Year: 2020

Live the Good News

Dr. Mike Life in Christ , ,

2 Timothy 3:5

…having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.

People like to put on a good front. We dress for success. When others are watching, we paste on a smile of happiness. Yet, one of our fears is to be discovered we are not the person we pretend to be.

I recall as a youth around 17 years old coming across a quote. I do not know who to give credit too and I may not have the exact words, but paraphrasing it read: “Shame on my parents for making me who I am, but shame on me for staying that way.” This quote has stayed with me my entire life. It always reminds me not to accept being a victim but realize we can choose to change.

After following Christ for a whole number of years, I woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and felt the impact of one of those spiritual slaps. It shook me. I came to realize my life was far from how a disciple’s life is described through the pages of the Bible. I would read how an apprentice of Jesus Christ would experience HIS peace, joy, and love along with all the other fruit of the Holy Spirit. How a student of Jesus would yearn to be like his Rabbi. Yet when honesty took me by the hand, I had to admit the emptiness was deafening.

Yes, I put on a good show. The smile, the handshake, the proper words at the right time, everything one is trained to work a room for personal gain. But the power of God was missing. I questioned my beliefs. Was the Christian faith a facade? Another religion created by people to control the masses and make one feel good about themselves? Well, it wasn’t working for me.

Then, we dug deeper. Remember the quote: Shame on my parents (teachers) for making me who I am, but shame on me for staying that way, became my mantra. Opening the Bible, we began an in-depth study of being a follower of Jesus Christ. And as any long-term student of HIS will attest, HE led me through Scripture, books, and people and eventually to a place of repentance of failing to empty myself for HIS name sake.

To live the good news of Jesus Christ means replacing oneself as the central core of life with HIM, his Spirit, and his God. When one empties themselves of pride, channels their desires built on the Triune God’s value system, and puts into practice the ways of HIS government, one begins to experience the power of a relationship with the Creator of the universe.

The inner sanctuary of the human heart becomes a peaceful and joyous home for your Maker. You begin to realize God lives in you and moves you like a partner on a ballroom dance floor. You don’t understand all the nuances, but learn to trust someone who loves you so much you cannot fully express the thankfulness of the situation.

The power of God resides in you. Yet you need to learn how to allow God full access into your inner chambers of the heart and mind. When you do, you begin to experience and express real godliness in your life without even attempting to make it happen. You begin to live the Good News, experience the Good News, and share the Good News with others.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
Author of e-Books:

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-2020 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

Fear Mongers

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms ,

2 Timothy 1:7

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Fear is the weapon of the enemy. They manipulate fear for profit, power, and control. Whether we are speaking about a boss whose leadership style is to control your every move or the media who needs your attention to stay in business, fear is the drug of choice.

Movies are made to capture your emotional fear factor. In politics, fear is used to raise money, votes, and opinions. Those who disagree with you, threaten you with violence. Throughout history, fear has shown its ugly components to suppress human potential and social flourishment. 

Jesus stated in the gospel of Matthew,“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

They are fear mongers. They use fear as the tool of choice. They know what they do and laugh at the people who fall prey to their weapon. Yet God, as Paul writes his letter to Timothy, has empowered us with a spirit, not only to defend us from fear, but to offensively combat fear. “For He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). The Spirit which lives within each child of God expresses His power, love, and personal control to see through the empty lies of the enemy.

Fear has to do with punishment. But perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18) is how the apostle John stated it in one of his letters to the churches. Love is the solution. Not worldly love which is nominal in it impact. But God’s love which resides in you. The same love that created the universe, became human, lived and died a sinless death, and lives for the fulfillment of HIS purpose, you now possess. Let God’s love overwhelm you and allow HIM to fully live in you. Love overcomes all things, including the fear bomb.

Love, along with knowing the truth, sets us free from fear. Jesus stated, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Understanding Jesus’ teaching and who HE IS lays the groundwork for separating the lies, falsehoods, and hypocrisy we are undated each and every day. Without this knowledge and relationship, one is thrown into the over-the-top, information overload human machine which overwhelms your emotional and intelligent brain center into a paralyzed state of fear and frenzy.

But be of good cheer. The emotional hole these fear mongers seek to fill can be quickly eradicated through the Spirit of the living God who wants to do more than just reside in you. HE wants you to experience life with HIM to the fullest. He is fearful of nothing and wants you to know HE wants to share HIS character and attributes with you. When you align yourself with HIM and allow HIM to have HIS way with you, you will then truly experience life without fanatical fear. You will know how to separate real fear from the delusional hype.

The with-God life is more real and lasting than anything this world throws your way. Catch it and watch the fear dissipate before your very eyes.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
Author of e-Books:

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-2020 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

Jesus Denounces Critical Theory

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms , ,

Mark 10:42-44

And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great one’s exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.

Critical theory is a movement currently being taught in universities and expressed in the public arena throughout the western development world. The concept is built upon mankind’s carnal passion for power and is symmetrically opposed to the Christian worldview.

Critical theory exploits the dark side of humanity apart from God. This theory showcases a practicing model of those being victimized by those in power. This never-ending struggle pits groups of people in a continual conflict without ever reaching a resolution. Instead of bringing people together in a unified fashion, the process is a never-ending battle between sides.

Critical theory is programed for people to justify their personal anger, hatred, and violence without consequences for the life of others. Instead of reason, facts, and logic, the practitioners emphasize personal feelings, self-righteous indignation, and tribal mentality. Instead of exercising personal responsibility to accept and change their outcomes by building the necessary character to overcome their circumstances, they immaturely blame others and expect someone else to carry their load.

The basis of the theory is built upon portraying you as a victim struggling against those who have power over you. Under Marxist tutelage, the struggle was between working classes. However, in America the struggle isn’t with working classes because the free enterprise system allows people to move up into higher levels of status, education, employment, etc. Therefore, the critical theorist’s aim in today’s culture is to select common group classes that cannot be changed. The result is chaos and conflict between races and sexes.

When Jesus was presented with the issue of two of his disciples wanting positions of power within His Kingdom, his response was contrary with mankind’s carnal desires. Those who seek to rule, must first learn to serve others as a slave serves their master. The concept is radical in today’s ungodly environment. Yet history has shown over time that the best leaders who improve social and economic outcomes for the long-term are those who serve others and not lord over them. Yet to become like a servant, one’s attitude generally is shaped by learning to serve those who are currently in authority over you and who you have authority over. The Bible instructs us to serve one another for the glory of God.

Without God, this would be ridiculous. But with God, who created the world for all people to flourish, His ways and his teachings, and his fatherly involvement, makes His truths bear much fruit.

We have witnessed the western world like America built upon Judaeo-Christian principles prosper like no other nation in world history. On the other hand, we have also witness when countries eliminate godliness and moral integrity from their government, suffer from division, social animosity, and eventually self-destruction from within.

Jesus’ Kingdom reigns in the hearts and conscience of his children. When we lean on Him and make Him the central core of our being, the truth will set us free. We practice what He has demonstrated as His disciples have practiced for over two thousand years. It works better than anything else mankind has theoretically developed in their fantastical minds. Otherwise, we shall once again witness and even experience the self-destruction of another free democratic society.

The quicker we remove Critical Theory from our worldview, and build a unified consensus from humanity’s common Source, the better life will be for the individual and the masses.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
Author of e-Books:

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-2020 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved