The Red Pill Life

The Matrix – A story about a man named Thomas Anderson who to the computer hacker world is known as “Neo”. Neo has this nagging, pressing feeling that there has got to be more to life than just the day-in, day-out routine of work, eat, sleep. But he doesn’t know what that something more is. Neo's search for answers leads him to find a man named Morpheus who, it turns out, has actually been searching for Neo for years.

Morpheus offers to show Neo the truth about this life he has been living. The truth is that Neo and everyone else in the world he knows has been born a slave to a prison that cannot be seen, heard or touched. Unfortunately, this truth is something that cannot simply be told about, it must be experienced first-hand. The choice to follow this path toward enlightenment would begin with a decision to take a blue pill and turn down the opportunity to experience truth or take a red pill and like Alice in Wonderland "see how far the rabbit hole goes".

Neo chooses the red pill and learns that everyone is living a false existence that is fed to their minds through a machine that harvests humans so that robots can feed off of the power that their bodies naturally produce. The reality is terrifying and hard to accept. But even more terrifying is the thought that there are still billions of people trapped in this machine-driven life. It is a life without any real worth or value. It is devoid of any real meaning or hope.

Like Neo and Morpheus we, as Christians, have made an important decision to follow after the Truth of Jesus Christ. It is our Red Pill Life. But many tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of professing Christians have not come to the reality that just as Neo can never go back to the machine-driven world he once lived in, we too were never meant to return to the old sin and self-driven life. Sadly many Christians return to the old life monthly, weekly, or for moments if even only in their thought life. By doing so, you reduce the choice for Christ to a one-time decision instead of a life-long commitment to deny yourself and this world and become more like Him. There is nothing in the old life of sin and self that we need as Christians.

The Apostle Paul told the church in Phillipi that He counted all the things of his former life, bad or good, as heaps of smelly, disease-ridden garbage compared to the everlasting greatness of personally knowing and experiencing the Life of Christ. He counted all the suffering he went through in this new life as a wonderful God gifted privilege! How? He believed with everything that he was, that the daily experience of the true life, resurrection life, was only possible by first passing through death to himself from day to day.

Paul would openly admit that this concept of dying to live was a mystery to him. He didn't completely understand all the aspects or details of this new reality but that would not stop him from continually living a life of self-denial. One thing he did know with extreme certainty - there was nothing in the old life that he missed or would ever go back to. There was absolutely no going back for Paul.

We too leave behind a world that seeks to destroy us without regret. We must remain obedient to the call on our lives to serve the Kingdom of God alone. We should resolve to preach the Cross of Christ to those who are still lost in the world. And we keep our eyes fixed on our Master, our Savior, our Jesus and continually follow him down the Calvary road so that one day, like Paul, we too will be called heavenward to be with our God. There is no turning back and no going back for us.

You’ve taken the Red Pill. It’s now up to you. Do you live like you’re being forever changed by that decision or do you pretend like that one decision was good enough? The Holy Spirit abiding in you is a promise that all of Heaven has been poured out on you through Christ and Heaven will one day be ready to receive you. Will you allow the Holy Spirit to complete the work in you that it started the day you made the decision to serve God or will you deny it’s power? I say we see how deep the rabbit hole goes. Let’s sink into the death of Christ and allow ourselves to be forever changed by His Life.

The King of Fruit

The beautiful fruit on the left is a Fulford Gala. It is described as such:

"It comes from a cross between the Kidd's Orange Red [apples] and Golden Delicious [apples]. Gala was introduced to the United States in the 1970s. Because of its popularity, many different 'sports' of Gala have been propogated, each having some beneficial characteristic. In general, Gala is a very 'safe' apple. Not too sweet or sour, no unusual tastes or textures, but offering a very pleasing aroma and eating experience. Fulford Gala hails from New Zealand. Its color is a bright orange-red with yellow background. Fulford Gala is a larger sized Gala, with a blush red rather than stripe."

The ugly fruit on the right is a durian, from the Malay meaning "thorn".  It is revered throughout Southeast Asia as the "King of Fruits".  It is mostly described as smelling like pig dung.  More facts:

"Southeast Asian cultivators and connoisseurs will swear that the durian is a fruit without compare. Durian is called King of Fruits in Southeast Asian countries where it is widely abundant. People who have just seen and smell it are immediately turned off by its strong, pungent odor, while for the brave, who manage to taste the fruit itself, the offensiveness of the smell quickly wanes. Some people describe the odor of durian as strong and pervasive that the best hotels refuse to allow their guests to bring durians into their room. But the proof is in the eating, and most people who have tasted it become lifelong addicts."

Along with the alleged "addictive" taste, the health benefits of the durian are pretty remarkable and undeniable.  But the question is, who would want to eat such an ugly, offensive fruit regardless as to how good it may taste after you get passed the sight, smell, and feel of it?  Even if it offers so many health benefits, surely there must be another way to get these same nutrients than to deal with partaking of such an ugly and offensive fruit!

The Cross of Calvary was also such a fruit.  Ugly and offensive; the shame of Christ's nakedness and the weight of guilt of all our sins on his back, the ruthless and vile beating he received on our behalf, the relentless mockery of this "King of Jews" and the world's enjoyment of his torture on a tree.  This ugly and offensive act was and is the only way that you and I can stand blameless before a sovereign God.  And we have been called to participate in this ugly and offensive act daily.  We must deny ourselves and no matter how unpopular or how undesireable to our flesh, we must pick up our cross and walk down the same path that our savior did - straight to Calvary.

The apple above represents the fruit of self; our innate desire to decide right and wrong for ourselves.  When we are left to decide what's right and wrong, we decide the path we can take to knowing God.  The problem is that those paths we choose are relative to our thinking and the reality is they only lead to a god we have created.  It is self-seeking, self-motivated, self-inspired, and self-pleasing.  It is our participation in the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil (Gen 3:6).  

The durian represents the fruit of the Spirit; the complete surrender and dependence upon God for all things.  God provided his son as an example of the great mystery that we should follow in his God-seeking, God-motivated, God-inspired, God-pleasing steps.  It is the participation in the fruit of the Tree of Life.  A fruit that was for some reason never desired by Adam or Eve, even though it was right next to the Tree of Knowledge and they had full permission to eat of it (Gen 2:9).  So why didn't they?  

The beautiful and fragrant Fulford Gala apple, the ugly and pungent durian - which fruit will choose to eat today?

President Elect Barack Obama

Excellent thought and prayer for President Elect Barack Obama as written by Pastor Paul Louis Cole. God bless.

"If you will allow me a moment, I have some personal thoughts to share regarding the new President-elect of the United States, Senator Barack Obama. What happens in this nation affects for good or bad, every other nation on earth. This is not intended to be a corporate positional statement nor a fully constructed treatise on Sen. Obama, but, my personal thoughts and observations... and prayers – herewith;

It is the wondrous miracle of America, the measure of its promise and rich heritage, that seventy-two years ago on the shores of Lake Victoria in rugged, steamy equatorial East Africa, in a small misshapen hut, a baby boy is born to a simple cook working for European missionaries... and in the loins of this boy are carried the seeds of life for the 44th President of the United States.

That boy born seventy two years ago in the jungles of Kenya grows up and by virtue of American largesse travels to America, a Kenyan student of the wild and free ‘beat era’ who meets a girl named Stanley, a free spirit herself, and the product of that short union is a child named Barack.

As a young man Barack is shuttled about from bohemian living in the States to village life in Indonesia, meeting his biological Kenyan father only once at the age of ten, finally as a young man settling in with his grandparents and being raised by his grandmother. He is an unfathered man. He follows the paths that seem to open up, then finding some balance of purpose matriculates at Harvard and begins to excel, thriving through the intrigue of law school, heading up the prestigious Harvard Law Review, moving to Chicago and becoming a community activist, connecting with the philosophies of Saul Alinsky and other activist writers and leaders.

Then, in one theophanic moment he comes to a place of faith that seems to impact his life deeply... it is the moment he recounts his accepting of Jesus Christ as his Redeemer. In his own words, from a speech given to a private group of pastors a few years ago here is his recounting of that moment –

“So one Sunday, I put on one of the few clean jackets I had, and went over to Trinity United Church of Christ on 95th Street on the South Side of Chicago. And I heard the pastor deliver a sermon called “The Audacity of Hope.” And during the course of that sermon, he introduced me to someone named Jesus Christ. I learned that my sins could be redeemed. I learned that those things I was too weak to accomplish myself, He would accomplish with me if I placed my trust in Him. And in time, I came to see faith as more than just a comfort to the weary or a hedge against death, but rather as an active, palpable agent in the world and in my own life.

It was because of these newfound understandings that I was finally able to walk down the aisle of Trinity one day and affirm my Christian faith. It came about as a choice, and not an epiphany. I didn’t fall out in church, as folks sometimes do. The questions I had didn’t magically disappear. The skeptical bent of my mind didn’t suddenly vanish. But kneeling beneath that cross on the South Side, I felt I heard God’s spirit beckoning me. I submitted myself to His will, and dedicated myself to discovering His truth and carrying out His works.”

I do not agree with Senator Obama on many issues - I am concerned about the men who mentored him over the past twenty years, the relationships with those whose philosophies are antithetical to Biblical values, his stand on abortion, his Alinsky leanings...

But, I am thrilled we have an African-American man as our new President, I am blessed by his concern for fathers and fathering, I enjoy seeing him with his children and the gracious way he treats his wife, to witness that virtue of life-long and deeply held friendships. He seems to be a man who thinks, and cares.

And, in all these things, I trust God. I truly believe that He speaks to the hearts of leaders, that God is always about the redemption of mankind... and, we must be fully focused on rescuing God’s intention for mankind, the dream that the world can be a better place. That Christ returns for a strong, vibrant, powerful Church!

Here is my prayer for President-elect Obama.

“I pray that what happened that day in Chicago, as he surrendered his heart to God, will come alive in his most private moments. That he will hear the voice of Almighty God speak words of wisdom into his inner man, that his heart will open to the counsel of Godly men, that he will find an unshakeable new place of faith, that his legacy will not be one of social/values experimentation, but one of blessing to our children and grandchildren... that America will be stronger, and by the vibrancy of this nation, be a light of grace, assistance and virtue to a world in desperate need of righteous leadership.

I pray for the Church of Jesus Christ to be a bastion of strong men and strong families - that the Church will be a bold voice for life, liberty, faith, righteous values, and Godly grace. In the mighty name of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of Almighty God. Amen”

I believe our greatest days are ahead...that does not lessen the heat of the battle, nor the resolve needed, nor the willingness to be unpopular, nor the understanding that it will be a fight to carry the name of Jesus into the marketplaces of the world.

It is a fight, and we are joined together as allies in the greatest moment the church has ever seen...

grace/peace,

Paul

PROtect LIFE

I was listening to a radio broadcast of Jay Sekulow Live on 100.7 The Word today while driving to wonder, beautiful Dayton, TX.  Jay was talking about the significance of the Government's new $700 billion bail-out program and the impacts it likely will have on the average person.  

A self-professing Christian woman called in to the radio broadcast show in response to the bail-out plan discussion and made a statement that at first made me angry and then made me extremely sad.  She said that unlike many other Christians, she felt that Barack Obama would be the best choice for President of the United States...stay with me - everyone is entitled to their own vote so it wasn't because she said she was voting for Senator Obama that upset me.  When the radio host asked why she was voting that way, her response was that she didn't care too much for Obama but that the Democratic party that was backing him had the best ideas for the future of our country.  Jay asked her what she meant and she said that the Democrats would do what was in the best interest of the people of the United States in terms of fixing our economy, and correcting all the financial instability that the bail-out would fail at accomplishing.  Jay stopped her and asked for clarification on her voting decision, "As a Christian you would be ok with the immorality of the death of innocent lives in the form of partial-birth abortions as accepted by the Democratic ticket?"  Her response - "I DON'T CARE.  I'M NOT THE ONE HAVING ABORTIONS."

How sad when we, as Christians, stop caring about the ungodly atrocities around us simply because it is not directly affecting us at this time.  This woman, and likely tens if not hundreds of thousands of other self-professing Christians, care much more for their bank accounts and investment portfolios then the innocent life of a child who never got a chance to laugh,smile, or feel the warm and gentle embrace of another human being. When we care more for maintaining our comfortable way of lives than giving a child a fair chance at life, we have lost our way as a people and a nation.  How dare we be so thoughtless and cold!

Jesus said in Mark 9:13; "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."  When we welcome a new life into the world, we welcome God into our lives.  If we stand by and do nothing as life is rejected, can you really believe that when you stand accountable before Christ that He will not reject you?

We need to be wise about the decisions we make.  No greater decision now than voting for our next President.  Pray for both Presidential candidates.  Pray for our nation.  Pray for each other.  God bless.

Where Are My Sermons!!???!??

Technical difficulties at Sermon.net. Christians and their hi-tech nonsense! Blah!

I will post a new blog.....NOW!

Whose Will Are You Doing?

Another mini-sermon I had the honor to give on Sunday, August 24th 2008 at Victory Family Church in Pasadena, TX.  God bless!

More Than Just a Stick

John 15:5 - "I am the Vine, you are the branches.  If any man abides in me, and I in him, he will yield much fruit.  Apart from me, you can do nothing."

When a branch is cut-off or broken from the tree, it becomes nothing more than a lifeless stick. If left on the ground for too long, it simply rots away and becomes compost.  Such is true for man.  Apart from the Vine, we are devoid of life; without purpose or meaning.  However, unlike the tree branch, man has an inert determination to achieve and succeed in much despite being removed from anything resembling true life.

A branch, when severed from the tree, can still be used to become something that seems to be of great significance.  It can be shaven, shaped, tempered, and sealed and become many things. It may become drumsticks banging away in the hands of a highly praised and adored rock star or become the baseball bat of a hall of fame player who is on the heals of the all-time hits record.  Given the size of the branch, it could even be used to become a support beam of a magnificently beautiful million dollar home.  If any of these possibilities is true for the branch, it may think to itself, "I've made it.  I've become something of significance.   I have finally found my purpose!"  This proclamation may seem true for a season.  But one day when the rock star plays his drums too hard, that drumstick will break in half.  When the hall of famer hits the right fastball, that bat will splinter into pieces.  When the next category 4 hurricane makes landfall, that house will become nothing more than a heap of wooden debris.

When the breaking points come in life, and they will, our achievements will do little to comfort us.  Our successes will be nothing more than a chasing of the wind.  They too will be devoid of life, purpose and meaning.  When the illusion of significance passes, the man who lived apart from the Vine will realize that the school they chose to attend, the job they worked so hard at, the home they lived in, the toys they owned, and the relationships they held will not be enough to sustain them and bring them peace or joy.

True purpose comes through knowing Christ and being identified with Him in every facet of your existence.  Through Christ we have been give freedom to succeed and achieve and to discover purpose and meaning but it is only when you allow the life of Christ to be the ruling factor in all that you hope for.  God wants for you the same thing you want for yourself - to be completely fulfilled in this life and the next.  But apart from the real life, the life given through trust in Jesus, you will never find fulfillment.  Even if you do become that highly coveted drumstick or sports collector's baseball bat or all important support-beam, without Christ at the center of it all, you would have been just as well off left lying in a field rotting and becoming compost.

This world has nothing to offer you of any true value or significance.  True life is found in Christ.  Remain connected to Him, place your confidence in the promise of His words, and you will yield much fruit in this life. God loves you and wants to give you a future filled with hope, love, and joy.  All you have to do is abide in Him.