Life Path Ministries & Services

Money Can Never Satisfy Your Soul

2023-10-29T06:26:00.001-07:00

We can list many things that money can do. But money most certainly cannot satisfy the soul.

What Happens When Jerusalem Falls to Babylon

2021-09-28T10:29:00.009-07:00

This week's Bible study for the #jeremiahjourney takes us on a whirlwind of adventure as things get real for King Zedekiah and his people.

The walls are broken up.

The city is under siege.

The entire community is in a chaos.

The leadership and its army have abandoned their posts.

What in the world is to become of God's people at this point?

Join us for Live at Lunch Bible Study on Wednesday at 11 AM PST to discover more.

Coffee & Chat with Rev Bruce Gig Economy: Uber Eats vs Doordash

2021-09-25T10:58:00.005-07:00

Going All in with the Gig Economy

2021-09-24T11:04:00.000-07:00

So last week I hosted a livestream where I broke down breaking into the gig economy. This is not entirely new territory for me. However, the delivery and rideshare gigs is a new frontier for me.

I spent this past week getting delivery gigs with Doordash and Uber Eats, and I got some stats to share with you and some insights on how to work this to your own advantage.

HOW TO INCREASE YOUR INCOME IN A GIG ECONOMY

SATURDAY, SEPT 25TH

10 AM PST

via YouTube

You don't want to miss this!

How Jeremiah Got Out of the Mud

2021-09-21T10:47:00.000-07:00

Ebed-Melech.

That's his name.

Ebed-Melech.

Some will even say his name is Ebed-Melek.

That's the name of the Ethiopian eunuch who served under King Zedekiah in Judah when Jeremiah was imprisoned by the princes of the land.

Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, “Take thirty men with you from here, and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”

Jeremiah 38:10 (ESV)

Help Comes From Where It Comes From

Ebed-Melech appears in chapter 38 at a time where Jeremiah stood in desperate need of some help. It didn't matter where it came from. Jeremiah just needed some form of help. It didn't matter who it was to do it. Jeremiah just needed somebody to something on his behalf.

He was desperate.

The Bible says that the Ethiopian eunuch heard about what they had done to Jeremiah, he went directly to King Zedekiah ( vv. 7-8). He was direct when he spoke with the king, but he was surely not disrespectful. His words were an earnest concern for another's well-being.

"My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet whom they have cast into the cistern; and he will die right where he is because of the famine, for there is no more bread in the city."

Jeremiah 38:9 (NASB)

While King Zedekiah had been reluctant to go against the wishes of the princes of the land earlier, he commanded and directed Ebed-Melech to rescue Jeremiah with the help of 30 men.

According to verse 11-12, Ebed-Melech gathered old clothes and rags to support Jeremiah being lifted out of the mud by rope. Just think about that a moment. He was concerned with Jeremiah's condition, even to the point of watching how Jeremiah was lifted out of the pit and mindful of the potential for rope burns and similar issues.

This week on Live @ Lunch Bible Study on Wednesday at 11 AM PST we continue the Jeremiah Journey and look into how Jermeiah got out of the mud.

Ebed-Melech (meaning: "Servant of the King") was the name of the man who actually advocated for Jeremiah and carried out getting Jeremiah out of the mire, the muddy lime clay that was in Jeremiah's place of imprisonment instead of water.

Some Bibles say that Jeremiah was cast into a dungeon. Others call it a cistern.

What in the World is a Cistern?

According to the Strong's Concordance via www.biblehub.com, the Hebrew word used is bowr. Bowr means a pit or cistern, even a well. That makes sense. I don't get how that translates to dungeon, but if it was something dug out of the ground like a well or a pit, then I get how it might have mud for Jeremiah to sink down into as he was thrown inside.

In another blog post, I referenced Kevin Gates and his song "Out of the Mud." I share this post in hopes that someone grasps the comparison that I make between Gates and Jeremiah the prophet. The reference to the song pays homage to the man and his message more than his music.

Be sure to download the Bible study guide for this week and join us for Live @ Lunch Bible Study on Wednesday at 11 AM PST as we get into how Jeremiah got out of the mud.

#jeremiahjourney

Just in case you missed it, be sure to watch last week's livestream episode on the false imprisonment of Jeremiah.

Jeremiah Chapter 35 in a Word Cloud

2021-08-27T13:50:00.001-07:00

WHAT WORD STANDS OUT FOR YOU?

Read more about our review of Jeremiah chapter 35.

More Multimedia Activity

2020-07-09T02:03:00.002-07:00

Life Path Multimedia

The Power of a Pause

2020 serves as a political year, an election year, in the United States.

With that in mind, Life Path Multimedia in conjunction with Faith Impact Training (F.I.T.) has incorporated a newsletter and training component for #Vote2020 and #AwakenAmerica. These programs are geared towards voter education and empowerment for the upcoming election as well as methods and strategies for holding elected officials accountable.

If you are interested in joining the movement or just getting information, sign up for the e-newsletter.

The latest episode of Coffee & Chat with Rev Bruce

This week's guest is Lakeysha Sowunmi, an author and health advocate in San Diego, California.

Life Path Multimedia Ministry is still exactly that- a ministry dedicated to harnessing the power of multimedia to reach, teach and preach. We are involved and engaged in the inspiration business.

The Need for a Wake Up Call

2020-06-29T07:15:00.000-07:00

"This Fourth of July is yours, not mine, You may rejoice, I must mourn."
-Frederick Douglass, What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?

#AwakenAmerica T-Shirt
by Lifepath08

I state this plainly and with limit idea how it might strike home for others: America needs to wake up.

I say this to those who look like me and stand with me: American minorities need to wake up.

I say this to those who work and remain poor as well as those who struggle and strive to survive from paycheck to paycheck, even those who have no employment and no foreseeable means of employment in the near future: America's working class needs to wake up.

If we do not wake up, we are doomed.

We will be doomed to repeat the last 4 years. We will be doomed to see racial tensions grow to the full extent of the law and boil over into bloodbaths and mayhem. We will be doomed to see the shrinking value of a dollar right before our own eyes. We will be doomed.

We will be doomed if we do not take an active role in the political process. We will be doomed if we sit back and expect the others to carry the weight of this election. We will be doomed if we simply accept what has passed for representation in the past as valid assurance that things will get better by and by.

Wake up and wise up.

We have to get active and mobilized, educating and empowering the average voter on how to use the power of his or her vote and voice.

#AwakenAmerica #vote2020

Revisit how 2008 was won based on concepts like HOPE, CHANGE, and YES WE CAN. Can we do something like that again?

Life Path Multimedia Weekend Work

2020-06-14T08:25:00.000-07:00

https://youtu.be/lDN40y0xw_o

For those who might have missed it, the Coffee & Chat with Rev Bruce live stream launch was a joy. The fruits of your labor are always sweetest when you have done the work long before others see any signs of sprouting. If I can help somebody, let me say it plainly: Keep pushing when it seems like quitting time.

Coffee & Chat with Rev Bruce Podcast

Part of the big deal is that the live stream allowed for the podcast upload and here is Part 1 of the initial episode of the podcast. Excuse the colorful language at the end but I believe where you can see the natural flow of this dialogue and discussion on purpose and pursuing a greater good for communities and its children.

New Live Stream & Podcast from Life Path Multimedia

2020-06-11T21:47:00.001-07:00

Coffee & Chat with Rev. Bruce launches with a live stream video on Facebook and YouTube on Saturday, June 13th, 10 AM PST. This feeds into the Coffee & Chat with Rev. Bruce podcast that will be uploaded by Monday, June 15th, and available on various podcast networks including Spotify.

The main goal of this launch is to share inspiration with people. We want to see people inspired to do great things, to use their gifts for greater good and bounds success, and to share their experiences with others to build more achievers in this world.

Does that mean I stop sharing Inbox Inspirations via the weekly newsletter? Nope. You can still get inspiration in your inbox from Rev. Bruce.

Does that mean that I am done posting to the blog on WordPress?
Nope. You can still subscribe to Rev Bruce's Blog and get weekly Bible-based insights and inspiration.

But I want you to give Coffee & Chat with Rev. Bruce a chance. Subscribe to the podcast and watch online. Follow the progress and join the journey. I trust that there will be something that sparks you and gets you inspired to seek more out of life.

Finding Financial Freedom

2019-07-04T12:25:00.002-07:00

Economic empowerment is an equalizer.

Let that sink in.

Soak it in for a moment.

Empowering people can change their perspective. Empowering people can change their prospects in life. Like I said earlier, economic empowerment is an equalizer.

I plan on sharing some realistic economic options for people here. I say that's my plan because I had started on a similar journey not so long ago with a blog series starter on Money Makeovers. Much like John Lennon stated: "Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans."

My mother passed away during the Christmas holidays. She had fought cancer for a few years but the disease spread and required a different level of care that chemo could not address. A few months after that my stepmother passed away, and then my close cousin died as well,

My cousin's passing hit me hard since we were the same age and spoke of plans to travel and conduct some business together in the near future. His passing jarred me a little bit. I took it bad.

Living with these recent losses and having to step in to take care of my mother's affairs in her latter days helped put some things in perspective. I had to adjust my viewpoints on how I prepared for the present and the future. I needed to organize some things for my family so that they do not have to search and find what was what when I have my time to go to the Lord.

I strive to place an emphasis on empowering others to find financial freedom here and via my other work online. Please join me for a journey to engage in a discourse that we rarely tackle in low-income, minority and faith-based settings. In all honestly, it helps with the healing and my prayer is that it helps others as well.

Let's get started.

Money Makeover Mindset

2018-01-01T07:26:00.003-08:00

2018 might just be the year when you get started with a money makeover mindset.

"The most important decision about your goals is not what you are willing to do to achieve them, but what you are willing to give up." - Dave Ramsey

Reflect on 2017 Thoughtfully and Thoroughly

Think about where you were in 2017. You made it through the year to get here today.

Now think about the highs and lows of 2017. Reflect on the progress and pitfalls of the past year.

What do you want to relive in 2017?

What do you want to change in 2018?

If you are anything like most of us, your personal finances are up in there somewhere.

Remain thoughtful about what you need to eliminate or add, even what you could improve upon in 2018. Keep that at the forefront of your entry into 2018. Commit to doing better in 2018.

Total Money Makeover in 2018

Dave Ramsey is one of many voices in the realm of personal finance that says it straight and makes it plain. The Total Money Makeover was a gift to me some years ago and I have read it again and again. It has helped me through job transitions and escaping the pressure of an auto loan. I consider it more of a reference tool than a read nowadays. I refer to it when I get beside myself with what Dave calls "stinkin' thinkin'" about my personal finances.

I suggest checking out what Dave has to offer in 2018:

His books are simple, straightforward reads about complex matters.
His classes like Financial Peace University are available at local churches and other sites.
The Dave Ramsey Show comes in a variety of formats. I listen on iHeart myself.
There is plenty more tools and other items to explore on his site and at his online store

Why Endorse Dave Ramsey and the Total Money Makeover

In all honesty, Dave Ramsey is an extraordinary resource for staying on top of your personal finances. Like I said, he incorporates plain talk for plain folks. He is frank and candid about his own financial journey. In essence, Dave wants us all to learn from his mistakes and not repeat them.

Get started with the Baby Steps or simply check out the show. Visit the New to Dave section of his site. My hope is that you discover that financial peace is attainable. My desire is that you would use this or any other resource to reclaim control over your financial life, career and livelihood, even your lifestyle.

It is more than money. It is a mindset.

Money Monday Messages and More

Look for more on financial freedom and economic empowerment with Life Path Multimedia Ministries as we start off 2018. We want to post biblical and practical information and resources to strengthen your stewardship. Our Inbox Inspirations e-newsletter is a great place to start, too.

Meanwhile, get plenty of stewardship support via our upcoming blog posts on the following themes:

Money Monday Messages
Wealth & Wisdom On Wednesday
Friday's Financial Freedom

More is bound to come as we move forward in faith, but I trust that this start will help us to help others discover what God has to offer them in 2018 and beyond.

Prepare for the Jeremiah Journey in 2018

2017-12-24T00:04:00.000-08:00

#JeremiahJourney #JoinTheJourney
http://bit.ly/2kP3lDg

What Money Means to Ministry

2017-12-10T02:56:00.003-08:00

"Money follows the ministry." - Timothy J. Winters

Money is a means for ministry. We make things happen in ministry with the aid of money. It can happen in the form of charitable donations, offerings, tithes and other ways that people give to the ministry. Money helps the ministry.

Wise Words from Winters

When Pastor Timothy J. Winters shared his insights on money following the ministry with me, he was speaking on preparation for a minister to discover his own personal calling. He stated that some wanted to wait on the money to begin their ministry, an approach that did not signify a high level of faith. We are to build the ministry, and the money and other resources needed will follow the ministry's work being initiated.

What Money Means to Ministry

We do not need money to operate ministry.

That's a fact.

There is no doubt that money helps churches, parachurches, faith-based nonprofits and countless coalitions and associations doing good works. However, money is not the main resource for ministry. There are other resources incorporated in the anatomy of ministry that keep it going beyond money.

Money helps ministry.

Money helps us help others beyond what we are already doing for people.

Expanding the Ministry

We can expand the ministry from what it has been or who it has been helping, even where it has been operating. Imagine the vision it took for Robert Schuller to see the possibilities of an empty drive-in movie theatre in Orange County. It took vision, but it also took money to build the Crystal Cathedral, to produce the longstanding Sunday TV broadcast The Hour of Power, and publish a wide array of books. With financial support, along with patience and dedication, the ministry was able to expand beyond its origin to world-renowned standing.

Life Path Gear & Accessories

The money did not make the ministry. The money only served the purpose of helping to expand the ministry.

Money can help us serve more people. It can help us produce and sell more products like gear and accessories. It can help us provide more goods and services to the poor and needy. It can help us take our ministry further than the current borders of our service.

Money can help with expanding the ministry.

Enhancing the Ministry

Money is a means for enhancing the ministry.

In other words, the ministry can grow in a different way and to a different level with the help of money. You can enhance the ministry with additional elements. You might change the selection of available items at your food pantry. You might be able to provide your volunteers t-shirts or buttons to wear while serving. You could enhance your ministry with more money.

You just have to be careful with sponsorships and donations. These should help you do what you do, not direct and determine what you do. You do not want money to inhibit or limit the ministry's ability to do good for others.

Money can help enhance the ministry.

Just keep it all in mind. Money has a place in ministry, but money only follows the ministry. Follow your heart first. Find your calling. Focus on that calling and its work. You will be overwhelmed and amazed at the world of supporters out there, especially those who have more to offer than money- a willingness to pitch in and do some of the work with you.

Read more from Rev. Bruce on the Calling to Serve:

@Prayer is designed to stir up inspiration
by Lifepath08

The Real Deal on the Love of Money

2017-12-04T16:26:00.000-08:00

Some people got to have it
Some people really need it
Listen to me y'all, do things, do things, do bad things with it

-For the Love of Money

The O'Jays

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

- 1 Timothy 6:10 (NIV)

The Truth About Money

Money tends to get a bad rap. Search the Internet. The truth is that money is not evil. It is not "of the devil" as some believers have come to attest and profess. Money is an inanimate object. It has no feelings. It has no intention, either good or bad.

Money is simply a means. Money is a medium of exchange.

Money is not the problem.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. . .

The Real Problem Beyond Money

The real problem with money is our perspective on money. Many of us as believers have a flawed perspective of money and what it can do for us. Some see money as a problem-solver. Some see money as a cure-all and a fix to all of their problems and issues in life.

That perspective is full of trouble.

With a flawed perspective, we can never put money in its proper place within our lives. It will always seem to have more power than it warrants if we believe it to be an all-powerful solution to our circumstances.

. . . If riches increase, Do not set your heart on them. - Psalm 62:10 (NKJV)

He who trusts in his riches will fall. . . - Proverbs 11:28 (NKJV)

For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.

-Proverbs 23:5 (NKJV)

The Real Deal Perspective on Money

Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith

and pierced themselves with many griefs

-1 Timothy 6:10 (NIV)

Do not approach money like these folks that Paul describes to Timothy. Their desire and eagerness for money caused them to "have wandered from the faith." They found themselves plagued with "many griefs." Money is not worth it when it rips apart your faith and causes you grief upon grief.

Behold, these are the ungodly, Who are always at ease;

They increase in riches.

- Psalm 73:12 (NKJV)

You will see some who prosper in spite of their misdeeds. There will be those who seem to get ahead no matter what comes up. Yes, "they increase in riches." They seem to have it easy, but you are not guaranteed to see their demise and destruction. Just as the verses above mention, earthly riches are fleeting. You can be on top today, and then at rock bottom tomorrow.

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,

Loving favor rather than silver and gold.

- Proverbs 22:1 (NKJV)

Discover what it means to truly be rich. Look at the Lord's words in Luke 16:11: If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? (ESV). There are those "true riches" that the Lord has set aside for us that far outweigh silver and gold, even hard currency and cold cash.

Read Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover or his Complete Guide to Money. Other Christian authors such as Ron Blue or Larry Burkett, even Steve Marr's Business Proverbs, can also give you some insights and inspiration on handling the Lord's blessing of riches.

We just have to get the right perspective on money. Once we have the right perspective on money, we can make money and truly keep money in its proper place. That is when we can make room for the true riches that the Lord has for us.

When It Gets Real For You

2014-07-15T23:23:00.000-07:00

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.- Psalm 23:4 (KJV)

If you understand struggle, you understand that it can get real tough to take it. It can get tough to keep going. It can feel like you just cannot make it.

You may not see a way to make it through.

Reflect on what God has to offer you during your struggle.

. . . for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me

He is Present with You
. . . for thou art with me;
God will not forsake you during hard times or while you are down.
He is present.
He is attentive.
He is aware.
He is active.

He has Protection for You
. . . thy rod and thy staff they comfort me
His rod and staff can help to clear the way as well as ward off attackers.
His rod and staff can nudge us along the way to greener pastures beyond the valley of the shadow of death and they can be used to rescue us from being caught in the bushes or going astray from the flock.

He has something to offer us. Do not let what you are undergoing lead to your undoing.

He can help you make it through, even when it gets real for you.

Going through Hell with Help from Heaven

2013-11-16T19:19:00.000-08:00

The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart;
and sayeth such as be of a contrite spirit.
- Psalm 34:18

Being brokenhearted can leave you in the dumps. The damage done to you can leave you feeling like totally damaged goods and all out of sorts. It happens to a lot of us.

Fortunately, the Scriptures assure us that the Lord is near to those of us who feel broken and contrite.

Can you imagine going through hell without any help from heaven?

It is hard enough to catch hell as a Christian. We have fellowship with the Lord and communion with Him. We have fellow saints, brothers and sisters worldwide praying for us and fasting for us in unity. We have the Lord's Spirit indwelling within us due to our conversion. We have all that, but we still catch hell and it can break us down.

We can have all of these things to our advantage and still remain vulnerable to satanic attacks and demonic forces that seek to do all sorts of damage to us and our relationship with the Lord. Yet, we still have more than those who have no relationship with God. We can catch hell and still know that God is watching over us and He still loves and cares for us.

Though we may catch hell here on earth, we still have:

Hope: We have the Lord's will on our hearts. His will being fulfilled gives us hope that what we may go through is part of the bigger picture that will lead to us having a better perspective and bolder praise. We go through hell, but we have HOPE.
Help: We have the Lord's Word to provide us with His words of comfort and displays of His miraculous power and lovingkindness as well as longsuffering throughout time. He extends his hand of mercy and grace to help us when we least deserve it, especially since we cannot earn anything from Him on the merit of our own goodness. It is good to know that we have His HELP.
Heaven: We have heaven on our side. We have the Lord and His angelic forces, His almighty power that encompasses all things created on earth and in heaven. I oftentimes wondered why God and the "sons of God" did not launch a full court press on Satan when he walked into the heavenly realm in the Book of Job. However, as I learn more and more about the attributes of God, I realize that Satan (Lucifer) was summoned just like all of God's other angels in order to stand before Him. He was subject to God, even in his fallen state. God has all power over all things, even the hell that we go through with help from heaven.

Keep this in mind as you endure what you have to face in this life. it could be at work or school, in your home or your family. No matter where you go through hell here on earth, you can depend on help from heaven.

# # # # # # # #

Discover more about the type of help that God offers us all. Read my article Praying with Trust and find some simple ways to continue in Christ with deeper faith. Also, view facing Your Fears in Faith. I believe that both of these articles can help those who are hurting and are in need of healing that only the Lord Himself can provide.

Facing the Facts about Mobilizing Ministry in a Media Age

2013-09-01T19:54:00.002-07:00

The average Facebook user has 20+ "friends," according to Usama Nasir's "16 Social Media & Blogging Stats of 2012"

Digital Buzz Blog states that 55% of Twitter users access the platform via mobile devices. Additionally, the site also states: Out of the 6 billion people on the planet 4.8 billion have a mobile and only 4.2 billion own a toothbrush.

Is it time for your ministry to go mobile?

Let's face the facts. People are using all sorts of mobile devices. It is a global trend.

But you are just getting your website revamped. Let's not to mention the fact that you have yet to update the pastor's blog or the photo gallery that have no new photos since 2010.

I am just saying. Now you know I don't mean any harm.

Let's get mobilized with the times. We are called to lead people in the world to Christ. Yet, if the world all are captivated by Miley Cyrus VMA video clips and TMZ news feeds on their iPhones and tablets, then we had better come up with some methods for entering the multimedia marketplace with an action plan and some real strategies that can deliver results without burning out our congregations or volunteers and that won't cost loads and loads of money. After all, Jesus ministered in the marketplace. Paul did so, too. The other Apostles reached people by the methods of their times, too. Imagine what they would have done with email, text messages, and YouTube.

Stay tuned as I launch several posts in a series on starting your own multimedia ministry. The series will span several weeks and include some interesting pieces on mobile sites, video conferencing, and other methods.

The Message for the Messenger of God

2013-03-21T23:30:00.002-07:00

The messenger is to devour the Word. He is to take it in so much as to fill himself with it. As he is filled by the Word, he is to taste of its sweetness which is like honey. He must then prepare himself to regurgitate the Word that he has taken in as God's message to His people.

In the Book of Psalms, we are told to taste and see that the Lord is good. The metaphorical reference is that we can ingest and digest God's goodness. How do we do this? In most cases, we will experience this by taking in His Word.

By reading His Word, we get an inside look at God's heart for mankind. God offers us His Word as a direct message to both our hearts and souls. We experience His goodnes when we engage in the reading and study of His Word.

As we read His Word, we come to recognize how God is and what God does and says. We become exposed to the numerous incidents of God's interaction with man by seeing His relationship with Israel unfold through the Scriptures.

God uses the Scriptures to communicate to the ones with whom He has a relationship and those who seek a relationship with Him. He carefully crafted sixty-six books to demonstrate His relationship with man, including Moses and the Prophets.

We are encouraged to read the Word with the enticement that once we taste of it that we will see that the Lord is good. We will see that He is so good that we will feel the urging to echo the same sentiments as the psalmist and share it with others.

The Word is for both the messenger's filling and fueling.

It is his filling for his own satisfaction. It is good for him to partake of it.
It is his fueling for the people's sake, taking the Word to them with the utmost urgency.

He has tasted of it himself and knows of the value it contains.

Why Your Manna is in a Mess

2013-03-14T11:46:00.000-07:00

In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat. This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.’” And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less. But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat. And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.” But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted.
-Exodus 16:13-21 (ESV)

The bread from heaven that God provides represents our daily supply from God. God promises to provide enough for us for the present day. In this episode of scriptural accounts, God commanded through Moses “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.” However, the people disregarded the commandment regarding the manna and the manna became a mess.

The manna was a mess because it:

Spoiled: worms began to breed in the bread
Stank: the leftovers began to have a stench that emerged
Stained: the leftover manna left a stain among the people due to their greed

Sadly, the satin that the leftover manna left was a spiritual stain on the people of God. Their failure to heed the man of God and the word that he carried from God led to their own detriment.

"The world has enough for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed."

- Mahatma Gandhi

Leaders Lead by the Light

2013-02-08T22:10:00.000-08:00

Ye are the light of the world.
A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
- Matthew 5:14

Let's be honest. Real Christian leadership cannot simply rely on charismatic personas or catchy buzz words and slogans. Christian leadership must embody the True Light (John 1:9). Christian leadership must reflect that same Light. Christian leadership must lead others by living as "the light of the world."

We cannot hide that light.
We cannot dim that light.
We cannot deny that light.

We must let our light shine before others in order to lead others to the True Light.

Blessings from Bonhoeffer

2012-12-26T22:19:00.000-08:00

Believe him to be the Son of God,

and you will find him wonder upon

wonder, counsel upon counsel.

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer

A few years ago, I was introduced to Dietrich Bonhoeffer through a play that depicted an interaction between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Ever since that introduction, I have read something by Bonhoeffer at least once a year.

Recently, I continued reading Life Together by Bonhoeffer. Undoubtedly, it reminds me of the kindred spirit that Bonhoeffer offers me through his discourse on the concept of community to people of faith. In all fairness, Bonhoeffer shares some inspirational words that should cause us all to pause for a moment and realize the true value of our Christian community despite the shortcomings and mistakes of our humanity.

I also started reading I Want to Live These Days with You, a daily devotional by Bonhoeffer. I had read through it previously back in 2006 and 2009. As I prepared for 2013, I decided to return to the devotional once again. I had done the same with My Utmost for His Highest by Chambers and Morning and Evening by Spurgeon.

I suggest that most believers could glean something from Bonhoeffer's writings. He provides the reader with both inspiration and insight.

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God is Available

2012-11-23T10:17:00.001-08:00

¹⁴Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

¹⁵For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

¹⁶Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

-Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV)

God is available to us. We do not have to await a mediator in the form of a priest or anyone else. Jesus serves as our "great high priest" who "did not sin." He is our mediator, seated at the right hand of the throne of God and advocating for us before God.

Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

- Mark 15:38 (NKJV)

He makes our access to God available to us. The work of Jesus upon the cross brought about the torn veil that led to the Holy of Holies, the inner sanctuary of the temple where access to God was limited to those of the priestly order. That was destroyed and torn in two by the sacrifice of Jesus. We, as believers through His shed blood, now have access to God.

Take some time and spend it with God, meditating on the sacrifice of Jesus.

Read my article Finding Time to Spend with God Daily.

Give to Caesar or God

2012-09-28T21:44:00.000-07:00

Then Jesus said to them,

“Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s

and to God what is God’s.”

And they were amazed at him.

- Mark 12:17 (NIV)

Some people sought to trap Jesus. He knew it from what we learn within the Gospel of Mark. Just look at verses 13 and 15. He knew their hearts, their hypocrisy, and their intentions.

This discourse comes right behind Jesus sharing the parable of the tenants who slayed the master's son who was innocent. That sent a pretty strong message to those who could discern its underlying meaning. After all, the Lord did say: "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."

Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's.

That spells it out. If taxes and other matters of this world are part of how we are to obey authority, give it to Caesar or the feds, whoever may be in power. Obviously, Jesus was not into that form of insurrection. He said for us to give it to Caesar. Yet, He also shared that we should give God what is His.

What is God due? Is it just tithes and offerings? Is it just our praise? Is it more than that?

It comes up later when Jesus is questioned about what is the greatest commandment. The man who questioned Jesus shared: "To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices” (v. 33, NIV).

When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

- Mark 12:34, NIV

Jesus Enters Jerusalem

2012-09-19T10:44:00.002-07:00

Our lesson coming up this Sunday is about Jesus entering Jerusalem. It marks the final days of the Lord before the cross. This narrative passage of Scriptures depicts Jesus interacting with all kinds of folks, especially His own disciples. This is the portion of the Lord's ministry where He takes it up a notch by cursing a barren fig tree and cleansing the temple.

Dig into the Gospel of Mark's latter chapters and see how Jesus hits Jerusalem on His way to Calvary and the ultimate sacrifice for mankind. Expect great things to come out of studying this section of the Scriptures as we seek to learn more and more about our Lord and Savior.

FYI: Sunday students will shift classrooms from MLK 210 to MLK 301 (inside the building and in the loft). We will be there from now on.