The Honor Role

May 31st, 2007

The Honor Role

I can’t sleep. In fact, last night to now, I haven’t slept a wink. I’m just in that much pain right now. And so, what am I to do? Wait. Really, that’s all that I can do. I will say this; I’ve had a productive night. I have worked out my school schedule to almost completion. The only thing lacking is the discussion with my wife before I move forward. I am dreading not sleeping. With my medicine, I either take too much sleeping medicine and don’t get up in the morning or don’t take enough and end up in the situation that I am in now. Seriously, the problem tonight isn’t sleeping medicine but pain.

Psalm 3:1-8
O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side. Arise, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.

Psalm 4:1-8
Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer. How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him. In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD. Many are asking, “Who can show us any good?” Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD. You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Sleep is a wonderful thing. It really is. The Bible does talk about the good and bad that sleep can have with it. And it is a very simple idea, but when people become involved, it gets messed up. It really does. Layman terms, the Bible says to not sleep too much. Bible also says that when I trust in God, my sleep will be peaceful. I guess that since I didn’t grab any sleep, I’m not trusting God enough. That could be true. I’m so tired now, that I’m not really sure. I have just a few working brain cells, and they are all laughing at each other (AAAHHH!!!). Seriously though, here it is at 5 O’clock in the morning, and I’m actually thinking of a neighbor here that hates me for no reason. I think he hates me for his sins, but I am not sure. I’m praying for the guy.

Proverbs 6:1-35
My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge for another, if you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands: Go and humble yourself; press your plea with your neighbor! Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids. Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler. Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest - and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man. A scoundrel and villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth, who winks with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers, who plots evil with deceit in his heart— he always stirs up dissension. Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy. There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching. Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life, keeping you from the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife. Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes, for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life. Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? So is he who sleeps with another man's wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished. Men do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when he is starving. Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold, though it costs him all the wealth of his house. But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself. Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away; for jealousy arouses a husband's fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge. He will not accept any compensation; he will refuse the bribe, however great it is.

Yes, this is great stuff. I am not sure if there is any knowledge or wisdom that I can add or say about this in reflection. And I shouldn’t necessarily have to… I mean, this is Proverbs, the same Proverbs that comes right out and says: Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. So… I guess I am going to make breakfast for my wife now. Johnny Out.

The War Within – Part VI

May 28th, 2007

The War Within – Part VI

I can make decisions to do wrong:
• I can tear down road blocks so that when I want to do wrong, it isn’t as difficult.

I can make decisions to do right:
• I can put up road blocks so that when I want to do wrong, it is difficult.

The issue is road blocks that help or hurt. It’s good to have accountability. It is also good to the right heart about things. And let’s face it, it isn’t easy to have the “perfect” heart all the time, so when the heart takes a downward slide, albeit in the momentary lapse of weakness, it is wonderful to have a road block and accountability to help save what would be a horrible situation.

Ephesians 2:11-22
Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men) - remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Proverbs 18:10-12
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it an un-scalable wall. Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

Ecclesiastes 10:8
Whoever digs a pit may fall into it; whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

Isaiah 30:12-14
Therefore, this is what the Holy One of Israel says: “Because you have rejected this message, relied on oppression and depended on deceit, this sin will become for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses suddenly, in an instant. It will break in pieces like pottery, shattered so mercilessly that among its pieces not a fragment will be found for taking coals from a hearth or scooping water out of a cistern.”

Psalm 69:21-23
They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst. May the table set before them become a snare; may it become retribution and a trap. May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.

Romans 11:7-10
What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear, to this very day.” And David says: “May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them. May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.”

Ezekiel 3:20-21
“Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. Since you did not warn him, he will die for his sin. The righteous things he did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin, he will surely live because he took warning, and you will have saved yourself.”

2nd Corinthians 6:3-10
We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Now, this is a ton of scriptures… all great stuff! God puts up stumbling blocks for me, you, everyone, and that’s good. But with all these scriptures, walls and stumbling blocks, I think this is going to take a great deal of thought. I gather that there are two walls and two types of stumbling blocks.

First: There is a wall to keep OUT sin and a wall to keep IN sin.
Second: There is a stumbling block to PREVENT sin and a stumbling block as a CONSEQUENCE to sin.

I’ll be honest, I am not sure I know how to even explain it all to myself, much less to whoever reads this…

I will make an effort, however. Ezekiel 3 speaks of a stumbling block put up by God himself. The Hebrew is as defined:

Stumbling Block (noun):
Mikshôl (pronounced mik-shole')
• A stumbling block, literally or figuratively (obstacle, enticement (specifically an idol, scruple): - caused to fall, offence, no-thing offered, ruin, stumbling-block. (Strong’s)
• A stumbling, means or occasion of stumbling, stumbling block (stumbling, fall, means or occasion of stumbling, stumbling block) – (BDB)

This is what was used in Ezekiel 3. God put up a stumbling block after the person has done evil. That’s how I am reading it, although I am not sure this is entirely right. I would think that the Ezekiel 3 is the “consequence” stumbling block. 2nd Corinthians 6 is the “preventing sin” stumbling block.

I tell you what… I am going to post this, and I will repost it again tomorrow once I’ve studied more and prayed more about it all… but that post will just be the additions. I guess I should title it PART VII… yeah, that’s what I will do. Johnny Out.

Communion

May 27, 2007

Communion

I had the pleasure of delivering communion today at our house church. This is what I covered…

Genesis 6:5-7 (NCV)
The Lord saw that the human beings on the earth were very wicked and that everything they thought about was evil. He was sorry he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the Lord said, “I will destroy all human beings that I made on the earth. And I will destroy every animal and everything that crawls on the earth and the birds of the air, because I am sorry I have made them.”

Genesis 6:11-13 (NCV)
People on earth did what God said was evil, and violence was everywhere. When God saw that everyone on the earth did only evil, he said to Noah, “Because people have made the earth full of violence, I will destroy all of them from the earth.”

Genesis 7:4 (NCV)
Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth. It will rain forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe off from the earth every living thing that I have made.

Genesis 7:17-24 (NCV)
Water flooded the earth for forty days, and as it rose it lifted the boat off the ground. The water continued to rise, and the boat floated on it above the earth. The water rose so much that even the highest mountains under the sky were covered by it. It continued to rise until it was more than twenty feet above the mountains. All living things that moved on the earth died. This included all the birds, tame animals, wild animals, and creatures that swarm on the earth, as well as all human beings. So everything on dry land that had the breath of life in it died. God destroyed from the earth every living thing that was on the land -- every man, animal, crawling thing, and bird of the sky. All that was left was Noah and what was with him in the boat. And the waters continued to cover the earth for one hundred fifty days.

In the time of Noah, everyone was evil. Imagine everyone being evil. Imagine your family, friends, public officials, the people you see at the grocery, everyone is evil. Every thought, evil little itty bitty thing that they do, is evil and wicked. This isn’t a compliment of what happened. People talk about being wicked now and it is a compliment. And because these things happened then, God flooded the world. God looked at them and they did not have a bit of good in them, so he whipped them away with a flood. So what happened is this: All Sin – No Repentance – New Start. The flood is like a baptism that “cleans” the earth and gives it a new start.

Matthew 13:47-50 (NCV)
“Also, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was put into the lake and caught many different kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled the net to the shore. They sat down and put all the good fish in baskets and threw away the bad fish. It will be this way at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the evil people from the good people. The angels will throw the evil people into the blazing furnace, where people will cry and grind their teeth with pain.”

Matthew 25:40 and 45 (NCV)
“Then the King will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, anything you did for even the least of my people here, you also did for me.’” … “Then the King will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, anything you refused to do for even the least of my people here, you refused to do for me.’”

The angels will come and separate the evil people from the good people. This is comforting simply due to the fact that there are good people to take out of the group. They separate the righteous from the unrighteous. And the scriptures from Matthew 25 show a detail of what the righteous and the unrighteous do. The righteous will even do the smallest of things for the “lowest” or “least” of people. That is an indication of how loving and serving the righteous person is for God. They do the little things that end up making a huge difference. The unrighteous will not do these things. What I believe to be interesting is that the unrighteous will still serve, but it will be “big” things, like in groups or such, and will not necessarily take on an individual effort. The unrighteous will make a show to look righteous, but will be far from it. But the fact still remains; there are righteous people out there in the midst of the unrighteous people.

1st Peter 3:18-22 (NCV)
Christ himself suffered for sins once. He was not guilty, but he suffered for those who are guilty to bring you to God. His body was killed, but he was made alive in the spirit. And in the spirit he went and preached to the spirits in prison who refused to obey God long ago in the time of Noah. God was waiting patiently for them while Noah was building the boat. Only a few people -- eight in all -- were saved by water. And that water is like baptism that now saves you -- not the washing of dirt from the body, but the promise made to God from a good conscience. And this is because Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. Now Jesus has gone into heaven and is at God’s right side ruling over angels, authorities, and powers.

The water is like baptism – it cleans you from sin. In fact here it says that baptism saves you. It is a promise from me to God from a good conscience.

Hebrews 5:7-10 (NCV)
While Jesus lived on earth, he prayed to God and asked God for help. He prayed with loud cries and tears to the One who could save him from death, and his prayer was heard because he trusted God. Even though Jesus was the Son of God, he learned obedience by what he suffered. And because his obedience was perfect, he was able to give eternal salvation to all who obey him. In this way God made Jesus a high priest, a priest like Melchizedek.

The focus on this scripture right now is this: he (Jesus) was able to give eternal salvation to all who obey him. This is why the criminal on the cross next to Jesus could be saved without baptism. Jesus could give it to him, because he could. I follow Jesus, who gives salvation to the obedient, then I would do what the Bible says and be considered righteous. I do not follow what the Bible says, then I am not following Jesus and would be considered unrighteous. It’s that black and white. Jesus is the High Priest. He is the ultimate example. Communion is about remembering him and my conversion to him. Johnny Out.

The Grades are In and You Scored…

May 24th, 2007

Degauss (verb):
• To neutralize the magnetic field of (a ship, for example).
• To erase information from (a magnetic disk or other storage device).

The Grades are In and You Scored…

“When I arrive will God be waiting and pacing around his throne? Will he feel a little Old Testament? And will he celebrate with fire and brimstone? Yeah, I admit, I am afraid of the reckoning.” And later in the song: “When we were made we were set apart, but life is a test and I get bad marks. Now some saint got the job of writing down my sins. The storm is coming; here is your storm again.” Lyrics by Brand New (the song is titled Degausser). If you really, really want to check out their website, I shall warn you, it is a little dark. But if you do, here is a link: http://www.fightoffyourdemons.com/

I’ve heard this song for a few days now, and I really thought I would be talking about their song “Jesus Christ”, and yet I find myself drawn to this song instead. “When we were made we were set apart, but life is a test and I get bad marks. Now some saint got the job of writing down my sins.”

Life is a test. Life is a test… it really is a test. Think about it… however I choose my actions now will determine my fate with God later. If I make decisions now that are un-wise, I may suffer later. If I make wise decisions now, I may reap later. It all depends on if I repeat those actions over and over and over again.

1st John 3:4-6
Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

Simple enough, if you or I keep on sinning, then we won’t have any part of God, because it says “no one who continues to sin is known by him”. It doesn’t sound like a “good job, good and faithful” statement, but more of an “I never knew you” statement to me.

Psalm 69:1-36
Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God. Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal. You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you. May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O Lord, the LORD Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me, O God of Israel. For I endure scorn for your sake, and shame covers my face. I am a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother's sons; for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me. When I weep and fast, I must endure scorn; when I put on sackcloth, people make sport of me. Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of the drunkards. But I pray to you, O LORD, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation. Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters. Do not let the floodwaters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me. Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me. Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble. Come near and rescue me; redeem me because of my foes. You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you. Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none. They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst. May the table set before them become a snare; may it become retribution and a trap. May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever. Pour out your wrath on them; let your fierce anger overtake them. May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents. For they persecute those you wound and talk about the pain of those you hurt. Charge them with crime upon crime; do not let them share in your salvation. May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous. I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me. I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs. The poor will see and be glad - you who seek God, may your hearts live! The LORD hears the needy and does not despise his captive people. Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them, for God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. Then people will settle there and possess it; the children of his servants will inherit it, and those who love his name will dwell there.

Now, the phrase “book of life” is only used once in the Old Testament, which is in Psalm 69:28… and the following verse, I felt that is necessary to grasp, at least comforting to read knowing the since we all go through pain, distress, etc., that salvation from God can protect. Now, these are enemies of David, the ones he asks to be knocked out of the book of life. There are seven other scriptures using the phrase “book of life,” six of which are in Revelation and one other in Philippians.

Before I check out Philippians in detail, I want to check this first…

Revelation 20:7-15
When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

So, God has a book with my name on it. And in that book, it tells of the deeds I have done: the good and the bad. Let’s change it from a book to a hard-drive to a computer, or for even a better argument, a computer disk. On the Day of Judgment, God plops the disk into his computer. He starts looking through every thing and then finally looks into the “Book of Life” to see if I get thrown into a lake of fire. Do I stay or do I go… well, if the sins can be degaussed, or whipped away, then it is a sure fire deal (no pun intended, but you can laugh anyway) to get that done. What is a sinner? A sinner is someone who isn’t God, Jesus Christ, or the Holy Spirit. And the last time I checked, I’m not them. There are two types of sinners, the ones who practice sinful things with the intent to continue, and the ones who repent. Keep this in mind when you read this passage…

Philippians 4:2-3
I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

This scripture is the most essential of my QT, since Paul is explaining that certain people are written in the book of life. It’s a bold thing to say. But, Paul is a bold man, and he was considered righteous by what he did.

I know that there are several books at play, the Holy Bible, the Book of Life, and other books not mentioned… at least in Revelation. But I would think that the Book of the Law, and some others would be sitting at the Judging bench with God. But when the timed test is over, what marks will I have on the work I have done? How degaussed will my sin be? Will I get it all out, will I be clean enough to sport a white robe in heaven, or will I end up swimming in a fiery lake?

And why am I up so late? I am in pain and distress. I’m asking that God’s salvation protect me. It is time to take another pill and push on to a snoozing goal. Hopefully I can get something in before Mackenzie’s test later this morning. Johnny Out.

Does it feel lukewarm in here?

May 20th, 2007

Does it feel lukewarm in here?

Revelation 3:14-22
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

I was able to have the privilege to see a video at church today that showed (in a funny sort of way) what a “Me Church” is versus the church Christ died for… if you are interested, simply check out this link. It’s convicted and funny at the same time. (Link: Church Commercial)

Lukewarm (adj.):

• Moderately warm; tepid
• Having or showing little ardor, zeal, or enthusiasm; indifferent
• Moderately warm
• Feeling or showing little interest or enthusiasm
• Slightly warm

Now for the Greek definitions:

Lukewarm (adj.):
Chliaros (pronounced khlee-ar-os'):

• From chliō (to warm); tepid: - lukewarm.
• Tepid, lukewarm; metaphorically of the condition of the soul wretchedly fluctuating between a torpor and a fervor of love

I believe the English dictionary is a good representation of the Greek meaning. Lukewarm is the opposite of showing emotion, it is a lack of enthusiasm. And as a disciple, I am supposed to be full of zeal for Christ. WHERE IS IT?! Maybe it slowly crept out of me without me even knowing. I don’t know, but I need to find it. And find it quickly, that’s for sure.

Romans 12:9-13
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

It says to never be lacking in zeal. It could also say to never be lukewarm and to keep a spiritual fervor. And what is fervor?

Fervor (noun):

• Great warmth and earnestness of feeling
• Intense heat
• Great warmth and intensity of emotion
• The state of being emotionally aroused and worked up; excitement

This is a great practical. How do I move out of being lukewarm? How do I have a zeal back for God? I need to get excited again. I need to have intensified emotions for the Lord. And that I can most definitely wrap my brain around and understand. I can regain excitement again, because let’s be honest, I haven’t been on the poster for zeal in quite some time. It may coincide with my pain, but I don’t believe that. Pain didn’t stop me anytime before and it shouldn’t be an obstacle now. I am going to change my ways on this – period. And it will hurt until the surgery, but AMEN. Repentance sometimes shouldn’t be easy and pain-free. Johnny Out.