In I Corinthians 12 Paul deals with spiritual gifts. In the last verse of that chapter he says that he is going to show them a "more excellent way". He then, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit write what we often refer to as the "love chapter".

We can have all of these "spiritual gifts" but if we do not express them with God's love we are "sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal". We're simply making noise! We could have the greatest gifts and abilities in the world but without love we are "nothing". We could give, and give and give of ourselves, but if we do not do so motivated out of love "it profiteth nothing".

I believe everyday Christians are ineffective for two basic reasons. 1) A lack of dependence on the Holy Spirit and 2) A lack of passionate love for God, His Word and souls for whom Christ died. What do you think?

As God allows a messenger of Satan to spiritually "beat Paul up", Paul does what most of us would do--cry out, "God please take this away, please let it stop!"

God responds with a "no". God tells Paul that He isn't going to take away the thorn; because without the thorn Paul may become (1) prideful (II Cor 12:7), (2) may not depend upon and experience God's grace (II Cor 12:9), and may not have the power of Christ resting upon him (II Cor 12:9).

You see God allowed the thorn in Paul's life so Paul would realize his weakness and depend upon God's strength. When Paul realized that God's strength was not poured out on the "strong" but rather the "weak", he gloried in his weakness because he desired the power of God to be encompassing him at all times.

How about you? Are you trying to hide or ignore your weaknesses? Or do you see you weaknesses as an opportunity for God to work? Remember Jesus said to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." (II Cor 12:9)

Easter is a glorious time of year for the Christian! We are reminded that our Savior lives; He defeated death, hell and the grave! We are reminded that Christ ever liveth to make intercession for the saints. We know that because He lives we too will also one day have a resurrected body that will be free from pain, death, disease, sickness & sin!

For many, however, Easter is about bunnies and eggs and a day off of work. Though bunnies and eggs are fun for the kids, we have lost touch when the true meaning of Easter becomes about these trivial issues. Our children need to know that our Savior lives. They need to know that He was powerful enough to whip death, and He is powerful enough to help them with their every need! He is powerful enough to help them overcome temptation. He is powerful enough to keep them pure until marriage. He is powerful enough to enable them to live holy in an unholy world. How does He do so--through the salvation that He purchased for us on Calvary, the justification He secured for us on Resurrection morning and through the indwelling Holy Spirit that He left for us when He returned to the Father's House!

His grace is sufficient for our every need if we will depend upon it every moment! Praise God--we serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today--I know that He is living, whatever men may say!

Christ told the disciples that they were the light of the world. He also said that a candle is not designed to be hidden under a "bushel", but rather to be placed on the "candlestick" so it can be a light in that house. As the candle (our lives) shine, men can see that light (our good works) and receive a correct representation (glorify) of our Father in Heaven. This correct representation that they see and hear in our lives can be used by the Holy Sprit to convict and draw them to salvation. However, if your light is hidden under a bushel, take it out today, let Christ rekindle the flame and light all those around you!

This weekend I met an amazing man. I will not divulge his name at this time, but suffice it to say that he plays an important role at Gateway FWB Church and Gateway Christian College. The issue of careers and money came up in a casual conversation this weekend, and he immediately said—money is not the determining factor in God’s will, nor your career. This man was not called to preach or to go to the foreign mission field. This man was a police officer for many years with a local police department in the Virginia Beach area. He proceeded to tell us his story. He worked in construction and was very limited with how involved he could be with his local church and his family. At the same time he had a burning passion to be a police officer. So much so that he said, “I know it is God’s will that I become a police officer.” He left his high paying construction job, took an extreme pay cut and entered the police force.His supervising officer found out he was a Christian and allowed him to take Sundays off. He kept his leave time and his vacation time for special church activities and school activities with his children. His daughter, who was standing there said, “I never remember one game where my dad was absent. He was at every one. He also attended and helped with every youth activity at our church. I never remember him not being there!” That’s an amazing thing to say about someone whose dad was a police officer.He worked his way up the ranks and became a detective. He one time had the top record in the United States for being able to find “runaway children”. His years of youth work enabled him to know teenagers like no other!After spending many years with the local police department he was up for a BIG promotion—which meant BIG money. Yet he took early retirement, and another BIG pay cut to give himself to the mission of Gateway Christian College. He now serves on the staff of the college and invests his life in the young men of there.Though he was not called into “full time Christian service”, he was and is definitely a full time Christian. I looked into his eyes and saw no regrets for these decisions. Though he may not have been able to give his children the best financially, he certainly gave them the best spiritually! Now he is reaping the benefits of these years of sacrifice. He son is an associate pastor and his daughter is preparing to move to Quebec, Canada with her husband to become missionaries!I pray that we can emphasize to the youth of Harrison FWB Church & the old alike that careers are not about money and things! I’m so thankful that he had this philosophy and I’m sure his wife and children are too!

Another week & more computer issues! This time with our school computers with the kids. Yesterday I called technical support 3 times before I was able to speak to someone who could solve the problem. He then instructed me about what to do on the other computers to get the same results. Unfortunately, I did not get the same results as he did.I called back, hoping to hear the same friendly voice, but did not. The person could not help me. I went to sleep hoping that the problem would miracously solve itself overnight, but it did not.So we called this morning and the gentlemen honestly tried everything on his end to correct the problem to no avail...and then the shift of blame came back on our network. "It's your network that's the problem," he said. "So why is my other computer that the tech support guy fixed yester running fine on the same network?," I asked. "I don't know," he replied, "but it must be. I'll have my supervisor call you back."It is so frustrating calling technical support and not receiving the help you need or someone answers who has such a thick accent their English is almost undiscernable.But I'm so glad the Christian has "technical (spiritual) support" that never fails! You are never put on hold! You never receive the wrong answer from the manual (God's Word). There are no office hours, Heaven's support is available 24/7! There are no voice mails or missed calls! As a matter of fact the only thing that hinders the child of God from "getting through" is sin!You don't have to figure out the problems on your own. You don't have to "wing it". Go to the manual (God's Word) and get on the phone (prayer) with Headquarters and follow the instructions given!

As I sit here with my local "geek squad", AKA Larry Turner I am finding out about "malware", "spyware" and viruses and the like. He has installed some programs that will SCAN for these items and remove them.

We need to do the same spiritually. Often we're "infected" with seeds from the world, flesh and the devil that we don't even realize are there. Our philosophies, words, actions, etc. are being influenced by the "infections" that we have received from outward and past influences.

We must allow the Holy Spirit to scan our minds and hearts and reveal to us any infections that may be there. The Psalmist prayed, "Search me and try me and see if there be any wicked way within me". We need to do the same. We need to "run" the already installed Holy Spirit and let Him search every file and every folder of our mind and our heart. As the infections are revealed, we can place them in the "virus vault" by confessing them as sin and then the blood of Christ can remove them!

Just like virus programs that run on a regular basis to keep an eye on any new infections, we must also allow the Word of God and the Holy Spirit help us be on guard against any new infections.

So as you read this say a pray for my computers and for Larry.