Should Christians boycott Target? In this article I share the truth about the recent reports of men posing as transgender females, how a Christian to respond to this controversy and offer a reasonable solution.

#BoycottTarget  

UPDATE: I was asked what books I read and recommend, so I just added a link to the article where you can view my Top 20 picks. Hope it's helpful.

Apparently, it wasn't bad enough that the Church is replete with heretical books, movies and TV shows. So "Christian" publishers have decided to offer adult coloring books in order to better help us know, understand and worship God better. What's next, adult "Christian" dot-to-dot?

#SadButTrue  

What the world considers "wrong" isn't always what God considers wrong. The heart in which we say and do things matters more to God than what may appear to be kind or hateful to others. Only God's definition of love, good, right, and wrong, is accurate. And as His dearly beloved children, our Father's precepts is what we ought to live by, whether or not people love or hate, appreciate or reject us for saying and doing the things we do as we reflect the glory of Christ.

"You often hear people today use that term, 'I'm very blessed.' And you want to go to them and say, 'Are you blessed because you're poor in spirit because God has taken hold of you in this way? Or are you really just saying in a religious way, I've been very lucky in my life?' " -Dr. Sinclair Ferguson, #SermonOnTheMount
Lesson 6: "Love Your Enemies", +Ligonier Ministries (Ligonier Connect)

In Matthew 5:3-11, Jesus tells us why HIS people are blessed and what defines our blessedness. Our Lord said blessed are: the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, those who are reviled and lied about for Jesus' sake. But in today's Christendom, being "blessed" is rarely defined by the terms and circumstances in which Jesus proclaimed our blessedness. Rather, we hear, "Blessed are the [seemingly] perfect parents", "Blessed are those who have big homes, have wealth, are popular and financially well-off", or "Blessed are those who have the most positive, happy and non-offensive, feel-good Facebook posts."

Though we ought to be grateful for every good and perfect gift from our heavenly Father (jobs, homes, family, friends, etc.) these are never the things that prove someone lives in a blessed state before God Almighty. After all, look at all the healthy, wealthy unbelievers who live in a constant state of enmity with God, rather than at peace with Him; which is the foundation of true blessedness.

Next time you're about to tell someone how blessed you are, if it's not within the same realm of Christ's definition of blessedness, perhaps, rather than say, "I'm so blessed to have ___", it might be more accurate and more beneficial for yourself and your hearers if you say, "I'm grateful to have _____."

#PsalmSundays: Every beloved child of the Most High God ought to strive to be good citizens of whatever earthly country the Lord has seen fit to put us in (to vote by our conscious and not by our fears; to do good to all according to what God deems good, rather than fulfilling the desires of the wicked, etc.). But our hope is not found in anything or anyone in this world. No, our singular hope and peace is found in Jesus Christ the Lord and His finished work on the Cross; securing eternal life for all who repent and trust in Him.

God only tests the righteous; while the wicked, He allows to deceive and be deceived as they travel on the slippery slope of wickedness. So if you're faith is being tested, do not fret, but rather, give thanks to the LORD our God for faithfully confirming you as His beloved child.

PSALM 11

"In the LORD I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, 'Flee like a bird to your mountain, for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart; if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?'

"The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD's throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.

"For the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face."

I wrote this last year, and resharing this year because the message of the Cross is still "good". I pray this is a spiritual blessing to all of you. Please prayerfully share this with all you love—the good seed of the Gospel of God's grace.

"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved" -Mark 10:18, Romans 3:10-12, Ephesians 2:1-5 (ESV)

#GoodFriday  

Pastor Robert Jeffress called Christians who refuse to vote for Trump, "fools". Here's my encouragement to all those fools out there. :o)

Many of you have probably already heard that Jerry Falwell, Jr. of Liberty University and Pastor Robert Jeffress has endorsed Donald Trump. This is sad news indeed. However, in the midst of such grievous news, God continues to strengthen those who are faithful and I'm delighted to share a letter from one of those saints--Dr. Everett Piper, President of Oklahoma Wesleyan University.

#NoToTrump   #VoteYourFaithNotYourFears  

A rare photo of Cowboys and Redskins fans sitting and eating in harmony. :D

Our family "met" our brother +Jimmy Coates on Google Plus about a year or so ago and have enjoyed our long distance fellowship—fighting the good fight of faith and rejoicing in God's goodness together. Today, we got to meet Jimmy, his sister Carla, and brother John in person! What a blessing! It was truly a Romans 1:11-12 gathering!

Though our awesome Father God has generously granted our family with the gift of loving fellowship believers have (even when we meet for the first time), we're STILL amazed by the unique spiritual bond He's given us. We are Family. We are one in Christ. And there's just nothing like it in this world.

"For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine." -Romans 1:11-12, ESV

#PsalmSundays: Whether in prosperity or poverty, in joy or sorrow, in acceptance or rejection, as God's dearly beloved children, we have been freed to rejoice in the LORD in all circumstances. Though we may not rejoice in the circumstance itself (losing a job, losing a child, being diagnosed with an incurable disease), we do rejoice in the LORD because He has saved us from the sting of every tribulation, and especially from the sting of the most wretched woe—the second death—eternal damnation in Hell.

God has promised never to leave us or forsake us. Therefore, like Paul and Silas, who after being brutally beaten and jailed, prayed and sang hymns to God, we too, while in any distress, are strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit, to do the same. One day beloved, our awesome and good Father God will right every wrong.

PSALM 9:7-14

"But the LORD sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness.

The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.

"Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds! For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

"Be gracious to me, O LORD! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gates of death, that I may recount all your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your salvation."