8 Tips to Help Your Blogging Blast Off [infographic]

(click image to enlarge, then in new browser tab or window click again)

8 Tips to Help Your Blogging Blast Off: 

1. Design impacting blog posts that someone can read in 60 seconds or less.

2. Use paragraph headlines on longer posts so a person can skip / scan to relevant info.

3. Tell stories from your personal life. Make a point.

4. Choose the perfect picture that goes along with your writing.

5. Don't let perfectionism paralyze you from publishing. Nobody's perfect.

6. Even the best bloggers run out of ideas. The difference? They don't quit.

7. Turn your blog post into a podcast, video, slideshow, infographic, etc. "Recycle" via other technologies.

8. Don't neglect social media platforms. Get your blog post in front of as many eyes as possible.

(Infographic courtesy of Sugar Pine Realty. To view the original, click here.)

Mixing Politics and Religion

"Give me liberty, or give me death."  ~Patrick Henry

(This is raw and from the heart.)

We're so stupid. (I'm just gonna be blunt.) We've been taught that politics and religion don't mix. (Even in the church.)

The fact is politics and religion cannot be separated. You can't have one without the other. The "check your politics or religion in at the door" is simply impossible to do. Where people are involved, it's always about politics and religion. (Do you remember the story of Daniel or Esther or Nehemiah?)

Human beings have always been a politicking people. Human beings have always been a religious people, too. (Even the atheists who worship at the altar of: "No god.")

The founding of our nation (America) was all about politics and religion. (It was!) Anybody that will tell you otherwise is speaking from his (or her) politics and religion.

America was built on the Judeo-Christian mindset. She was constructed on the foundation of a biblical worldview.

And you know what? There was just simply no possible way that an ill equipped and outgunned army of rag tag patriots could defeat a British war machine number one in its time without God (religion!) in their politics. (Study your history.)

It was because of God that this great nation, the United States of America, was born. Without Him, and without His principles guiding, there can be no chance for freedom. Not from Great Britain. And especially not from sin.

Freedom does not exist apart from Jesus Christ. (John 8:36)

So why is it that Christians check out of the political process? After all, we are the preserving agent in a fallen world. (It was Noah's and Lot's presence in their day that stayed God's wrath.)

The truth is a Christian is meant to be involved in politics. Especially in America.

And our "religion" is to inform our decisions. We speak out. And we vote on election day. We choose candidates that hold to a biblical worldview. A biblical worldview (for starters) is pro-life, pro-family, adheres to the Constitution, promotes liberty and justice for all, holds dear freedom of speech, freedom of religion, gun rights, etc.

And so no more being stupid. Politics and religion do mix!

And since they do, let's be the salt we were meant to be in this nation and world. (Matthew 5:13)

You might also be interested in:

• My Country, 'Tis of Thee (Birth of a Nation)
• Why My Pastor is Voting for Mitt Romney (and not Barack Obama)

The Single Key That Will Help You Interpret / Understand the Bible

When you get right down to it, the Bible really isn't that hard of a book to interpret. It really isn't.

Oh sure, there are certain passages that are difficult to grasp just as there in any other form of literature. But for the most part the main message of the Scriptures is quite clear. It's so clear that even a child can understand it. Jesus said so Himself. (Mark 10:15)

I mean, how hard is it really to comprehend?...

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

And then what about this one?...

[The person] who has the Son has the life; [the person] who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. (1 John 5:12)

Each of these two verses seem pretty clear to me. Don't they to you? If one believes in God's Son, he'll have eternal life. And if he doesn't believe in Him, then he won't have it. It's that simple. (I believe in Jesus so I'm going to heaven. I hope you would believe, too.)

Now it's safe to say that most people who'll wrangle with you over Bible interpretation ~ especially when it comes to things that are easily understood ~ most people will do it because deep down inside they really don't want to be held accountable to its message. And the only way they can justify themselves in taking that position is by somehow proving the Bible is flawed in one way or another. This type of person really isn't interested in knowing the Lord. If he was he would be more inclined to take the Scriptures at face value as they should be taken.

The Bible really isn't that hard of a book to interpret. Its essential message is easily interpreted / understood especially by those who are genuinely interested in God. (Jeremiah 29:13)

That's the key. :)

(To read: How Can a Particular Christian Denomination Be So Sure That Their Interpretation of the Bible is Accurate When So Many Other Denominations Have Contrary Interpretations?, click here.)

You might also be interested in:

• Was Jesus in the Grave Three Days and Three Nights or Not?
• What About Those Who've Never Heard the Gospel? Will God Condemn Them to Hell, Too?

How Can a Particular Christian Denomination Be So Sure That Their Interpretation of the Bible is Accurate When So Many Other Denominations Have Contrary Interpretations?

Before I answer this question I'd like to talk about the whole concept of preconceived notions. You know what those are, don't you?

Preconceived notions are opinions formed apart from the facts.

Like when a person decides before he meets another person that because he's of a different color he probably can't be trusted. That's a preconceived notion. That's an opinion formed apart from the facts.

Now you would agree with me (I think) that you can't really know whether a person can't be trusted before you meet him (or her) especially without evidence. And yet many people ~ including believers in Jesus Christ! ~ still will form opinions about others beforehand in this way.

Now I believe the question before us is one based in an opinion formed apart from the facts. And that opinion (preconceived notion) is this: Because there are so many denominations (different church groups, churches under the banner of Christianity) there must be just as many contrary interpretations of the Bible.

But that's simply not true.

And here's why.

When you get right down to where the rubber meets the road, the high percentage of Christian denominations really do agree on the same things. They really do hold to the same interpretation of the Scriptures.

I'm talking about "essentials" here. Not secondary issues. But the central ones. (To read Trap 3 That Christians Fall Into: Majoring on the Minors, click here.)

(These are the "essentials" of the Christian faith.) Like God becoming a man in Jesus Christ. Like Him being born of the Virgin Mary. And like Jesus living a sinless life.

"Scripture tells us ... that [Christ] 'knew no sin' (2 Corinthians 5:21); [Christ] 'did no sin' (1 Peter 2:22); [and] 'in [Christ] is no sin' (1 John 3:5)." (Matthew by Ironside, pg 33)

Most Christian denominations believe this. (And if they don't, they are not Christian.)

Most Christian denominations also believe that Jesus came into this world to give His life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45) That He suffered and died on a cross and that He rose again on the third day to secure man's salvation.

And finally, most denominations also believe that Christ will return again a second time to recompense the righteous as well as the wicked according to their deeds.

The high percentage of Christian denominations do agree on these essentials of the Christian faith.

So this preconceived notion that they don't and that they each have contrary Bible interpretations is just that ~ a preconceived notion.

(To read the follow up post: The Key to Interpreting / Understanding the Bible, click here.)

You might also be interested in:

• Was Jesus in the Grave Three Days and Three Nights or Not?
• What About Those Who've Never Heard the Gospel? Will God Condemn Them to Hell, Too?

The Day I Prayed for Somebody and She Got Healed

I was teaching a website class to real estate agents of our company. We were to meet in the Title Company's conference room. I arrived around noon to set up.

That's when it happened.

As I walked in, there was a panic in the building. (Huh?) One of the ladies was having massive chest pains. (I used to work with her.) She was saying it was her heart. (It was.) They had called 911. (The paramedics were on their way.)

That's when the building cleared. I mean, literally. The other gals that were there, for some reason, left. (Weird.) And I was alone with the woman.

That's when the Holy Spirit spoke to me, "Pray."

I thought, "But this is in public." (You think that way in such a moment. If you're human you do ~ and you admit you do.)

I thought again, "I don't care what anybody thinks. I'm doing it."

I spoke to the lady, "Do you mind if I pray for you?" She said she didn't mind.

And so I put my left hand on her shoulder. I prayed. I can't remember exactly what I said. But after I was done, I looked at her and said, "How are you doing?"

That's when it happened.

She looked at me (no lie) and said, "I'm starting to feel a little better."

I was just as surprised as she was. (You feel that way in such a moment. If you're human you do ~ and you admit you do.)

The paramedics finally arrived, but that didn't matter. She was all better. :)

You might also be interested in:

• Drug Bust
• How I Hear From God

On the Devil, Photoshopping, False Prophets, Teachers and Shepherds

"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds." (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

The devil is the "Photoshop" master. Do you know what I mean by Photoshop? It's that picture program that allows you to do things to pictures, add and subtract, etc, to make them look real when they are not.

At first look at the picture of the alligator and tourist boat, wow! Can you imagine having that happen? One minute you're minding your own business enjoying a lovely day on the river and the next minute you've got Jaws in a crocodile suit about to eat you!

And yet if you look closer (click picture to enlarge), it's not too difficult to tell that the alligator (or boat) was added ~ and it may even be that the alligator was enhanced (made bigger) at least a couple of times?

Getting back to the devil as the "Photoshop" master ~ that's really what I want to talk about here. We are living in the last days of planet earth. The Bible says that during this time, among all the other crazy things that are taking place, there will be a spirit of deception like never before. (Matthew 24:24) Satan will be "Photoshopping" all over the place!

DECEPTION OF UNBELIEVERS

And let me just talk about the deception of unbelievers for a moment, first. If you think all religions lead to God, you are being deceived. Jesus said, "No one comes to the Father, but through me." (John 14:6) If you think a person can be good enough to make it into heaven, you are being deceived. "'There is none righteous, not even one.'" (Romans 3:10) If you think your sins are so awful that God couldn't forgive you, you are being deceived. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7c)

DECEPTION OF "BELIEVERS"

The deception of "believers" is different. (I put "believers" in quotes because ~ are they really?) This deception doesn't come so much from "without" the church, but from within. It comes through prophets, teachers and shepherds whom Satan has "Photoshopped."

And yet if you look closer, it's not too difficult to tell the bad from the good. They have certain characteristics that give them away...

How to Tell a False Prophet:

1. A false prophet can have the ability to do signs and wonders. (Mark 13:22)
2. A false prophet declares out of his own imaginations and not Christ. (Ezekiel 13:2-3)
3. A false prophet can be bought. He speaks pleasantly to those who feed him. (Micah 3:5)
4. A false prophet disguises himself as a believer while all the time he's under the control of the devil. (Matthew 7:15-23)

How to Tell a False Teacher:　

1. A false teacher portrays himself as having knowledge when he does not. (1 Timothy 1:7)
2. A false teacher offers contrary doctrine to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (1 Timothy 6:3-5)
3. A false teacher speaks what people want to hear instead of what people need to hear. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
4. A false teacher is bound to wickedness, unconverted and destined for destruction. (2 Peter 2:1-3)

How to Tell a False Shepherd:　

1. A false shepherd is only concerned for himself and not the flock. (Ezekiel 34:2-3)
2. A false shepherd leads the flock astray in word and deed. (Jeremiah 50:6)
3. A false shepherd abandons the flock when they need him the most. (John 10:12)
4. A false shepherd does not exalt the Good Shepherd. (John 10:14-15)

Source: epicsnaps.com via Pastor Mike on Pinterest

You might also be interested in:

• 10 People Who Won't Be in Heaven After They Die
• A World without God (plus podcast)

How I Hear From God

I don't share this like I'm anything great because I'm not. (I'm a sinner saved by grace like anyone else who has Jesus in their heart.) I share this for instruction purposes.

I'd been reading through the Old Testament book of Esther in my regular Bible reading. And I've always been struck by the fact that, on the very day Israel's enemy, Haman, had planned to destroy the Jews, God had a plan to deliver the Jews. On the very day. (Esther 9:1)

The Jews didn't know that. But God had it marked on His calendar. (God's plans take precedence over all other plans.)

I thought nothing more of it (this point the Holy Spirit impressed upon me) and went about my day and the rest of my week.

Sunday came. And what you gotta know is my Pastor has a group of people that he calls upon each Sunday to open both the first and second services with a word of encouragement / exhortation for the congregation. I just happen to have the privilege to be in this group. My family and I attend the first service.

The other thing you gotta know is he (my Pastor) never tells me ahead of time when it's my turn. He just decides on the spot. And so my wife and I joke most every Sunday, "I wonder if he'll call on you today." And I have to be ready, as the Scripture says, "In season and out," just in case. (Isn't that crazy?)

It many times comes to me when I'm jogging. Some might call it: "The word of the Lord." A timely word. An uplifting word. This Sunday God said (not audibly, you just sense it in your mind and heart), "Mike, do you remember that point you got while reading Esther? Don't forget that point you got reading Esther."

So I'm walking up to church later and I walk past my Pastor. He doesn't say anything. I think, "Yay. I don't have to speak." (The sign you're called of God is you're reluctant about it. Remember Moses?) But then, all of a sudden, my Pastor reaches out towards me and says, "Mike, can you open the service this morning?" It's always like five whole minutes before the start that this happens. (Who needs more time to be ready than that?)

"So what should I say?" is always what goes through my mind when I'm called upon. And then I go back and forth inside, "Will this work? What about that? No, that can't be what God wants. Or maybe it is?" Then I thought (on this Sunday), "Wait a minute. The point from my reading in Esther?!"

I shared the word. I sat down. We went through worship time (about 20 minutes). Then Pastor got up. He said, "I feel like the Holy Spirit wants to do something different before I preach."

Then he looked toward me and said, "Mike, I want to thank you for being sensitive to the Holy Spirit this morning. You know, even I needed to hear what you had to say."

He would go on to minister to a nearly entire congregation that raised their hands to show they were needing help with a spirit of discouragement they'd been battling that week.

You still get up in front of everybody and you wonder if what you're bringing is timely. :)

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." (Proverbs 25:11; KJV)

You might also be interested in:

• 10 Lies of the Devil (redux) plus podcast
• Why I'm Using Four Letter Letter Words in Church

The Day I Found Myself on a Nude Beach

You read the title right.

Yes, I was a Christian at the time.

And the beach was marked: "Public." (I'd gone jogging on it many times.)

Which brings me to the story.

It was 1985. I was with my friend sitting on our towels. (Yes, we both had our swimming suits on.) We were listening to Christian music like we usually did.

Then it happened.

My friend turned to me and said, "Mike (I wasn't a Pastor yet), do you see that couple walking way over there?" I put my hands up to my eyes like a lookout. He went on, "I don't think they have any clothes on." Naaaah, I thought. But it was true.

They kept coming.

My friend spoke again, "I think they're walking towards us." Oh great, I thought. (I usually think like that when something crazy is about to happen.)

Sure enough, the couple was not only walking towards us (why couldn't they go talk to someone else?), but when they arrived they stood right there in front of us, birthday suits and all.

I have one question.

So where do you "look" in such a situation? Hmm? I mean, do you look up in the sky? "Lovely day we're having." Do you look to the left? Do you look to the right? (Now that would be rude.) Do you play like you've lost something in the sand: "Excuse me, I seem to have lost a quarter. I know it's somewhere around here. I had it a second ago"?

My friend and I probably did all those things.

And I don't remember the conversation. Not one word. I was rather "distracted."

(And then when they left, where do you look then?)

I know that those who don't know or love Jesus approach the subject of nudity and sex differently. (My friend and I were committed to what the Bible says about the subject that day on the beach. I am still to this day. He's already gone on to be with the Lord in heaven.) The one approach (Christ's, ours) to nudity and sex brings life (waiting until marriage); the other (the world's, lust) brings only death (sin is pleasurable for a season).

I remember in a Bible study setting years ago that the speaker said you should be able to witness to / share your faith with Raquel Welch (I'm dating myself).

Self control is a fruit of the Spirit after all. (This post is meant for men and women.)

"How can a young man (woman) keep his (her) way pure? By keeping it according to Your word." (Psalm 119:9)

"'I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman (man).'" (Job 31:1; NIV)

You might also be interested in:

• So Where Are Your Eyes? (plus podcast)
• Why Not Sex Outside of Marriage?

Drug Bust

God spoke to me. He said: "Go over to David's house." (The name's been changed to protect the innocent.)

So I went.

I knocked on the door. No one answered. I knocked again. Still no answer. I knocked a third time. I thought about leaving. But God had told me to go? (You begin to wonder.) I began to call out, "David. It's Pastor Mike."

Finally the door opened.

It was a nice house. It had nice stuff. A nice couch. Nice appliances. A big screen TV. You name it. But there was something wrong. Drug dealing was going on. Major drug dealing. (You could sense the wicked spirits.)

It wasn't safe.

I told David he needed to get right with God. (He'd been to my church before.) I told David he needed to serve Lord completely ~ that he shouldn't put it off.

I left.

Can you guess where a big drug bust went down the next day?

"David" was sent to prison.

I would meet with him there, too.

You might also be interested in:

• 10 People Who Won't Be in Heaven After They Die
• Dangerous

6 Scriptures on Falling Away from the Faith (in 30 seconds)

Six Scriptures on Falling Away (in 30 seconds)

Trap 4 Christians Fall Into: Playing "Holy Spirit Junior"

(This is the fourth in a series entitled: "8 Traps Christians Fall Into.")

TRAP 4 CHRISTIANS FALL INTO: PLAYING "HOLY SPIRIT JUNIOR"

"'And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin.'" (John 16:8a)

Part of the Holy Spirit's work on this planet ~ in people's lives ~ is to convict them of sin. It's in His job description to do this. And how many of you know the Spirit of God is the best at what He does!

And to the point of playing what I refer to as "Holy Spirit junior" ~ what I'm talking about when I say that is simply this. The believer (Christian) who takes over the convicting aspect of the Holy Spirit's work is doing just that ~ He's playing "Holy Spirit junior."

When you see something wrong in somebody else's life and you take it upon yourself to call them on the carpet for it ~ to "get in their face concerning it" ~ without God's direction ~ when you do this you're playing "Holy Spirit junior." You're doing His job.

CHRISTIANS ARE CALLED TO LOVE EACH OTHER

Christians aren't called to do the Spirit's job. Christians are called to love each other. They're called to forgive (Matthew 18:21-22) and pray for each other. (James 5:16) And certainly Christians are also called to confront each other at times. (Matthew 18:15-18). But I'd daresay that if that's all a particular believer does ~ if all he (or she) does is confront people on their sin, then he's (she's) likely doing most of it on his (her) own and not at God's urging.

The fact of the matter is the Holy Spirit simply doesn't need our help when it comes to this area ~ when it comes to making people the feel the godly sorrow that leads to repentance. (2 Corinthians 7:10) He really doesn't.

Let me give you a Biblical case in point.

THE EXAMPLE OF SIMON PETER

It was early in our Lord's ministry that He was out preaching and the people were crowding Him, as was typical. And because He was being crowded in upon, the Scripture says (in Luke 5:3) that Christ got into a boat.

Now this boat just happened to be Simon Peter's. And Jesus asked him to put out a little way from land so He could continue preaching. The Bible tells us what happened next...

[W]hen [Jesus] had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." (Luke 5:4)

Now the problem here was that Peter had been doing just that. He's been fishing the whole night before without any luck. But how many of you know that it's good to do what God says anyway ~ Amen? And this is exactly what Peter did. And in doing so ~ in obeying Jesus ~ you'll notice that v. 6 states...

[They therefore] enclosed a great quantity of fish; and their nets began to break. (Luke 5:6b)

So Peter and the fishermen with him enjoyed a great haul to the point that their boat began to sink, Luke 5:7 goes on to say, along with another boat they'd called over to help because there were so many fish.

HOW DOES PETER REALIZE HE WAS A SINFUL MAN?

But this isn't the part of the story I want to focus on with you. It's further down in the passage. It's Peter's response that I want you to notice. Luke 5:8 says...

But when Simon Peter saw that (when he saw the mighty catch and the boats sinking) ~ when ... Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus' feet, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man." (Luke 5:8)

Now how did Peter come to this conclusion? All he had seen was a miracle. And it wasn't like Jesus had pointed it out to him ~ his (Peter's) sins (at least directly ~ remember Peter had been in our Lord's presence when He was preaching). So how did Peter come to the conclusion that he was a sinner? Well, I'll tell you how I believe he did. It was because the Spirit of God convicted him. This is what made Peter realize he was a sinful man. It was the Holy Spirit at work on him that did it.

Again, God's Spirit is well able to deal with others when it comes to their sinfulness. Let us be careful to avoid the trap of thinking He needs us to help Him with it.

You might also be interested in:

• Trap 3 Christians Fall Into: Majoring on the Minors
• Trap 2 Christians Fall Into: Having a False View of Oneself

Messiah Complex (redux) plus podcast

(To listen to the podcast of this post, click here.)

The Reverend James Warren "Jim" Jones.

I was in high school (1978) when the news came of the Congressman (Leo Ryan) being shot and killed in Jonestown, Guyana where Jim Jones based his cult.

Only later it would be discovered that 900+ people died after ingesting a cyanide-laced "koolaid" ~ many forcibly (including 200 children).

This "Jonestown Massacre" (as it is known) is the ultimate outcome of a person who has a "Messiah complex." Prior to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, it "was the greatest loss of American civilian life in a non-natural disaster."

In another blog post on this subject I wrote of how a person with a "Messiah complex" never presents him or herself in a bad light. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) (Of course, it was Jim Jones' approach.) Who would follow them if they did? Who would drink their "koolaid"?

And yet, if you look close enough ~ actually, you don't have to look so close. You just have to open your own two eyes.

And let me just expand upon that thought for a moment ~ of opening one's eyes. Many people just won't do it. They have eyes, but they won't use them. I submit (suggest) it's because they don't want to. You see, for some of these, they get so emotionally invested in a man or woman (includes politicians) that they will simply overlook almost anything (even the worst of corruption) to remain under their spell. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

Which brings me to another list to go along with my first one. Could it be that you need to open your eyes?...

7 more characteristics of a Messiah complex (plus 1 bonus):

1. Promotes godlessness.
2. Says one thing while (quite obviously) doing another thing.
3. Plays on / manipulates the emotions of followers.
4. Slanders opponents through the use of "straw man" arguments.
5. Bribes (buys off) select individuals to further his (her) ends.
6. Serves up poison (half-truths) in the form of "koolaid."
7. (Likely) Has some kind of connection in the past to the occult.

BONUS Poses as a believer in Jesus Christ.

You might also be interested in:

• A World Without God
• Signs of the Evil Times

Trap 3 Christians Fall Into: Majoring on the Minors

(This is the third in a series entitled: "8 Traps Christians Fall Into.")

TRAP 3 CHRISTIANS FALL INTO: MAJORING ON THE MINORS

Do you know anyone that "majors on the minors"?

Many believers in Jesus Christ do it. They take what was meant to be a proverbial "mole hill" (a "mole hill" represents small) and they turn it into a "mountain" (something big).

Have you ever been in a church where that happened? (It even happens between the ministry staff.)

Maybe it was over the color of the carpet in the sanctuary (/ meeting place) ~ maybe that was the mole hill turned into a mountain. Or maybe it was over the song selection for the worship service (/ gathering) ~ maybe some people preferred the contemplative songs while others wanted more upbeat choruses used ~ and this mole hill was turned into a mountain. Or maybe it was over the use of money. ("They're always asking for money." Have you ever thought that before yourself? Be honest.)

There are just a ton of things in the church where this can happen ~ where minor issues can be made major.

MAJOR ISSUES THAT NEED TO REMAIN MAJOR

Now don't get me wrong. There are certainly major issues that need to remain major in the church. I'm talking about issues like the authority of Scripture (the Bible is the final rule of faith and practice), the doctrine of the Virgin Birth and Christ's deity (how many of you understand that Jesus was and is God? ~ this is a major issue in the church ~ it is vital).

And then there's the death and resurrection of our Lord, His second coming, the necessity of the new birth experience (being "born again") ~ issues like these are major issues that need to be stood up for. They need to be defended. There can be no compromise in these areas. Ever.

But then there are the minor issues ~ most often they're "man-made" without any explicit Bible verse behind them. These "man-made" issues need to be left in the minor category. They need to not be divided over. They need to not be fought over.

WHAT IT REALLY BOILS DOWN TO IS THE HEART

And I guess what it really boils down to is the heart. That's what God is really concerned about. He's not concerned about the color of the church carpet. He's not concerned about the songs that we sing in the worship service. He's not concerned about the minor issues that we can so easily get caught up with. What God's concerned with is what's going on on the inside.

You can have the right color carpet. You can sing the right songs. You can do and have everything "right" on the outside. But on the inside you can be a mess ~ harboring bitterness and anger and a propensity to gossip, backbite, criticize, undermine ~ and on and on and on.

The truth is I wonder if those who major on the minors ~ if it isn't the sign of something wrong in their own hearts?

You might also be interested in:

• Trap 2 Christians Fall Into: Having a False View of Oneself
• Trap 1 Christians Fall Into: Thinking God is Angry With Them

Voyce at the Santa Clara County Fair (1986)

"He said, 'I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, "Make straight the way of the Lord," as Isaiah the prophet said.'" (John 1:23)

 Song clips:

• It's All For You
• He Loves You So

A World without God (plus podcast)

(To listen to the podcast of this post, click here.)

"'Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.'" (Matthew 7:13)

It's what most people want. Oh, they wouldn't say they want it, but it's the way they act and the way they vote. I'm talking about a world without God.

And if you've ever read the Scriptures, you'll know this is what it comes down to. (Revelation 13:1-18) Man will push God out of everything and enthrone himself as supreme ruler. It happened in Germany in the 1930s. And we know what kind of world that led to.

So how do we combat it? How do we protect ourselves? By becoming a "lover of the truth." (2 Thessalonians 2:10b)

A world without God is predicated / founded upon a lie (Genesis 3:1-5) - that man can handle things apart from the divine hand and that God is not good. People believe this because it is drum-beated into them through the media from every corner. And it's all they've ever known since birth.

The fact is many of you won't listen to me. (1 John 4:6) The lie is powerful. You've become comfortable living the lie. It is uncomfortable to turn from the lie.

Still, some of you will break free. (Matthew 7:14)

You might also be interested in:

• 10 Lies from the Devil (redux) plus podcast
• Signs of the Evil Times

Trap 2 Christians Fall Into: Having a False View of Oneself

(This is the second in a series entitled: "8 Traps Christians Fall Into.")

TRAP 2 CHRISTIANS FALL INTO: HAVING A FALSE VIEW OF ONESELF

"For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith." (Romans 12:3)

Are you stuck on yourself? To be stuck on yourself means that you see yourself as different than others. Either you see yourself as better or you see yourself as worse. So let me ask it again: Are you stuck on yourself? (Be honest.)

The truth be told there are a lot of believers in Jesus Christ caught in this kind of thinking (stuck!) that the Apostle Paul speaks to / warns us about in the verse above.

FALSE HUMILITY IS A FORM OF PRIDE, TOO

Each of these ways of seeing oneself ~ whether it's being better or being worse than others ~ each of them are ultimately forms of pride. (Ouch.) Each of them are forms of thinking more highly than you ought.

Yes, even when you see yourself as being worse than others. It's also thinking more highly than you ought. For when one sees himself like that, what he's basically doing is he's separating himself from everyone else. (Isn't it true?)

And in doing so, a person is making himself the center of attention ~ "Me bad, everyone else okay" ~ do you see how that works? "Me bad, everyone else okay" ~ it draws the attention to self. It's self-centered thinking. It's what's sometimes referred to as "false humility." False humility is one of the worst forms of pride.

ON EQUAL FOOTING BEFORE GOD

We need to think of ourselves in a proper way. We need to think of ourselves as God would have us think ~ with sound judgment as Romans 12:3 admonishes.

A former pastor of mine liked to coin the phrase (you may have heard it): "The ground at the foot of the cross is level ground." What it basically means is that there are no superstars in Christ, neither are there any worms. And it's the cross of Jesus has seen to that. It has put all believers on equal footing before God.

There is not a one of us any better than another, neither is there a one of us any worse. Did you need to be reminded?

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How to Tell If You're Being Deceived (in 30 seconds)

Trap 1 Christians Fall Into: Thinking God is Angry with Them

(This is the first in a series entitled: "8 Traps Christians Fall Into.")

TRAP 1 CHRISTIANS FALL INTO: THINKING GOD IS ANGRY

As a believer in Jesus Christ, have you ever thought God was angry with you? It's not so hard to see why many of us fall into this trap. I mean, in many places in the Body of Christ (if we were really honest), this is the emphasis concerning our Lord. I'm talking about the emphasis that God is mad at His people ~ that they mostly rub Him the wrong way ~ that He's hard to please (if He's even able to be pleased at all). This really is the emphasis in a lot of church settings. And it's truly unfortunate.

Because the fact is God isn't angry with us. "He's not angry with you, ________ (fill in the blank with your own name and say it)." He's not!

In a moment I'll be offering you a single verse to prove it. But before that, I want to give you two reasons why I believe some Christians think God is angry with them.

1ST REASON WHY CHRISTIANS THINK GOD IS ANGRY

The first reason is this: Some believers equate wrong attitudes of "father figures" with God's attitude ~ whether it be an earthly father, a pastor, a boss, etc (even a friend). This is the first reason why some Christians think God is mad ~ because their dad always was or their pastor comes off that way or because their boss is edgy or because any other "father figure" they might know or have known is like that. It's because those who were stationed by God in their lives to be examples of His holy attitude and character have failed to portray Him in a right way. How important it is that "father figures" fulfill their role as God intended.

2ND REASON WHY CHRISTIANS THINK GOD IS ANGRY

The second reason that I believe some Christians think God is angry with them is this: It's because they don't truly understand grace. Grace is unmerited favor (to not merit something means you can't earn it by doing something or not doing something). God's unmerited favor (grace) is bestowed upon sinful men and women by a God who loves without condition. This is what grace is. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

The story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8:1-11 is a story about grace. The religious leaders are requiring that the woman be stoned for her sin. (John 8:5) They call on Jesus to get angry / upset, to blow His top and throw a tantrum ~ to do away with the immoral, wretched gal. But what does Jesus do? (You know the story.) He says, "'He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.'" (John 8:7)

Does that sound like a God who's angry?

Jesus turns to the woman as all her condemners are leaving and says, "'Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?'" (John 8:10b) She responds, "'No one, Lord.'" (John 8:11a) Jesus closes, "'Neither do I condemn you; go your way. From now on sin no more.'" (John 8:11b)

This is grace talking here. Did you need to hear it?

GOD HAS EXPENDED ALL OF HIS WRATH

I'd now like to offer you a verse to prove our Lord truly isn't angry (as if the last story in John 8 wasn't enough!) Isaiah 53:5 states in the King James Version...

But He (Jesus Christ) was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

What this verse in Isaiah tells us ~ what this verse declares! ~ is that God has expended all His wrath ~ God has expended all His anger towards sin ~ He's exhausted it all ~ every last ounce! ~ against and upon His Son. He did it at the cross! Can you say, "Praise the Lord"?

And so there's none left. It's all gone. God's fury has subsided. He's no longer angry.

He's no longer angry with you. (Romans 5:1)

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The Power (Reach) of a Twitter Hashtag

For those of you that don't know, a Twitter hashtag is a number sign (#) combined with a word or multiple words (#HeartChat, #EscapefromEgypt, #GospelofMark).

HOW TO USE A TWITTER HASHTAG

A Twitter hashtag is a way of bookmarking a topic or conversation on Twitter. Click on or search the hashtag at Twitter Search to view recent tweets. (Check out / click on #HeartChat right now for an example.)

Of course, if a Twitter hashtag is a way of bookmarking a conversation it has to also be a way of chatting around a certain subject. And it is! Everyone participating in the chat uses the Twitter hashtag to view each others' tweets together. (A common way of doing this is by using TweetChat, typing in the hashtag there and following along.)

And probably the best thing about a Twitter hashtag is it's a great way of connecting with like-minded individuals. I've met thousands of people (and from all around the world!) that think just like me and it's been through the use of a Twitter hashtag that I've done it.

SHOULD I CREATE MY OWN TWITTER HASHTAG?

So you might ask yourself, "Should I create my own Twitter hashtag and use that?"

This is where another advantage of hashtags comes into play (that I wonder if some of us may not have even considered it?). And it has to do with "reach."

There are people with tens of thousands of followers on Twitter and some of these have a hashtag that they use, too (it may or may not be their own). And if you use that hashtag yourself, you will now be sharing your thoughts with a much larger group.

And if they're worthwhile thoughts that you're sharing (that offer value to those who are following and tweeting the hashtag), the extra added benefit is you will become acquainted with others (and they with you) and you will also enjoy the potential of gaining more Twitter followers than if you would have chosen your own hashtag (especially if you don't have a whole lot of followers yet).

Out of politeness you might introduce yourself and ask the person if he (or she) wouldn't mind you participating and using the hashtag (especially if it happens to be theirs). Also, make sure your topic and passion are compatible, first.

(By the way, you can register your own hashtag if you choose to go in that direction: Register Hashtag. For a list of Twitter hashtags, check out: Twubs Hashtag Directory and Hashtags.org.)

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So Where Are Your Eyes? (plus podcast)

(To listen to the podcast of this post, click here.)

Pastor Mike here. Hebrews 12:2 reads: "Fixing our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of faith."

So where are your eyes?

Our eyes can be on problems.

Our eyes can be on politics (or a politician).

Our eyes can be on a Pastor (or the Pope).

Our eyes can be on people (pleasing peers or parents).

Our eyes can be on a place (a past job or community where we felt secure ~ and we're trying to get back there).

Our eyes can be on pain (past or present).

Our eyes can be on our purpose in life.

Our eyes can be on prosperity preachers.

Our eyes can even be on pornography.

So where are your eyes?

They're supposed to be on the Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

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