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Wrap Rage

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There’s a new term floating around called “wrap rage.” It refers to the heightened levels of anger and frustration that comes from the inability to open those heat-sealed plastic blister packs or clamshells. There are thousands of injuries, such as cut fingers and sprained wrists, that occur from tools used to open packages or from the packaging itself.  And in many cases damage to the items trying to be freed from the packaging happens.  It’s a fact that packaging has become harder to open over the last 10 years.

There are people who are like these plastic clamshell packages.  They are visible but keep a careful guard on anyone getting inside them.  Over time they have gotten even more difficult to open, and if anyone tries to open them up, they get hurt in the process. The writer of Hebrews warns us,


Do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)

Keeping your life closed-off from others is totally unbiblical, but it happens and can actually become a way of life for some. Those words, “as is the manner of some” means that there are people who have made it a habit of not opening up their lives to others. 

All of us have experienced some type of hurt from someone else.  And it may be that we’ve forgiven those who have hurt us, we are not angry or bitter anymore.  We may even come to church every week and be in a sanctuary full of people.  But we have succumbed to something very hazardous, isolation. The Bible speaks of isolation this way:


“A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment. ” (Proverbs 18:1)

Living without others in our life may feel safe, but it is actually dangerous.  God has designed every one of us with an inherent need for relationships and it’s through these relationships that God works.  When we isolate ourselves, God’s work is limited and therefore we’re in danger of missing something He wants to do to us or through us.

God Wants To, But Can’t

Everyone who loves Jesus wants to be part of a move of God.  Our hearts long to be involved with something bigger than us, where the power of God is at work, where the Holy Spirit is moving, and as a result lives are changed…forever.

God wants to pour his spirit out upon us.  Upon our churches.  Upon our families.  Upon our cities.  But are we ready?  Have we pursued him?  Have we shown that nothing in this world is more important to us than him?

A study of revivals, starting with the people of Israel all the way through to modern times, reveals two similar things: a lukewarm state of carnality as entered in, followed by repentance and prayer that rekindles the people and ushers in new work of God’s spirit.

While it’s important to connect the message of God’s love and grace with people of modern culture, whenever there is a comingling of worldly values and mindsets there is a diminishing and diluting of the power of God in operation.

It’s not uncommon to find churches today that have superior facilities, successful programs, huge crowds, and dynamic leaders, yet have nothing truly supernatural happening. Even a cursory comparison to the church of Acts shows many of the main features like prayer, miracles, and outpourings of the Holy Spirit completely missing.

It’s also not uncommon today to know a person who claims to be a Christian and smokes pot, or gets drunk, or has sex outside of marriage, or believes homosexuality is acceptable, or regularly views entertainment that is trash, or swears and curses.  While this type of person may make to heaven, they are unuseful to God here on earth.  Paul tells Timothy,

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. (2 Timothy 2:20–21)

God is calling us to “prepare the way of the Lord.”  To separate ourselves unto him.  To allow him to cleanse us and purify us afresh.  And as a result we will see a work that God not only promises, but one that he longs to do in us!

Thankful for my friend @waynenielsen. He got me into cycling.

When the King is Worshipped

There are many things that comprise our worship of God.  Every part of our lives can be involved.  Everything we do unto to the Lord can be an expression of our worship of God.

But worship is not just what we do unto the Lord, it’s also what He does through us. David said,

“But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.”  (Ps 22:3, NKJV)

Most of us understand this verse to mean that the Lord inhabits the praises of His people.  This is true, however God is everywhere (ominipresent), so to say that He is only present when we praise Him is a limited understanding of what David is saying here.

A better interpretation of this verse has do with God as King and His kingdom.  David is saying where the King is praised, He is “enthroned.”  In other words, where the King is worshipped, His kingdom comes.  As we praise the Lord, we are establishing God’s kingdom, His reign, His rule.

I pray the Holy Spirit will help impart this truth and make it real to you.  May you come to a point that wherever you are, whatever you are facing, you would realize that as you lift your voice in praise, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords comes and overthrows all else!

"Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be destroyed, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.
For our God is a consuming fire.” (Heb 12:28-29, NLT)

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In this Sign Conquer

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The chi-rho symbol was first used by Constantine. The letters are the first two letters in the Greek spelling of “CRISTOS.”  He saw this symbol in a dream the night before a very difficult battle for the Milvian Bridge (October 28, 312).  Along with the symbol, he heard a voice say, in Greek, “En touto nika” (“In this sign, conquer”). Constantine then had the symbol placed on every shield in his army.  He went on to win the battle with Emperor Maxentius, and became the emperor himself. 

In a few weeks our country will observe Memorial Day which honors those who have laid their lives down for this great country.  They have defended our freedom and kept us safe from various threats and enemies. The most serious threat to our country, however, is something the military cannot keep us safe from.

Though some would disagree with me, the cultural shift in our country is not a result of liberal politics.  The removal of God from our schools and educational systems is not the result of efforts by atheists.  Epidemic promiscuity and sexual perversion are not because of mediums such as television and the internet.  These all come from one place, from the Prince of Darkness himself.

Satan has waged the greatest war of all time, and on many fronts he is winning with dramatic effects.  His insidious lies and whispers have swayed our country from the God in Whom we originally trusted, believed, and served.  We have exchanged the truth for the lie that comes from the Devil’s lips.

Today God is calling us to stand up and take what is rightfully ours.  To tell the forces of darkness to shut up and get out of our land.  We are God’s people and as long as we are on this planet, the powers of hell are subject to us in Jesus’ name.  This is not up for discussion.  It’s time for action!  It’s not about being politically divisive or socially insensitive, it’s about being so sick to the core by what is happening around us that we become willing to do something about it.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” (2 Co 10:3-5)

@rochelle_tullius tore it! “You’re gonna see Jesus, but will you have anything to talk about?”

Job Qualifications

Remember your first job?  Mine was at a car dealership.

Before I was hired, I was interviewed by a manager named Mr. Carlson.  The interview was intimidating enough, but Mr. Carlson was even more intimidating.  He was a tall, serious fellow who asked me what qualifications I had to work at their dealership. After all that, I was finally hired, and given the esteemed title of “Lot Attendant.”  Don’t laugh, I got to drive Jaguars, MGs, Triumphs, and Volvos.

In the New Testament we’re told that Apostles looked to select some people to do work around the church.  The qualifications for the position were simple:


“Seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.” (Acts 6:3)

That second qualification stands out the most to me, “full of the Holy Spirit.”  One might even ask, “Aren’t all Christians ‘full of the Holy Spirit?’”  Apparently not, or the apostles would not have mentioned it as a specific qualification.  Yes, the Holy Spirit is resident in every person who has made Jesus Lord of their life, yet there is a filling with the Holy Spirit that can be described as “full” even to “overflowing.”  This is what the Apostles were looking for.  This is what God is still looking for.

The beautiful thing about being qualified for God’s work is that we need not feel intimidated by our lack of skills.  In God’s kingdom, whatever we lack, He will freely give us as we are continually filled with the Holy Spirit.  And with no apologies to Mr. Carlson, we’ll be given the a much better title: “Servant of the Most High God.”

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Sprinkler Predestination

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A few years ago, my father in-law Frank, called and asked if my boys and I would come help him install a new sprinkler system in his front yard.  We obliged. 

When we got to his house we were amazed to see he had a diagram that laid out every detail of the system.  He had been a plumber and union pipe fitter most of his life, so this was natural for him.

He had calculated the distance of separation for each sprinkler head, their exact position and spray pattern.  He knew where every coupling, riser, and all other parts were to go, and had also purchased all the materials.  All we had to do was dig the trenches and glue (which he had also purchased) everything together. 

When we were done, we had a great sense of reward as we fired up the system for the first time.  It worked perfectly.  But my boys and I would be the first to tell you it was all Frank.

You could call it sprinkler predestination.

The word predestination, and all arguments associated with it, has caused much angst when it comes to our thinking about God.  The repulsive picture of a cosmic puppeteer manipulating people’s lives willy-nilly is what comes to mind with most people.  Notwithstanding the negative sound to that kind of view, God’s predestination is biblical.

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. (Romans 8:29–30)

Let’s use my father in-law’s sprinkler system to illustrate what’s being said in these verses.

Before we jumped for joy at the system working, we had to install it.  Before we installed it, my father-law had called us.  Before he called us, he had pre-purchased all the supplies.  Before he pre-purchased the supplies, he had calculated exactly what he needed.  And all his calculations were based on his prior plumbing experience and expertise.

Before you ever knew God, he knew you.  And based on what he knew about you, he prepared events, calculated things, and brought all the pieces of your life together so that when he called you, you answered.  And as a result, you’ve experienced the joy and sense of reward that comes from answering the call of God.  But you’d be the first one to tell everyone…it was all God!

Jesus is ________. Jesús es ________. @thecenterchurch ##elcentroiglesia #easter2014 #selfie

Nobody likes a person to butt in unwelcomed to a conversation or other activities. Especially when the person is giving their opinion which was not asked for about something in which they were not included. 

They’re called Buttinskys.

A Buttinsky noses their way into something that is none of their business.  It’s awkward and can be frustrating, unless their interruption saves your life.  When a person butts in because they have noticed something that is amiss and/or life threatening, then the interruption should be welcome.

God’s taken notice of something amiss and life threatening concerning you.


We all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us” (Ephesians 2:3–4, emphasis mine)

God’s the ultimate Buttinsky.  And he isn’t waiting around until you invite him into the conversation.  While you’ve been ignoring him and doing things on your own, he’s been interrupting, letting you know he’s there, and that he loves you.

Driven by his “rich mercy” and “great love,” he butted into your life. 


But God…while you were still sinning, Christ died for us

But God…while you made no move toward him, he took the initiative

But God…while you didn’t realize you were at death’s door, he rescued you

I love it when God butts in!

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)