So What

So what you go to church?  The question is  are you being the church?  So what you pay your tithes.  The question is are you giving out of obligation or is it a form of worship?  So what you profess you are a Christian.  The question is does the world look at you and see Christ?  The question of so what is often a neglected question in life but it is one of the most critical questions one must ask one's self.  So what does so what reveal to us?   Here are a few suggestions:

1. The question of so what forces us to evaluate our actions.  Without asking this question we can easily fall to the trap of complacency.  For example, our mind often allows us to believe that just because we are doing Christian things going to church, paying tithes, etc. that we are pleasing God.   So what however asks are you visiting the sick, neglected, and feeding the poor. 
2. The question of so what forces us to focus on attention to on our purpose.  There have been many of books written about being purpose driven individuals.  There have being several books written about being intentional in your actions.  So what asks how does your life either influence someone to come to Christ or either edify the body of Christ.

So I say to you this morning so what God woke you up this morning.  So what God started you on your way.  So what asks how you  are going to live your life as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto God.  By the way it's the least you could do!

Scripture Reference: Romans 12:1-2

God bless,
Bondservant Hollis

Transitions of Life

Life is all about transition.  Yet, transition is the one thing that people seem to struggle with the most.  What is interesting is most of the biblical models we have to follow were transitional people.  For example, one of the first transitional characters we meet in the biblical text is Abram from the land of Ur.  Abram was told to leave his homeland and go to a land unknown but a land that God would show him.

1. Abram teaches us that transition requires us to leave our comfort zones and trust God to be our comfort.

Another example of dealing with transiton can be found in the life of Saul of the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible).  Saul is an example of how not to deal with the transition.  Saul went from one the smallest tribe of the nation of Israel to king, but he could not handle the transition from kingship.

1. Saul teaches us that transition requires humility and willingness to accept change even if it not a change we agree with.

Life is full of transitions how we deal with these transitions will reveal our true character.  It was revealed that Abram was a man of faith and it was revealed that Saul was prideful man.  What will the transitions of life reveal about you?

Scripture Reference: Genesis 12

God bless,
Bondservant Hollis

Listening vs. Hearing

There is a fundamental difference between listening and hearing.  Nowhere is this distinction more prominent than as it relates to the Word of God.  Think about it most individuals have gone to church countless times yet they still lack faith. What's interesting is that you use your ears to do both whether it be listening or hearing.  The reason that many of us struggle with our faith because the enemy doesn't care how much we listen to the Word as long as we don't hear the Word.  You see faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.  You see hearing implies that one responds to what they hear.  This response is more than just listening to what was said but actually implementing what was said into practical application in your daily life.  What interesting is sometimes overlooked is the tense that hearing is found in.  The tense suggest that it is a continuous thing not a one time thing.  The tense suggest that the more you hear (respond) to the Word of God the more your faith grows.

Early this morning I downloaded an application that I am praying will help me to grow in my faith. The opportunity will be there it will be up to me to respond.  It is the GoBible application as I sleep I will be hearing the Word of God and the plan is to respond  to the Word the next day in practical implication in my daily life.  Would you take that challenge with me?  Let's saturate our minds with the Word of God that we can answer the call to be doers of the word.

Scripture Reference: Romans 10:17

God bless,
Bondservant Hollis

The 21st Century Limited Good: Time

The most precious commodity that an individual has is time.  What makes time so precious is the fact that once you give it you can't get it back. We live in a world where time is a limited resource but there are countless demands for our time.  Life in a the ministry presents many difficulties of how to manage this precious commodity both efficiently and effectively.  Time so little of it yet so much to do with it. Time the 21st Century limited good.  Perhaps this is why people are so upset when they are in a relationship and it doesn't work out the first thing they say is "I wasted my time."   Time so precious that we live in the time where if a local church doesn't show sensitivity to this precious commodity they lose membership.  Time the excuse that we often use when we failed to fellowship with God.  We say I just don't have the time!  I would like to suggest to you a few things that this precious commodity reveals about us:

1. Time reveals to us what we deem important!  In other words time shows us where our priorities lie.
2. Time reveals to us where are inefficiencies lie.  In other words time shows us the things in our lives we are either devoting to much time to or those things we are not devoting enough time to.

The question becomes what does your time say about relationship with God?  What does your time say about your priorities?  Time and money are directly correlated in a lot of ways but one obvious way is in priorities.  Show me where you spend your money and I will show where your heart is!  Show me where you spend your time and I will show you where your heart is!  The Good Book declares that there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.  What do you with this 21st Century limited good?

Scripture Reference: Ecclesiastes: 3:1

God bless,
Bondservant Hollis

Uggh!

Have you ever been frustrated?  The obvious answer is YES!  How did you deal with that frustration?  Probably not according to the will of God right!  I mean you knew what the right thing to do was but in that moment of frustration you lashed out and lost control. No worries it happens to the best of them.  Moses whose testimony is that he is the most humble and meekest man to walk the face of the earth lost control.  Yahweh gave him specific instructions as it related to the rock but in a moment of frustration he struck the rock twice and disobeyed Yahweh.  So you see you are not the first person to be frustrated but let's look at a benefit and consequence of frustration.

1. A moment of frustration can cause you to reevaluate your situation and in some cases avoid going down a path that leads to more frustration.
2. A moment of frustration can cause you to miss out on a blessing that God had in store for you (i.e. Moses).

So this emotion that we all have experienced, will experienced, or are experiencing can be both a blessing and curse it is up to you decide which one!  Let us learn a lesson from this great man of God and respond to our frustrations properly.

Scripture Reference: Numbers 20

God bless,
Bondservant Hollis

What Happens If Pain Cause You To Give Up?

Pain is unfortunately apart of life.  So I begin to wander what would happen if people allowed the pain they experienced to cause them to give up?  Immediately I thought about the pain that the early church experienced what would of happen if they had given up because of the pain?  Take the Apostle Paul for instance what if he gives up have being beaten with the thirty-nine lashes save one five times?  What if he had given up after being beaten with rods three times?  What if he had allowed the pain he experienced to cause him to give up on God's purpose for his existence?  I hear you that say well God would just find someone else to do it.  Perhaps that is a valid claim, however, Paul's mission or purpose was just that Paul's purpose no one else was uniquely gifted to accomplish this mission.  The question then becomes what have you allowed pain to cause you to give up on?

Let's take Christ for example what if he had allowed the pain of the cross to cause him to give up?  In this case you can't argue that God would just find someone else.   What would our lives be like if Christ had given up?  Unimaginable!  Paul and Christ didn't give up for the same reasons because they knew their purposes and their love for God, God's creation, and God's will!   Paul and Christ have been impacting the lives of indiviudals for over a 1000 years.  The question becomes what impact on the lives of others are you forsaking by your unwillingness to press through your pain into God's purpose for your life?

Scripture Reference: 2 Cor. 11:24-27

God bless,
Bondservant Hollis

The Empire Is Falling

Throughout history there has been great empires.  You may be familiar with the biblical empires of Egypt, Persia, Rome, and Babylonia.  No one really considered Israel to be an empire because it was small only about the size of the state of New Jersey but what is interesting is all the things that this little nation was able to accomplish. The secret to their success was that Israel had a divine warrior on their side.  Yahweh would fight their battles for them which would allow them to prevail against their various enemies.  Israel was a God fearing nation.

This is the claim that use to be made about the U.S.A. which was believe to be a Christian nation founded upon Christian principles.  However this once Christian nation declares that it is politically incorrect to say the name of Jesus the Christ in public or to end a prayer in Jesus name.  They have taken prayer out of schools and gay marriages are endorsed by our nation's president.  What has happen to this once Christian nation?

As you can see we are facing the worst economic downturn of all time and the earth is continuously groaning at all the sin that has run rapid with this once Christian nation.  Yes the great world power and empire of the U.S.A. is falling and now not only is the U.S.A. dependent on the middle east for oil but on China for finances. 

As Christians we are warn to be watchful for you know not when the Son of Man will return!  Are you paying attention? The earth is groaning and God is speaking. Are you listening?  Today is a good day to share your faith in Jesus Christ or to restore right fellowship with him!

Scripture Reference: Romans 8:22

God bless,
Bondservant Hollis  

The Penalty of Selfishness

One of the biggest stumbling blocks in walking in the Spirit or living a fruitful Christian life is selfishness.  Selfishness ruins churches as those who have the ability to help others refrain because they want to keep their sense of importance. Families split because of selfishness one individual feels they are not getting to make any decisions or getting enough attention etc. Selfishness causes individuals to neglect the responsibility to help others in need.  There is undoubtedly a little selfishness in all of us, but we are to be givers as it is more blessed to give than to receive.  Not giving necessarily of our money but of our talents, treasures, and our time. 

A farmer inherited a rice field.  The first year, the water covered his land so well that he had an abundant harvest.  In fact, it even overflowed into his neighbor's field, making it fertile also.  But he began to fret because his neighbor's field became as productive as his own.  He decided that the water was part of his inheritance and belonged exclusively to him, so he cut it off from his neighbor's field the next year.  The result? His own field was flooded and his crop ruined.

The moral of the story is this selfishness ultimately leads to one's demise.  Selfishness can be cured by walking in the Spirit and considering others needs above your own.  Thank God for the Word that gives us resolutions to our problems!

Scripture Reference:  Galatians 5:16

God bless,
Bondservant Hollis