Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s another cool but hazy morning but it sure looks good from where I sit and the Journey of Faith is crystal clear. I approached the Throne of a Mighty God to make my Requests known but all I could feel was sadness. Sadness for where we are as a country…as a people…as GOD’S people…as the Church. No amount of beauty I see from this front porch can possibly wash away the depravity of this dark world, but it’s where I find my Strength to face the darkness like the Warrior I was Created to be. The Bible tells me to live IN this world but not OF this world. That’s easier said than done sometimes because the ones doing the persecuting want everybody on board with their belief system. They kick and scream like demons in the presence of anyone who doesn’t buy what they’re selling and the more Truth they hear, the more they hate. But I serve the Master of Truth…the Holy One…the Creator of all things…and He commands me to share the Truth (in love) even when I’m hated. THAT’S why it’s so important to Refresh and Revive for the Journey of Faith every single day if I am to be the Warrior He’s called me to be. Isn’t that the way you see the Journey too?

I’m willing to pay the Price of the Journey of Faith – unfortunately not enough of us are. Oh, there are plenty of professed Christians who love to spit out scripture like venom instead of sharing Hope and Love and they’ll debate the persecutors just for the sake of entertainment. Anybody can do that. Then, there are plenty of professed Christians who sit in a prayer closet believing that if they cry out to God long enough on behalf of America that He will leave His Throne and fix everything for us. Anybody can do that. And then there are those familiar with Scripture and Know what the Bible says about how bad the world will be before the King returns and they rarely do anything at all as if God is OK with a passive approach to Life and death. Anybody can do that. But then there are people like me. People heartbroken for the SOUL of the lost ones and are not ashamed to speak the Truth in Love no matter the cost. I Know that my King wants His banquet table FULL and I know He commands me to do my part to fearlessly invite others to join us. In this world today, that takes FAITH. Isn’t that what we’re ALL called to do though? If there is any one thing that could result in the gate being too narrow for most, I believe this could be it.

Warning: You might want to stop reading now.

As for me, I know God hates PRIDE of any kind and for any reason so I won’t be celebrating “pride” this month! I also Know what God has to say about gender and sexuality and I won’t be bullied into defending (or celebrating) the ones so open about their sexual preferences…preferences that go against God’s Design. I Know that God doesn’t make mistakes and He’s never confused. He doesn’t accidentally give boys girl parts, and He doesn’t give girls boy parts. If only the confused ones could Know my God they’d find their peace and See how Perfect they are in His eyes! God cares a whole lot more about their soul than their perceptions or what they do for sexual fun…and because He does, I do too. The Bible says that God “is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore” so I wouldn’t bank on Him changing His mind, and His Word will never become obsolete. Just so you know, there is no need to spit insults at me…I’m just a Faithful and Willing messenger. I’m a Warrior in the name of Jesus Christ and I’m hated more and more each day because of it. I know how to do battle in ways that disarm all the ones caught up in lies and I know how to share the Truth in Love. So, if you don’t like the Rules, it’s God you need to be angry with. Take it up with Him. “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”.

These “causes”…these spiritual battles…have no place in the market place BUT if corporations are crazy enough to take a stand to support less than 1/2 of 1% of America, so be it. I’ve already given up lots of things in His Name – giving up a cold beer, a visit to a retailer, baseball, or a host of other things won’t hurt me at all. I’m willing to do without in His Name and I’m willing to take one for the Jesus Team. After all, He died for me – the LEAST I can do is live for Him!

How about you?