What is going on in the neighborhood today? That is the first question I ask myself before open the internet. But what do I find? Other people’s lives and business blasting all over the news. Personally, I do not care who is dating who especially since I have no involvement with celebrity families but the news media makes break ups, divorces, and marriages front page or headline news. It isn’t. That is personal, let it stay that way.       
Brothers and Sisters, a little knowledge of someone is ok but we do not need to know everything about others. If God truly wanted us to know every detail of people’s lives, He would have made us omniscient and we are not. There are things that we know about family and secrets we share among friends, but there are some things about people that are none of our business.
Indeed, you already show your love for all the believers throughout Macedonia. Even so, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you to love them even more. Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others. 1 Thessalonians 4:10-12 
We have our own lives to worry about and do not need to know the personal lives of people we have no personal contact with. People who put their lives out for everyone have issues. The internet tools and social mediums of today’s world make it easy for people to be open about things they really need to keep personal and known only to a select few.  
There are many problems that come from people knowing about other’s lives. The first thing is idolizing. When someone sees another’s way of living and becomes jealous to the point of envy they desire to be like the person which causes mental issues and loss of self. Too many people want to live a life that is not their own and choose to become something other than God intended. It is not always good to “be like Mike”. This is the work of Satan. This is especially true for the youth to young adults today where the line between fantasy and reality is very blurred.
Some celebrity role models are dangerous because of their greed for attention or they are victims of some other agenda. When their lives are made public, all the dirty laundry is brought to the surface and if they do not make amends then kids think that behavior is ok. Stuff that goes on in the bedroom needs to stay in the bedroom. Unhealthy and immoral lifestyles do not need to be shown to the world. Those that brag about their material riches do not have true richness.
God has plans and missions for each of us. When we start concerning ourselves with the lives of others, we become distracted and God’s plans and mission become delayed and idle.
We hear that some of you are living in idleness. You are not busy working —you are busy interfering in other people’s lives! We order and encourage such people by the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. Brothers, do not get tired of doing what is right. 2 Thessalonians 3:11-13 
In all toil there is profit, but idle talk tends only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23
Idleness leads to gossip because someone has nothing better to do. Those that interfere in other’s lives and make their findings public really need to find another, healthier line of work. We are not made to dig and pronounce everyone’s business.  
You must not pass along false rumors. You must not cooperate with evil people by lying on the witness stand. You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you are called to testify in a dispute, do not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice. Exodus 23:1-2
We have seen this one a lot lately. Too many people are being used to further someone else’s agenda with the promise of money or other reward that keeps them out of trouble. The problem is when they are exposed, they are left hanging high and dry.
Where there is no wood, a fire goes out, and where there is no gossip, contention ceases. Like charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious person to kindle strife. Proverbs 26:20-21 
If we want to live for Christ we must stop letting the distractions of the world get in the way. The information overload of people’s personal lives needs to stop so we can live lives for ourselves and not become victims of the worldly agendas that keep us away from God.
Blessings,
 Rob, Servant of God

Why do we fail when God leads us to success? Our nature is tainted with so many emotions and sometimes when we perceive things going wrong, the negative overpowers the positive. When this happens we call it failure but what is it really, a learning experience.

We are given to these experiences and are guided by the Spirit to help us hopefully do the right thing. God gave us free will to make certain choices so that we would discover right from wrong from an early age. As His children, we are not failures at life but are given the chance to prove ourselves through the decisions we make.  Decisions that lead to negative results often lead to feelings of failure. Some will even say that they are not good enough. This feeling of failure can make a person drop everything and not try again. That is the Devil speaking. God gives us the strength to work through our issues, figure out where we went wrong and try a different way.

 I can do all things through him who strengthens me Phil 4:13

            We are not built to everything right the first time, that is one of the things that make us human. We are weak in some areas intentionally. This gives us room to grow and gain strength from the Lord. It is by God’s grace that we are given power in weakness.        
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong 2 Cor. 12:9-10

God speaks loud and clear saying do not fear failure, learn from it, embrace it but do not live in it. When we embrace it, understand it, and know not to do it again, we can learn how to succeed.  Once embraced, release yourself from it and reach for success through adjusted actions. Look at all options.  In other words, do not give up. Seek guidance through prayer and put your mind at ease through Christ. 

Besides Did God not tell Joshua: Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go Joshua 1:7-9

Unfortunately, people give up, give in, and have trouble moving forward. With careful reflection and prayer we can figure out what went wrong, learn from it, and try not to do it again. What does this all boil down to?  When we have success and failures, we create experiences that build our character and help make better decisions ensuring a more successful outcome in the future. The problem is that some people cannot get over their past failures and continue to make mistakes that lead to poor self-esteem and depression. People forget that the reason they fail is what they were doing was probably not part of God’s plan.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope Jer. 29:11

Some fear failure so much that it becomes their only way of living. No matter what they do, even when they succeed they believe they failed. This kind of thinking allows for the feelings of guilt, bitterness, loneliness, anger, and depression. When we feel this way and do not accept encouraging words we become lost and the choices we make can lead to devastating results.
God encourages us to try again doing it His way. Sometimes we do not agree with His way but it is the way He needs us to go. When we listen and follow, we succeed. Brothers and Sisters, never let failure get you down. I have and it is a dark place I never want to be in again. So I give everything to God and He guides me the right way. Remember too that sometimes we need others who give assistance and they are probably sent by God. If you trust God then trust His Word and His helpers because they will be there for the success of the plan and glorify God. 

Blessings,

Rob, Servant of God

We are creatures of habit. The dictionary defines a habit as, “an acquired mode of behavior that has become nearly or completely involuntary.” If we start to do something and continue to do it for a time it becomes part of our being. Some habits are good, some are bad.
Habits are dependent on our actions and choices we make. Some habits are healthy and we can live good lives while the unhealthy habits lead to destruction of self and others. Choices have gotten many people in trouble in the past but the one choice that can and has saved many a soul is the act of worship.
My writings in the past have described worship as any act of devotion approved by God that glorifies Him. Included are prayer, reading and studying Scripture, singing, playing instruments, performing in ways that bring others to know or want to know God more. Worship is not just something done inside a building or with a large group of believers once a week, it is a daily thing we as believers in God do. The more we worship, it changes from a simple act of devotion to a habitual desire to bring God glory.
However there is a danger to the habit of worship. Some people lose touch of the reason for the worship and eventually just do it because it is there. Devotion and desire to worship God becomes lip service and the heart of worship is gone. This can easily happen to musicians when it becomes more of a task or time of self-glorification than a time of showing your devotion and faith. The way to tell this is when the service becomes a concert performance. Remember who is receiving the praise, only God. 
 The habit of worship heals the heart. When worship becomes a habit our lives are transformed.  Our inner selves are changed for the better when we sing songs of devotion, speak prayers of thankfulness and forgiveness, and share His Word. The habit of worship brings healing in so many ways that are more than physical. The Spirit inside moves a person to let it take control and God’s glory shines in the voices, instruments, and motions a body may make.
Worship heals my spirit when I play the drum kit for a worship band. I have been known to let go and allow the Spirit to overtake me causing me to move with the music and the words while still playing. Members of the congregation claim that I played really well and I can honestly say that I do not know wat I played more often than not.
Worship is habit forming in that we have an easier time giving up the things that are bad for us. Maintaining good habitual worship practices causes the body to reject those things that are bad for us. Yes sometimes the habits are so engrained that they are hard to deny yourself, but God will eventually win out. For some of the bad habits we have to make a conscious effort to remove them. Others are temporary habits that can be given up in a heartbeat.
Are you ready and willing to remove the bad and keep only the good? It is very easy but it will take some effort at first. After a while those old bad habits will seem like dreams because they are replaced by God in the heart.    
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“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! Matthew 6:22-23
We were given the gift of sight that is better than most animals who only see in the grey scale. Our eyes see a great many things, some close up, some far away. What we see has an effect on our entire body. If we see something that makes us laugh, our body forgets pain. If we see something sad, our body reacts in a way that competes against the sadness.
When we look upon something that we shouldn’t, our spirit works overtime to get the sight out of our minds. Our eyes are a window to our souls. People can tell a lot just by looking at another’s eyes. If we are in the spirit, our eyes tell of joy and peace even in the midst of sorrow. If we are being tempted, our eyes tell of shying away from seeing the good things and hide from those who we know the temptation would hurt if it were to become a sin.
If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. Matthew 5:29
That seems a little drastic but Jesus said that to make a valid point. Flesh is nothing but mud and clay but the spirit inside lives forever. If we let ourselves be overtaken by the lusts of the flesh (worldly sin), then we are throwing away our chances of living eternally with God. The devil has used the media and politics to distract, misguide, and tempt all of us from the cradle to the grave. Right now so many are dependent on the media for ways of living that they forgot to open their eyes and ears to the people around them that could instruct without the distractions that come along with videos and television shows.  
I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil. Psalm 101:2-4
I am reminded of the children’s song that Goes:
O be careful little eyes what you see
O be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above
is looking down in love
So, be careful little eyes what you see
O be careful little ears what you hear
O be careful little ears what you hear
For the Father up above
is looking down in love
So, be careful little ears what you hear
O be careful little tongue what you say
O be careful little tongue what you say
For the Father up above
is looking down in love
So, be careful little tongue what you say

The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both Proverbs 20:12

God is watching, can you see what He is seeing. He is paying attention, do you know what is going on around you. He hears you, do you know what you are saying. We need to be careful and follow Christ’s example on how to live a right life. Blessings to you all
 
In Christ,
 Rob, Servant of God

When someone talks about their riches and is seen with many material things that person does not truly understand wealth. Yes we need money to survive in the world today but so many have decided that the only thing that makes them happy is more stuff. Part of comedian George Carlin’s routines dealt with materialism. He talked about how much stuff we have and when we accumulate more we need a bigger place. When we go somewhere we have to have a certain amount of stuff that goes with us which nowadays equivalent is electronic distractors and things we believe we might need but then most of it ends up just sitting there taking up space just to look at.
People with more money than they know what to do with have the most expensive houses, cars, large bank accounts that only a portion has gone into trust funds for their kids to either squander or go to college with. But what happens to all of that. Material wealth means nothing after you die but how you lived your life does. You can have all the money you want but that really gets you nowhere if it is not put to use for the good of all mankind.    
Jesus had a lot to say about the dangers of wealth and the difference between material and spiritual wealth.
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. . . . No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matt. 6:19–24
According to the Gospel of Luke, a person asked Jesus,  “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus of course refuses this request which should surprise not only preachers of the prosperity gospel but also advocates of the social gospel. To the person He leaves this warning: “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” Luke 12:13–15
And Jesus tells a parable to help the person learn:
The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, “What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?” And he said, “I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’” But God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God. Luke 12:16–21
Material wealth leads to the poverty of the soul
How many lottery winners out there have you heard of that have been found destitute not too long after winning. Unfortunately it is a bigger problem than most people think. Yes there are good souls out there that give away more than they need but for those who keep and squander, they lose what life they had and lose sight of what really matters.
There is something to be said about being blessed with material goods. God provides so that the person may provide others in need or for the greater glory of God. When God gave Moses the plans for the Tabernacle, He instructed the people to give of the materials needed. The problem that came forth was that there was so much given that the storehouses had overflowed and Moses had to tell the people that there was enough. God had provided with these materials when He put it on the Egyptians hearts to bless the Israelites with many goods. So much so that their carts were overflowing and burdened.
We see the burden as Aaron had been forced to create a golden calf for them to worship because they were impatient and lost sight of God. They got their visual but God trampled it and gave them the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments. This first group kept denying His power so often that they all died out except a chosen few before seeing the land of Promise.
Pay Caesar What is Caesar’s, Pay God What is God’s
After the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus with the payment of taxes He said the above quote to teach a lesson. Money really does not mean anything but the gifts and blessings that God grants are to be returned with our providing for our fellow man through doing God’s work which means using the spiritual and material gifts for His glory.
The pastors who preach the prosperity gospel are not teaching spiritual prosperity but worldly. This is not what God intends for us. When they speak of the “best life now” what they mean and what the truth of that statement means are two different things. We are to live a good life but it means we are to experience the good and the bad. We are to suffer and from that suffering find the joy that God brings when we find the peace in our hearts that says, “God’s got this because you believe and trust that He will take care of you”. We live a good life when we have friends and family that we share a common bond of caring for one another. These are the people we would give up things no matter the personal cost. That is the “best life”.  
Those who are more concerned with material wealth, living in the best houses, having the best cars and many other things do not understand what they are doing to themselves. They are literally killing themselves daily. Material wealth causes nothing but grief. Do not get caught in the devil’s snares.
What is to be said about all this? Use your material wealth for the glory of God and you will not suffer poverty in your heart.
Blessings,
 Rob, Servant of God

I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. 2 Corinthians 11:1-4
Paul knew about the deceivers of his time and those that would come. They were a thorn in his side. In this day and age we are fighting the devilish insertion of demonic and worldly behaviors taking the place of the truth in places of Christian worship. These places would preach another Jesus, an unholy spirit is poured out and a gospel that is perverted to fit the worldly society.

 How does the Jesus in the bible measure to the one presented in your local church?
Scriptural Jesus
Jesus is the Word who was made flesh so that He could return the world back to the teachings of God without the perversions of man. Therefore, Jesus kept the Commandments but made them easier to understand. He kept the feasts, performed miracles, and threw the money changers out of the Temple. Jesus required repentance of sins and not living in them anymore. He also taught the difference between living for the world and living for God. Most of all, Jesus was the final atoning sacrifice for the remission of sins available to those who believe, have faith, and follow Him. We are required to try to live a Christ like life not our own.
The New Alternate Jesus
The Jesus taught in some churches today is one of “pure love”, does not ask followers to take up their cross, die to their sins daily, nor are they to follow the commandments. This Jesus is a feel good savior who is okay with your lifestyle and sinful behaviors. This Jesus wants you to live in your flesh and do not concern yourself with spiritual matters. This one says that He died on the Cross so that all can live and get to heaven without the law and regulations meaning the Old Testament no longer applies. These are the ones who say they believe but cannot “Be” in the True Christ because they are following a false messiah.
The Holy Spirit versus the False Spirit
 New Age spirituality gives people exciting feelings but does not give them power to be holy. The Holy Spirit is not an energy force as described by New Age philosophy but a part of God which guides us to do the right thing and conveys messages to God when we just cannot say the words in prayer. The Holy Spirit is the helper that Jesus promised. The false spirit is an energy force that is controlled by the person to perform such things as astral projection and uses crystals or other items as conduits. The Holy Spirit does not need material things to speak to us and for us as it dwells in the hearts of all true believers. The Holy Spirit only dwells in those who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior and follow His teachings. The energy force is all encompassing without division (even to include God) and all are part of it.  Christians are dependent on the Holy Spirit while the false spirit allows for channeling other spirits and talking with the deceased (demons in disguise).  
A Different Gospel
The final deception in this discussion is the false gospels that have found their way into the mainstream and have corrupted many pastors. In the middle of the 20th century Christians dealt with liberal, feminist, and other theologies that slowly evolved into false gospel teachings. The main culprit of these false ideas come from misinterpretation and changes in society. This is not the first time Christians had to deal with the injection of society. The Holy Roman Empire blended pagan and other non-biblical ceremonies and holidays to convert people into Christianity. The latest fad of the last 50 or so years is to pick and choose what you choose to believe and if it does not fit your lifestyle, change it.  
Examples are:
1.       The prosperity gospel which makes the pastors rich in materialism but poor in spirit
2.       The idea that the Ten Commandments no longer apply
3.       The genderless Bible.
4.       The Jesus paid it all so I can still live my sinful life because I need not repent gospel
5.       The idea of living best life now independent from God
6.       The idea that we are all gods
 
The above teachings are not found in Scripture but perversions of Scripture to fit their needs and desires. The one common denominator is these false teachings is greed. The greed of materialism and riches is the driving force for many while the other is the greed of numbers and popularity. There is also a fear of ridicule. Did Jesus not say that we will suffer for the faith? We sacrifice many things for God to include family. Society has driven many pastors to turn away from the lessons they learned in their youth.
 
Brothers and Sisters, do not let yourselves be deceived nor forced into thinking and believing things that are not of God. Practice discernment when looking into churches and if the teachings in your current church turn away from what you know as truth, time to seek out the truth. Love one another with a God fearing love. Treat others as you would have them treat you. Do not judge or condemn but correct with the kindness and sternness that Jesus showed the Pharisees. Do not follow another into their sin. Be strong in the Word and in your Faith. I say these things out of love for all.
 
Blessings,
 
Rob, Servant of God