I think that sometimes we can be such an over-analytical-judgmental people, that we are conditioning our friendships against humility.

We need to become trained in friendships of love, not friendships of proofs.  I pray I never make others feel like they must “display” their own works and life with Christ before my eyes so that I may validate it for them, or so my opinion of them changes.  It is not my job to judge them, but it is my job not to help them stumble.

The need for such evidencs is hindering our efforts at humility, and conditioning us towards pride.  This pride leads to a broader scope of judgment, not humility.  It leads to circles of judgmental believers.  How can one accept the call to humility when they must broadcast their faith to be accepted.

Let the humility of our hearts begin in our relationships, and watch it trickle down into ourselves.  We do not know the heart of a person - only He knows that.

I really think we need to start making a fuss about Christ.

I would like to take moral relativism, set it in the middle of the highway, and run it over with my semi-truck of absolute truth.

I want to smash up concession, and replace it with obedience.

I want to offend people if need be.  I think we’re supposed to.

I’m tired of these hollow and deceptive philosophies…and I’m tired of tradition.

“…If i were trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Gal 1:10b)

Sometimes we get so caught up in the hollow and deceptive philosophies of today. We get sucked into the hole of this world’s thinking, and fail to realize that we’re not pursuing the commission of Christ. I wanted to share this quote from preacher Charles Spurgeon, relating our evangelism to a surgeon:

“Ho, Ho sir surgeon. You are too delicate to tell the man that he is ill. You hope to heal the sick without their knowing it. You therefor flatter them. And what happens? They laugh at you. They dance upon their own graves and at last they die. Your delicacy is cruelty, your flatteries are poisons…you are a murderer.

Shall we keep men in a fool’s paradise? Shall we lull them into soft slumbers from which they will awake in hell? Are we to become helpers of their damnation by our smooth speeches? In the name of God, we will not!”

I wanted to post a devotional that I thought was ironically relevant on so many fronts that I’ve been surrounded by lately.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but it’s end is the way of death.” (Prov. 16:25)

Things are not always what they seem. Proverbs warms that we can be decieved into believing we are going down the right path and yet be heading toward death, the opposite direction from God’s will. People do not naturally seek God or pursue righteousness (Rom. 3:10-18). Only as the Spirit awakens our hearts to the Person of Christ are we able to desire God’s will. If we make decisions apart from the guidance of the Spirit of God, we will be like a ship trying to sail without a compass. We will do what makes the most sense, based on our own wisdom. But what looks attractive may actually lead to sin, ultimately destroying what is precious to us, for our most profound human thinking is mere foolishness to God. (1 Cor. 1:18-20). Only God knows the way that leads to life, and He wants to lead us to walk in it. (Matt. 7:13-14)

Don’t assume every opportunity that arises is from God. Satan will disguise himself as an “angel of light” and his invitations will seem to be in your best interest (2 Cor. 11:14). Yet his way leads only to death (John 8:44). The word of God will be like a light to your path, guiding you in the ways of righteousness (Ps. 119:105)

It can be perilous to follow a path that seems right without first consulting the Holy Spirit for guidance (John 16:13). Take time to seek the Holy Spirit’s direction when you face decisions. He knows the full ramifications of your choices. The Holy Spirit will assist you to understand truth and to experience abundant life. Trust Him as he leads you.

I thought this was just a good reminder that all the “open” doors we seem to see must be held up to God and we must ask him for guidance regarding our own perceptions of opportunities.

Well I’m back and well jet-lagged!

The trip went extremely well - in all ways the Lord provided, and it was a wonderful experience. I will be working the next week or so on trying to get a bunch of pictures online here of the trip - as I took way way way too many.

Thanks to all who kept the trip in their thoughts and prayers - they were felt every step of the way.

I’m heading out for Israel early Saturday morning - and am including a brief itenerary, as many wanted to know where we’d be on each day.  Please please please keep our group over there in prayer, prayer for safety on the travel side and just safety from injury / sickness over there.  Thanks everyone!  I’ll have plenty of pics when I get back…

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June 4 - - Traveling from US to Germany

June 5 - - Arrive in Frankfurt, Germany, depart for Tel Aviv, Israel,

June 6 - - Old Jaffa and Tel Aviv, going to the ancient port of Joffa, from which Jonah sailed.  Touring old city, markets, and a coffehouse run by messianic jews, also visiting the spot where Prime Minister Rabin was shot.  Free for night / swim in mediterranean…

Juny 7 - - Tel Aviv to the Sea of Galilee:

• Excavations of Caesarea Maritime, the Roman capital at the time of Christ
  • Where the first Gentile, Cornelius, accepted the Lord
• See the Roman ampitheater, aquaduct constructed by Herod
• North along med coast, to Elijah’s triumph over the prophets of Baal, also a pan view of the valley of armageddon
• Travel to the western shore of the sea of Galilee

June 8 — Worship services at sites that were important in the life of Jesus

• Cruise on the Sea of Galilee, devotional, peters walk on water
• Hill of the Beattitudes, for a devotional service
• Visity Korazin, where there are remains of a first century church Jesus ministered at
• Capernaum, headquarters of Jesus Ministry
• Church of St. Peter’s Primacy at Tabgha
• South end of Galilee, Jordan river baptismal

June 9

• Visiting Nazareth, boyhood home of Christ
• Church of Annunciation and the Church of St. Joseph (located over teh traditional site where Joseph and Mary Lived)
• Traditional site where Jesus did his first sermon
• Drive across Valley of armageddon to the tell of Megiddo
• Jordan River Valley
• Excavations at Beit Shean, where the body of King Saul was nailed to the walls, largest excavation is Israel
• We have to bypass Jericho (under palestinian occupation…no tourists!)
• Ascent to Jerusalem / mingle with Israelis

June 10 — Mount of Olives and Old City

• Top of Mount of Olives
• Garden of Gethsemane / Dominus Fleit Chapel
• Church of all Nations
• Old City / Wailing Wall, Archeological tunnel
• Pool of Betheseda, Crusader Church of St. Anne
• Vio Doloraso (walk of pain), Jesus’ path with the cross
• Church of the Holy Sepulcher (catholic site of the crucifixtion and buriel of Jesus)
• Temple Institute
• Mount Zion / Upper Room / Tomb of David

June 11 — The Dead Sea

• Lowest point on the surface of the Earth
• Herod’s Fortress of Masada
• Swim in Dead Sea
• Qumran where the dead sea scrolls were found in 1947

June 12 - New jerusalem and Bethlehem

• The Holocaust Museum adn the Dead Sea Scrolls Museam
• Church of the Natiity, traditional birth site of Christ

June 13 — Free DAY

• Free day in Jerusalem, shopping, etc, visit other sites

June 14 –

• Garden Tomb / Communion service
• Church in Abu Gosh (where the ark of the covenant rested)
• Proceed to airport , fly back to Frankfurt Germany, Spen the night there

June 15 - -

• Flight back to Dallas