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Monday, December 24, 2018

Merry Christmas! : 2018




With a pending divorce, an uncertain future that will include selling the house and moving, my daughter has decided to spend the Christmas holiday and New Year’s with her boyfriend in Atlanta leaving me and my son to celebrate the holidays “together alone” or “alone together”.  At 18 and 17 years old, my kids are learning there are some harsh realities to life that Santa and Rudolph didn’t plan for.

In preparation for that uncertain future and certain relocation, my kids recently cleaned out their rooms and many items that were gifts of Christmas past were throw in the trash.  What gave delight and joy one year, has been enjoyed, used, out grown and disposed of. 
The building that housed our family is going to be emptied out and sold.
The Christmas family gathering has been forever changed. 

However, the good news is Christmas isn’t about some jolly fat man flying through the skies dispensing material goods to provide happiness.  And much to the protest to the generic Christmas specials that fill the airwaves at this time of year, Christmas isn’t about family either. 
Christmas is about a kingdom.  Christmas is a story of a king who, out of love, made himself vulnerable and lowered himself to save his subjects.

Christmas is the dividing line of history. It’s the point in time and space where God entered the universe of His making to reach out to save those who couldn’t save themselves. It’s a rescue mission. 

Christ was born and grew into a man that proclaimed that entrance into the kingdom of heaven was only possible through faith in Him. 

From that point forward, while we have the freedom to choose whatever we wish, the only choice that leads to eternal life is Jesus Christ. 

Christ is the Christmas gift from God. You can accept Him as Lord and Savior or you can reject Him.  For those who surrender to Christ, freedom from sin and death is given.  To those who choose themselves or anything other than Christ, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in Hell.
The choice is simple. 

I believe my kids have made that choice but like so many concerned fathers at Christmas time, I want to make sure they are getting the most out of the gifts they received.  Sometimes we (myself included) have to be reminded of all we have received when we make Jesus our Lord and Savior. 

Gifts of Faith
·         Forgiveness – If you have put your faith in Christ as Lord and Savior, you have been forgiven of every sin you have done or will ever do (past, present, and future).
·         Assurance of Salvation – If you are in a covenant relationship with Jesus, there is no way you can be lost. You are a part of His kingdom family forever.
·         Freedom – You finally have the freedom to choose to not sin. You also have the freedom to enjoy your freedom. Many traditions of men are just that “traditions of men”.
·         Relationship – The Holy Spirit indwells you! You have a constant companion to turn to for communion, fellowship, and guidance.
·         No Condemnation –Don’t listen to the voices that lead you into sin or criticize you. God will guide you through His Word which way to go. You are now approved by God Himself! You are part of the Holy Royal Family. Don’t let anyone or your internal dialog tell you otherwise.
·         No fear – Death has lost its sting!  Knowing and being assured of our final destination, we are free from the fear of death and the fear of the opinions of men. 
·         Never Alone – No matter what our circumstances or location, the Lord is with us! He will never leave us nor forsake us. 
·         Eternal Family – Body of Christ – Upon accepting Christ as Lord and Savior, we have been grafted into an eternal body of believers, both here on earth and in eternity. Go to a local church and fellowship!
·         Fruit of the Spirit – Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, gentleness, and Self-Control. These fruits are established and are  increased the more you follow God.
·         Baptism of The Holy Spirit – The power source for living the Christian life comes through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Seek it, ask for it, receive it and be transformed.

Books could be (and have been) filled with descriptions of the benefits to faith in Christ. If you aren’t experiencing the benefits, you have to examine your knowledge, faith, and behavior and determine what to correct. God loves you and wants what is best for you, seek out His Will for your life and experience it!

The purpose of all human life on earth is to make Jesus Lord and Savior.  Once that purpose has been met, eternal life is gained and the freedom that comes from knowing God can be experienced continually. 

Accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior is the beginning of a relationship that lasts for eternity. So, take our time and get to know Him by reading His Word, honoring it by doing what it says, and talking to Him through prayer. 

Earthly riches, relationships, and euphoric experiences fade and pass away. They can be enjoyed right up to death, but after death comes the judgment and only those with a covenant relationship with Christ will live.

Choose life, Receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, and then seek what He has for you.


So yeah, life might have taken an unexpected turn this year but I have peace this Christmas knowing that no matter what happens or where I go, The Lord is with me, Always and Forever! 
Merry Christmas!!



Sunday, April 1, 2018

Thomas says Happy Easter!


Thomas says Happy Easter
It has been a while since posting in this blog. Like most of the people I have a busy life.  My hours are consumed with work, family, and other interests. Work and family are common to most of us. It’s the “other interests” that can vary widely from person to person. Those other interests are the things that help to define us. We are what we do, or what we invest our time in, or what we are into. 
Since making Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior with a simple prayer in response to a radio message, one in which I listened to only with the intent to mock by the way (Ha, Ha, the jokes on me. Right, God?), my other interests have changed.  Since placing my faith in Christ alone, one of my major interests is reading and studying the Bible.  It is an interest that I am passionate about and which receives daily attention. 
Yesterday’s Bible reading of John 20 highlighted the interaction of the resurrected Jesus and the apostle, Thomas.  For those who don’t know, my middle name is Thomas.  I go as MT Clark on Facebook and that partially explains why I do.  Ironically, I think I have a lot in common with Thomas.  Thomas is known as “the doubting Apostle”.  Here is what I read yesterday:
John 20:24-25 (NKJV)
24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."
Just to give you some context, the preceding 23 verses of John 20 tell the story of Christs resurrection and how it was witnessed by other disciples.  They told Thomas about it, but he wasn’t buying it. Even though he lived and traveled with these other disciples for three and a half years, he didn’t trust what they said.  Not only that but he made an extreme demand for proof: probing the crucifixion wounds.  Who does that?!!  Well as extreme as that request was, we find out that Jesus would oblige him.  
John 20:26-27 (NKJV)
26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!"
27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing."
            So, eight days later, with everyone talking about how Jesus came back from the dead, Thomas remained unmoved.  Had Thomas been American he would be from Missouri because unless he saw it, he wouldn’t believe.  Thankfully, Christ loved him enough to prove He was who He said he was and, as my experiences in my relationship with Him would confirm, He even used his own words to convict Thomas.   The proof presented, Thomas proclaims the truth:
John 20:28 (NKJV)
28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"
 
Jesus’s response is to Thomas is to us as much as it is to Thomas. 
John 20:29 (NKJV)
29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Jesus Himself admitted that the resurrection was hard to accept but for those of us who didn’t have the benefit of see the resurrected body of Christ, we can rest in the assurance that we are blessed.  Through our faith in Jesus we are given a life that is free of sin and death. Our faith in Jesus gives us eternal life on the other side of death and the actual power to turn from our sinful ways if we ask Him to help us and trust in Him. 

Due to this exchange in John 20, Thomas is forever associated with doubt.  David Jerimiah addressed this issue in the Jeremiah Study Bible and I had to share his insights. 

“Often called “doubting Thomas” for his questions. We can learn much from this man and his encounter with Jesus.

1.       Jesus did not rebuke Thomas for his questions: He simply answered them. While we may not receive answers from God so quickly, a sincere and loving relationship with Jesus allows His followers to seek Him out with their questions.
2.      Thomas went on to serve God. He preached Jesus in India and was killed by a spear in his back.  The church is there today because of this man who asked a question.

Doubter? Not really. Believer who asked a question and then bore much fruit?  Absolutely.

Christianity ultimately comes down to something more than theological questions.  In the end it is all about a Person, not a proposition. 

The questions are the beginning of the journey, but the answers come finally in experience- in reaching out to touch, and to be touched ourselves, by those nail scarred hands. Jesus meets His followers where they are.”   
I was a doubter. I knew who Jesus was and heard the stories of His life, but I doubted their truth and I didn’t see how they applied to me.  I understood that Jesus died for our sins, but I thought that I had to be a “good person” to be accepted by Him.  I knew my heart and I knew I had desires and feelings that were far from holy so because of my sin I felt hopeless to be “a good person” so rather seek the Lord’s help to change I decided that there was no God and thus I didn’t need to change. I thought I was intelligent and religion was a creation of man, made to control the feeble minded. 

   I spent most of my life searching for meaning, identity, and purpose.  After atheism, hedonism, and materialism came up empty, I rejected it all to try to find inner peace and wisdom on my own not realizing that by doing so I became my own god: “I am on the path to enlightenment where my efforts at my practice will result in perfect knowledge, wisdom, and escape from all realms of suffering.” 

I was on this idealized path when I heard a simple gospel message on the radio back in 2010.  I heard the truth of gospel of Jesus Christ as if for the first time and I quickly accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior.  I had a hunger to verify my faith and started investigating Christianity with the skepticism of a Thomas.  While I couldn’t probe the wounds of Christ, I wanted to know that I hadn’t blindly turned my life over to a fairy tale.  I joined a Bible preaching church, listened to countless teachings, and have read books on Christianity, theology, and apologetics.  I joined a Bible college and received a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies. Beyond this academic research, I applied the teaching from the Bible to my life, causing me to go into recovery for my lifelong habit of consuming mass quantities of alcohol.  Within all of this, I have come to know beyond all doubts that God is real, Jesus is the Savior, and the Holy Spirit is active in our world today. 
The Lord understands if you doubt the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, but it is on you to thoroughly investigate the question of Jesus Christ.  I, like many others can tell you, that if you seek God, or truth, you will find Jesus Christ. 
·         To those who know Christ, I wish you a Happy Resurrection Sunday and, if you insist, I will even wish you a Happy Easter.  I encourage you to know Him more and to take hold of the new life that He has promised you, now. 

·         To those who don’t know Christ, I invite you to begin asking the questions that will begin the journey, that I pray, will lead you to the kingdom of God and eternal life.  
God bless you all!




Sunday, December 31, 2017

Celebrate Freedom: 2017 year in review.

Celebrate Freedom: 2017 year in review. 

I have been blessed to be set free from my alcohol and drug addiction since 2015 due to my faith in Jesus Christ and my participation in the Celebrate Freedom Recovery Program at Rock Solid Church.  Since completing the program in June 2015, I have become active in the ministry by teaching on a regular basis. As 2017 began I was honored to take on the added responsibility of leading the men’s discussion group for our Thursday Night meetings. 

 
In response to the Opioid Epidemic that has had such an impact on our community this year and because of Celebrate Freedom’s desire to help more people leave their hurts, habits, and hang ups behind, the leadership team of Celebrate Freedom (CF) decided to expand the vision of Celebrate Freedom to go beyond our stated goals of recovery and discipleship to included community outreach.  

Previously we had relied on announcements at Rock Solid Church and word of mouth to let people know about our recovery program.  This year it was our desire to more proactively promote our group to the community at large and to support other recovery groups, organizations, and county agencies that were fighting the Opiod Epidemic and other problems that affect the community.  

I took on the responsibility to act as a liaison to the community and to promote Celebrate Freedom as a recovery option for the Columbia County community in whatever capacity I could think of. 

Our first course of action was to support and to become a member of Columbia Pathways to Recovery.  Columbia Pathways to Recovery ((http://columbiapathwaystorecovery.org/) is a Community Recovery Organization and advocacy group whose goal is “to educate the community about the substance abuse issues that occur in our community”



They have partnered with Chatham Cares 4 U to create a help line for those in Columbia County who seek recovery:
Columbia Pathways To Recovery / Chatham Cares 4 U Recovery Helpline
877-HOPE-365 (877-467-3365)
9am to 9pm / 7 days a week
Information, resources and referrals

Chatham Cares 4 U (https://www.facebook.com/chathamcares4u/) is the Chatham Police Department’s progressive community program that seeks to save and change lives of those with substance abuse problems.


             There is great work being done through Columbia Pathways to Recovery and Chatham Cares 4 U to battle the Opioid Epidemic that plagues our community and Celebrate Freedom fully supports their efforts.  

Since June I have attended CPR’s monthly community meetings, Project Safe Point’s Narcan Trainings, and various Substance Abuse Community Panel Discussions throughout Columbia County to educate myself and to represent and promote Celebrate Freedom as a recovery option for Columbia County residents. Celebrate Freedom designed a T-shirt and informational fliers to raise awareness of our recovery group and I tried to don a shirt and distribute our fliers at each event I attended. 

            In an effort to promote our program to the community at large I also represented Celebrate Freedom by wearing a shirt at various community walking  events in and outside Columbia County , such as, CPR’s Recovery Walk,  The Walk to End Alzheimer’s, The Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk, and Ferncliff Forrest’s Turkey Trot. 

            Celebrate Freedom was also represented by tabling at Taconic Retreat Centers’ Fall Festival and Hudson’s Winter Walk Event (at Rock Solid Church).

Celebrate Freedom also tabled at CPR’s hosted Marc Mero Speaking Event at Hudson High School where our team distributed various information and 100 Bibles to the community.   


Members of Rock Solid Church and Celebrate Freedom also represented the Hope of a Life in Christ by Collecting for The Salvation Army. 

I would like to thank the leadership team, participants, and the many volunteers of Celebrate Freedom that gave their time and hearts to share the hope that they know is possible through faith in Christ. 

We have been faithful in our efforts to promote our program and the hope that is found in a life that is transformed by faith in Jesus Christ.    It has been a great year and I look forward to serving Celebrate Freedom and the community at large in 2018.  

If you have any questions or ideas of how we can serve the community and promote our group in the New Year,  please contact me at mt4christ@yahoo.com.



Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Worthy of the Walk


An integral part of the Christian Faith is to live as Christ would have us live, to walk in righteousness, to understand who we are in Christ and to reflect that truth for the world to see.  While we are not worthy of the grace and mercy that God has given us in the gift of His Son and can never hope to earn it, we should recognize how fortunate we are and to continual turn toward God and attempt to walk in His ways.  We do this to give God the glory, to enjoy a life of peace, hope and love, and to show others that there is a God who loves them and is able give them hope for a new life on earth and life everlasting in eternity. 

I recently read John MacArthur's book on prayer, Alone with God.  I highly recommend it to all who are interested in deepening their prayer life and their relationship with Jesus Christ.

 Within it's pages, MacArthur shares scripture references that reflect how we are to walk as Christians and to demonstrate that we understand that we are worthy of God's calling.  I have taken those references and reorganized them and share them for you here.  I hope they will remind you of who you are in Christ and encourage you to "walk the walk", rather than just "talking the talk".  None of us are perfect but God is perfecting us (sanctification) and the more true we are to His ways the more we give Him the glory for saving us and giving us a new life and the hope to share with the world around us. 



Worthy of the Calling

A New Testament list of all that is encompassed in a worthy walk, for:

1 John 2:6 (NKJV)
6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

·         Purity

Romans 13:13 (NLT)
13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.

·         Contentment

1 Corinthians 7:17 (NLT)
17 Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches.

·         Faith

2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight..

·         Righteousness

Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

·         Gentleness & Humility

Ephesians 4:2-3 (NLT)
2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.
3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

·         Love

Ephesians 5:2 (NKJV)
2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma

·         Light

Ephesians 5:8-9 (NKJV)
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),

·         Wisdom

Ephesians 5:15-16 (NLT)
15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.
16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.

·         Unity

Philippians 1:27 (NKJV)
27  Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,

·         Thankfulness

Colossians 1:3 (NKJV)
3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

·         Knowledge & Fruitfulness

Colossians 1:10 (NKJV)
10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

·         Patience & Joy

Colossians 1:11 (NLT)
11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,

·         Truth

3 John 1:3-4 (NKJV)
3 For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth.
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.



I hope you find this to be an encouragement to walk the walk of a disciple of Jesus Christ and that you actively share that hope with the world around you. 

God bless you. 

Monday, September 4, 2017

Forgive me Joel. The truth will set you free.

A few days ago, without knowing the facts, I offered Joel Osteen forgiveness. 


I figured that everyone is capable of making mistakes and perhaps that's what happened in Houston.  

With that in mind I wrote about the good work Joel Osteen does and the truth of the Gospel that he speaks about. I figured even if he had made a mistake, I would forgive him because Lakewood church was open and helping people. I figured it was never too late to do the right thing and help people.  

It turns out I offered forgiveness to someone who didn't need it.   Please click the link below and watch the video of Joel Osteen addressing his church and the public regarding the events in Houston.

This won't satisfy some people.  For them, I pray they put their faith in Jesus Christ because they have bigger problems than Joel Osteen.   

If you look at the good that Osteen has done and continues to do, if you listen to his messages about the hope of Christ to save people and change lives,  you will see they all point to Jesus.

Although I didn't condemn Osteen, I ask for his forgiveness anyway.  I didn't need to defend him.  I didn't need to forgive him. That's God's job.  

Friday, September 1, 2017

Oh Joel!


After the devastation in Houston, mega church leader, Joel Osteen has been the target of criticism for the failure to open the doors of his church and directing people to seek shelter elsewhere. 
Since then Osteen has opened the doors of his church and is providing help to those in need in Houston. 
Osteen is a target for criticism for his demeanor, his wealth, and the depth of the messages he delivers at his church. Osteen is commonly labeled as a “Prosperity gospel” preacher. 
I don’t know much about Joel Osteen but I probably know more than most who are sharing the negative memes about him (even after he opened the doors of his church to help those in need).    I have read a couple of his books.  I have seen him on television and I saw him speak live when He came to Albany New York a few years back.
Joel may have fancy suits and the content of his messages may grate on peoples nerves as too simple, sweet, or speak too much on people realizing their dreams and potential but I can tell you this: 

A 12 year old girl in Haiti named Sergeline Saint Hilaire has been receiving aid for a few years now and still receives aide to this day because of Joel Osteen. 





When Osteen came to Albany, he encouraged those present to sponsor a child through World Vision.  (www.worldvision.org) I wasn’t exactly the giving type back in those days but I did it and continue to do it. 
I can also tell you that Joel Osteen preaches from the Bible and typically invites his audience to say a prayer that will put their faith in Jesus Christ, the only one who saves.  I know Joel Osteen may appear to be phony as a 3 dollar bill but he shares the message of hope found in Christ.
 Maybe he is phony and he is only in it for the money.  If that’s the case He will face serious consequences one day. Only God knows the hearts of men.  
In the meantime, Osteen may have made a mistake in how he handled the crisis in Houston but he’s helping that community now.
He’s human and makes mistakes. He may rub people the wrong way.  However, I know Osteen preaches enough of the gospel to save people and he does works that helps people. 
I have made a lot of mistakes in my life that I have been forgiven of and as a Christian I will pass on the gift of forgiveness to Joel Osteen. 
Regardless of his faults, Osteen is more than likely providing more help to the people of Houston than those who are sharing negative memes about him. 
For those who would like to give to the people of Houston, donations can be made to the Red Cross (www.redcross.org
 
or World Vision (www.worldvision.org). 

Those without sin cast the first stone…   Anyone?


Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Life with Christ - The Best Life

Every morning I read the Bible.  Today I came across the following verses in Psalm 84:

Psalm 84:10-12 (NKJV)
10  For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11  For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.
12  O LORD of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!


These words reminded me of some advice I heard from a elder from our church.  She's in her eighties and hasn't always been a Christian. She told me about her life of hardship and struggle before and after coming to faith in Jesus.  She told me that life is hard but life with Christ is the best life.  

Some aspects of my life are a continual struggle but when I look back of the darkness and confusion I used to walk in and consider the continual hope and wonder that I have know since making Jesus my Lord and Savior, I know without a doubt that life with Christ is the best life.