NCarolinian

Growing-up, it used to be fun and interesting to pretend to be Dad by slipping into his shoes. Somehow, sliding into his dress shoes transformed my mind, attitude and responsibilities. If only for a split second, I pretended to make the decisions.  It wasn't long before my Dad would smile and notice whose shoes I was wearing and question, "Son, don't you think my shoes are little too big for you? Kinda hard getting around in them, isn't it?" I would say yes, take them off and return them to his room. Dad's question and observation were not to point out that I was doing something "Wrong", but that those shoes were not meant for me right then. In truth, I was out-sized, out-classed, out-lived and rushing things a bit. I have tried to do this in my Christian walk - step into my Father's Shoes and prove my Holiness . But that is the key, it is not my Holiness . I have no worth to be set aside for God except through Christ Jesus' sacrifice ...

Keeping in line with being imitators of Christ - peacemaking has been on the decline from what I have observed. Being a peaceful person, having a peaceful demeanor and speaking peace into all situations, especially potentially explosive ones, is desperately needed. Observing the Scripture, I found it interesting that to begin Christ's life, the angels declared to the shepherds in a nearby field -  “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” - Luke 2:14 Notice that the proclamation states that the peace is "to those on whom his favor rests" . This is key in understanding this subject in Scripture. Said another way - No Jesus, No Peace. Know Jesus, Know Peace. Later on in the life and ministry of Jesus, Christ says this about peace - “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mothe...

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' " - John 14:6 When Jesus called Himself "the way" , the original word that John documents Him using is Hodos (hod-os). This word means road or by implication a progress, route; figuratively a mode or means, like a journey or highway. When I asked the Holy Spirit to supplement this Title, He immediately dropped Matthew 7:13-14 into my mind and spirit. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." When Jesus called Himself "the truth" , the original Greek word that John used was Alētheia (al-ay'-thi-a), meaning truth: - true, truly, truth, verity. When I asked the Holy Spirit for more on this designation, He gave me 1 John 1:5 and James 1:17. "This i...

Ah! The game of Golf. A physical game. A mental or strategic game. A team game. For the longest time as I was growing up I viewed golf as a game where the golfer had an assistant that handed him the club of his choice. This assistant or caddy's responsibility was to carry the golf bag and be a "yes-man" in my eyes. This perspective has changed. Now I see the caddy as an integral part of every aspect of the 18 holes of golf played. The caddy informs the golfer on wind-speed, wind-direction, aiming the ball, possible hazzards or pitfalls, a suggested club, the strength of the swing and encouragement or constructive criticism afterward. And this is just for one shot. Joy comes along in this team game if you also happen to have a really good friendship with the caddy. There are going to come times when you need more than a caddy on the golf course. In those times when your selected club, aim and execution of the shot did not take in the advice of the caddy and the ou...

True Believers in Christ know that The Calling of Christ from birth was The Cross. The Cross, His Cross was the Salvation of the world. However, all that Jesus did from day one to the point of enduring The Cross or fulfilling His Calling was Christ's Calling Card.  To begin His earthly Ministry, Jesus, after been given the seal of approval from Father God and the Holy Spirit in His Baptism, plus after His Temptation in the wilderness - travels home to Nazareth. Here, Jesus purposely goes to a particular passage in Isaiah and declares it fulfilled then and there. "He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners ...

I have heard it said, "If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything." There is truth to this statement. Lately I have had the impression that there have been several generations who don't care what OR who they represent.  Maybe it is the standard or measure of dignity found within homes today. As I was growing-up, just within my own blood-family I carried a sense of worth. Wherever I went, whatever I did, whatever I said - I was representing my family.  Taking this idea into the job scene - no matter whether you like it or not, no matter whether you agree with it or not - from the bottom to the top of a company, the employees are ambassadors. Their job description may not include for them to go out and recruit others into the business, however their actions and words reflect on the company's decision to hire you. So, whenever and wherever you are employed it is in everybody's best interest to represent the company well when at work and ou...