CONDITIONS OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

FREE LOVE – The biggest Paradox of the last Century. The two words in the same sentence, Free Love is a misnomer; let alone using Free as an adjective describing the noun LOVE.  It’s as false as saying “Dry Water.”  Just because Galileo or Sir Isaac Newton didn’t charge the world to use their discovery, it didn’t mean that their discovery came FREE. The cost and value of such wisdom is priceless and extremely expensive to those who invested life to discover it, even though we enjoy their discoveries without cost.

            However, those who have dared to use Einstein’s Theory of Relativity without the reality that such expensive knowledge has brought the world to a near peril. This single piece of FREE knowledge has a cost and is still costing the world $trillions (Nuclear Weapons).

            Trying to teach a parent to give a child love unconditionally will cost that parent his life. For I as a Preacher of the Bible or counseling Psychologist try and teach a man or woman to love their spouse unconditionally will advise them in the Art of Sacrifice.

            “For God so loved the world that he gave…” is still the most expensive “unconditional Love” known to all. True, it cost YOU nothing for God to LOVE you unconditionally. It cost YOU nothing for God to display his love when you were unloving. Yes, it is true, “God loved us in while we were yet sinners” (Rom 5:8). When we could not love him, he loved us. Not because we deserved it but when we were at our worse: “Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom 5:6).

            However, even when Jesus loved us and gave his life for us, yet his death could have or would have done us NO good unless we would have RECEIVED his gift. “And whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

            What are you saying pastor? I’m saying that LOVE, true love is real. It is not mere words on a card. It is not a flower in a vase. True love is blood, sweat and tears. Therefore, true love and selfishness cannot be in same room. Unconditional love is expensive. It is self sacrificing and can hurt. But the rewards are unparallel.

            Every Blessing comes with Brokenness. Every gift comes with a price. Every love comes with a sacrifice. It is impossible for me to give or receive “Unconditional Love” by itself. I must RECEIVE unconditional love if it is to impact me.  God can give unconditional love, but it will never reach me until I Receive it. The condition is “Whosoever believes.” The dynamics work in the Ebb and Flow. “We love him because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

            There is no greater subject in the world like that of LOVE. Love is the greatest feeling for feeling. Love is the eternal motive and cause for all creation. Love is seen in the father’s eyes and the mother’s embrace. Love is known by many and craved by all. Love is the most common subject yet one of the most perplexing subjects.

            Love has been the cause of wars and the cause of peace. Love has been the death to many and the life of all others. Love is seen in the face of a two year old with his daddy. Love, true love is WORSHIP. To love God is to worship God. “Great love has no one than this that a man would lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Jesus loved you so much he did MORE than just TALK. He GAVE – His all. Unconditional Love has a condition…

© 2013 By Dr Tim McClure

www.promiseland.org

SPIRITUAL INFLATION

   I have been feeling a gnawing grind inside my soul over the past few weeks. Usually, the Lord will speak a word in my mind or demonic presence manifests itself. However, neither has appeared this time. I have been awaken in the middle of the night with this spiritual ache, so I arise and go pray and read the Bible for clarity.

   This past week, a clearer revelation had begun to emerge. As I was praying one morning the Lord spoke to me; “there is Spiritual Inflation occurring.”  I began to search the Scripture for understanding as well as relating the natural state of economic inflation as a metaphor for clarity.

   The economic definition for Inflation is ‘a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time and, subsequently, purchasing power is falling.’  Even I get sidetracked with all the economic jargon surrounded with the explanation of economic policy. So I will not even try here. Suffice it to say, the metaphor was very powerful to me in my prayer. Allow me to share some:

   Case in point: 40 years ago, we could have bought a new car for as little as $2000. Today, the same car sells for $15,000 and up. That would be about 800 times “inflationary growth.” In simple layman terms, we can only buy a candy bar today what we bought a bag of groceries 40 years ago.

   To make it even simpler, the cost of goods has risen dramatically while the value has decreased.  It takes 800 times more money power to buy today what we bought 40 years ago.  The quality and value of life 40 years ago has shrunk with respect to how much more time, energy and effort it takes today.  Our money doesn’t go as far today as it did 20, 30 or 40 years ago. 

APPLICATION

   What the Lord was showing me in this simile is that it takes a great deal more Spirituality today to produce what we received 40 years ago.  One sermon 40 years ago would have convicted a man to turn his life around and live fervently for God for decades. However, now one sermon doesn’t even seem to scratch the surface to such deep seated sin, doubt or apathy.

   Jesus said; “because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matt 24:12). Meaning, that with the rise of iniquity, spiritual fervency would decrease.  Simply put, Spiritual Value doesn’t purchase as much against sin, sickness and Satan today as it did years ago.  We are living in a kind of “Spiritual Inflation.”

   It seems to take 800 times more prayer today to overcome what we did 40 years ago.  It takes 800 times more sermons, programs, worship, ministry and spiritual power to bring people to a strong spiritual walk with God. 

 

WHAT TO DO

   I know, what do we do in this bleak scenario?  Just as in economics, we are forced to “work smarter rather than harder.”  Today’s economic success is depended upon innovation, entrepreneurism and networking.  The same is with Spiritual Success.  I simply cannot pray 800 times more today to get the same amount of results I did 40 years ago. I must pray innovatively and with greater wisdom.  Simply put, I must get 800 people to join me in the same prayer to produce the kind of results today that I did 40 years ago.

   Jesus explained it: “if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them” (Matt 18:19).  And Moses said it well: “five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword” (Lev 26:8). 

   My call to you is to JOIN me in praying, worshiping, giving and serving.  Join me in sharing your faith to someone today. Invite someone to church this Sunday. Read a chapter in the Bible today. Teach a Bible study this week. One man’s service pales in comparison to 80 of us or 800. Let’s get together and bring revival.

© 2013 Dr Tim McClure

www.promiseland.org

www.beyondchurchwalls.com

IN THE DARK

It seemed to be a wasted morning. I knew that I should get to my devotions but it just wasn’t happening. I was filling my time doing useless things and just couldn’t get motivated to pray. So I thought that I would go to the church to pray.

When I got to the church, I saw Pastor’s truck and at first, I decided to just leave, but no, I came to pray. “I’ll just go to the door and if he’s not in the Sanctuary I’ll just go into the prayer room and he won’t know I’m there.

I was really dark in there, but I know this place like the back of my hand, I thought. I really don’t need a light. Just go to the right until I come to the wall and follow the wall to the left, right to the prayer room; no problem! As I was groping my way along the wall I began to feel as though I was getting lost and really didn’t know where I was.

“No, you’re fine, just keep heading straight.”  Where is the wall? Is it behind me? Just feel for it. What is that? When did they put a seat along the wall? That shouldn’t be here. Where am I? Why is it so dark in here? I can’t see anything! I am lost and I am getting scared. Where is the prayer room? I should be right there.

As I felt my way I realized that I was at the altar. Now I was really scared and was ready to panic. I tried turning on my phone so I could see but the light from the phone was so dim I couldn’t see much. “Wait, turn around and go straight ahead and you will hit the wall, go to the left and the prayer room is right there.”

As I left the altar I felt like I had stepped off into the darkest space I ever felt. There was nothing to hold onto. I didn’t know which direction I was moving. I was lost right there in the church. The safest place I knew, I was lost and no I was really ready to panic. Just as I was ready to scream, my hand touched the wall. I went to the left and groped my way into the prayer room, found the light switch and turned on the light.

How in the world could I have gotten lost in the church that I have been a part of for so many years?

 

© 2013 Jean Nichols

JESUS WAS NOT HOMELESS

This past week I read an article in API about an artist; Timothy Schmalz who crafted a sculpture of a hooded homeless person on a park bench sleeping. The only identifying features insinuating it was Jesus was markings in his feet, representing nail prints.  Schmalz was wanting the Catholic church of Toronto to accept it and put the sculpture on their church grounds.

Schmalz’s sculpture was rejected by two prominent Catholic churches, St. Michael’s Cathedral in Toronto and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. Schmalz was angry about their rejection and was noticeably upset at their rejecting his “social justice theology” the sculpture attempted to preach. Schmalz quoted Matt 8:20 as his justification for the sculpture.

I grew up in church hearing that Jesus was homeless. The only Bible verse for this supposition is Matt 8:20 “Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”  Without getting too deep explaining this verse, allow me to debunk the myth that Jesus was homeless:

First, Jesus said; “Foxes has holes and birds has nests, but the Son of Man has not a place to lay his head.” The supposition is that Foxes has homes in holes and birds has homes in nests, but this is a very foolish mistake. Why? Because Foxes do not live in holes, nor do birds live in nests. Foxes have their babies in holes and birds lay their eggs in nests – they don’t live there.  Foxes live in the thicket and birds live in trees, brush, etc.

Jesus explained the connection by saying, “Neither does the Son of Man have a place to lay his head.” The word “head” Jesus used is not a person laying their “head” upon a pillow, but rather the word meaning authority, such as found in Acts 18:6, Rom 12:20, 1 Cor 11:3.  Jesus was metaphorically speaking with respect to spiritually seeding his truth into the hearts of people who would produce his spiritual offspring (Matt 13:37). As Jesus spoke of the foxes and birds birthing offspring, so was he talking about where he could lay his seed.

Contrary to Schmalz and too many other misinformed believers / nonbelievers, Jesus had a home. First of all, Jesus was born and grew up in Mary and Joseph’s home. Joseph was a businessman (Matt 13:55). Another obvious Biblical proof Jesus had a place to live, John and Andrew simply asked him where he lived and Jesus took them to his house (John 1:38). I know, this is the first time you’ve heard this. That is exactly my point. You cannot simply accept false assumptions just because you heard religion spout it off you whole life.

FACT: Jesus was NOT homeless.

© 2013 Dr Tim McClure

 

OLD IS NEW

   I heard a radio advertisement this week from a local car dealership railing against “my Old Junker” (car).  The tone of the advertisement was laced with the attempt to shame me into buying a New car. I found my mind racing to rebut his comments and then I smiled and said out loud; “Old is luxury – Old is New.”

   Yes, my car has near 140,000 miles, but everything works perfectly on it – A/C, Radio, CD, Electric seats – windows, etc.  Listen, don’t allow the “Debt Driven Devil” to ridicule you into thinking you should trade in your perfectly running automobile that is PAID OFF to go into debt for another “house payment” just so you can alleviate the “shame” those advertisers try to put on you.

 

   Pick your head up high and say out loud; “I’m free; I’m Debt FREE.” Don’t allow some paid announcer shame you into feeling guilty for being frugal.  Don’t feel bad for being savvy and smart.  Don’t let some shyster manipulate you to going into a five year debt for a vehicle that will cost you another house payment.  Instead, feel proud that you are a smart and wise steward of your life.

 

   The rest of the day I felt fantastic singing my new song; “Thank God I am free, free, free, from this debt driven craze” (smile).  Humor aside, I drove all over town that day doing business thanking God for the blessing of being debt free. I heard the words whispered into my soul that said; “Old is New – Old is Luxury – Old is Wealthy.”

   “And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward” (Luke 12:42).

© 2013 by Dr Tim McClure

HAVE BREAKFAST WITH A MILLIONAIRE

   Did you know that you can have breakfast with a successful millionaire every morning if you really want to and it will only cost breakfast? Want to know how?

   I woke up the other morning and this statement was ringing in my spirit. I got up and walked around the house for a while pondering it and simply asked God How? The answer was so simple but so profound that literally 99% of everybody would have never thought about it or never try it.

   Think with me just for a moment of the single most common factor difference between the millionaire and the poor. According to Oxford University study, the single common factor that gave people the undeniable edge to gain wealth was their knowledge. And University studies after another along with the US Government findings has unequivocally exposed that ignorance or lack of fundamental education is the #1 cause of poverty among the poor.

   So, with that obvious truth in mind, the easiest and cheapest way to take a millionaire to breakfast or dinner is to read their book.  Why- How? Because every successful person who has documented his or her lifelong success, wealth or advantage has been put inside a 100 or 200 page book. In just a few short hours, anyone of us can “take a millionaire to breakfast” and glean from him or her the greatest nuggets of truths they have about how they obtained what they have.

   Don’t waste another moment watching some “stupid” sitcom, soap opera or reality show.  Entertainment is the single largest force of bondage in our world.  Instead of “Entertaining” yourself, why not “Empower” yourself with knowledge?

   “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hos 4:6).

   “You shall KNOW the truth and the truth shall make you FREE” (John 8:32).

© 2013 Dr Tim McClure

 

 

PERSON and PRINCIPLE OF JESUS

Jesus taught his disciples to follow his Principles, not just his Person. I grew up in church. I heard a lot about traditions, religion and emotions, but very little about the Principles of Jesus. As you may agree with me, it was a surprise to me when I first read the verse: “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” (John 8:31).

 

While it is true, salvation is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, however, there is another side to this relationship that cannot be ignored. The other side of the Person of Jesus is the Principles of Jesus. The true value of any coin includes both sides of the coin. And if you receive a minted coin with only one side stamped, then it’s either fake or wrongfully minted.

The same could be said of a relationship with Jesus Christ. If we confess we believe in Jesus Christ but DO not follow his Principles, then what actually is it that we believe? Jesus explained this in a very strong way:

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'  23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' (Matt 7:21-23).

It is possible for we to want to accept and have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ but reject his call for how we are to live. I have confronted this my whole Christian life. Literally in every church, every state, and over thirty countries I’ve ministered in, it is the same. It is easy to accept the Person of Jesus and reject the Principles of Jesus. Loving Jesus’ Person is easy, loving his Principles – well, now that is tough.

To fully follow Jesus Christ and enjoy the benefits of such a divine personal relationship is impossible without following his divine Principles as well. To know and have a personal relationship with Jesus is wonderful, but likewise to know and have a relationship with his Principles; how he thinks, talks, behaves, gives, serves and love is the real relationship.

© 2013 Dr Tim McClure

EVERY EXPERT STARTED AS A BEGINNER

I woke up this morning and was doing some research for a counseling session and the Lord spoke to me and said; “Every expert started as a beginner.”  This wasn’t my topic of counseling, but I wrote it down anyway.  As I went on through the day, this word continued to speak to me.

Listen, perhaps you like me many years ago have found yourself today, not in the place where you thought you would not be nor where you want to be.  Perhaps you are mauling over the many mistakes, failures or even failed attempts at what you “would have liked to have accomplished” and just don’t have the Oomph to move forward. I have a word from God for you: “Every Expert started as a Beginner.”

 

That’s right, Abraham had to take his first step and move away from his failed past in order to “search for a city whose builder and maker is God.”  Even Moses had to leave Egypt before he could think of moving into the Promiseland.  Yes, even David had to pick up a simple stone before he ever slew a giant. 

 

Dare I attempt to walk through history and bring up the thousands of philosophers, inventors, generals, Kings and Queens, Prime Ministers or Presidents who before their fame was ever known, they took one step forward. Einstein had to learn addition before he ever invented the “Theory of Relativity.”

 

You, and I do mean you can become an expert at whatever your heart’s passion and life long quest has unfolded before you – if you dare mustard up enough courage to take your first step.  Experts are not born, they begin.  Go ahead and begin today.

© 2013 Dr Tim McClure

WHEN GOOD IS SILENT

   “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing” (Edmund Burke).  So much of the history of the struggle between good and evil can be explained by Edmund Burke's observation. Time and again those who profess to be good seem to clearly outnumber those who are evil, yet those who are evil seem to prevail far too often. Seldom is it the numbers that determine the outcome, but whether those who claim to be good men are willing to stand up and fight for what they know to be right. There are numerous examples of this sad and awful scenario being played out over and over again in the scriptures.

   When good men fail to do good, there is a vacuum that is left open for evil to fill. The Lord commands his people to do good (Luke 6:35; Eph. 2:10). Christ "gave himself for us that he might redeem us to be zealous in good works" (Titus 2:14).  In the parable of the talents, Jesus described a man who did nothing. The Bible says that the evil man “hid the Lord's money" (Matt. 25:18). When his Lord returned, the evil man gave to the Lord just what he had been given (Matt. 25:25). Notice, the man was called evil by Jesus simply because he refused to do any good with the money. The man was evil because he did nothing with what was given him. Jesus said he was a "wicked and slothful servant" (Matt. 25:26). 

   Jesus rebuked the church at Laodicea for doing nothing. "I know your works, that you are neither cold or hot: I would that you were cold or hot. So then because you are lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth" (Rev. 3:15-16).  Too many “good people” are doing way too little. They are standing idly by being mere spectators. They sit on the sidelines instead of actively working for good.

   When Jesus found a fig tree with "nothing thereon but leaves only;" He cursed it (Matt. 21:19). What will happen to those who claim to be good and yet do nothing? God knows that the church today desperately need Men and Women who will roll up their sleeves and go to work for the good. Jesus even prayed; "Lord send laborers in the field to help us work" (Luke 10:2).

   If we who are believers in good sit back and do nothing, than evil will continue to press forward until our girls become court prostitutes and our boys become slaves to substance abuse. If we who promote the good of moral absolutes say nothing while filth run ram shod over our schools, then our children will fall back into moral, economic and spiritual slavery. As the Prophet so challenged us centuries ago; “Blow the trumpet, sound the alarm, lift up your voice” Joel 2:1. This is no time for good to be silent.

© 2013 Dr Tim McClure

OLD IS NEW

   I heard a radio advertisement this week from a local car dealership railing against “my Old Junker” (car).  Yes, my car has near 140,000 miles, but everything works perfectly on it – A/C, Radio, CD, Electric seats – windows, etc…
 

   The tone of the advertisement was laced with the attempt to shame me into buying a New car. I found my mind racing to rebut his comments and then I smiled and said out loud; “Old is luxury – Old is wealthy.”

 

   Listen, don’t allow the “Debt Driven Devil” to ridicule you into thinking you should trade in your perfectly running automobile that is PAID OFF to go into debt for another “house payment” just so you can alleviate the “shame” those advertisers try to put on you.  Pick you head up high and say out loud; “I’m free; I’m Debt FREE.”

 

   The rest of the day I felt fantastic singing my new song; “Thank God I am free, free, free, from this debt driven devil” (smile).  Humor aside, I drove all over town that day doing business thanking God for the blessing of being debt free. I heard the words whispered into my soul that said; “Old is New – Old is Luxury – Old is Wealthy.”

 

   “In everything, give thanks” (1 Thes 5:18).

 © 2013 by Dr Tim McClure

 

LETTING GO OF THE PAST

Phil 3:13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.

 

Here we are at the last day of the year 2012. At the end of each year, I have gone through a routine over the past 30 years to evaluate my past year. I compare what I have accomplished with respect to the goals I had set before the New Year to see what I could have done differently or better.

 

Inevitably I find several things that I thought were of value were not and things I didn’t consider were valuable. I almost always find things that were obstacles that hindered my ultimate goal and purpose in life. I also find many things that came to me from experiences, people and life that attached themselves to me.  Call them spirits, ideas, feelings, memories or failures.

 

I have found after 40 years that many of these “attachments” often pile up and cause a combination effect that drags me down with preoccupation of stuff that does more harm than good. These “attachments” the Bible calls us to “forget.” Simply, we must “let go” of those things that are in our past that hinders us. I know it is easier said than done. So allow me to suggest a few things or ways to “Letting go of the past.”

 

#1 Forget means to place in a hidden place or to consider it ignorant or of less value. True we do not possess the power to wipe out of our mind the memory of bad things in our past, but we can place a value mark of it in our mind. Take everything that God’s word has labeled destructive or bad for your divine purpose and label it ridiculous, ignorant or stupid. By doing this, you put a “Value” mark of worthlessness upon that experience, issue, hurt or thing from your past.

 

#2 Forget means to put it behind you. Please get this: Putting those things in your past means to put it out of your fore thought – your focus – your directive. Take everything that was bad for you and remove it from your forward sight that it no longer becomes your primary vision. Do not allow those things that have made you less than what God has designed for you to lead you, define you or control you. Forget it! Put it behind you and make your failures, pains and troubles push you instead of control you.

 

© 2012 Dr Tim McClure

MERRY CHRISTMAS

    “Why are you crying GP” the little voice asked as Aurora rubbed my arm with her caring concern? Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve bring on many emotional moments. The many nostalgic Christmas movies like “It’s a Wonderful Life, Charlie Brown’s Christmas and Home Alone spark such emotional memories while sitting with friends and family during the Holidays.  Crying (again) during the emotional moments and laughing with kids and grand kids make the last six weeks of each year so special. Nothing in the whole world is more important than our Faith, Family and Future.

    Like always, I take these six weeks at year’s end to recap my life, reevaluate what I have or have not done with regard to my purpose and goals.  Like Clarence (the angel in It’s a Wonderful Life) reminded George Bailey (Character Jimmy Stewart played) what life was all about, so has these past few weeks given me an “Angelic” moment.

    Please allow me to share my heart and say to you that there is nothing more important than our Church family to share spiritual moments or worship, prayer and divine experiences with.  We need Jesus, prayer and faith.  I love my family more than life itself.  My family is the most important part of life.  My children and grand children make life worth living and worth becoming better. 

    Take this moment to make a phone call, write a letter, send a card or email to your family and friends and tell them how you feel.  Envelope this time to get alone with God and say a prayer for your family, your church and your future.  Let me wish you a very Merry Christmas.

 

© 2012 Dr Tim McClure

ABANDONMENT

John 6:66-67 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

2 Tim 4:9-11 Timothy, be diligent to come see me soon 10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and Only Luke has stayed and supported me.

   A close observation may shock you. In the end of the greatest Apostle and pastor in the New Testament was forsaken by everyone except Timothy and Luke.  Demas has forsaken me. We have always interpreted Demas forsaking God when we read this verse. However, Demas actually forsook Paul.

   Shocking is that the church members of Crete left the church of Crete pastored by Titus and moved over to Galatia church. Look at a scary verse: Titus left to Dalmatia: his home. Titus, the great pastor and spiritual son of Paul quit pastoring and went home because the saints of Create left and went to Galatia. We read this and interpret it as the first church Abandonment.

   During Jesus ministry, the real 666 “Mark of the Beast” was Abandonment: “many of his disciples went back and walked no more with Jesus” (John 6:66). To make matters worse, Jesus knew in his heart that the twelve disciples were even thinking of leaving also.

   The Post World War II generation of fathers and husbands spent 8 years overseas away from their wives and children. They lived 8 years with the “guys.” They came home to spend every evening with the guys at the bars. This produced a generation of father and husband Abandonment.

   Abandonment escalated in the 60’s. Children were abandoning their parents, their schools and their laws. The law no longer was important. No longer were loyalties important. The 60’s youth were no longer loyal to their school, traditions, church or their faith.

   The 60’s produced the Baby Boom generation who became parents that abandoned their children, their marriages, their jobs and their morality. Fatherless children are now out numbering the two parent children. Over 50% of children born today are born to single parent homes without a father. US Correctional institute numbers reveal that 87% of all American prisoners grew up without a father.  We are living in a Generation that is Lost because of Abandonment.

   What if Abraham Lincoln left America because of the division among our own people?  Would there be an America today?  Was it right that young men abandoned America during the Viet Nam War just because they didn’t believe in the politics?  Was it morally right for a soldier to abandon his fellow soldiers in their bunker just because they didn’t want to fight anymore?  Any soldier who leaves his country, his platoon, his fellow soldiers in war or peace time is considered AWOL – Absent With Out Leave. 

   Abandonment is not the answer to a nation just because you disagree with some politicians.  Abandonment is not the answer for a man who just had a child simply because he doesn’t want to take responsibility.  Abandonment is not the answer to a husband who doesn’t feel romantically attracted to his wife anymore.  Jesus is asking believers all across America, “Will ye also go away?” 

Ó 2012 Dr Tim McClure

ONE PRAYER

“One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after (Ps 27:4). 

 

“If you had only ONE PRAYER that could be answered, what would it be?”

   I understand that we could over spiritualize this and say; “My one prayer would be that the whole would be saved.”  Now that would also be my SINGLE most important prayer. Let us all agree that seeing Asia, Africa, Europe, or the Americas saved would be the ultimate answer to our One Prayer.

    But apart from such a monstrosity of a prayer, on a more PERSONAL intimate note, what would be your ONE PRAYER you would pray if you could get the answer to it.  If you knew you would get your ONE PRAYER answered, what would that One Prayer be?

   For some, it would be that “My husband or wife be saved. To another it would be that my son or daughter come to Christ. While others, it would be that my brother, friend, or family member be delivered from addiction, bondage, or depression.  Some would pray that they be healed from a horrible disease or sickness. Others would pray for finances to allow them to take care of their babies, family or be free from the debt pressure that is sucking the life out of them. What ONE PRAYER would you pray?

   Stop for 30 seconds and think about that right now.  What One Prayer would you  pray – if you knew you would get the answer? 

   Bartimaeus was the son of Timaeus, a successful, wealthy family. Truth is, Bartimaeus had a very known, affluent family tree. Bartimaeus had everything he could dream of in way of family, prestige, money, connections and admiration. However, there was one thing Bartimaeus did not have – his eye sight. One day, Jesus asked Bartimaeus, "What do you want Me to do for you?" And Bartimaeus said, That I might see” (Mark 10:51).

   There was a man who had a home, job, family and means to meet every need, except one thing, his son was mentally ill- he was a lunatic.  When Jesus asked what One Prayer he could answer, the man said, “that my son be healed” (Mark 9:22).  When Jesus asked the man full of leprosy what One Thing he could do for him, the leper said, “Will you make me clean?” 

   I could site a dozen more scriptures like these. Even a few more shady ones: John and James asked an egotistic request; “Grant that we may sit one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory” (Mark 10:37).  Andrew and John asked Jesus, “Where do you live?” (John 1:38).

   Listen, yes, it is possible to get your ONE PRAYER answered.  Some don’t get their one answer because they DO NOT ASK (James 4:2).  While Others don’t get answers because they pray WRONG” (James 4:3). WHY? Because they “pray to consume it upon their own lust” (James 4:3).

   KEY: To Pray the ONE PRAYER and get your answer you must pray beyond you self.  The only way to get saved is to SAVE OTHERS (Matt 27:42).  The only way to get healed is to HEAL OTHERS (Matt 10:8). And the only way to receive is to Give (Luke 6:38).  In just about every case in Scripture, those who received their One Prayer answered, prayed beyond self indulgence alone (to be continued).

© 2012 by Dr Tim McClure

DISCIPLINE –TOOLS TO DEAL WITH PROBLEMS

     Life is a series of problems.  Discipline is the basic set of tools we require to solve life’s problems.  Without disciplines we can solve nothing, with discipline we can solve all types of problems.

     Life is difficult, this is true. Many have complained that “Life isn’t fair.”  I simply reply, who said the life was supposed to be fair?  What makes life difficult is solving problems is very painful.  Problems evoke in us a great deal of emotional pain, such as sorrow, fear, anger, anxiety, sadness, etc.  These are uncomfortable emotions.  It is in meeting and solving problems that life takes on a greater meaning.  Since life invokes a series of problems, life also unleashes a series of pain.

     Problems are the cutting edge that distinguishes success and failure.  Problems are what cause us to grow mentally and spiritually.  Without growth, we’re doomed to stay as we have always been.  Wise people learn not to dread problems, but to welcome and expect problems.  Fearing the pain involved from problems causes most people to avoid problems.  Most people do anything to attempt to avoid confronting problems.  They avoid problems because they wish to avoid pain.

     Avoiding problems is the root to all psychological, emotional and mental illness.

Most who avoid problems build elaborate fantasies to hide behind or live within the false sense of protection.  Those who create such fantasies also escape reality.  Psychoneurosis is a substitute to legitimate suffering.  But the substitute becomes more of a suffering than the pain one seeks to avoid.

     Then people will build another layer upon layer of fantasy to avoid the emotional instabilities, pretending everything is alright.  In avoiding the problem, we stop growth which we learn from the problems that life brings.  Therefore, we avoid real life for the replaced fantasy.  When we stop the growth, we also stop the healing we could have attained if we faced our problems and pain with proper responses.  When we stop growing, we also stop the very meaning and purpose that problems can bring to us.

     Problems are a part of real life.  Avoiding problems is our attempt to avoid true life’s learning opportunities. True emotional and spiritual health comes from acknowledging that life is full of problems.  And with this truth, we discover the tools to dealing with these problems.  The tools we must discover is found inside discipline.  When we develop discipline within every area of our life, we also develop the tools we shall need to successfully confront and overcome all problems.

© 2012 by Dr Tim McClure

HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE

            "Search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life:  and they (scriptures) are they which testify of me" (John 5:39).  Search the scriptures yea, the deep things of God (I Cor. 2:10).  Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Tim. 2:15). 

            We are to inquire, research, meditate the Word of God (I Tim. 4:15).  We are called to read the Bible (I Tim 4:13).  The three main ways of studying the Word is SEARCH as if we are looking for treasure, STUDY, that is run reference, comparing scripture with scripture and READ; just simply reading the Bible with no intended purpose in mind.

USE THE "5 INSPECTOR W" METHOD

1.      Who is the author writing to?  Who is he talking about?

2.      What is the author writing about?  What is the subject or his main thought.  What is he trying to get across to his readers?

3.      When was it written?  Was it in time of freedom, oppression?  Was it before Jesus Christ or after.  Was it under the Law or under Grace?  Was it during the church age or after the rapture?

4.      Where were the people at?  Were they in heaven or in earth?  Where was the author at and where was the subject at that he was writing about?  Was he writing to someone there present or future.

5.      Why did the author write the letter?  Why is he saying what he is? Is he commanding them or reprimanding them.  Was he prophesying or instructing?

 

For example, let me show you how to use the "5 Inspector W's" method:  "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Rom. 10:9).  Many today try to use this passage of scripture in dealing with sinners, trying to bring them to salvation.  Using the "5 Inspector W's" method you ask:

 

a.  WHO is the author of Romans?  Paul (Rom. 1:1).  Who is Paul writing to?  Christians in Rome - Rom. 1:7; 6:4; 8:9, not sinners.

b.  WHAT is Paul saying?  That if "thou" (believers) shalt confess with your mouth, (it must be public, voiced, said, exposed, can't just be in the heart or mind only (Rom. 10:6) the Lord Jesus (no one can say that Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Ghost (I Cor. 12:3). 

c.  WHEN was it written?  After Pentecost, therefore after the church was established.  No longer were they under Old Testament jurisdiction but under grace.

d.  WHERE?  The church at Rome (Rom. 1:7).

e.  WHY was it written?  There were Jewish people telling these gentile saints that they had to be physically circumcised in order to be saved (Rom. 4:1-10).  These Roman believers were being confused in thinking that their salvation was dependant on a Jewish ordinance instead of the "GOSPEL" - Death, Burial and Resurrection (Rom. 6:1-6, 8:1-11, 21-23, 10:16)

© 1996 by Dr Tim McClure

FOCUS

Prov 4:25-27 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil

            Everything God does in your life he will do to increase your concentration and focus on your assignment – single most purpose in life. Everything Satan does will seek to clutter and fragment your focus.

            The only reason men fail is because of broken focus. Every time God speaks to you, writes you or appears to you, it is to support your focus so that your focus will facilitate your assignment in life (Prov 4:25-27). As hard as it is for me to accept, God will move things I love out of my life to keep me Focused on my single most definite purpose in life.

            Satan cannot destroy you, he can only distract you. Anything Satan says to you, reveals to you or attracts to you will be to break your focus. Just as the devil showed up in the Garden to get Adam to break his focus by looking at the fruit God said to stay away from, so will the devil come at you for the purpose to break your focus: Get you to look at something that will cause you to be disobedient.

            Focus is the absolute Criteria of all relationships in your life.  All and any relationships in your life that enhance, support, add, grow and promote the Focus in your life are the relationships that are permitted.  All relationships that break, subtract or diminish your focus away from your purpose or assignment are the relationships that you need to reject. Anybody that breaks your focus on God is being used of the devil. Anybody that increases your focus on your assignment is being used of God.

            Those who are attracted to you that subtract, weaken or hinder your focus, they are the people you should restrict your relationship with. Those who enhance, add, inspire and encourage your focus, they are the people you are to have a relationship with. If they’re rebellious, leave them. If they’re sinful, shun them. If they’re negative, upsetting, hate or against what you are for, disconnect from them. You can be respectful but not submissive.

            Focused light turns into energy. Focused attention turns into talent. Focused faith turns into a miracle. Focused work turns into prosperity. Focused prayer turns into availing much. And focused planning turns into accomplishment. Turn away from distraction and FOCUS. You can DO what God has placed inside your heart to do.

© 2012 by Dr Tim McClure

IF I WERE 35 AGAIN- Part 2

   One morning in my devotions I do every morning, God asked me the question: “What would you do if you were 35 years of age again?”  Wow, what a great question to get you thinking and reevaluating!  I wrote in my first BLOG that such a short blog would not allow me to share the list that I created over the following months. However, with many emailing me and requesting me to share with them some of my thoughts, I offer you a few things on my list in this blog that I pray you can use.

   KNOWLEDGE- I would place the greatest value upon WHAT information I would obtain and place inside my soul (mind). Jesus said, “The truth you know shall make you free” (John 8:32). The Bible reveals that we are saved by knowledge and knowledge is the first principle to life (Prov 1). The principle is this; the measurement of knowledge we have equals the measurement of life we shall enjoy.  Ignorance is the key to sin and being lost. If you do not know God, you are lost. If you do not know how to communicate, you will be alone. If you do not know business or economics, you will always exchange a lot of your time for a little bit of someone’s money. 

   Ignorance and deception are the core of every destruction known to man.  Ignorance is the key to poverty, sickness and psychosis. The right kind of knowledge is power. The right kind of knowledge is essential to freedom.  One can know all there is to being a drug dealer, but that will not lead one to a secure freedom.  People possess a lot of wrong or bad knowledge that leads to false beliefs and this has lead many of us to live a strained, hurtful and difficult life. 

   As I look back over the past 20 years and think of the many things I never was able to have or had lost, it almost all had to do with the wrong kind of knowledge which created wrong set of beliefs.  If I were 35 again, I would be very studious and scrupulous about what I allowed into my soul (mind).

   1.) I would take careful time to research and discover my single most definite purpose in life and give myself to study the right kind of information / knowledge that would facilitate my success in that purpose.  I would study to know the right kind of information that would move me towards the ultimate purpose that I was placed on this planet. I would give myself to know the best information for the use of my purpose for the betterment of myself and everyone else I came in contact with. I would not waste my time learning to know information that mattered little to nothing to me nor those around me. 

   2.) I would read the top ten books on any one given subject of my passion and purpose.  We will all have the same life, same conditions and same results of life if we do not increase the quality of information and knowledge.  It has been said, “If we keep doing what we’ve always done, we shall get what we’ve always gotten.” If I were 35 again, I would pick very carefully the time and energy I would invest in growing myself, my mind and my soul in order to become exactly what God had intended on me to become. If I were 35 again, I would not just allow every fly by night junk that the world, television, Hollywood, so-called news, neighbors, associates and friends said I should allow into my mind and soul. (to be continued…)

© 2012 Dr Tim McClure

IF I WERE 35 AGAIN

   I found myself some time ago sitting down by the river doing my morning devotions pondering my evaluating stages I often go through.  I was reminiscing the many opportunities that I had found myself being offered but because of my upbringing, background and training, I either didn’t see it, understand or outright rejected what now I know was God giving me favor.

   Ignorance comes to many of us at a cost that we will never be reimbursed for.  However, if we are so blessed and gifted by grace we can use our failures, mishaps, misunderstandings or ignorance to our future advantage.  I found that on this one morning I had one of those enlighten moments:

   That morning in my devotions I hear the Lord say; “What would you do if you were 35 again?”  Wow, will something like that get your attention or what?  I found myself instantly pulling out things and ideas that I would do and or not do. My mind raced for several minutes before I stopped long enough to start writing down a list of things I would do – if I were 35 again. (I can just hear many of you reading thinking of the questions, “well, what are some of the things would you do?”)

   This short BLOG will not suffice such a list, however, I found myself working with my son, Tim Jr that particular week of which he was going to be having his 35^th birthday in just a few weeks away and I said, “Son sit down, we need to have a talk.”  As we sat there, I told him what I had been hearing God ask me and about my list. Then I pulled it out of my pocket and said, “I want to give it to you.”

   I will never be 35 again, but you’re about to turn 35 and you can use this far greater than I could.  As we sat there talking about ministry, family, finances and the future, I tried in a short simple way to suggest the viability of such a thought and the list.  Yes, Tim Jr started the process of the list and is still working it (to my prayer in a far greater success than I could ever make of it).

   With that thought in mind, let me ask you; “What would you do if you were 35 again?  Perhaps you are 35, 40 or 25.  Can I challenge your emotion today and suggest that you can take this simple devotion and start to jot down a few things and make your own list of what you would love to redo, change or start afresh. 

   What would you do different? What decisions would you have made or not have made? What so called friends would you have avoided or gone out of your way to make? What book would you have read or not read? How would you have spent your time more productive and what wasted stuff would you avoid?  Whatever you would do or not do is merely a thought you may wish to ponder for your future and for your success.

© 2012 by Dr Tim McClure

WILL FAITH DISAPPEAR ON EARTH?

Luke 18:8 when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?

            Jesus posed this question just after the story of the widow woman who cried “Avenge me of my adversary.” Trying to teach his disciples the warning of this earth becoming so detached from God and Moral absolutes, Jesus lead them to the thought and question: “Will there come a time on this planet that we humans disconnect ourselves from FAITH? Can we become so carnal that we disrespect the spiritual?

            The Humanist Francisco Petrarch in the 14^th Century coined the Name Dark Ages though speaking of the falling and loss of the Italian Culture and Literature upon Europe: his hypothesis soon was used by the church to explain the decay of the Moral and spiritual truth in society.

            This FEAR was Real since we first read of this very disconnect from God during the days of Noah: “GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented God that he had made man on the earth (Gen 6:5-6).

            This was later repeated by man in Gen 11 when they thought to create a way by imagination to eradicate the very thought of God, his laws and truth from earth. They even thought to make their OWN heaven. Could they have so disconnected themselves from spirituality till they would have built an earth void of FAITH?

            Journey through the Bible and find every great man of God became great by challenging man to repent, fleeing from sin and stop selfish destructive living.  Read history and find every great Philosopher or inventor who challenged the status quo such as the Earth is round, not flat; we can fly, or germs were the cause of illness.  They were ridiculed, imprisoned, and even killed.  Nostradamus, George Washington and Booker T Washington called Nations to change from evil ways. Sir Winston Churchill, Dr Martin Luther King and hundreds of men and women who became great did so NOT by becoming LIKED, but by doing RIGHT.

            It is possible in 2012 that we are on our way in America – in Europe and the world that our fallacious flirtation with funny, fancy and filth is pushing Faith right OUT of our Families, Finances and Future.  America just 50 years ago had a deeper and higher respect and appreciation to church, preachers and faith than they do today.  Ladies and Gentlemen; “When the Son of Man cometh, shall he FIND Faith on earth?”

            This sobering question is not meant to leave us depressed, but rather to shake us away from following the “cows to the slaughter.”  Allow me to challenge you to leave off the excuses why you don’t attend church like you should anymore.  Let me provoke you to find your faith, increase your faith and add to your faith.  We cannot just sit by and allow the Faith of God and faith in God to disappear.

            “Faith comes by hearing a preacher preaching what thus saith the Word of God” (Rom 10:17).  Let me motivate you to tune your ear to hear a real man of God today seeding the word of God into your spirit till you can rise to BELIEVE that God can and will bring a miracle crusade of Faith back to America again.

© 2012 Dr Tim McClure