The strange part is that, though I believe all these things (and have for many years) my behavior didn’t always demonstrate the firmness of my beliefs.  I’m sure I’m the only one, but I can recall all the times that I would be slamming Doritos by the bag, and saying to myself “I really gotta go on a diet…tomorrow.”  I’d find more than a few reasons why I was too busy to stop by the gym, or mow my lawn, or pray.  Even guilt had very little power to keep me from falling to temptation.  Oh, I could put on my “good Christian” mask and quote scriptures about what I believed, but when it came down to it, what I “believed” didn’t really affect the way I lived.

So, if believing something doesn’t change the way you live, can you really say you believe?  Ephesians 2:8-9 says “It is by grace that you are saved, through faith (belief), and no credit to yourself – it is a gift from God.  It doesn’t come by our works, so we can’t brag about it.” James 2:20 says “Faith without works is dead.”  For years, I’ve seen religious people swing this pendulum back and forth with no real effect, like a two-hour soccer game with no score.  Some churches have tried to get people to clean up their behavior.  Talk this way, act this way, dress this way, then you’ll be a Christian.  Others have taught that you have no responsibility in the matter.  God chooses who is in, and who is accepted.  Your behavior doesn’t matter.

You want to know what I believe?  Both!  There, settled the argument for all the ages, right?  Well, not exactly.  I’m not even sure I could come close.  I would however, redirect to a question that we can answer:  What are you prepared to do with the things you believe?  If I believed my house was on fire, I’d get out of there.  If I believed I was six months away from a heart attack, I’d order vegetables instead of fries.  If I believed the vows I made to my wife, I’d put a filter on my computer.  If I believed that God is interested in a relationship with me, and has good gifts for my life, I’d spend some time getting to know how to hear His voice.  If I believed that God’s promises apply to me and my family, I’d spend some time studying what those promises are.  If I believed that God hears my prayers, I’d do some more praying.  If I believed that Jesus gave me power to overcome temptation, I’d find out how to tap into that outlet.

The belief written about in the Bible is not just a sensory knowledge.  It’s not religious information to be regurgitated on Heaven’s Fill-in-the-blank entrance exam.  (No, you don’t have to take SAT’s to get into Heaven)  Real faith is an active belief.  It’s the kind of belief that altars the way you make decisions, affects the way you treat others, and authenticates your response to God.  God-given faith is something so real, something you know so confidently, you cannot help but respond dramatically.  Hebrews 11:1 says “Faith is the substance of what you hope for, the evidence of what you cannot yet see.”

Would it take a doctor’s diagnosis to make you believe your choices are important?  Would the threat of divorce make you honor your mate?  Would the bill to re-sod be enough to convince you to tend the yard more frequently?  What would it take to get you to take God seriously?  When would be an appropriate time to consult the One who made you?  How many people around you need to be healed before you consider that God could do the same for you?  Will you press through the complacency, excuses, and logical reasons you have for being stuck where you are?  Will you believe that God loves you as much as anyone else?  Will you believe that God rewards those who diligently seek Him?  Will you hang on to what you believe, whether your friends believe it or not?  I believe I will.

He was adorned in purple, but not in splendor.  The crown that he wore had no value, no jewels, just twisted barbs and thorns.  The scepter of gold that he deserved to hold, was replaced by a Roman spike.  Where most kings are presented on glorious days with gifts of land and tribute, he was offered spits of saliva and mucus.  And where he should have been lauded for his omnipotence, he was insulted and profaned by the very people he came to lead.

When the moment came for him to be exalted to His position of authority, it was not upon a throne he sat, but nailed to a wooden cross.  The scene was tragic and ironic, the abuse, barbaric and brutal, but the all-powerful weight of his noble work was affective to achieve his purpose.

From that criminal’s position, a kingly proclamation was made.  An edict was issued that superseded any previous law.  A human emancipation was enacted, which in one moment freed all men and women, of every origin, in every place, for all time from the totalitarian government of sin and death.  Never before or since has there been such a coup.  The powers of darkness disarmed, all eternal debts cancelled.  The new regime, under this benevolent dictator would usher in a new dawn of love for the unlovable, mercy for the undeserving, and abundant life for those sentenced to death’s capital punishment.

When the royal decree had gone out, it was signed and sealed in the very blood of the sovereign, and establishing the everlasting tenant that can be neither altered, amended, annulled, vetoed, nor ignored, he declared “It is finished.”

Psalm 24:7-10 ⁷ Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. ⁸ Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty; the Lord, invincible in battle. ⁹ Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. ¹⁰ Who is the King of glory? The Lord of Heaven’s Armies— he is the King of glory.

Jesus did make it pretty simple with the commandments to love God, love others, love yourself.  Here’s where balance needs to be applied.  I look at biblical beliefs like a pendulum.  There’s always the tendency to swing from one side and back to the other.  I actually think that’s natural.  It’s in the middle where we want to live.  The Old Testament is God’s attitude toward sin, the New Testament is God’s attitude toward sinners.  Before we realize what an amazingly gracious thing Jesus did for us in forgiving our sins and making us children of God, we have to contemplate how Holy He is.

People that do not acknowledge God’s complete, total, fear-inspiring holiness can swing the pendulum to believe that we can live any way we want and God has no standard for us.  We play like ignorant children in the street among the traffic, and God says “Aw, aren’t they cute out there expressing themselves?”

On the other hand, people that do not acknowledge God’s unparalleled, incomprehensible mercy toward the undeserving can swing the pendulum to believe that we have to please God with our outward works and cower in fear of a lightning-throwing tyrant.  We are like infants learning to take shaky steps, and each time we fall God says “How dare you fall, you incompetent excuse for a human!”

My spiritual walk has been a continual, even daily reminder of God’s Holiness, and His mercy.  This view has helped me relate to non-believers with more compassion, and relate to devout, long-time believers with more understanding.

Something amazing is happening among Christians everywhere.  There is even a move among some to drop the name “Christian” altogether.  That word was first used by non-believers in Antioch, Syria to describe and ridicule the early believers.  It means “little Christ”.  The label stuck and has been used for millennia.  But when you look at things like, the Inquisition, the Crusades, and other dark moments in history, it’s no wonder so many people resist Jesus because of what’s been done in His Name.

Some groups are using the term “Christ follower” to separate themselves from the stereotype of the heavily hair-sprayed, southern fried TV evangelist, who talks funny, and is against everything.

Others are going even farther into repackaged Eastern Spirituality and mysticism.  Some are scrapping the whole deal, and throwing the proverbial baby out with the bathwater.  This brings me back to my earlier point about balance.  You don’t correct error with greater error.  You correct error with truth.  Every great renewal or revival of the past came through this same feeling of discontent, and drove people back to God’s Word.  Instead of taking someone’s word for it, they discovered it for themselves.  Scripture made sense, God was approachable, religion was detestable, salvation was available, and the life-transformation was undeniable.  That’s a real reformation!  I think we’re in one right now!  It certainly is being experienced in many churches just like God’s House.  The challenge is not to swing that pendulum too far and make up our own doctrine, but to go back to the original message:  A Holy God, so beautiful and perfect that He detests the very presence of sin, so much that He took on our humanity, laid himself on a brutal cross that we deserved, and paid to make us Holy so that we could be His family.  It makes me cry just to write about it.  Who else but God would do that?

You should read Isaiah 6:1-8.  It is a vision of the prophet Isaiah, a very godly man who comes face to face with God and is suddenly aware of his own sinfulness.  But it reveals what happens in the life of every one that begins with Loving God.  First you discover who He is and how amazing He is.  Secondly, you realize how small and weak you are compared to Him.  Thirdly, you find how willing He is to make us clean and make us useful to His purpose.  Fourthly, when He has done His work in us, we have no fear to stand boldly before Him, or to be associated with His Name.

It seems the closer I get to God, the more I don’t know.  The higher He lifts me, the more scared I am of falling.  The more I see His righteousness, the more I see my sinfulness.  The more I fear His holiness, the more I love His mercy.   I don’t know what label you would put on me.  Some might call me fundamentalist, or Bible-thumper.  Some might call me seeker-sensitive, or watered down.  Some might call me fanatic, or out to lunch, but there is one description that I would not deny…”His”.

There is one thought that never crosses my mind during all this activity; that is, getting these loved ones to reimburse me for my seasonal expenses.  In fact, when I receive a gift from them, I do not reach for my wallet and attempt to “settle up” with them.  That would be ridiculous.

Still it’s strange to me that as humans we respond to the greatest gift ever given by God to man with some pressure to earn it.  What’s the gift I’m referring to?  Grace.

Amazing as it is, grace is a difficult subject to swallow, much less receive.  Did you know that the word “grace” is used over 150 times in the New Testament, and 100 times in just the writings of the Apostle Paul?  It was a real hot button item for him, having been a part of a devout religious sect that practiced rigid legal compliance, and even had customs for washing their hands a certain way before eating.  Talk about working for it.  When Paul had a miraculous encounter with Jesus Christ it changed his whole view of religious piety and legalistic practices.  He found that the forgiveness and salvation offered by Christ could never be bought, repaid, or earned, no matter how hard you tried.

Grace means “unmerited favor”.  That means you get something good, too good, more than you deserve.  Grace is related to love, but it’s a very special kind of love.  It’s the kind of love that makes a parent unable to give up on an ungrateful, rebellious, and hateful child.  It’s the kind of love that gives one more chance to a person that has used up all their chances.  It is grace that warns an enemy “Hey, you’re about to fall in a pit” even after they’ve pushed you into it a few times.

At this point, you might be thinking “I believe in grace, but that’s going too far.  I’d never be that gracious.”  But I wasn’t talking about you being gracious.  I’m talking about God being gracious.  The grace that He gives us is love when we are the most unlovable, favor when what we’ve done seems unforgivable, and help when we feel downright horrible.  And He doesn’t present us with a bill after this benevolent act.  He doesn’t say “Alright, on the treadmill you go to burn off your mortal sins for the next two hundred years.”

No, God doesn’t make us His eternal slaves.  He invites us into His family as beloved children.  This invitation has nothing to do with our goodness, our righteousness, or our ability to be religious.  It’s all about a gift; His gift.  He thought of it (at Creation), He offered it (at Christmas), He paid for it (at the Cross).  And what’s your responsibility?  I’m so glad you asked!  Just do what you will do when your family gathers at the tree this year to exchange presents.  Take the packages that have your name on them, recognize the work that’s gone into the wrapping, identify the One who gave it, rip it open excitedly to reveal the surprise inside, and exclaim with sincerest gratitude, and gleeful smile “Thank you so much! You shouldn’t have, you really shouldn’t have!  But thank you!”

Don’t worry, I’m not in a morbid mood and I’m not depressed either.  I have been contemplating mortality the older I get.  When I was a kid I thought I’d live forever.  The only person I knew that had died was my Grandma, and as a child of four I understood that she had moved to Heaven.  In fact, we joked that the thunder was Grandma bowling.  Through my life I’ve experienced the passing of favorite teachers, high school pals, more grandparents, and even a very dear friend.  It’s a natural part of life to consider the shortness of it.  But what would a healthy perspective be on the subject?

I spent some time recently with a 72 year old friend.  She has been vibrant and healthy until this year.  Now she finds herself in a nursing home learning to walk again, praying for one more chance to get out there and live before she dies.

My mom is in her sixties and winning her second battle with cancer.  My friend Jeremy was giving a death sentence called Lymphoma at age 33, but was miraculously healed.  One of my best friends was injured severely in a freak accident and died suddenly.

It occurs to me that we have no promise of how long we’re going to live.  I don’t even think that is the important question.  Not “how long will you live”, but “how will you live?”

If you had a serious diagnosis from the doctor, would you accept defeat, sit down and wait to die?

You see, God doesn’t promise us a long life.  In fact, if you ask a healthy person in their eighties if they’ve lived long enough, you’ll probably hear about how short it has really been.  The point is that we’re not called to live a long life, but a life worth living.  Every day is a gift, an opportunity to bring Glory to God, to walk in His love, and to be grateful for what we have.  Each day you have something to do that needs to be done, whether you like it or not.  I have a family to care for, children to raise, a wife to love, a job to do, friends to encourage, prayers to pray, God to worship, and life to live.  I’m convinced that whatever things may challenge my earthly mortality, I’m not leaving this life one moment before God has planned for my departure.  I love the words of a song by Country stars Big & Rich that say “I’ll live this life, ‘til this life won’t let me live here anymore.”

It’s natural to consider how short our life may be, but it is not acceptable to sit around and wait for the end to come.  Psalm139 says that God knew all of our days and wrote them in His book before we lived the first one.  So, I choose to live each given day intentionally.  I will wake each morning with gratitude, I will meet each challenge with courage, I will cripple each fearful moment with faith, and I will live a life worth living until I stop breathing.  That’s when I will just begin to live.

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One of my dearest and beloved friends, Mark Priest, a comedic performer of the first rate was performing this week, lost his footing and fell hard into a brick wall. This simple little misstep caused him 55 stitches in his head, a broken wrist, a dislocated finger, but worst of all a broken neck.  The vertebrae that turns the head was fractured in three places.  Though he did not sustain any paralysis, he passed away four days later from a complication.

As a pastor, I’m used to walking with people through some of their lowest times.  I’ve seen faith-filled Christians lose their faith.  I’ve heard many church members say things they would have never said, as they try to wrap their head around their dark circumstances.  I’ve seen anger at God, I’ve heard cursing, and I’ve witnessed the hurt and disappointment on their faces.

Now, I have to tell you that my injured friend didn’t exhibit any of this behavior when he contemplated his significant disability.  He was sad and emotional about his hopes of returning to work, and about the upcoming contracts that he will be unable to fulfill, but he never got angry at God.  I did.

Does that surprise you?  Oh, I didn’t shake my fist at the heavens and shout obscenities at the Most High.  I felt that annoyed indignation that my wife shows me when I say something stupid in front of people.  You know what I mean.  If I could have found God’s leg under the table I would have kicked it, and given Him an icy stare that says, “What ARE YOU DOING?!”

“Come on God!  Don’t you know I’m trying to represent you to these people?  I’ve said some really great stuff about you.  They’re encouraged, heck, their even trusting you with their tithes.  And I don’t know if you’re paying attention here, but we’re having a Global economic crisis, and this guy was just starting to get work again.  What ARE YOU DOING?!”

I was gently reminded (mind you, God could kick my leg under the table any time He wants) of the words of another ministry friend of mine.  Pastor Steve Speight of Lichfield, England spoke of a plane full of angry travelers, sitting impatiently on the tarmac for 2 ½ hours, waiting to take off from Heathrow.  “I have to make my connection.”  “I’ve got important things to attend to.”  “Don’t those air controllers know what they’re doing?”

All the while, the experts in the tower have a perspective unlike anyone else.  They have the complete picture, including radar, traffic patterns, ground information, and weather updates all over the world.  If the annoyed passengers could see the dangers being avoided, they would handle the whole ordeal with more patience, knowing that the temporary inconvenience was for a preferable purpose.

No, I don’t believe God broke my friend’s neck, anymore than I believe the air traffic controllers break something vital on my airplane.  But I know that Romans 8:28 assures us that “God Causes all things to work together for good, for those who love Him, and are called according to His purpose.”

I was disappointed that all the hard work we did on his house wasn’t going to be seen by Mark, but then I remembered that Jesus said, “I’m going to prepare a place for you…”  I’m sure Mark is more amazed at his heavenly dwelling than anything we would have done for him here.

God is not wishing ill on us, and I would be superstitious to believe that He is.  He can see my life from such a better perspective than mine.  He wants us to do well.  He’s on our side.  And if occasionally I have to endure a few delays to my plans, I can trust that He’s working on a better solution.  I’m sad to lose my friend, but I’m sure he’s truly found “a better way to do life.”

In honor of Mark Priest 1962-2009

Thanks to everyone who attended the Memorial Service for Mark. If you were unable to attend, Please Click Here to watch it online.

Click Here to read a Note From Pastor Sammy.

About

On August 10th God’s House Orlando lost a dear Friend. Mark Priest was a talented performer who brightened the hearts of everyone he came in contact with. Even though Mark is gone from us now we know he is in the Presence of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are confident that we will see him again on the Day the Lord returns to bring us all into Glory.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 : Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

The Bible also states to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord and we are rejoicing in the fact that Mark is no longer in pain and is talking with Jesus face to face.

Please pray with us for the comfort of his family and friends during this time of loss. We are also praying that the testimony of Mark’s life will be a witness and bring the gospel to the lost that they might be saved.

Links About Mark

OrlandoSentinel.com – A Note about Mark from his Good Friend
Orlando Sentinel Obituary for Mark Priest

Video of Mark

Please feel free to leave a message below about Mark and how he touched your life.

You can see why a dream like this troubled me.  I have no interest in someone else, I am a very happy husband.  It was only after I discovered that I had become consumed again with comparing myself and my success to other pastors that I began to understand.  Slowly, quietly, and without notice jealousy had crept into my heart.  I was hearing of other churches, other pastors that are experiencing great blessing and favor.  But instead of rejoicing with them, I was saying in my heart “What about me?”  Oh, I’d smile and say “Wow, God is good!” But it felt more like “Crap, God is good to everybody else.”  I haven’t had a bout of envy like this in a long time, and I was sure that my ego was well-contained.  That’s when I had the dream, and I woke up feeling guilty.  I know I’m a little dense sometimes, and don’t always get it the first time, but I never connected the dream with my jealousy.  So there I was in prayer, griping about all the cool stuff He was doing for my friends, and hoping to “get my cut”, when I heard a voice inside me ask “Aren’t I enough for you?”

There it was!  I was pursuing blessing, success, the favor of man and I was asking God to give me all of this.  It was as rediculous as wanting to find another lover, and asking for my wife’s permission!  My dad used to ask “Are you asking God to bless what you’re doing, or are you doing what He’s blessing?” 

I was ashamed that this garbage was in my heart, so I took it to God.  What did I do?  I made a huge list of all the wonderful things that He has given me, and all the ways that He’s prospered me (believe me it’s too long to list here).  Then I prayed for my other pastor friends, that their church would be more blessed than mine.  Don’t believe me?  Watch this!  This is my confession before God, my church, and my family in Christ.

I want God to bless me, but more than that, I want Him to trust me.  I want to trust myself.  God loves me like I was His favorite kid.  How could I want more.  LORD, YOU ARE ENOUGH FOR ME!

Following is a list of the greatest men of God that I know personally and if I wasn’t busy every Sunday I’d be at their churches.

Chan Kilgore

    CrossPointe Church – Lake Nona/St. Cloud
    www.xpointe.com

Gregg Heinsch

    Celebration Community Church – Celebration
    www.celebrationcommunitychurch.com

Kendal Anderson

    The Crossing – Clermont
    www.thecrossingchurch.org

Jerry Parries

    Christian Family Worship Center – UCF Area
    www.thechristianfamilyworshipcenter.org

Rick Fiechter

    The Connection – St. Cloud/Kissimmee
    www.connectionchurch.net

Bart Malone

    Bridge Christian Fellowship Orlando – Downtown
    www.thebridgeorlando.com

Keith Tower

    HighPoint Church – Windermere
    www.realliferealfaith.org

Derek Worthington

    Doxa Church – Ocala
    www.doxachurch.org

Mike Sehon

    Church of the Highlands – Port Orange 
    www.portorangehighlands.org

Victor Montalvo

    Reality Church – Lake Mary
    www.realitythechurch.com

Barry Rice
    GO Church – Lake Nona
    www.gochurch.org

Renaut van der Riet
    Mosaic Church – Winter Garden
    www.mosaicfl.org

Roderick Zak

    Rejoice in the Lord Ministries – Apopka
    www.rejoiceinthelord.org

John Wright

     Crosswalk Community Church – Titusville
    www.crosswalkcc.org

Jeff Bigby

    Canvas Community Church – East Orlando
    www.canvasorlando.com

Jesse Carbo

    The Roots Community – Davenport

     www.therootscommunity.com

Jamie Hart

    CrossPointe Church – Winter Park
    www.crosspointewinterpark.com

Joey Robles

    The Bridge Orlando – Millenia

     www.bridgeorlando.com

Wayne Wilkins

    Antioch21 Church – UCF Area

    www.antioch21.org