are doing that is new to Him and while we were ALL Sinners He died for us.

So if it was a free gift and you had nothing to do with it then why is confession mentioned in the Bible? Very good question and I’m glad you asked.

Confession helps you individually. By confessing it says that you are aware and allows you to make a change. Often in the New Testament people were instructed to confess to and pray for each other.

There is nothing that says that you have to confess your sins to regain your salvation. That’s why it is called a free gift. It’s not about God it’s about you.

I put all of my CDs on ITUNES yesterday so today I’ve been listening to music by Christian musicians and yes I have learned something big and important about humility.

What I have clearly and repetitively noted is that #1 they make a lot of money but they never say anything about that but they do speak (or sing) about God, His will and His gift to us.

And it is good and it makes very happy!

Now I can’t make a lot of money and I won’t become famous but I can talk about God, His will and His gift to us so that is what I will continue to do.

And I have a lot of good CDs so if anyone wants to listen to some good music then I’m happy to lend them.

For 42 years I was one person then I was attacked so for the last 10 years I have been disabled.

No, I can’t walk and I have several impediments but I don’t picture myself as being as disabled as I obviously am so when I see myself on videos it freaks me out.

It’s probably better for me that I don’t think of myself as disabled. I do recognize my limitations I just don’t see myself as I am.

I always hear “If (this or that) doesn’t happen then I’m praying for a miracle because I don’t have a plan B.”

So they’re saying: “My ideas are excellent but if what I want to happen doesn’t happen then I have no choice but to hope that God makes it happen.”

Wow that blows me away.

And another thing that blows me away is that I didn’t see this before! It’s all new to me now but I’m sure it’s not new.

God has always done such an incredibly wonderful job with me:
I’m alive
I live in an apartment
I’m healthy
I‘m happy
I’m 52 years old
And these are just a few of the things I know about!

What has happened to people? Why can’t they see a God that loves them so much?

I’ve been thinking and praying about what would be the best thing to teach and this morning God’s answer came to me. Read this:

Prov 3:5-6

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
NIV

People tend to try and figure everything out themselves but often they are wrong but they choose reasons that Society likes and they decide it’s correct. But let me ask you: Did Society create everything? NO God did.

Read the verse again.

It says “lean not on your own understanding” which clearly means “Don’t try to figure out everything on your own”. And it says: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart.”

So that’s the answer from God.

You can tell that I am a man of God when I write something like this:

I noticed something a long time ago but I wasn’t sure if it was true and if it was how to write about it but now I know.

Christianity to me meant a person wanted to be like Christ. However, people see it as a way to be accepted by others. Frankly I couldn’t care less what others thought about me because I don’t live for others I live for God. But other people don’t and for them Christianity is a way of acceptance by others. It is trendy and acceptable therefore they become Christians. But it’s not really Christianity it is just an acceptable name.

I can only tell you to read and follow the Bible. If the way you are or what you are doing is in there then you’re fine but stick with what God has told you, not your friend.

One of the first examples of Grace from God that has been shown to us is with Satan. God had created him so He could have eliminated him but He didn’t. Yes, He gave him the Earth but He gave us His word and forgiveness and an inheritance.

I have this one CD that I like a lot. It is by
Susan Ashton, Margaret Becker & Dente and it is called “Along the Road”. It is fine music and very spiritual but one song says: “it turned out to be a blessing in disguise”.

Now I know that I used to say that but why?

It means that the blessing presented itself as something else and blessings come from God so that is not even possible so what does it mean?

It means simply that we thought the wrong thing and we didn’t see the blessing at first. Read this:
Eph 3:20
20 Now to him who is able to do measurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
NIV

Does it say “more than you’ll know”? NO! It says exactly what is happening “more than all we ask or imagine. So blessings aren’t disguised they are more than all we ask or imagine.

Don’t underestimate the power of God.

I went to Church services today and the pastor was talking about the last supper and how Jesus washed the feet of His apostles but he didn’t point out how Jesus (even though He knew that Judas would betray Him) washed Judas feet too.

Even while He was being crucified and they were driving nails through His body Jesus said: Father forgive them they don’t know what they’re doing.

And He lives in us!

So when we are disregarding people that are another race or handicapped or people who are poorer than us or anything then we are disregarding the people who Jesus came and died for!

And people do that a lot while they say they are Christians but Jesus never did that. And He’s watching them do it!

One way that it has been ingrained into me is that life isn’t here just to please me and that God is in control is by something as simple as playing Solitaire. Along the way things may not be what I had hoped for or supposed but I always finish to start again. And sometimes things go better than I had imagined. But the bottom line is that I am not in control and I do not just assume that my computer (that’s not living) is in control but that God (who is living) is.

Life is just like that.

Sometimes things don’t happen just as I had hoped or wanted but it’s not my game it’s His.

I am in a very bad place but regardless of where I am God is still great. He always has been and He always will be.

I cannot and will not complain.

I don’t think that people realize this but the best thing about God is that He is OMNI so He makes no mistakes.

He formed us and wrote down all the days of our lives before we were even born. So what you think or do may surprise people but not God.

That puts a whole new meaning on being judgmental because it may be new to you but God already knew it.

You’ve heard the saying: “get in line” but there’s no line with God.

Ok, this morning I searched the Bible for wwords like pleases, pleasing and Godly to find something that says that our behavior makes God happy or not. Nothing that I found refers to our behavior which isn’t odd because when Jesus came we were all sinners and He loved us.

That’s way different from what others teach us. So if we stick with the Bible then we’ll be fine.


People think that they know God but they don’t. The things that we need to know He told us in the Bible. So if we stick with it.

When I was sharing today in Sunday school my entire talk was based on one thing: My Personal Experiences.

How horrible is it to have to talk to some very nice and very special people about something as simple and horrible as how you’ve been treated in case it happens to or has happened to them?

How horrible that it has happened to me!

I was a very wealthy and successful world traveler before but when I was hurt everything good but God stopped. Normal people were mean to me. So mean that I thought that I must be weird, but I’m not!

What are people thinking about others? And why is that kind of bad/negative behavior toward others standard? Answer me because I want to know.

Yes something bad happened to me but I was still the same person! But God has had to help me to go through all that and come out and He has but that’s a lot for Him to have to do and we shouldn’t have to do that.

My Sunday school class is called Light & Power and it is designed for handicapped adults and there are around 50 in there. Non handicapped people go as well and we sing, pray, eat, memorize scripture and study together if fact we even have a prom every year & next month we are going to the beach.

It is wonderful to be around a group of people who are just like you and love God as much as you do and no one has to care how they act.

These people are my family and no matter where we go or what we do I enjoy being with them. It’s so much easier to be around them than to be around other people because we accept each other and don’t judge each other.

This morning I was able to share something very special with them and I hope that they understood. The good thing is that I know the Lord was there and He understood.

I have just realized that our job as Christians is way bigger than I ever knew!

Jesus did say to love your neighbors but He didn’t just mean to be nice to people with which you have contact, He meant everyone! If you know them or not.

I have been remembering things from when I was young and I continually think: It’s good that I never knew that but why didn’t anyone else see it?

And no one did. So here I am handicapped. And my family did bad things and no one noticed. So they were smart and no one helped!

We have got to do better than that!

Many many people are children and adults and they need help. I’m not just guessing this or making it up. This is fact and I am one that was hurt.

Christianity is more than just a socially acceptable lifestyle or a way to take care of yourself, it is a way of life for everyone! Like Jesus job when He came here. He exposed Himself to many people but Salvation was for everyone so we (who He lives in us) can’t just limit it to people that we know well. Did Jesus know all of the 5,000 people?

I don’t think so and we have the same job.

I’m going to tell you a little bit about me so that you can understand better where I’m coming from.

I am not like you. I am human and 51 years old but I cannot work for money or even walk. I live in a wheelchair and that sounds awful, but it’s not.

I am completely in God’s control and He takes great care of me. I don’t wish to be t any different.

One of the things that I just don’t understand at all is how life here is such a competition. God has kept me alive through some unbelievable circumstances so there is no competition for me. I lost and God won. There’s nothing to argue about.

So when I do anything it’s always from the perspective of how I can do it well to make someone else happy.

It’s not that I feel like I deserve anything. I do everything to help other people.

I don’t know how much more like Jesus you can be.

In life on Earth there is always a winner and a loser. So everyone wants to be a winner and they try very hard to win.

But if you’re a Christian you are a winner with God already because salvation is a free gift. No more trying hard because it’s a free gift and according to Ephesians 2:8-9 you couldn’t possibly earn it.

So this is going to cause you to think about things a lot differently.

Remember Adam & Eve? God gave them everything but they still went for more and unfortunately the serpent agreed with them and they all lost big time.

Unfortunately the serpent is still talking and people still believe him. On TV all of the shows say “Be the Best” and people always try but their efforts can’t make them the best only God can.

So be careful in life. Listen to God and not the serpent.

Competition

As human people competition is extremely important to us and natural too. From the time we are young children we are taught to compete and it never stops. Everything in life is based on that. “If you are good then…”. And we know no better.

Thankfully God doesn’t treat us that way. Jesus came to offer us Salvation even though we weren’t good. And it’s our choice. So there is no competition.

As humans we have to be very careful not to be that way.

Coming from where I was and being who I am today allows me to look at things and ask myself: Am I missing anything? And to honestly answer the question: No, in fact I’m better off now.

I am so happy! I know that I had a lot before and have lost a lot since then but I honestly have more now!

I certainly do not wish that anyone could go through what I’ve gone through but I do wish that everyone could see what I see.

God is wonderful.

Make Something Of Yourself


Most people think that it’s up to themselves (who are nothing) to make something of themselves so they try and try until they think that they have.

Now that is interesting because did they create themselves? Wasn’t there any thought put into what they should do? Aren’t they here for a reason?

God knew what He was doing but most people don’t believe in God. So they think that everything is up to them and unfortunately this world and Society confirms that opinion.

Everything in Society backs that up. Schools, Colleges, Compensation, Positions, Clothes, Cars, Homes and the like say that YOU have made something of yourself but there’s absolutely nothing about your creator.

Personally, I think that there are no mistakes or accidents with God. We are all here for His reason and we are part of His plan. And if we don’t believe in Him He has a plan for that too.

This is very interesting especially to you.

Because I cannot “make things happen” and there is nothing that I can put my finger on to say “this WILL work” I have always had to turn to God.

I do that because I know that He is real and He can do things and I can’t.

Imagine being like me. It would seem like nothing would ever work but it always does!

Life for me is just one confirmation after another that God is good and He loves me.

Life is usually about YOU. What you’re doing, where you’ve come, what you want and what you hope for but for me it’s all about God and I’m happy with what He gives me.

I am honestly in an extremely good place and while I wish it for you, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

I’m seeing something that I do not agree with at all and I see this on the television but I don’t think it’s just on TV I think this is how people are. And I don’t think that it’s just nowadays, I think people have been this way for centuries.

Everyone wants to measure up to other people because the main goal is to be better than anyone else. That gets them money and status.

Funny but that sounds just like Satan was when he was thrown out of Heaven and doesn’t he run this world? Yes he does for now and people are following his plan.

If you think about things such as money and degrees (to name just a few) you can clearly see what I am talking about.

I have a college degree that I paid a lot of money, time and effort for and I was paid a lot of money for and I was very proud of it.

But think about this: Was I any better than anyone else? No. Did I just learn everything in school? Nope. Then why did I get so much money and prestige? Because my degree was very popular and so was my school.

Wait a minute. Am I saying that because people liked my degree and my school that they paid me a lot of everything? Yes I am. And nothing has changed. I’m just as intelligent as I used to be but I don’t remember a thing about my education and I’m not bothered at all.

Being a Christian is so much easier than being a part of this world. Expectations from God are much simpler than the expectations of this world. And I also don’t have to be the best to get eternal life because it was a free gift.

I was thinking about this in the morning during breakfast so I decided to write it down.

Luke 9:25
25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world , and yet lose or forfeit his very self?
NIV

I have lost a lot: job, car, wealth, travel, education, wife, kids and much more but I’m happy. Why? Because I have lost the whole world but gained my very self. No matter what I’ve lost I still have God. And that’s much more than I had!

When something happens that I didn’t expect I can just say: So what!

I am a man of faith so I know that if there are any major consequences it has either been planned or is already known by God. And for me to have come so far it’s quite obvious that He loves me and I love Him.

So why would I worry?

I know that this sounds weird but I wish that everyone could have my experience.

From the moment that I wake up each morning I think about what I have to do that day. Then I get up and go about what I have to do.

I work now from home. I do volunteer work now and since it’s from home I don’t have to get dressed or meet anyone but what I do is available to anyone and it’s for God.

In the mornings I start working at about 6:45 A.M. and as soon as I have something going I play solitaire. My mind can’t just sit around and do nothing…

Then I make sure that work is being done and I go to the kitchen for lunch and I start thinking. And if I think of something that is important I do some research and write to you. And that’s what I’ve done today but no matter what work takes precedence.

I ate lunch and here is what came to my mind:

Ps 139:13-16

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

Now this is in God’s word and it’s clear. He knows me and He was there.

So if all the days were ordained for me before one of them came to be how could I know my purpose? I wasn’t even born yet! And it says FOR ME so I had nothing to do with it!

But people think that they know their purpose but the Bible says that they don’t. They may be aware of things that they like to do or things that other human people say that they are good at but the Bible says that they were not even born when their purpose was ordained by God.

That puts a whole different picture on things.

If someone said to me “you don’t know my purpose” then I would say “yes I do. You were created by God to serve Him”. They may or may not agree with that now, but in time they will.

I am a little concerned.

I don’t think that people realize what I am saying.

To have to come up with a purpose for your life seems to me to be ignoring the fact that God created you before you were born. Life is not here to please me. I’m here to please God. And to come up with a purpose that completely focuses on you and what you can do instead of who created you to me is simply ignoring God and focusing on yourself.

That is the way of this world but it is not the way of God our creator.

God gave me this life. I used serve myself and now I’m severely handicapped but thank God in not dead.

I’m alive and only here to serve Him.

If you don’t understand that then fine.

People quite often say “I was born to do this…” or “Maybe I was born to do that…”.

However, in Psalm 139 I read:
Ps 139:13

13 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
you formed me in my mother's womb.

And
Ps 139:15
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
how I was sculpted from nothing into something.

And

Ps 139:16
16 Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
before I'd even lived one day.

So there’s no “I was” or “maybe” when someone is born because God did it and you were born as part of His will!

So many people go through their lives trying to determine why they are here. But God very clearly answers that question in Psalm 139!

So if we would teach that instead of who killed who and who won the war we would likely be better people!

Can you imagine if shows were for how people could help God instead of what a person could do to help themselves?

How could this happen to me?

I see and hear this all the time on TV.

The first question that comes to me is WHO ARE YOU?

The Son of God was arrested, beaten and nailed to a cross and that was to save us. So if that happened to Him then why would someone say: how could this happen to me?

I’m nothing and no one else is either when compared to God.

We’re Christians. What does that mean? It means we’re like Christ. Now to properly understand what that means we have to look at Christ. Not so much as what we or the world thinks about Him but what God told us.

Christ helped the Father create the world.

Why did He come?

To save us because we were lost.

Weren’t we good people already?

No we were all sinners.

So He came anyway?

Yes, because He loved us.

We were bad but good came to us and stayed until He saved us.

Wasn’t this simple for Him to do?

No but He did it.

That view is true but it’s a long way from what the world sees. And it’s closer to what I view.

To me, Jesus has already made me right so I’m now part of His family, so as I approach people it’s from His perspective, do they need Jesus? Who doesn’t? So I spend time with them and teach them because Jesus in me loves them.

And that’s way different from what I see going on.

People say that they are Christians but they often think that they’re better than others but as a Christian I’m not better I have been forgiven and that’s all.

You too.

We’re still the same people and we’re still human and we would still be lost if it wasn’t for Christ. So as a Christian I want to do what He did. How about you?

A friend of mine once gave me this verse and it means a lot to me:

Luke 12:48
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

This is true with me.

At one time I was considered to be a genius but now my abilities have put me in a place where I’m no longer considered to be so smart.

I have had some psychological testing and much has still been given but life is showing me that much is still expected. So now I have to accomplish much as I am.

Forgiven

I looked on the Internet to see if I could find a meaning for the word forgiven and in my opinion I found one that I like a lot. It said that you are no longer required to pay back a debt that you owe.

The reason that I like that definition is that it doesn’t say a debt you never borrowed, no it says that you are no longer required to pay back a debt that you owe.

That is the way I view it. Yes we sin because we are human but we have been forgiven by God! Meaning yes it happens but we are no longer required to pay for it.

So it is not like it doesn’t happen because it does but you are not required to pay it back anymore. Why? Because Jesus paid for it! It’s a debt that you no longer owe.

So do we care about sin? Yes! Right is still right and wrong is still wrong but with God we are no longer responsible for fixing it. God no longer expects US to fix it because Jesus did!

It’s often thought that if you have to deal with a handicapped person things will be more difficult than if you were dealing with a normal person. But here is a handicapped person telling you that’s not true!

As a handicapped man I am on the phone just as much as you are having to correct mistakes that normal people make. I have to follow through and check out everything that is done by others to make sure that it is correct.

And often it’s not.

So it’s time that we changed the way that we think because right is right and wrong is wrong and anyone can make a mistake.

I talked to you about this before but it is real and you may not realize it. But it’s bigger than I thought so it may be bigger than you know.

I wrote once before about “Societal Christians” versus actual Christians. The difference is that the first once is mainly concerned with what society feels and the second is concerned just with how God feels. The first = daily acceptance from those around them and the second = daily rejection and negativity from those around them but God is still God.

Obviously the first is much easier and it feels more rewarding so that is the way that people have gone for centuries.

But remember when Jesus came? Society didn’t like Him and they killed Him but He rose from the grave, ascended into Heaven and joined His Father.

So be very careful about who you are pleasing because all of those who were pleased are dead and gone but God is still God

I am just me and you are just you. Thankfully God made us that way. So, to begin with we were different. And no matter what you may think, that’s normal and it’s good.

I am not going to think like you do because I’m not you.

No one but me has gone through what I have gone through. I’m in a good place today and I have no idea where I’ll be tomorrow but thankfully God knows.

Some people have been a little hard on me lately and it has hurt me. I can understand where they’re coming from but I’m just me the way God made me to be and you are just you as God made you to be.

So we can accept each other as God accepts each of us. Learn from each other and appreciate the differences. I do and you can too. We have the same Father and He knows what He is doing.

Sunday I went to Church and the preacher was saying “In my prayer life…” and I realized what he was talking about but I thought “I don’t have something separate that I call my prayer life because my whole life is prayer!”.

So I thought that I should write to you.

God is our Father and He takes care of us even when we don’t know it. He is also always with us. So why would we have something separate that we called our “prayer life”?

To me that says that part of my life is for prayer and another part of my life is for …”

Think of a small child. Do they ever set aside time to speak to their parent? No! They just talk and the parent is listening.

Well we are God’s children and He is listening so if we only give Him specified “time” what does that tell Him?

It tells Him that He is important to you when you dedicate time to Him but you do much more and He can observe but your time is not dedicated fully to Him.

What would an earthly parent say to that?

They would say “fine but you’re not my child from now on”. But God never says that. He just waits to see if we will change our minds and include Him.

I thought about this much earlier but most people are not like me so I was initially afraid that you wouldn’t get it so I didn’t write it. But after time and prayer I am going to write it.

I see a lot of personal wishing and second guessing of God going on but what I have gone through and still go through leaves no room for any of that and I’m right here in front of you. So if you don’t see it then that’s your choice.

From before I was born I know that God has been with me. I say that because it’s in His word and because I was severely abused many times but I don’t remember a thing. There have been many things that have happened over the years that have clearly pointed to this abuse but at the time I simply never connected the dots. But now that I have so much time on my hands and I have studied the Bible and have talked to so many educated people it’s pretty clear to me.

So why am I telling you this?

Because regardless of what has happened to me and God has been there all along I just don’t think that people understand and believe that God has a purpose and He will achieve it!

Yes we are involved but we aren’t His only reason for everything. He has a will and it’s not ours it is His. But because He’s our Father He will take care of us but it will be His way and NOT our way.

I’m totally happy with that but I don’t think that everyone is. But after 51 years and so many changes I am!

So praise God!

As humans things are supposed to always be the same. We work hard to build things that we can depend on. We have things like laws, degrees and compensation to monitor and ensure these things. And we learn to expect things to always happen a certain way. And these things become expectations

But as normal Christians things are not always the same and that’s OK. Remember Jesus telling us that we must first deny ourselves? Well part of denying yourself means that #1 Life is not your game because God is calling the shots! And because you do not know God’s plans or reasons things may not always happen the same way thus you cannot depend on things.

So when something happens that you did not expect you have to honestly say that your desire is for God’s will to be done and not your own personal desires to always be met. And that’s easy for me to say but it’s not easy to do.

But as a Christian you have no other choice because it’s not about you anymore it’s about God. Remember being told to deny yourself?

So sometimes things may happen that you didn’t expect.

But who are you? Did you create the world? Or seasons? Or people? No you didn’t but God did. Will you be in control at judgment? No God will. So relax! You’re under His wing. It’s His game and He has already won so you can trust Him.

I have often wondered why I was still here but on Sunday my Church had Disability Sunday and this scripture was mentioned several times:

1 Cor 12:22
22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable
NIV

And I was shocked!

Indispensable.

I‘ve never been treated that way by this world, but you can read it just the same as I can: indispensable.

Not just OK or make due with them, no, indispensable!

So after 10 years and much rejection I finally see that I’m indispensable, so a lot of people have a lot to learn.

I know that they do because I did too!

Every show on TV is about what you can do. What YOU can do seems to the large human interest.

Satan used to demonsrate the same interest and maybe he still has that same interest.

Think about it.

As humans we have:

Clothes
Hair styles
Schools
Degrees
Jobs
Income
Churches
Etc.
to name a few.

But who could create a world, all of the animals, the seasons, the weather, feed 5,000 people with little to no food, make blind people see, heal diseases or bring the dead to life? Humans? No but God does.

Oh, so is there a competition to be better than God?

Well there was before. Remember when Satan was an Angel? Remember Adam & Eve in the garden? Remember the fordidden fruit? Remember the darkness that people pefer?

It's all coming back now, isn't it?

And was Jesus the light?

Do I mean that things are the same nowadays as they were in Jesus day? Yes I do.

The same as they were in Adam & Eve's day.

There is still darkness in is world but we are the light. As long as this world is here there will be darkness so just stay in the light. God has already conquered Satan. He said: I have conquered the world.

regardless of what happens in the world God created us for His glory so nothing can change that.

We have got to start thinking differently.

Jesus told us that we have to deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Him and what that means, I think, is that things don't depend on us anymore. Things are not going to make us happy or be what we want for them to be but it's not our game it's God's game.

So don't be so concerned with your personal satisfaction rather be concerned that what you're doing is in God's word. That's how you know that what you're doing or thinking is good. If God put it in His word.

Things can happen and they might be good or bad but how you, a Christian, reacts to them makes all of the difference.

For example things may not happen as you wanted them to or think that they should but when that happens (and it will) just ask yourself:
Who is my Father?
Who's child am I?
Is my Father a loser?

And all of the sudden things will come into much clearer perspective so you can move forward.

The fact that darkness exists is real and whether you knew it or realized it before: This is a war and you are being used to fight it.

The winner will win and the loser will lose but how you play the game determines how you will spend eternity.

So “right now” is no longer so critical because eternity is critical.

As I become more and more like I used to be I am more and more aware and amazed at what God has done for me.

There have been so many and more than I even know of times that I needed Him and He was there. To make Psalm 129 more clear He has been my Father.

And it's not like I have always told Him! Because I often didn't even know! But when I needed Him He was there for me. Now what earthly father can do that? None.

Oh yeah, He's my God!

I'm experiencing something that I didn't expect at all.

I'm trying to be a “virtual volunteer” because then no one would have to pay for anything at all and I could do something to help out with something. But I continue to just run into huge walls and I don't understand why.

If I were a usual person then I would have no problems but I'm not usual and I have TONS of problems!

I could understand if I was expecting to be paid or had a bad reputation as a volunteer but I'm not and I don't.

It seems as though I have to just go with things however they are or just forget it but at least shut up, but I expect more!

I'm not normal but I am intelligent and I should be allowed to help someone and I know that I am not alone.

It would be fine if I would just accept things as they are but I am not as I was and I want to help! This is wasting a lot of my time and energy.