'WHAT IF I WAS A 'YES MAN'?'

What would happen if I walked around and told everyone how perfect they were just like they were and that there is no need to ever worry about their eternity? "It doesn't matter if you do that kind of thing, it's going to be alright." "So what if it gets you into trouble later, at least you get to have fun now." "Don't worry about it... who is going to know that you act that way?"

What would happened if people had treated me like that all of my life? "Bruce, keep telling those dirty jokes, you are great at it." "It doesn't matter that you cuss like that, everybody does that." "Yes it is fun making fun of her, let's do it some more."

If we don't have people in our lives who love us enough to tell us the truth, then we will never see ourselves as we really are. We will only see ourselves as we think we are and that is totally different.

And if we don't see ourselves as we really are, then we will never see the need to repent of our sins and turn towards a holy God who loves us and wants us to live for Him. There is a common misconception going around that believes that since God loves us, He will let us do whatever we want. That couldn't be farther from the truth. Jesus died upon the cross because we did do what we wanted. If you want to go to heaven, you will not be going as you are or as you were but as you will be after God recreates you by giving you a new life. Not the life that you were living for yourself, a new life where you will be living for Him.

Sometimes it won't be easy but never give up. Some people will criticize you and call you names but it is not their opinions that need to be your top concern. You should only be concerned with what God says about you because if you are pleasing Him, He will take care of the rest.

However if you are not pleasing Him, realize that He will send people your way to help you see your sin. When they do this for you, remember to ask God if what they are saying is true and if it is, ask for forgiveness and be freed from whatever was holding you in bondage.

Psalm 32:1-2 (ESV) Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

'I AM SO GLAD THEY DIDN'T SHUT UP'

This week, I have been called 'hater', judgmental and so much more. Why? Because I use Facebook as a method of sharing God's Word and guess what? Jesus was right when He said in Matthew 5:10-12 (ESV) "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

If I really was a hater, I would shut up and let people face whatever they face based upon their actions but that is not what we are told to do. Look what it says in Ezekiel... Ezekiel 33:2-6 (ESV) “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.

I hope you see the importance of sharing God's Word to those you come in contact with each day. Yes, we must speak it with love, but again, we must speak. What would happen if I did shut up? For that matter, what would have happened if everyone in my life had shut up instead of telling me what I needed to hear regardless of whether I wanted to or not?

I am very thankful today for everyone that God has used to speak truth to me. Though I may not have received it the right way then, I see now why I should have...

I am thankful for my mom and dad who raised in church. As far back as I can remember, I remember going to church.

I am thankful for Charlie Flenor who was the first pastor I remember and he was the one who was preaching at New Salem Baptist Church on Bethany Lane when I got saved by God. It was 'Bro. Charlie' who would sometimes call on me to pray in church even though I was just a little kid but he said he saw that God was working on me and that one day I would be a preacher.

I am thankful for all of the pastors that have taught me over the years, Bill Steeger, Gene Crowder, Greg Abercrombie, Drexel Rayford, Bob Gray, Jim Doyle and so many more.

I am thankful for the friends who warned me when I was about to mess up and for the ones who lovingly corrected me when I did mess up.

If all of those folks had been quiet, I would still be in the same sin I was back then. And so I continue to speak... praying that God will continue to use me as a voice of truth... praying thtat I will have the right motive and the right approach. What about you? Will you keep speaking?

VIDEO- 'HOW CENTERED ARE YOU?'

MY FACEBOOK PEEVES FROM 2012

Last night, I started a list of 'facebook peeves' on facebook in order to try a new approach to initiate some conversations this week that will help people see the difference between what we do and what we should do. These 'peeves' are not random complaints but are to be used as teaching moments. I have no idea how many peeves will be listed but last night's posts got a lot of attention so I put the first part of the list together in this post...

FACEBOOK PEEVE #1: PEOPLE WHO USE FACEBOOK TO BRAG ABOUT THEIR SINS, INSTEAD OF CONFESSING THEM TO GOD AND REPENTING OF THEM. ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY ARE CHRISTIANS BUT POST PICS AND COMMENTS THAT SHOULD NOT BE DONE BY SOMEONE WHO IS STRIVING TO FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST.

FACEBOOK PEEVE #2: PEOPLE WHO TRASH THEIR EX ON FACEBOOK. You may think your ex is a 'loser' but trashing them on facebook doesn't make you look like much of a 'winner'.

FACEBOOK PEEVE #3 (since the first two created some interesting conversations): PEOPLE WHO WHINE ABOUT MONDAYS. After ministering to five separate families in funeral homes the last six days, I am sure that those families would love to have one more Monday with their loved ones. Every day, including Mondays, is a gift from God. Don't waste it. Live for Christ.

FACEBOOK PEEVE #4: PEOPLE WHO GIVE US THE DAILY REASONS WHY THEY HATE THEIR LIVES OR THEIR JOBS OR THEIR HOMELIFE. Your attitude is a major factor in determining how your day will go. Give yourself a chance to enjoy the day by renewing your thought process. Instead of fussing about what you dont' have, realize what you have been blessed with and then tell God 'thank You'.

So as we wait for the next peeve to appear, please use this time to examine yourself to see how you are living your life. You only have one shot at life, don't waste it. Use it to make an impact in this world.