CAUSES:
1. People aligning themselves with different leaders
i.e. Paul, Apollos, Cephas). Personal allegiance rather than allegiance to Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:10-17 Division based on loyalty to any particular leader or teacher.

2. Pride and Selfish Ambition
Elitist attitude of thinking oneself to be better than others or above others.

3. Sowing Discord
Gossiping about others, strife, evil speaking of others, anything that causes disunity among God's people.

These divisions were not caused by doctrinal issues. Elitism was the problem. Elitism is contrary to the character of Christ. Humility characterizes Christ.

As Christians, our allegiance is to Christ first and foremost.

Romans 16:17 says, "Note those who cause divisions and offenses and avoid them." This is a command given in scripture. Those who would divide and deceive God's people should be avoided. Separate from them. Elitism and ill doctrine, such as heresy, and any teaching that is not according to the world of God should not be tolerated.

It's been said that "truth without unity leads to pride." "Unity without truth leads to departure from the gospel." That's evident today in some churches.

Those who cause divisions are tactical and smooth. They target those young in the faith and the simple. They don't try to subvert everyone, just certain ones. 

When it comes to disagreements within the local church, we can disagree yet maintain unity.

Commons sense is based on available knowledge and practical experience. Wisdom, on the other hand, requires a deeper understanding of life and its complexities. 

Wisdom involves synthesizing knowledge, experience, and insight. It also requires having a deeper understanding of self and the world. The wise person reflects and learns from her/his mistakes. Wise individuals can see the bigger picture and understand the interconnectedness of things, leading to more nuanced judgment. The wise person sees the big picture and long-term consequences. They can discern what is important. 

A person with common sense will only focus on the immediate outcome. Common sense fails to see unforeseen consequences.

As believers, we must use common sense for everyday situations, but we need God's wisdom to navigate wisely through them. It isn't enough to just have common sense. The word of God tells us in James 1:5, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."

There are two things that I ask God for daily: wisdom and discernment.  Once I have those two important things, I can navigate effectively in life. God gives us wisdom the moment we need it. We need wisdom for practically everything we do in life.

WISDOIM:
>Dealing with others
>On the job
>Marriage
>Raising children
>Friendships
>Ministry work
>When to do something, when to say something
>How to say and do something
>When there is conflict or disagreement
>Spending money
>Our tongues
>Walking before those who hate you
>Large purchases (car, home)

The list above is just a few things we can use God's wisdom and help with. Ask the Lord each day for the wisdom you'll need for the entire day because you don't know what you will have to handle or deal with. Don't leave home with it!

Are you a fan of religious culture or are you walking in obedience to Christ?

FAN OF RELIGIOUS CULTURE:
1. Attends church at least once a week or more
2. Loves the emotional music
3. Loves emotional and feel-good sermons
4. Joins an area of service that they like
5. Leave the church mainly talking about how they were made to feel

FANS OF RELIGIOUS CULTURE:
1. Grew up attending church
2. Some grew talent wise enormously with skill that catapulted them to greatness
3. Believe that they know God
4. Serves the world with their talent
5. They can return to church anytime and perform
6. The local church doesn't discriminate, applauds them and their worldly accomplishments

FANS OF RELIGIOUS CULTURE:
1. May not be saved. It is assumed that if a person mentions "God", they are saved.
2. Don't appear to be readers of God's Word. Their conversation shows their lack of biblical knowledge with the exception of some Bible verses they remember, but there's no depth.
3. They mix the world and church. They bounce between both, comfortably without a godly conviction while attaching God as being the author of what they do.
4. Some have become influencers. The ones who have succeeded by this world's standards are in the public giving their twist on Christianity.
5. The world loves them and celebrates them. The Bible clearly states that the world hated Jesus, including the religious world and its leaders. It also says that the follower of Christ would be hated, too. So why are worldly people comfortable around them?
6. Their talent and or behavior doesn't promote Christ primarily and singularly. They have a form of godliness but without the power of God behind them. They show that the Holy Spirit has no control over their lives. They are carnal and worldly and comfortable with it.

ARE YOU A FAN OF RELIGIOUS CULTURE?
CAN SOME OF THESE THINGS BE SAID ABOUT YOU FROM ON-LOOKERS?
ARE YOU SITTING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD DAILY READING HIS WORD IN ORDER TO HEAR HIS VOICE SPEAK TO YOU?
ARE YOU PRAYING TO HIM AND COMMUNICATING WITH HIM? 

ARE YOU TAKING YOUR BURDENS AND PROBLEMS TO HIM SO HE CAN NAVIGATE YOU THROUGH THEM AND DELIVER YOU?
HAVE YOU COMMITTED YOUR TALENT AND SKILL TO HIM SO HE CAN SHOW YOU EXACTLY WHY HE GAVE IT TO YOU AND WHAT HE WANTS YOU TO DO WITH IT?

DO YOU WANT FAME AND FORTUNE OR DO YOU WANT GOD TO BE GLORIFIED IN YOUR LIFE?

THESE QUESTIONS MAY HELP YOU TO SEE IF YOU ARE A FAN OF RELIGIOUS CULTURE OR A TRUE FOLLOWER OF CHRIST.

John 15:18-19
"If the world hate you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world the world would love his own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."

"My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready."  John 7:6

I love this account in scripture because it sets a right perspective on things I am so familiar with. We do well to pay close attention to what Jesus responds with where his blood relatives and brethren are concern.

Jesus' brothers told him point blank that if he wanted people to 'See' what he could do and if he wanted to be 'Known' for what he could do, he needed to go to Judea. Let's put that in today's terms. I have been told repeatedly that if I wanted to be seen and known in the 'Art World', I needed to go where the people and situations are in order to gain success. That's essentially what Jesus' brothers were alluding to with Jesus.

The world's perspective and ways of doing things are not the same approach the Lord God takes with His children. Jesus' brothers didn't even believe in Him at that time. They saw the works He did, but they didn't believe in Him. It wasn't until after His resurrection that James, one of His brothers, came to faith. 

Jesus told them that His time hadn't come yet. He wasn't talking about going to Judea. He was really referring to the Cross, the Cross of Calvary. That's where He would be lifted up before men and three days later, resurrected. 

The world tells you and I that in order to be seen and known, we must be on the platform that would put us in the running for success. God says differently. We are first, and foremost to follow the Holy Spirit's leading with everything that pertains to our life. He will guide and direct as He sees fit. How God spells success is different to how the world spells it. Believe me, I know firsthand about this. If you want what God has for you, wait on Him. 

The other point to this portion of scripture is this, Jesus' brothers wanted him to go to Judea with them at that given moment. Jesus didn't say that He wasn't going to Judea. He simply said that his time hadn't come yet. Jesus did go to Judea shortly after, but in God's time for him to go. Here's my point, God's will for you and I may very well be that thing we're petitioning Him for, but the timing has to be right. Often, we think we know when the right time is for what we want, but so often, we're wrong. It's best to wait on God's timing. His timing will involve a host of things that need to come together in order for us to meet with success.

Always remember that in this world, anytime is the right time. Make sure you're listening for the voice of the Lord God. There are a lot of voices out there whispering in your ear including your own voice. Wait on God and the leading of the Holy Spirit before you act on anything.

Proverbs 17:1 says, "A dry crust of bread eaten in peace is better than a feast eaten where everyone argues."

The above verse says it all. Maintain your peace at all costs! There is nothing worse than being around folk who are cantankerous and irritable. Some individuals are just full of controversy and strife. I'm not referring to unbelievers. I am speaking about some of us Christians. There is such discontent within us that we can't seem to be at peace with anyone.

Scripture is so relevant and truthful. There are several Bible verses that start with 'Better'. When God says it, you'd better believe it. 

Peace is essential to being able to live out your life productively. When there's no peace, your mind is disrupted. You are off your game. You can't focus and get done what needs to get done. A lack of peace will leave you so rattled that everyone in your path will be affected by your attitude and responses to them. 

Live your life where peace is so valuable that anyone that doesn't have it, is left outside the door. Don't let anyone rob you of peace. Even when we're walking with God, we still need to be mindful of not hanging around people who have no peace. Limit your dealings with individuals who don't have God's peace.

Guard and maintain your peace at all costs! God says that it's necessary to do.

What causes division within the local church? What is division? A simple definition of division is separating something into parts. There are a few things that can have this effect among the local church body.

We are told from in 1 Corinthians 1:13, the Apostle Paul asked, "Is Christ divided?" The Corinthian believers had fractions among them. Some had allegiances to the leaders of their liking and this caused disunity.

There must be unity among God's people. Unity must be maintained and seen. It's a given that while we are all individually different with varying backgrounds, ethnicity and differences, but we are one in Christ. Christ is not divided up into segments, or pieces.

The local church body has to strive for unity and harmony which exemplifies oneness with Christ.

What causes disunity and division among us?
1. People aligning themselves with different leaders
The believers in Corinth did this. Some were aligning with Paul, some with Apollos and others with Cephas. 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 encourages us to be of the same mind and the same judgment. Who died for you and me? Who were we baptized unto?  We are not to have loyalty to any particular leader because our loyalty is to one person alone and that is Christ Jesus!

2. Pride and selfish ambition
Divisions are also caused by an elitist attitude of thinking oneself to be better than another. This is a real killer among the saints of God. This causes one to look down on others and treat them with less respect and consideration.

3. Sowing discord
​Proverbs 6:16 says, "These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are abomination to Him:" We come to the seventh thing on that list which states clearly in verse 19, "And one who sows discord among brethren." Sowing discord means to cause conflict, strife, and distrust among believers. Gossip sow's discord. When we don't take our personal issues with one another with the intention to resolve them and talk about the other with another believer, we cause conflict, strife, and distrust in the fellowship.

The division in Corinth was not caused by doctrinal issues. Elitism was the problem. Elitism is contrary to the character of Christ. Humility characterizes Christ.

Our allegiance is to Christ! Romans 16:17 says, "Note those who cause divisions and offenses and avoid them." That's a pretty strong command we're given. Can you separate yourself from such individuals? Can you cease to keep company with any believer who causes disunity within the body of Christ? You'd better!

Any teaching that would deceive and divide God's people should be dismissed from among the local church. It's been said that "truth without unity leads to pride and unity without truth leads to departure from the gospel." That is clearly evident today in some churches.

Those who cause divisions are tactical and smooth. They target those young in the faith and the simple (those without discernment and understanding). They don't try to subvert everyone, just certain ones.

We can disagree yet, maintain unity. We have different experiences in life and different opinions, but these things should never divide us or cause conflict among us. We can agree to disagree leaving pride and elitism outside the door where it belongs because there is no place for such behavior and attitude within the body of Christ. Let us strive for unity!

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter.
Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
For God will bring every work into judgment including every secret thing, whether good or evil." Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

We are six months into the year with six months to go before we embark upon a new year, if the Lord be not come. Time is moving quickly and winding down. Winding down for what, you ask.  Here it is in a nutshell.

How ever many years God has given us to this point, what have you and I done with it? From the time we received Christ as our personal savior, what of those years have God been able to get the glory out of? How much of those years have we given in obedience to God? Those are the tough questions that many would like to bypass and not truthfully answer.

There are far too many of us simply professing to be a 'Christian' and that's it.  Too many of us are not familiar with the Word of God on a personal level. Many don't know the Lord intimately. 

It's important for us to know that God will expect an answer from us on judgement day. I don't want you to think for one moment that just because you are a believer that you are in the clear of God's judgement. You won't be judged as an unbeliever who has rejected God's offer of salvation, but you and I will definitely be judged on how we have lived out our Christian life. We must give an account (answer to God) concerning lack of obedience to His Word, the spiritual gift He gave us, our time and what we spent those years doing.

The above scripture verses are clear and to the point on this subject of what God will judge where His people are concerned. If there were good works we did in His name, or bad things, He will have the final say on them. Even the things no one knows about will be judged. Be encouraged if you did honorable and noble things that went unnoticed, loved and cared for others who showed you no respect in return, acts of kindness that went unappreciated, and simply being a good Christian and left out by fellow believers, be encouraged! God sees and knows all about it and He will give you your just desserts for all you've done. It doesn't matter if others around you failed to acknowledge them.

Christians aren't to wake up every day living haphazardly as if there is no goal or even a point to what they do. If judgement day occurred today, where would you stand with your actions and behavior? Is there anything you're engaged in on the daily that God can call into question? Are you reading and studying the Word of God regularly along with having an intimate prayer life? Are you making efforts to change the things the Holy Spirit has convicted you about or have you just ignored it? Has it been your habit to be obedient to God more than not?

Time is winding down beloved. The Lord God will soon rapture His church. The time to be 'Caught Up' in the air is soon upon us. The signs of the times speak to it.

Let us take honest inventory of our lives and get ourselves in a right spiritual place with God. If we have failed Him in any way, let us fall on our faces before Him confessing and forsaking our sin. Let us get up from our knees and follow through on what He tells us to be and do in His Word. 
​                                                   ARE YOU RAPTURE READY?

Disclaimer:
I am not a Psychologist, Psychiatrist, or a professional counselor. I am a person who has lived long enough to observe life outside the Christian community as well as within. I have my own personal experiences and my own story that has taught me many things. The things of which I am blogging about are via observation and personal experience. Please listen with an open ear.

I have seen some disturbing things in my time and continue to see patterns of behavior among believers that continue to repeat the cycle in negative ways. Some of this may be due to ignorance and some may be due to the blatant refusal to acknowledge mistakes made in the rearing of their children and households. Nevertheless, the fall out is painful to watch.

Many have been blessed to be parents and to have daughters in particular. Daughters are special in their own right because they too, one day, will be the carriers of seed for the next generation. What a precious opportunity God has given to the woman to bear and raise children for Him.

Raising children is not easy. It is a labor of love and comes with so many things attached that most moms aren't always prepared for. It is on the job training, yet God has given a blueprint to follow. Most believers resort to the section of God's blueprint that deals with the spiritual training of a child. The part that speaks about raising them in the fear and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4). There is a slew of verses like:

>Train up a child Prov. 22:6
>Children obey your parents Eph. 6:1-4
>Parents don't provoke your children Colossians. 3:21
>Spare the rod spoil the child Prov. 13:24
I could go on because God has given good scriptural instructions on raising children.

I would like to look at an area that seems to go neglected when raising daughters and sons, but my focus right now is on the daughters. Are we setting them up for failure? I have noticed that parents who rule with an iron fist at home by enforcing religious practices and behavior without balancing it with God's love is detrimental. There seems to be, in my opinion and observation, a lack of sensitivity of mothers and fathers in this area.

Train up a child in the way he or she should go also involves knowing the 'bent' of that child. All children in your home are not alike. They each have differing personalities and behavior patterns. Their emotional makeup is not the same and their need for attention varies. 

HANDLE YOUR OWN ISSUES FROM CHILDHOOD
As a parent, you may have been raised in a non-Christian home or even a Christian home environment, but it's important to be healthy and whole before you begin raising children. In some cases, there are parents who themselves are functioning with deficits that stem from their own dysfunctional background. They may have never looked into their own situation to heal from the wounds they received as children. It really takes work to investigate your own hurts and pains in order to heal from them. Just ask me, I'll tell you how much work I've had to do in this area. A parent's own brokenness that has gone unattended, emotionally and spiritually speaking, can be detrimental to their children. It's been said that "a child's first enemy is an unhealed parent." 

LISTEN TO YOUR CHILDREN
It is important to connect with your children on an emotional level. It isn't necessary to swoop down on them negatively at the first thing they say that is wrong. This requires listening to them even when they are coming from a wrong position. Give them an opportunity to be heard. When we don't allow them room to be heard, we cause them pain. They now learn that their feelings don't matter and that it's best not to express themselves. This results in them choosing to talk more to their peers who know less than they do, and it opens them up to bad advice as well as ungodly instruction.

FATHERS LOVE YOUR DAUGHTERS
I cannot stress how important it is for dads to build a love relationship with their daughters from the time that they are little girls. Afterall, you are the first male in their lives. You set the stage for who they will choose to date and marry. You are the blueprint as far as males go. Often, more than not, they will choose a guy based on what they have seen and felt by you, their father. It goes really deep, deeper than you know. Fathers teach their daughters how they can expect to be treated by men in general. Fathers also are to provide teaching about the male specie for their daughters. Men know how men think and feel. Men know what men are looking for in women. Only a father can impart this instruction to their daughter. Mothers cannot teach their daughters these things. If a girl lacks this instruction, she will be left to choose ignorantly and end up looking for love in all the wrong places.

MOTHERS LOVE YOUR DAUGHTERS
Now, it may seem to go without saying that moms automatically love their children and never need to be told to love them. There are some exceptions to this rule. I have seen insensitive, unloving mothers who neglected the emotions of their daughters. They viewed it as a weakness. They were almost saying that "In this family, we are strong, we don't cry or complain about stuff, we put up a stiff upper lip and suck it up!" I have seen this in action and noticed the devastating look on the child's face that spelled something destructive. This is how we set them up for failure. Mothers know what it is to be a female. God has created us as emotional creatures who nurture, feed, and guide our offspring. Moms are incubators who carried these babies around internally for nine months. There is a sweet connection between a mother and her offspring. Mothers are expected to listen to the tears as well as dry them. Mothers are to build those tender sensitive emotions by helping to balance them as the child grows and matures. Mothers are to teach them when it's safe to cry and when crying may need to be halted. They are never to stop their emotions from being expressed.

There is so much on this subject I could go into, but it would be way too much for this blog. I'm just simply saying, DON'T SET YOUR DAUGHTERS UP FOR FAILURE! 

PS: If you have any questions, please feel free to message me via this website.

People in the church who think they open or close doors for others are called 'Gate Keepers'. That is a thing of the world. The world has this special club among the high society Hollywood types. It seems as though you must jump through hoops to get in or to even be considered.

We find no such thing as Gate Keepers mentioned in scripture except for the Old Testament references to those who had a specific job of such. It was a literal position and service. There is no one and I mean no one who is the end all be all to ministry work in the local church. 

Some of these individuals use vindictive means to block others from getting involved in ministry areas. But can someone really keep you or I from serving God? Absolutely not! God holds the authority and power, not man. So how does someone get around these individuals who think they are in charge of what belongs to God?

2 Corinthians tells us this, "But we have this treasure in jars of clay (earthen vessels, " KJV) and 2 Timothy 2:21 says, "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor sanctified and meet for the master's use and prepared unto every good work." We are vessels and channels through which the Holy Spirit can flow through powerfully. No one is in control of you being used of God. Don't let people's ungodly behavior make you think that they somehow have control over God using you.

Should you find yourself hindered in any way from serving in your local church, provided you are sure that you are in good standing in your relationship with God, commit the matter to the Lord and wait on Him to override what's going on. I've experience times when the Lord wanted me to sit aside a while and simply wait on Him for what He would have me involve myself in next. It can feel as if you are hindered. Yes, Satan uses individuals in the church to hinder and to try to block us, but I always have to lean hard on what God allows. He allows these moments for a reason.

Gate Keepers have lost touch with God. They aren't in tune with God. They do not regard God's authority and thereby act in the flesh to make things go their way. Often jealousy and envy are reasons for such behavior.  It's hard to see Christ in them. They seem to bear deep resentment towards God. They may even feel as if He has not given them something they wanted or the life they wanted. They take their frustration and negative feelings out on anyone who seems to have what they want.

Don't be disturbed by these individuals. Leave them to God. Keep trusting and waiting on God for the open doors He has with your name on it. He is faithful!

"Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."   Matthew 5:16

Letting our light shine is a big task in our world. For others to get a glimpse of Christ by observing our actions, speech, and behavior is a tall order in itself.

This verse simply says, 'be a Christian in this world'. That's what God expects of us. All we have to do each day is to simply be. 

God has given each believer what he or she needs to carry out that command of letting their light shine. It will have moments of great challenge, and you may even have to stand alone in certain situations but know that God has called you to it and He will be with you all the way.

​I am content with striving to 'just be'. What about you? How are you doing with that?