Jesus

Who Are You Lord?

Dr. Mike 2026 , , ,

And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Acts 9:5

Paul was a zealous Pharisee persecuting a Jewish sect. A sect who practiced a different way then he and his associates. On a trip from Jerusalem to Damascus, he experienced a life-changing event. He met Jesus.

As he tells the story, a flash of bright light caused his horse to throw him off the saddle to the ground. A bright figure appeared before him. When he asked who HE was, he met Jesus for the first time. The first words out of his mouth were “Who are You Lord?”

These same words are repeated by many of us throughout history in our engagement with Jesus.

When Jesus was in Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16).

When Jesus met the disciples the second time in the upper room after HIS resurrection. This time Thomas was present. He knelt down and expressed the heartfelt words, “My Lord and my God” (Jn. 20:28).

Today in the Muslim world, men and women are having dreams of a man in white appearing to them. The man introduces himself as Jesus. The dreams are so vivid, that even in the face of death, people are converting to follow HIM at the risk of their own lives.

Whoever you are, when you are introduced to HIM, you have a decision to make. Either HE is who HE claimed to BE, or HE is not. There is no middle ground. When you accept the reality of HIS Life and purpose, you begin a journey of discovery. You want to know all you can about HIM. HE becomes your main focus for living. Everything you do involves HIM. You and HIM become non-separable. You begin a relationship that becomes the center of your life. From that relationship, all other relationships become joined together. As you come to discover more and more about HIM, you find HE is more than a Savior. HE is Lord. He is your Hero. HE is your Friend. He is your elderly step-brother.

Papa God wants a family and you are included. HIS family business is the Kingdom of God. You are now in an executive training program being prepared for eternity with Jesus. It’s called discipleship. You are in training to reign. Today you are learning to govern yourself. Tomorrow you will also learn to govern (serve and minister) others. You will find purpose and meaning in everything you do when HE is the center of your life. It all begins when you start to answer the question, “Who Are You Lord?”

Yes, you will spend your lifetime seeking, discovering, and experiencing the answer. It never ends.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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No Jesus or Know Jesus?

Dr. Mike 2026 , , , ,

“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain…And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” 1 Corinthians 15:13-14, 17

There are people who do not believe in the historical evidence of the life of Jesus. Some believe he is a mythical person like Zeus or Thor. Others believe he lived, but was not a God-Man. He was not who HE claimed to be. They say he was a good moral teacher with helpful stories to share with the masses. Others deny he was crucified. They claim his disciples made a switch beforehand. That the Roman government made a mistake in killing the wrong person. Then many don’t believe HE was resurrected from the dead. That this is a made-up story which became a legend. They disregard any evidence.

What if Jesus was a historical lie? What if HE never arrived on planet earth and fulfilled the role of the Biblical messiah? How would that have changed history?

As we view history from the rear-view mirror, imagine the difference today. If there was no Jesus, then the disciples would never have gotten together. There would be no twelve apostles. Peter and his buddies would have operated a no name business in Galilee until their deaths. Judas may have lived to become a rich zealot. Maybe becoming a governor of a province. The apostle Paul would have grown old. He might have become the head guy for the Pharisee religious establishment.

There would be no written new testament. In fact, there would be no Christian religion. The Roman catholic church would never have existed. The Jewish faith though would have continued as a small, closed group. All the books written by the early church fathers would not exist. All the cathedrals, schools, and hospitals started by missionaries would never been established.

Thought leaders over the ages would have been influence by more humanistic ideals. In fact, many of these thinkers may have created another worldly religion. Hopefully someone would replace some of the holes Christianity filled.

Western civilization would not be in existence today. What we would have in its place in anyone’s guess. It would be a different world today than it is.

In fact, if you are of the Jewish orthodox faith, then we would be waiting for the Messiah. We would be wondering why God hasn’t recently spoken to us. It has only been some two-thousand, four-hundred years since Malachi was written (last book in the Old Testament).

Yes, life would be different.

But historical evidence does exist. No historical figure has been more scrutinized than the life of Jesus. The written manuscripts from the early church along with secular confirmations abound. The archeology discoveries continue to confirm historical facts. Even today, as people are introduced to Jesus, their lives are being transformed. This is a testimony of a living God confirming HIS story.

When one researches the evidence and is sincere to seek the truth, one can only acknowledge HE lived. HE died. HE was resurrected. HE ascended to heaven. HE claimed to be eternal while bodily on earth and HE continues to impact people’s lives today. As one learns to live in HIS presence, and seeks a relationship with HIM, one discovers life. An eternal Spirit living and flowing through them.

HE becomes the center of your life. Without HIM, there is no real meaning and purpose for life. HE is the reason for life. HE is like the sun rising each morning, HE makes everything fit into its proper place. This is why for believers all praise and honor are HIS.

Jesus gives purpose and meaning to life. Where there is no Jesus, there is only an empty life. When one comes to know Jesus, one then comes to know and experience real life.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Underestimating Jesus

Dr. Mike 2025 , , , ,

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.  I John 4:4


 

What are some ways we may limit Jesus in our lives?

The other day I spent some time with an associate struggling with a whole set of issues. He is a 21st century Biblical Job. Just like Job lost everything important to him, so has he.

His health is battered. He is battling addiction from pharmaceutical drugs. He is financially broke and unemployed. He struggles against strong demonic influences. His family is ready to commit him into a mental ward.

He questions his belief in God. He holds HIM responsible for his poor condition. Yet his prayers are deeply sincere asking God for help and direction.

He has been a faithful Christian his entire life. But now wonders why God has abandon HIM. He has lost all hope and meaning for his life. Every hiccup, muscle sprain, and one less hour of sleep each night brings him into the mindset his days are short.

He is crying out for help but at the same time wallowing in a victim mindset. As I listen to him, my heart hurts. I pray along with him asking for wisdom in the situation. My focus is trying to see what the Holy Spirit is doing. How can I best participate with our Lord in this situation. For now, I only sit and listen. I ask questions trying to help him see things more clearly. God is the cure-giver, not I. For we both will learn patience waiting on HIM.

It is times like this we discover how strong our faith in Jesus actually is. Is HE bigger than any problem we are dealing with? Do I really have a strong relationship with HIM or is HE just someone I know? Have I been true and supportive of HIM my entire life? Or have I just played church with HIM? Does HE really have last say on this matter? Can HE be trusted?

Is HE really the solution for my problems or the cause? Isn’t HE supposed to protect me from harm? From my stupid choices? Does HE practice safe-zone behavior or will HE allow the situation to enter the high-risk area?

Why am I truly following him anyway? These are only a few of the questions that may arise when we struggle with life’s darkest moments.

When Jesus is your central-core of living, bad things are still going to happen. The difference being HE is always with you. HE will lead you through the mess. In the process, you will learn to better govern yourself and others. His purpose is not to make you happy and successful in this life. HE wants to prepare you for eternity to rule with HIM serving others. Everything we go through in this life trains us to know HIM better. To enjoy life with HIM in greater degrees, and prepare us for greater service of others.

We can choose to limit Jesus or allow HIM access to lead us with HIM as HE navigates us through the jungles of life. We can let HIM live in us and through us or just reside. As we allow HIM to live HIS life through us, HE accomplishes HIS macro-plans. We also achieve our micro-ones. Everything else are the small details that we deal with along the way.

Walking with HIM doesn’t eliminate the problems. But helps us focus on the solutions. We limit Jesus when we don’t allow HIM to live in us and through us. One step at a time. One day at a time. One person at a time. For HE is always with us. You especially notice when family, friends, and community surround you with HIS love and care in your darkest moments. Yes, HE is always with you.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

Aspirations and Writings Neatly Bound in Book Formats: * indicates audio version now available
at Apple Books

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