Supreme God

We just started a series in the book of Hebrews called, "Supreme God". As I have been reflecting on this and the book of Hebrews, I have discovered I don't really believe this in every area of my life all the time. When things are going well, I seem to thank God and give myself recognition because that's how things should be going. But when things are going poorly in life, in any regard, the first and only person I blame is God. I am sure this feeling is familiar. Whether you blame God for the work woes, relationship woes, or sinning issues you might have, or elevate yourself for the success you might have and recognition you receive, you are in this boat.

Hebrews has been a refreshing, yet challenging reminder to me that God is Supreme, and that His Supremacy is encapsulated in God the Son, Jesus. Jesus sets the stage in Hebrews. Jesus is the Supreme One. Take a look at how the author starts the book:

"1 Long ago, at many times and ain many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs." 

This creates a fire in my soul! The language of this author is striking and bold. He paints a clear picture of the power of Jesus. Some of the things he says about Jesus the Christ: the Father speaks through Jesus, heir of all things, creator of the world, radiance of the glory of God, the exact imprint of the Father's nature, Jesus upholds the universe by the word of HIS power, He made purification of sins, sat down at the seat of highest honor, is superior to angels, and His name is the MOST excellent. This is quite a list. And it seems clear that one truth rings loudly in this world: Jesus is King, He upholds and sustains my every breath, and He is the God who wiped my sins out with the most sacrificial act this world has ever seen. 

Man not only do I want to proclaim this to the world that needs Jesus so badly, but I want to share this with my Christian friends. We so often walk through this life without any direction, wondering aimlessly. We often concede to sin, shame, death, and defeat. Why? Because we can't overcome those things? No, the reason we resigned ourselves to failure and a powerless life is because we don't BELIEVE this truth. A good friend of mine preached this last Sunday and made a poignent statement about reality, "reality is indifferent to our beliefs." We can believe that shame, guilt and sin are stronger than our Redeemer, our Supreme God. But the REALITY is JESUS. He is Supreme and He can reign supreme in your life! 

For me, I have decided to remind myself of who my savior is everyday. What I mean by that is that I am going to wake up and reflect on God's Supremacy and the fact that He has called me into His presence. The book of Hebrews transitions from exhortation to rebuke often throughout it chapters. But there are some awesome reminders of our relationship to this Supreme God, as surrendered disciples. He gives us access to Him (4:12-16), he offers power to resist temptation (12:1-2), and He gives our weary and burdened souls rest (2:9-11, 12:3). 

Click Here for a sound bite of Piper preaching on Christ's Supremacy. Reflect as you listen and be reminded of the God you serve. You can listen to a longer version if you click here.

The Cost of Discipleship- Introduction

Over the past 2 weeks I have been reading the biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's life by Eric Metaxas. It is an excellent read and I highly recommend it. It has brought me back to one of my favorite books written by Bonhoeffer called "The Cost of Discipleship", a challenging book on the reality of the complete and fundamental change within the man when he/she enters into this process of discipleship. Another book I highly recommend. In contemplating these things and losing myself in my discipleship to Christ, I realized that this month, the first of 2013, marks an interesting point in my ministry to the young adults I minister to. It's been 6-7 months since we all came together and life is more real and raw than any of us ever anticipated. It's like we jumped on Satan's nerve in unison as we have come together, all of us imperfect people at different places in our discipleship to Jesus. We are increasingly learning the the "cost" of discipleship is gloriously hard, and harmoniously beautiful at the same time.

Over the next several weeks, I am going to blog about different aspects of the cost of discipleship. Each week is designed for us to consider what we actually committed to when we entered into a relationship to Jesus. Our western culture has badly marred the reality of this decision in such an unrecognizable way. Where I come from, pastor's and youth workers describe discipleship as a relationship of mentor and pupil. We have made the fatal mistake of eliminating Jesus as the one we walk with in discipleship, and make him some sort of end goal. My soul has slowly been embattled against such atrocities around me. A famous pastor, Rob Bell, tries to desperately bring meaning to discipleship by correlating it to the first century rabbinical training of Jesus contemporaries. He eloquently convinces his audience, however, utterly fails to correctly describe discipleship.

As I run into old friends, acquaintances  and family at Starbucks, I get a chance to observe from a distance how they conduct themselves. As a pastor, I take great joy in seeing these people grow closer to Jesus, and experience brutal disappointment when they are walking further away from Jesus. All of this is involved in our process of discipleship to Jesus. As I have asked before, as we begin this adventure in understanding our walk with Jesus, the Master, consider Matthew 8:18-22. Two guys who have different excuses for when and why they want to follow Jesus. A young scribe wants notoriety  and a youthful disciple wants to fulfill cultural obligations and go bury his father. Both are shockingly disappointed when Jesus gives them no excuses for dropping everything to follow him. The scribe won't find anything but a difficult and challenging process of discipleship, that will fulfill and bring more joy than any popularity or social power could ever bring. The young disciple must understand that in order to follow Jesus, even family obligation takes a back seat, whether or not he is shunned and scorned for it. But a true family is waiting if he so chooses to embrace the call of the Master.

Discipleship is not an attractive interactive experience that is easy. In fact it is difficult, straining, and a lot of times unattractive. I have had to battle those closest to me because of the overwhelming truth that this process is first, over any comfort, over any relational dynamic, even over my physical family. Jesus does not mean, when he says "if anyone comes to me and does not hate is father and mother, wife and children, yes even his own life, he cannot be my disciple." that our love for him out weigh our love for all others. This is meant to be an extreme statement, compelling his followers to priorities his following over anything in this world. We are reoriented as a spiritual family. Unfortunately, Jesus call to true discipleship is bucked, even by those who claim to serve and follow him. I have not only battled those closest to me, but lost them as well.

As we go on this journey over the next several weeks, I ask that you allow the Word of God challenge your view of discipleship in a way that you are drawn into this very real and extremely fulfilling relationship to him, at all costs. I ask you to count the cost of discipleship, and then enter it with the Master, Jesus.

Newness

It is a NEW year and the canvas is blank in the minds and hearts of people across the world. As people usher in the new year they resolve to change something, do something, and create in order to improve on the "self". I have nothing against resolutions. In fact, I have had resolutions, and most notably I have made them as a believer. I can remember time and time again promising both my brothers and sisters in Christ and God that I would do something to become a "better"  disciple in the new year. I have promised things like, "I'm gonna share my faith more!" or "I am going to spend time in the word every single day". Sadly, These resolutions miss the fundamental truth about Grace which undoubtedly transforms us.

I had the opportunity last night to celebrate the New Year with my beautiful wife and our Temecula Hills Christian Fellowship young adults. We brought in the New Year with shots of sparkling cider, worshipped God together, and had a genuilnely great time. I did not prepare an inspiring sermon for the night or some emotional monologue about how we need to change in the new year. I simply told them, "Continue to live for Jesus" "Continue to live a gospel-centered life". In fact in the middle of worship, I interuppted because the TV that was on caught my eye. Famous musicians were entertaining the world and it looked like they were having a great time in NY. And there is nothing wrong with enjoying your favorite musician. But for some reason it brought me to 1 Corinthians 1. Paul describes the cross as foolishness to men. He makes the wisdom of man foolish and uses what they considered foolish (the cross) to be the means of salvation. Ushering in the New Year for these young people means ushering in a more focused mindset on Grace, God's transforming grace in our lives.

You see, we have been made new. When I think of this New Year, I don't think of the possibility of how I can change for the better. I don't think about my moral standing before God and wonder how I can get closer to him. Relfect with me on Romans 6:

What shall we say then?  Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?  By no means! How can  we who died to sin still live in it?  Do you not know that all of us  who have been baptized  into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We were  buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as  Christ was raised from the dead by  the glory of the Father, we too might walk in  newness of life.  For  if we have been united with him in  a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.  We know that  our old self    was crucified with him in order that  the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.  For  one who has died  has been set free  from sin.  Now  if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.  We know that  Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again;  death no longer has dominion over him.  For the death he died he died to sin,  once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.  So you also must consider yourselves  dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:1-11 ESV)

Paul is describing here how being saved by grace through faith does give us license to continue to sin. In fact, many of Paul's enemies were Jews who believed this idea of grace devalued living in obedience. But here in this passage Paul so elequently explains that true grace brings true transformation and newness. Our old self was enslaved to sin and entering into a discipleship relationship to Jesus brings us a newness of life that frees us from that enslavement. In fact this change goes further than freedom. Our new life that is dead to sin and alive to God is commanded to live it to God not to that old dead self.

What a promise that God does it all. It was Christ who died. It was the Father that raised him from the dead. And it is God who changes and transforms us. Man what a relief because I utterly fail, each day, when I try to hijack and take control of my transformation. God has conquered sin and death in order to give us an avenue to daily commune with HIM in the realm of the truly living.

So in this new year, I encourage you to not try and change yourself. You can't. You might find temporary success and change from a resolution. But long lasting change that matters only comes by surrendering to God, continueing to identify with Christ and allowing this transformation of our newness to take root and make change deep, deep in our souls. I pray that God refines and transforms us this year, but I hope that our change comes from the death-conquering Lord of all, Jesus. Live for Christ today, live in Christ today, and allow Christ to overflow out of you today. Let's start with today.

I love you guys and happy new year!!!

"Self-Help' Advice: Good, Bad, or Indifferent???

I often sit at Starbucks and unintentionally hear people giving advice. And, a lot of times, I see people listening to my conversations. This is never intentional, and I actually welcome it. I remember when I started a young adult bible study at starbucks over the summer. We started small, but quickly grew to around 20 people taking up this little corner niche of the store. Right where we sat, the drinks came out. This often gave those listening an opportunity to listen to us as we studied through the Gospel of John. And, man, what a wide range of responses people gave. One day a wife from a fallen pastor in our valley walked up crying and telling me that her husband is still looking for a place to call home and would love to reconnect. Another time, an English fellow walked up and told us we were giving Jesus a bad name. It got me thinking about what happened that day. We had our bible's opened and we were passionate about a specific passage about Jesus love for the world. I couldn't imagine, with the Gospel being proclaimed, that a man would say that. I immediately came to this passage:

"For the time is coming when people will not endure  sound  teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,  and  will turn away from listening to the truth and  wander off into myths. (2 Timothy 4:3, 4 ESV)"

Paul notices that people are disregarding the truth of scripture to fit their own personal need to get, "self-help". I cannot judge what was in the heart of this man and do not want to attempt that. I am simply noting that, whether it was this guy or someone else, there are people who do not want Christ, and HIS Gospel elevated, but they want "the self" exalted. Friends, this is not unusual. In fact I am guilty of indulging in self too much. It is a constant battle. But the answer is most certainly not "self-help" advice that I see many people touting, encouraging, and posting on social media. It is thick with arrogance and contrary to scripture when I see someone post, "the ten ways to improve your life" or "5 keys to enjoy life", and not one of the steps is about, or even mentions Jesus or the Gospel.

Let me give you a list from Scripture on how to help "self":

1. SURRENDER IT (Galatians 2:20)
2. DENY IT (Mt. 16:24-25)
3. KILL IT (Eph. 4:22-24)
4. OFFER IT (Romans 12:1-2)
5. HUMBLE IT (Philippians 2:1-4)
6. And Finally, it is important that none of this is possible without the awesome and profound redemption given in Jesus Christ. We are dead to sin and alive to Christ. Romans is clear that we can only do what this list requires through the power of Jesus Christ (Romans chs. 5-8).

No, you are not the only one that can control your happiness. No you are not the only one that has the power to change attitude. No you are not the one that has complete control of yourself. No, that role, and that responsibility belongs to Jesus. He bought you at a price (2 Corinthians 6:20). He first loved you in order for you to be able to love (I John 4:7-11). And it is HIM that makes you complete through His redemptive plan (Romans 8:28-31).

I implore you to give your life over, completely to Jesus. This "self-help" movement of our postmodern culture has corroded away the truth of The GOSPEL and Christ wants us and wants all of us. It seems clear to me that the "self-help" stuff is almost entirely bad and contrary to our new nature and new citizenship. Giving into the lie of "the self" will inevitably strip us of the Gospel and the transformational power of the Gospel. Don't give control back to the dead, old self (Ephesians 4:22-24). But continue to live in the newness of your transformed mind, exalting Jesus and His life giving grace.

When Jesus is all there is.

Life can pack a punch. Life can get tough. People fail, miserably, and will always disappoint. I know that I fall into that category so often. These types of bumps in our lives are just that, bumps that come along that we can deal with, one at a time. But every once in a while, these bumps turn into mountains that all close in on us at once! I have hit that point in my life.

Some handle this with unwise decisions and reactions. Some people just wall up, close up, and get destroyed from cutting themselves from any lifeline that might exist. I have done both of those things at times. But what do we do, if we claim to be Jesus followers? How do we respond to life when we feel like this?

I remember when this time in my life started. I got a job as a Youth Pastor to High School in Colorado. We were excited. The church seemed like a good church, the people seemed awesome, it was closer to my family, who lived in CO. The situation went from good to bad very quickly. I realized almost immediately upon starting my new and exciting job that it was not what everyone I interviewed with said it was. Problem after problem built up from students having a hard time connecting with me, to coworkers lying to and about other staff. In fact this person was a superior. This person spent time dismantling me to his superiors to look better. This person did not want anyone to see "the real him/her". It started like this because of some issues me and another pastor wanted bring to him and resolve. This person just couldn't take both the criticism or the possible way people would look at him/her upon finding out about these issues. All of this built up to me sitting in front of an elder handing me a severance check. I was being fired. No one asked me my side of the story or tried to figure out what happened. In fact, about 6 months earlier, an elder told me I had to submit and he didn't care what the superior had done or was doing. At that point it sounded more like a business than a church.

My dad always told me work hard, do your job, and you will be rewarded, not punished. Because of that I felt utterly ruined, lik a failure. And the issues did not stop there. My character was being defamed by this superior all over town, from talking to my former leadership team, to talking to other youth pastors. I felt, by the end of this awful experience, that I had been dragged through a muddy valley full of sticks, logs, tree roots, and rocks that were destroying my body as I was dragged.

I recently came across this quote from Thomas Kemper, out of his book "The Imitation of Christ" on John 14:6: ‎"Follow thou me. I am the way and the truth and the life. Without the way there is no going; without the truth there is no knowing; without the life there is no living. I am the way which thou must follow; the truth which thou must believe; the life which thou must hope. I am the inviolable way; the infallible truth, the never-ending life. I am the straightest way; the sovereign truth; life true, life blessed, life uncreated." 

I realized, and still trying to rest in the fact that the one dragging me was Jesus. When I read this quote about John 14:6, it really floored me. If every single ting in life was stripped away from me and I was left bare before God, would I be satisfied in him? Would I remember quotes like this and remember that no matter what this life throws at me, Jesus way is unbreakable, his truth is incapable of any error, and his life is the never-ending true life that I hope in?

I have had the privilege over the past several months to live life with young adults, between the ages of 18-30. And together, with my wife, interacting with these people we have discovered that Jesus is all there is, He is all that we have to tangibly rely upon. Amongst these people in bible study and worship, as we have come together as a group of people connected to Christ's church, is the real and raw emotion that has resonated in my family for the last five years, which is "Jesus, your grace is the only thing left, you salvation brings me life, and your mercies are new every morning." Living this out is hard, but it is reality. All we have, and all we need is Jesus, who is the straightest way, the sovereign truth; life true, life blessed, and life uncreated.

I encourage you to look to Christ, whether life is going well or giving you fits. When Jesus is proclaiming this to his disciples, there were lots of "paths" to God, but his was the only and true way to God. We are offered al sorts of promises like this in our lives. Money offers this, "if you make money, you will have comfort." Friends offer this, "if you have friends, you will be satisfied". Jobs offer this, "If you have a job, you will have purpose and security". Religions offer this, "If you believe this, you can be the god of your own life, no one can tell you what to do or how to live.". We are invaded with the counter attack to this truth about Jesus every day. But the truth is that every single one of those promises leave us wanting, hopelessly stuck in our death and darkness.

I can tell you from experience that following Jesus, especially when it feels as though He is all that is left, is hard. You will face opposition, you will face temptation, and you will face your constant failures. Do not let those difficulties dictate you attitude or your worth in God's eyes. He has lavished his grace upon us without condition. In fact, life becomes an amazing adventure and fulfilling when we realize something: Regardless of what I possess or do not possess, JESUS IS ALL THERE IS. Paul famously state in Philippians 1: 21 "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Paul's attitude in this passage was to proclaim that regardless of the opposition, the Gospel is being preached in his suffering, and death would be a gain.

We, as Christ-followers, belong to Him. May we live life with Paul's mindset, that in this life, Jesus is all there is and to live is Christ. When I read quotes like the one I have shared, and read what is happening to Paul when he writes the letter to the Philippians, I am encouraged. Although life has me bruised, bloodied, and beaten, sometimes beyond recognition, I look up and see Jesus holding onto me tightly, as if never to let go. And I look back to my wounds and remember that this lowly body is not my identity, Jesus is my identity. Be encouraged, friends, that today no matter where you are at or what you are feeling, that Christ has taken our pain and made us new, adopted us into His glorious family.

giving thanks through trials

As I have seen all of my FB friends talk about the things that they are thankful for, I have spent much time considering what I am thankful for in this life, and a lot comes to mind. I am thankful for my wife, who is the best partner a guy could ask for. I am thankful for my children, all of whom bring a unique personality anf love to a Dad's life that is irreplacable. i am thankful to my Mom, Dad, brother, and sister, who all have slightly taken part in the man I am today. I am thankful for my church family, who have overwhelmed my family with a welcoming and accepting attitude, along with an excitement for what God is doing through the young adult ministry in our church.

But above all these things, I have been reminded of a passage that is very familiar to the believer. James 1: 2-4 says "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (ESV)". Trials, in the biblical sense, refine our character, and the past few years for me and my family have been filled with various trials. When I think of the trials that I, even still, am going through, I can't have any other thought other than, "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else". I am thankful for the trials that are in my life and I am thankful because I know that God wants to use these trials to refine my character, and bring me into a closer discipleship relationship with Jesus.

For those of you that do not know, my wife and I, after much prayer and consideration, decided that the ministry God was calling us to was this college/young adult ministry. We knew that following in God's will would be tough, and it has been. Two times already, I woke up not knowing how I would fill my gas tank or get formula for my baby. I know that some may criticize me for pushing through. But I did, and both times when we felt desperate God brought us to our knees in absolute reliance on him. Then, what I consider a miracle happened both times. Two different young men snuck some cash into my possession and God provided for my family. It brought my wife and I to tears in thankfulness, not necessarily for the money, but for the trial we encountered and were refined by.

I would not have my position before God any other way: a humble servant, saved by Grace alone, and willing to serve His church as He sees fit. I am thankful that God wants to personally teach me and invest personally. He knows my name, and that is a humble thought.

It reminds me of Philippians 1:29 "For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. (ESV)". Not only has God given me the gift of belief, but he has also given me the gift of suffering. I count it a blessing to identify with my savior in this struggle to serve and follow him in a dark and broken world.

So as we think of all the wonderful blessing we have been given, may we also rejoice in our sufferings together as a church. May we thank God for using trials to purge us of sin and self reliance so that we may more clearly see the grace he has so loviongly lavished onto us. During this holiday season, I am thankful for my Christian family and the struggle we go through everyday to live gospel centered lives. Happy thanksgiving everyone!

Christians ARE disciples of Jesus

This week has been quite the crazy week.first, my Mac broke and needed repairs, no doubt from my kids getting their hands on it! Then on the way home from a meeting in SD, my back tire blew. A friend was with me and we tried so hard to get the tire off the car, to the point where we would pull so hard that the car would fall off the jack! So we relinquished and called AAA. The guy that drove us home was from Iraq and said immediately, "I'm not Muslim, I Christian!" In broken English. He then proceeded to tell us a story about a day he was on the job and a girl from Texas hit on him. I won't give you the shocking details, but I will say it was entirely inappropriate. My friend and I sat their shocked that this kid was telling us what happened with a disturbing grin of pride on his face. It was probably one of the most awkward moments of my adult life. Well, the boarder patrol pulled us over and while he was in the station talking w the agents, we sat shocked and the first thought came up, "what does he mean when he says he a Christian?"

Are we disciples (follow Jesus and His teaching in word and deed) if we say we are Christians? Is it the same thing or two different things? Is a disciple someone more serious abut their faith? It might shock you to find out that when my biblical discipleship professor at Talbot brought these questions up, the class was undecided. Opinions ranged across the board. I do believe, however, that there is a clear biblical answer to these questions.

It seemed clear in the NT that Jesus expectations were clear for those who chose to believe in Him. The word "disciple" is used to describe his twelve followers, the broader men and women who followed him during his ministry, a group of 500 or so that would turn from him, and there are disciples of John the Baptist (to name a few). So this term is used throughout the Gospels broadly and more particularly. Interestingly, Paul NEVER uses this term in his letters (neither the verb or noun). It's does not mean that Paul didn't believe in discipleship. On the contrary, Paul's writings are inundated with patterns and language of discipleship, maybe more than any other author. 1 Cor. 11:1, in example).

To define discipleship a little more clearly, it is the process of devoting oneself to and following someone and their teachings. So does this definition leave room to separate a Christian from a disciple of Jesus??? Consider Matthew 8:19-22, a story that relates directly to this process. You have two men, a scribe and a young man who both desire to believe in Jesus but the scribe has ulterior motives and the son has misplaced priorities. Jesus response to both of them is clear, to follow me, you must devote yourself fully to me, not just for your own benefit or on your own time. And there doesn't seem to be a third option Jesus gives. No, in fact his seemingly harsh and abrupt response is important to observe here. Jesus mission cannot wait and is imminent, there is no time for any who believe to put anything before the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom is at hand and Jesus wants followers to forgo everything, deny self entirely. Another example of this is when Jesus gives a hard teaching in John 6 and the "disciples" (people following him in a literal sense) realize this partnership is going far beyond being fed and healed, it's going to having to change who they are fundamentally. The result, they leave Jesus, stop following him, and the twelve are left. When asked if the want to leave too, Peter makes an extraordinary confession, "Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God." (Jn. 6:68-69).

The process seems clear, belief in Jesus, especially in John (always uses verb form of the word belief), is some sort of action that takes place as we see here from Peters confession. There belief in the words and nature of Jesus seems to have real and significant force in not leaving, and continuing to follow Jesus. Consider John 9, after Jesus proclaims he is the light of the world, he displays this prophetic proclamation of His divine identity through the healing of the blind man. When He is asked if he believes in the Son of Man (Jesus of Nazareth), he says he wants to and asks Jesus who this man is. Jesus says me, and this is his response in belief:

"He said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped him." (Jn. 9:38)

It is so clear from the teachings of the NT that there was never meant to be this dichotomy of Christian and disciple. They are one and the same. So when we call ourselves Christians we are labeling ourselves Christ followers. We are meant to live in a manner worthy of the Gospel (Phil. 1:27).

We are all in a process of discipleship. Something in our lives is forming us and shaping how we view our lives and this world. It does not matter what we label ourselves. As a Christian, I want that label to reflect a reality of change that has taken place in my life. I don't want to imply that we need to live sinless lives or we should never make a mistake, but I AM SAYING that our beliefs in life have an inevitable result, including our belief in Jesus. Claiming belief in Jesus does not mean a factual cognitive acceptance of Jesus, but a complete internal transformation of putting your belief not only in the facts, but in the identity of who Jesus is. This belief will, without doubt, result in a change that is visible and evident to those around you. Do I believe that my tow truck driver was a saved follower of Jesus? Of course that's possible, and I am not going to judge where his soul and heart are at. But I will say our lives, including his, MUST reflect a transformation by God which is an inevitable result of that true belief we express.

I encourage you to live lives that reflect what Jesus and His mission has done in your life if you call yourself a Christian. Live as a Christ follower, and allow that life to influence and pour into those around you. Live your life in the same way that we see the man born blind respond to Jesus in John 9. Respond to your soul being pulled out of darkness by the light of the world (Jesus), with worship to him, and to him alone.