Love Is In The House

Anytime I hear someone say their church is the friendliest around, I smile. When they say their church is full of love, I smile even more. In fact, I have not met a Christian yet who has said their church is not full of friendly people and love.

But ... who are they friendly towards? One another? Who do they love? One another?

This may be hard to digest, but ... do they love the abortion doctor two streets down that is killing dozens of unborn babies each year? Do they love the prostitutes who walk down Sullivant Avenue selling their bodies for sex? Do they love that awkward teenager who walked into their church wearing Satanic clothing? How about this ... do they love that IRS agent who just sent them a message telling them their records for the past 12 years are being audited? Do they really love that gas station owner who just raised the price of gas by 40 cents a gallon? Do they love that college football player who just shared with the world that he's living a homosexual lifestyle?

In John 13:34, Jesus teaches us to love one another as He has loved us. Arguments can be made that He was referring to loving other Christians in this passage. But Matthew 5:44 tells us to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Romans 13:10 states that love does no harm to a neighbor, therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.Galatians 5:14 reminds us that for the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

The majority of Christian churches in America are declining in membership and attendance. We are not seeing as many people "won to Jesus Christ" as we used to. But ... what would happen if we truly started to love one another. I am not talking about loving the sweet lady who made that awesome cake at the last potluck dinner! I am talking about, what would happen if we started loving those OUTSIDE the church walls? What would happen if, instead of standing outside an abortion doctor's home picketing, you sent the doctor a dozen cookies (and if you're not the best cook, McDonald's chocolate chip cookies are truly awesome!) What if, instead of stopping a prostitute in the street and preaching at her, you actually told her she is loved by God and you want to invite her to a bible study? How about sending that IRS agent a thank you note for performing a thankless job! How about sharing with that homosexual that even though the Bible teaches that homosexual behavior is a sin, you still love the person no matter what, and they are still welcome in your church! And that gas station owner ... keep in mind, they own the local station, not the price of oil worldwide, so how about inviting him/her out to lunch and let them know you feel their pain!

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN if Christians started treating those outside the walls of the church with love? I'll tell you what would happen! Your church will need to start a new building fund campaign because their current house of worship will no longer be able to hold the influx of people! Your church, depending on property size, may want to consider larger parking lot, a parking deck, or do whatever it takes to be able to handle the floods of people wanting to walk through the doors. Because Church, if we go out and truly love the world, they are going to take notice .... they are going to start jumping up and down screaming ... they are gonna start yelling, "Hey You! Jesus Freaks! I want what you have! I want Jesus!"

Don't believe me? Then prove me wrong. Give it a try! Make a commitment to go out once a day outside of your comfort zone, and show one person some genuine Christian love! Get your fellow church members to do the same! Watch what happens!

Thank You For Giving To The Lord!

Many, many, many years ago, our family went to a Halloween Party at the Fire Hall in Jefferson, MD. When it was over, it was raining, and lightning pretty bad. My parents decided to take a back route home. Carroll Boyer Road. To this day, I refuse to drive on that road. We were going through a very narrow portion of the road, in the middle of a very wooded area, when my parents started yelling that there was a cow's head, hanging from a noose, in the woods very close to the road. They sped away very quickly, and it was never brought up again. But yet, I still can't drive on that road. It's amazing what impacts us as small kids that linger with us the rest of our lives. Today, I have absolutely no idea if there was really a cow's head or not hanging from a noose in the woods. It doesn't matter.

What impressions are you leaving your children with that will linger in their minds for a lifetime?

How about this ... I have an uncle who lives in Greeneville, Tennessee. We would go visit him, my aunt, and my grandparents once or twice a year. During each visit, my uncle would strongly encourage us kids to go to a Baptist Church that he was a member at. He drove an old bus, and would drive around the city picking up kids to take to church as well. Growing up in farm country, I had never really been exposed to inner cities much as a child, except for on his bus route.

I had very little contact with kids of other races before. But one thing I will remember my uncle saying during one of those bus rides. He turned to me, smiled, and said:

Jesus Loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow black and white
They're all precious in his sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world

I did not start going to church on a regular basis until I was 18 years old. I never asked Jesus into my heart until the end of Basic Training in the Air Force. But what my uncle said to me as a small child resonates with me to this day. He planted seeds. Although his full time profession at that time was working in a factory for Magnavox tv, he was also a farmer, planting seeds that would one day come to fruition!

Thank you, Uncle Ralph! Thank you for giving to the Lord!

Trust and Obey

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." ... Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)


So often, while scrolling people's profiles on social networks, I see that bible verse listed under people's favorite quotations. I have known these verses for many years, but really never stopped to examine them closely, and how to apply it to my own life.


Many of us, including myself often want to claim these verses as a promise within our own lives, particularly verse 6. "He will make your paths straight!" How awesome is that! No more winding around roads getting lost. No more scary curves in the road afraid we're going to fall off a cliff! I remember driving a U-Haul from Columbus, OH to Tempe, Arizona, in order to help a close friend make a move out there a number of years ago. Crossing the Rocky Mountains is no fun. Up and down, back and forth. No emergency lanes on the side of the road, only extremely deep cliffs. But God promises to make our paths straight!


However, we are very quick to ignore the first parts of these two verses! TRUST in the LORD will all your heart! Lean NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING, in all ways ACKNOWLEDGE (or TRUST) Him!


TRUST IN THE LORD. Why is that so difficult for so many of us? I think back to a recent challenge in my life trusting God in the area of finances, when He was telling me to TITHE! He wanted me to give back to Him 10% of any income. Truth is, if it weren't for Him, I never would have had the income to begin with! But a month into tithing, my pickup truck broke down, non-repairable. I came home devastated, but still made my weekly tithe that evening. The next day, I received a check in the mail for $1000.00, from a friend I have not seen in just over 30 years (former high school classmate.) It was said in a letter with this check that God had led him to write the check, but didn't know who to write it to, or why, until he read on social networking about my truck situation. He went on to thank me for my encouraging posts over the previous few years, and said they had actually help him grow stronger through some difficult situations on his family. All glory to God!


So, next day, I spend $1100.00 on a used soccer mommy type of van. Let me say this perfectly clear, I am NOT a mechanic. I should have prayed about this purchase, and I should have taken a mechanically inclined person with me before I made this purchase from an individual. But I didn't. Three days later, the front passenger tire goes flying off the van as I'm driving 65 miles per hour down the Interstate going to work. Long story short, it was taken to a mechanic, and $1200.00 worth of repairs later, it was safe to drive again. But ... I checked my checking account when I got home, and saw that yet another friend had sent $1000.00 to help out, as a loan. God really does provide to those who obey Him!


LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING ... yes, sometimes we have to stop worrying, wondering, and doubting. We have to have faith in God, and that His plan will work out, maybe not quite how we had things planned, but trusting that God knows best!

My 2014 Challenge To Each Of My Friends

In 2014, I am going to challenge each and every person I know, including on Facebook, to do the following for a homeless person:

1. Provide the person a meal.
2. Provide the person a Bible.
3. Provide the person a piece of warm clothing ... either a winter coat, gloves, or a hat.

For those of us who have a job and have a place to call home, this is a very small request, and something that won't cause ourselves a hardship. But to the person receiving the items, the gifts would be life-changing!

Praying for the homeless is great, but now we need to put those prayers into action. Praying that a person won't go hungry does no good if you aren't able to provide a meal. Praying that a person will stay warm does no good if you won't provide warm clothing. Praying that a person get to know Christ does no good if you don't give them a copy of God's manual, the Bible.

Again, I challenge you to find one homeless person, and do each of the 3 things listed. Don't know anyone who is homeless? Open your eyes. Still can't find one? Ask your Pastor. Look up a homeless shelter in your area and call them.

"Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse." ... Proverbs 28:27

"Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him." ... Proverbs 24:31

"Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’" ... Matthew 25:37-40

Joel Taylor

Joel Taylor was a 14 year old who went to my church back in 1994, in Middletown, Maryland.   I was his Sunday School teacher.  He was definitely one of the kids in the class I got to know well during the brief time I knew him (about 4 years.)  The two of us used to talk sports, and talk Jesus, all the time.

In 1998, I relocated to McDonough, Georgia, and lost touch with him and his family.  I wish more than anything that I had stayed in touch.

In 2007, Joel committed suicide.  Through social media, I have reconnected with 2 of his brothers over the past few years.  It is obvious that Joel went through a bout of depression, but no one really knows what was going on in his mind when he took his life.

For some reason, God has put Joel on my mind a lot today.  Joel was 27 years young when he died.  Once, Joel and I were at the Francis Scott Key Mall in Frederick, Maryland, for a sports memorabilia show.  Out of the blue, he told me, "Mark, if for some reason anything happens to either of us, please know I will be looking for you at the baseball card shop in Heaven one day!"  

Joel, if Heaven has any technology above and you are able to read this, please know just how much you are missed!  Yes, I will be looking for you in that baseball card shop when my number gets called!

Racism, Is It Still Alive? Am I a Racist????

In January of 1987, an event occurred in Forsyth County, Georgia, that drastically changed my life.  I spent all day witnessing a civil rights event that was was the largest of its kind since the 1960's, with over 20,000 people in attendance, and approximately 1,500 Klan members and Klan sympathizers as well.  I took approximately 200 photos that day ... (unfortunately, they were all destroyed in a fire in 2000.)  But they told a story.  The first photo I took was of a redneck woman sitting in the back of her pickup truck in a Wal-Mart parking lot, with a rebel flag in one hand, and a sign in the other hand which read "Go Home Niger!"  (Yes, that was HER misspelling.)  That photo was sold to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and was on the front page of their newspaper the next day.  But the last photo taken late in the day was of a 12 year old white boy, looking obviously exhausted after a long day, leaning against a tree, and holding a sign which read, "Let There Be Peace On Earth, and Let it Begin With Me."

You may wonder why I am reliving this memory nearly 27 years later.  Trust me, I relive that event in my mind at least briefly every single day of every single year since that day.  It was, for me, a life changing event.  Driving down Georgia Highway 400 from Cumming back to Atlanta that day, I had to pull my car over.  I got out of my car and prayed.  I was only 22 years old, but I prayed like I had never prayed before!  For nearly an hour, kneeled down beside me car, I prayed.  I begged God to purge me of any prejudiced bone I may have in my body.  I vowed to never tell a racist joke again.  I vowed to judge a man by his character, not his skin color.

Although I had accepted Christ into my heart a little more than four years earlier, I have never been as close to Christ as I was that night just outside of Cumming, Georgia.  I literally felt Jesus hold me in His arms, and hug me tight.  I was cleansed.  

In 2005, I got to spend some time with Bill Willis, a former Buckeye and Cleveland Brown.  He helped break the color barrier in the NFL in 1946 when joining the NFL, a whole year before Jackie Robinson did so in baseball.  We talked for several hours about what it was like to be a black man playing in the NCAA and NFL back in the late 40's and early 50's.  Yes, many away games, he had to sit in a separate train car, some hotels in cities of the opponents wouldn't allow him to stay in their hotel.  Much of the stories you've heard, especially in movies such as "The Express", about Ernie Davis.  But I asked him a question that I wasn't really prepared to hear his answer.  I asked him, "What is the biggest difference in people's hearts between back then and now?"  His answer, "Nothing at all."  He went on to share that white people today don't typically show their prejudices outwardly, but the prejudices still exist as much as they did back then.  Mr. Willis then asked me which neighborhood I lived in, and when I told him, he was a bit shocked, since I was living just off Cleveland Avenue in a pretty rough part of town at that time.  But he went on to make a point that all across America, we still have black churches, and white churches.  We still have black neighborhoods, and white neighborhoods. Go to any restaurant, and you'll see blacks eating with blacks, and whites eating with whites.

I have no doubt that each and every friend I have is not prejudiced at all.  Or at least, that is what each person would tell me.  However, what do your actions show?  When you see a person of a different race, do you see their race, or do you see an individual?  Be honest with yourself.  And pray.  Ask God to cleanse you from any and every sin in your life, even those you are unaware of.  What will you do, if when you get to Heaven, the Pearly Gates are opened, and when Jesus opens the door to welcome you, you see He's black?  What will you do?  What will you say to Him?  What will He say to you?


What does the Bible say about racism? Let's take a look:



"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." ... Galatians 3:28


"Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." ... John 7:24


"For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him." ... Romans 10:12


"Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.: 1 John 2:9


"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." ... Genesis 1:27


"But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors" ... James 2:9


"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." ... John 13:34


"For God shows no partiality." ... Romans 2:11


"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit." ... 1 Corinthians 12:12-13


"And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all." ... Colossians 3:10-11


"So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." ... Matthew 7:12


"After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands" ... Revelation 7:9


"So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him." ... Acts 10:34-35


"Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him." ... Ephesians 6:9


"And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?" ... Luke 10:25-37


"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." ... John 3:16-17

Forgiveness

Recently, I was deeply hurt by the actions of a couple of members of the leadership of the church in which I am a member.  One of these leaders out and out lied to me directly.  The other spread false rumors.

When doing work with the homeless community, many times some of the homeless people do not receive what they ask for.  Drama and lies spread rampant.  Unfortunately, one of the people who stayed in one of the camps wanted more than I was able to offer.  I will not participate in anything that is either immoral or illegal.

With that said, let's just say I was blackmailed.  If I did not provide a certain person what they wanted, I would pay a price.  I didn't, and I am still paying the price to this day!

I didn't know what the price was going to be.  Until months later.  But here is what the person has done as retaliation.  They spread throughout their particular homeless camp a story that both J and I kept this person detained in my basement for over two weeks, tied up with rope, raping them repeatedly, and refusing to let them leave my home.  Ironic how this story began right after national news was talking about Ariel Castro being arrested in Cleveland for doing something very similar!

Fast forward several months.  I get a call from one of the leaders at the church wanting to talk with me.  He informs me that he has received an e-mail that shared a story very similar to what I just shared.  He informs me that police are investigating and taking it very serious.  I am then told that the church no longer wants me to serve in any volunteer capacities.

I understand.  Yet, I don't.  So I call the Columbus Police and inquire about the so-called investigation.  I offer to go to the station and give a DNA sample to prove my innocence.  The police inform me that there is no investigation.  They appreciate my willingness to cooperate, but inform me there is nothing to cooperate with!  They go further to inform me that yes, they are aware of a rape story from this individual.  However, they said that this person has filled out over 50 rape claims in the past four years.

The next day I get a call from this individual's case worker.  She is only allowed to talk with me because he gave written permission over six months prior.  She informs me that she too is aware of the lies that he was spreading.  She was devastated over their actions.  She went on to share with me additional lies that he had been telling, including to me personally.  He had always claimed that he had moved to Columbus when he was 12 years old from New York with his mother.  Two years later, his mom died of leukemia, and he had been living on the streets for four years since her death.  His mom is still alive and well.  She wants nothing to do with him because of his compulsive lying.

Back to the particular leader within the church.  If he had shared with me what he knew, and asked me to step back for a while, I would have completely cooperated and understood.  However, he took it a step further and started sharing the news with others.  And from there, it got spread, and spread, and spread.  Gossip loves to spread like wildfire.

Another leader within the church, when confronted over a certain issue indirectly related to this wound up lying to me through e-mail.  This person recently apologized to me.  I was quick to tell them they were forgiven, but have I truly forgiven from my heart?  Have I truly forgiven the other one for spreading the gossip?  I want to say I have, but I just don't know.

This past weekend, I had a long conversation with J.  He has been completely aware of the full story all along as well.  It was about a month later that he started coming up with different reasons of why he didn't want to go to church each weekend.  So we talked about it in depth this weekend.  J has some very strong protective instincts.  He is extremely angry at how he perceived the church to treat me after the stories started to spread.  In fact, he was even more angry than I ever was.  But it didn't stop there.  He went on to say that he feels as though both the leadership of the church and the majority of the church body he's come into contact with are "stuck up."  When J first started attending, he established a special bond with the leader of the music ministry.  J feels as though he is now being shunned by that person.  J says that if he ever tries to approach the Pastor, the Pastor ignores him and walks away. I tried my very best to explain to J that in a church that has between 4000-5000 people a weekend in attendance, the leaders get very busy and distracted easily, and he shouldn't take it personally.  But J isn't buying it.  He feels as though he was treated rudely one time too many.  He no longer wants to return period.  He is begging me to find a new church, and then he'll be more than willing to start going to church again.  But he never wants to step foot inside CWC period.

Forgiveness.  So much easier said than done.  For me personally, it seems much easier to forgive if I see change within the one that needs the forgiveness.  But when the repentance isn't there, it's much more difficult.

BUT ... is that the way it should be?  I don't believe so.  You see, God has forgiven me for ALL of my sins ... past, present, and future.  I haven't always been repentant, yet God has still forgiven me anyway!

To the entire leadership team of CWC, I forgive you all.  Some of you may still feel blinded and feel as though you did nothing wrong, and that's okay.  I forgive you anyway!  To those who have treated J rudely (and yes, I have seen it firsthand to know it's truly been a bit rude at times), I forgive you.  

To the 18 year old who loves to spread complete lies ... I FORGIVE YOU!  You are no longer welcome in my home, and I do not wish to have any association with you again period, but I still forgive you!

And while I am at it ... to the person who drives the red mini van with a Cypress decal on the back window who cut me off and then gave me the middle finger on Rome Hilliard Road, I forgive you as well!


"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." ... Mark 11:25