In His own way, God has been really stirring things up in southern Georgia where I live.  It is not a work that is readily visible to the natural eye, but it is a work that God is doing in the hearts and minds of His people.  This generation has the capacity to impact the world like previous generations never had opportunity.  The enemy knows this, but by the power of the Spirit we are more than conquerors.  I am absolutely certain, in my heart, that God is going to take us to the next level.  For centuries mankind has been steadily building on the knowledge and understanding of previous generations and every generation stands just a little bit higher than the last.  So, it is the kingdom of Heaven.  I believe that this generation has the capacity to grown in wisdom and stature and rise above preceding generations in their passion, love, and knowledge of God.  In years to come I hope my children do greater things for God and have a fuller knowledge of Him than I do.

So to all my fellow soldiers I say- keep pursuing the kingdom and seeking to know more and more of the knowledge and love of God.  This world will be won as we relish in and then reflect the love of Christ in a way that has never been done before.

To God be glory, and honor, and power forever,

Erik Brown

How can love be as strong as death, yet life without it be so meaningless?  Were we created to love and be loved?  God created man to be in a relationship with Himself.  After man sinned, that perfect relationship was severed.  When the relationship was restored, (after Jesus gave us access to the throne of grace) the believers were connected to the Vine by a never ending river of love that flowed from His veins.  That love is what burns in our hearts and desires us to love and live in relationship with Christ.

Oh, how the Father desires to be in that same relationship with His children.  He relentlessly pursues us seeking our hearts, love, and lives.  God knows that we can only find true satisfaction in the ultimate abandonment of ourselves.  A place where our identity is no longer us, but Him.  Only when we are captivated by the love of Christ can we love the people around us in the same self-less manner.  We NEED that relationship more than life, because without it, life does not have meaning!

When I take an honest look at my life I realize that I generally do not live in the house of love.  I spend my time in the house of law, judging my success or failure based upon my performance.  My happiness is not founded upon the grace and love of God, rather, in some way, I feel responsible to get things right with God by following the rules.  True, the rules are there for a reason, yet according to Corinthians 13 if do everything spiritual there is to do yet I lack love- I am nothing. 

So, my question is- what is the point of it all IF I do not have the love of Christ revolutionizing my heart and life?  Not only do I feel spiritually dead (even when I’m living by the Book), but I have nothing to offer those I meet.  Can I minister to others when my life is lacking in the source of life itself? 

My prayer is that God would give me a true understanding and revelation of the love of Christ. That He would grant a revelation not only for myself, but also the church.  I ask that my life would be transformed and overflow with the love of God for ever person I meet.  I pray that I learn of the meaning of true, self-less, and sacrificial love.  That I would love others regardless of their mistakes, and that mercy and compassion would become the standards of my life.  May I dwell in the life of Christ, knowing apart from the Vine I can do nothing.

I started college a few weeks ago pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice.  Amidst the secular thought process all too prevalent on campus I feel like I am wading through the a sea of the lost.  Everyone seems to be grasping for something and searching for meaning in life.  The professors especially are like rudderless ships without any means of navigation whatsoever.  I am so thankful for the Anchor that gives my life a purpose.

My job is such a blessing.  I am working for a Christian man who lets me come in and work on Saturday and he is working around my school schedule.  I am working for a vending company and I go to two prisons on Saturday and stock the vending machines in the visitation areas.  Interesting work considering I am getting a CJ degree.

Have a blessed week and keep looking to Him.

Erik B.

Remember, redemption’s hill, where Your blood was spilled, for my ransom.  Everything I once held dear I count it all as lost.  

(Chorus) Lead me to the cross where Your love poured out.  Bring me to my knees Lord I lay me down.  Rid me of myself I belong to you. Lead me. Lead me to the cross. – Lead Me to the Cross by Hillsong United

The national Memorial Day commemorates those who have served and given their lives for their country.  Great honor is due them, yet less is given by most people.  The reason for this is that the farther we are removed from an action of sacrifice the less we appreciate what was given for our own freedom.

I would like for us to apply this memorializing to the cross and what was sacrificed for our freedom from sin.  Every Christian was once a prisoner and bound by the chains of sin and death.  Yet Christ came, while were still bound, and gave us access to the key of life by paying the price for our sin.  He sacrificed his own life and went to the cross knowing full well the mortal price he would pay. 

Our soldiers are willing to give their lives for the freedom that we enjoy.  They do not wish to die, but they are willing to put their lives on the line and make the supreme sacrifice if necessary.  Christ put His life on the line and gave it knowing that it was necessary.  He knew ahead of time the price of our freedom and willingly paid it.

We are separated from the act of Christ by thousands of years, yet his Holy Spirit is here bearing witness to the life and death of Christ.  More Christians are giving their lives for Christ than ever before.  Are these faithful Christians eye witnesses to the sacrifice of Christ?  No, but they are witnesses of the Holy Spirit and ones who have experienced the revelation of Christ.

Let us truly memorialize the cross this year.  Not just once or twice a year on special occassions, but everyday.  Let us also memorialize those who have given their lives for their country, their God, and our Freedom!

God’s throne is seated in authority.  Supreme authority alone belongs to God and every being was created under the authority of God.  Rebellion against God’s authority, first by Satan and his angels and later by man, constitutes the first recorded sins of time.  Satan and his followers were banished from heaven and in rebellion Satan proceeded to corrupt and assume authority over God’s creation beginning with His highest creation man.  Authority first and lastly, begins and ends with God.  Those who would live under God’s authority must put to death the flesh which is in rebellion against God’s rule.  Living under God’s authority is firstly living in obedience to God’s will.

Authority comes in two forms.  The first is direct authority from God.  The second is God’s delegated authority in the realms of home, church, and government.  In Scripture (Acts 1:1-19), we read the account of Saul on the road to Damascus when He encountered Jesus’ direct authority.  Saul was blinded by the light and led into Damascus.  Once there he submitted to the authority of Ananias and received back his sight.  This is a wonderful picture of authority.  Firstly, Saul encountered God’s direct authority meeting the person of Christ; secondly, Saul was healed by submitting to God’s delegated authority – Ananias.

It is much easier to recognize direct authority from God compared to his delegated authority.  It is also much easier to submit to the former rather than the latter.  Submitting to imperfect people is a much larger test of our character.  Who can stand before a holy God and not be moved?  None.  Yet, we can almost unconsciously resist delegated authority when it comes to us “disguised” per se.  The true mark of the Christian is submission to God’s delegated authority in whatever place they are.  When we recognize that we are not just dealing with the man voted into office, but God’s appointed authority, we see that in spurning his authority we despise God’s authority.

Not only are there those who are under authority, there are those who are in authority.  Those in authority must be those who have learned to live under authority.  The person in authority must be appointed by God and clearly recognize that as God’s delegated authority he is only free to operate so long as his actions align with God’s revealed will.  Judgments and decisions can not be made if there is no revelation of God’s will.  The path to authority is a lonely road, for a leader must be sanctified and set apart.  He can not enjoy the casual common pleasures and activities or he is no longer set apart, but common.  A sacrifice is made by true leaders, for they must be holy and sanctified before God and the congregation.

In conclusion we find that all men are indeed under God’s authority, yet some resist that authority and choose to ignore it.  God’s delegated authority sometimes strays into error when that authority does not rely on God but seeks autonomy.  Delegated authority is not free to make decisions according to it’s own whims.  If the church walks in a proper understanding of authority, the church will have an impact in world like never before.  However, we can know for certain that on the last day the authority of Christ will be revealed to all and (Philippians 2:10-11)“every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”.  Amen!

Faith is usually first associated with religion.  Religion is the most visible entity based almost entirely on faith.  Religionists place their faith in tradition, devotion, history, a cause, or some higher power.  Actually, religion encompasses almost every aspect of faith in it’s tenets.  No wonder religion is often referred to as faith.  What faith are you?  Means, what is your espoused religion?

Besides Christianity, faith is required by Islam, multiple cults and groups, Satanism, Evolutionism, Creationism, and even Atheism.  Every one of these systems of belief or actions require faith, some to a greater degree than others. No doubt, faith is alive and present.

Whatever the reasons for faith, there is no doubt it can be a powerful motivator.  History is full of people who were willing to die for their faith and belief.  Across the board, faith is often of such a binding nature that the testimony is sealed with blood before betrayal or renunciation.

At the core of faith we find that it is a firm belief in something, almost anything, sometimes nothing.  Some faith is based on common facts that we have seen demonstrated or has been proven scientifically.  For example, if I jump off the roof I have faith the law of gravity will be in effect and I will fall to the ground.  The law of gravity has been proven scientifically.  Historically, we know that 11 of the 12 apostles gave their lives because they testified that a dead Man rose from the grave and was the Son of God.  Who would die for a lie?  Anyone will admit this is very strong evidence and reason to believe (have faith) that these men were proclaiming a message that was true.  These men’s blood sealed their testimony and their witness down through the ages of time.

Part of the loyalty of the Muslims is attributed to their belief in the mission of Mohammad.  They believe he was a prophet sent by Allah.  Another loyalty is the tradition and unity brought about by the Islamic faith.  It brought scattered Arab tribes together and united them into a fighting force to conquer the world.  Today we see the Muslim faith demonstrated by the jihadist who are willing to kill themselves in commitment to their religion.  It is clearly recognizable that they are dedicated and firm in their faith.

Atheism is faith in the non-existence of God contrary to clear evidence within creation and evidenced within the heart of man (if man will be honest with himself).  Atheist Central is Ray Comfort’s blog where he debates atheists.  What’s amazing is that the atheists keep coming back to argue with Ray over and over.  They get so angry yet they can not make a case against the existence of God.  They subscribe to a blind faith that can not be proven.  It is based on… nothing.

In conclusion, faith is clearly a powerful force to be considered.  Faith can move mountains and deliver the helpless.  It can join people together in a cause, or make them blind to the truth.  Faith is common to many, but what that faith is placed in is the key.  Perhaps the best description of faith I have found is in Hebrews 11:1, Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Erik B.

What are we willing to sacrifice to get to know God?  Not know Him in our heads but to know Him in our hearts and lives.  Are we willing to give up all known sin in our lives, lay our lives aside, and give up everything to be wholly devoted to Him?  Whoever lays down his life for My sake will find it. (Mathew 10:39)  Are we pleading for unswerving passion and devotion, one magnificent obsession- to know and follow hard after Him?  Holy is the Lord!

The truth is: we are as close and intimate with God as we want to be.  The closer we draw to the Light, the farther the darkness must flee.  Honestly opening up with a friend is difficult and dangerous; it leaves us vulnerable and exposed.  Opening up with God can be just as difficult, but not dangerous.  God already knows every secret detail about our lives, so opening up with God only allows Him to change us and burn up the chaff.  That is so what we need. A fresh touch from God in our lives that leaves us burning with His passion and love for the lost.  A boldness to share Christ and Him crucified.  May we enter the Holy of Hollies where dwells the Glory of His Presence.

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.

Romans 12:5 says:

so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

These passages speak of the diversity and unity within the body of Christ.  The church that was built upon the Rock is the hands and feet of Christ, but do we beat with the heart of Christ?  Do we have his love, mercy, and compassion?  Are we alive in the Holy Spirit and is Christ’s will being done through His body on earth? 

Looking at the Church today I see a large percentage of religious people who live nominally Christian lives, but who’s lives lack the changing power of Christ.  They are not changing the world of for Christ, but blend in with the world.  Did Christ blend in with the world?  Did he stay in His little village and just go to synagogue on Sunday?  No, He went into all the country preaching, teaching, loving, and healing.  What an example that we should be following as “little christs.”

My passionate cry today is this: that God would awaken myself and the church that we would comprehend the depth and fullness of the love of God so that our hearts would beat with a supernatural love and compassion for the lost.  That the Holy Spirit would guide us into an intimate walk with the Savior and that we would live.  Live not as the world lives (with no thought but to selfish profit and pleasure) but that we would be about the Father’s business and doing His will on the earth.  That we would be Christ’s hands and feet beating with His heart of Love.  Lord let it be.

Read some of the following quotes by Jefferson.

For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security.

I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them but to inform their discretion.

I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.

The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Jefferson clearly saw the dangers, perils, and curses associated with Democracy.  Where are we today?  With the defeat of the South by the North at the conclusion of the civil war, state’s rights were stripped and the Federal government’s role and rank established as supreme to that of state’s.  Since then, slowly but surely, the expansion of the Federal government has been voted in under guise and pretense by politicians hungry for power and willing to vote the citizen’s wealth to those who place them in office.  Once a government steps down the slippery path to socialism and becomes drunk with power, the end of democracy is in sight.  Power in unscrupulous, unrestrained hands will dissolve into mass corruption which will lead to anarchy.

Few today are aware of the realities we are facing in America.  Even fewer, recognize the end result of our current path.  The government is not the answer to our problems.  Jesus is.  If the church in the United States was alive, vibrant, and leading the way in government policy and action, we could still apply the categorization “A Christian Nation” to our country.  Today, America is anything but Christian and is progressing down the godless path toward socialism and the destruction of all we hold sacred, namely – life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Erik Brown