Are Christians To Legalize Marijuana?

This last week marijuana was legalized in the state that I live in. At one time I was right winged and thought that it was wrong, and anyone that used it was wrong. But 8 years ago I was diagnosed with a muscle wasting disease that causes a lot of muscle pain and discomfort. The only relief that I got from the pain was through oxys. These are terrible addicting pills. After taking these on and off for 8 years I asked my doctor for a license for medical marijuana.

The whole process of buying marijuana was embarrassing and awkward. I have never taken marijuana so I had no idea what to ask or how to take it. The funny thing was that when I asked the people who knew about it, no-one could tell me anything because of the legalities of it, so I left frustrated and gave up the whole process.
 Now that it is going to be legal I am not sure what I am going to do. It is legal for me to take, but is it beneficial for me? I have lived in pain every day for the last 8 years and most days I pray that Jesus to take away the discomfort or take me home. Am I an exception for taking Marijuana or not? Where do we as Christians draw the line?

As with any situation in life when I have a question, I turn to the Word of God. Here are two verses that I found:

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved by anything." - 1 Corinthians 6:12
 "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."  - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
 You should not be controlled by anything in life except Jesus. Alcohol is legal for me to drink and I do like to drink an occasional beer or glass of wine, but it does not control me I control it. It is not the most important thing in my life.
 My body is a temple of the Lord; I should treat it as such. I am also a shining example of Jesus Christ. If I walk around drunk or high I am not much of an example for My Lord.

I also believe that it comes down to the person. If they feel that they are not going to be able to control it, they should not cross that line.

I also feel that if a person wants to take marijuana is going to take it regardless of what the law says.

So, what are your thoughts or beliefs? What kind of example should we give others as Followers of Jesus Christ?

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Verse of the Day

My Letter To Satan

How do you picture yourself in Christ? A servant, a worker, a friend? I have always pictured myself as a Knight. I have dirt and blood on my face, fighting the good fight, willing to give my life for the one true King. By me telling you this, the letter will make more sense.

Dear satan,

I just wanted to send you a letter and tell you that you LOST.

You knew that God had plans for me and it scared you. So you set out to destroy me and my family. First, you tried to destroy me personally, you tempted me with bodybuilding drugs, you wanted me in jail because you knew that I would not be as effective in His Kingdom. I did fall into your temptation, but My Lord saved me, I am sure it made you angry.
Then you tried to destroy my family, by tempting me with another female, and again I fell into your temptation. It almost destroyed my family, but again, Our Lord came through and saved us. We beat the odds and survived, I bet it must have made you very angry.

Finally, I had my life together; I was being the person that God wanted me to be. You could not destroy me mentally so you went after my physical body. I found out I had an incurable disease. Looking back I see now what you wanted, it was not the disease, it was the fact that I wanted to kill myself, you wanted me out of the picture for good. You almost got what you wanted, but again my LORD and my family saved me. You LOST. I am still here and still fighting, and because of your failure, and Christ’s victory, He helped Kim start this ebay store, which is reaching new people every day.

You are such a weak creature, I know that you have to ask permission of My Lord to do anything; even you acknowledge God’s awesome power! Every victory in Christ only makes me stronger. My body may be somewhat crippled, but you will NEVER KILL MY SPIRIT.

Victorious in Christ,

Jim

Ps. you may win little victories here on this earth, but I know how the story ends……YOU LOSE.

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Every Life is Beautiful

My wife and I watched October Baby; UPC 602341005296 last night. It is a story of a failed abortion, adoption, and how God has a plan for everyone. This movie touched us as were both in tears. My wife and I adopted our son, and I found out later in life that I was an "accident."
My parents would have never even thought of abortion, but one ponders if my parents did believe in abortion, how many lives I have come in contact with and the difference it would have made.

The story starts out with Hannah. Hannah is sick and all the countless tests point to only one thing; her difficult birth. The doctor's diagnosis is nothing compared to what her parents tell Hannah.... she is adopted. This is another topic that is close to our hearts as we adopted our son, and we agreed that we would never hide this fact from him. We were so happy of this decision. But Hannah's parents choose to keep this a secret from her.

Hannah is angry, and confused. She embarks on a journey with her best friend; Jason. Hannah searchs for her hidden past to find her future. After much pain Hannah realizes that her life (yours too) can be much more that she planned.

I do not want to tell you much more as I do not want to ruin it. I would like to hear your thoughts. Are you or do you know someone that is adopted? Do you agree or disagree that parents should tell children when they are adopted? Please share your stories.

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Are You Samurai?

"Samurai"
The word Samurai is derived from the classical Japanese verb saburau, meaning to serve or attend.

Greetings everyone! I wanted to check in with everyone and share how I am doing. As most of you know, I have started my Pastor's Ordination. It has been awhile since I have been to school, so balancing family, studying, and writing papers hastaken some adjusting.
I wanted to share with you a movie that Kim and I were watching; "The Last Samurai".It is an older movie, but has a great message. No, it is not just a guy movie :) yes, it has a lot of fighting scenes, but the journey of the main character; CaptainNathan Alredge is a person that we all might identify with.

The movie is set in the 1800's. Captain Nathan Aldredge is running from his past.He has done things that he is not proud of. He tries to hide his past in alcohol.Through a series of events he is captured by Samurai which means "To serve." His capture is a very dark time of self revelation.

Captain Aldredge soon finds his heart, a purpose, and a reason to fight and live again. There is much more to this movie, I did not want to ruin the movie if youhave not seen it. There are although a couple of thoughts that I had after watching it.

I could see myself in Captain Aldredge. There was a time in my life that I was notproud of. I had done things that I did not know how to get out of. Then Jesus gota hold of my heart, I found myself through Him, and a reason to fight.
I found a YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrxR24lUloY video on "The Last Samurai". If you look at the running time of this video clip, start at 1:16 to 2:51.

In this scene I see my own struggle, maybe you can too. Captain Aldredge is healingfrom a fight, and his body is broken. During this part of his journey a storm is raging, he is not looking for a fight, but the fight finds him. The enemy isruthless,and shows no mercy. Captain Aldredge never gives up the fight or his wooden sword(The Bible) even though the enemy tries to take it away from him. In fact "TheSamurai"believe that their sword is their spirit.

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12

Is not that just like the enemy? You are at your lowest time, maybe you are brokenand healing, you are not looking for a fight, but the enemy does not play fair. He finds you and tries to steal your joy. When you are going though these trials in your life, you have to hang with every fiber of your being. Immerse yourself into the word of God, and He will see you through.

In closing, Captain Aldredge made a comment in his journal that stuck with me. Hewas describing "The Samurai" with this statement:

"They are an intriguing people, from the moment they wake they devote themselves to perfection of whatever they pursue, I have never seen such a discipline people."

What an amazing statement! Would it not be a testimony to Christ if people who didnot know us or Jesus, looked at our lives and made the same statement?

You might be thinking to yourselves, I do not want or can't be a monk or dedicatemyself to 24/7 study of the Bible. The great news is that you do not have to! RememberJesus' command in Luke?

"He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your souland with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself" - Luke 10:27

Devote yourself daily to those two commands, people will make that statement aboutyou.
So, do you see a little Samurai in you? If you are looking for a good movie night,grab the popcorn, and a copy of "The Last Samurai."
Have a blessed week In Christ. - Jim
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Doubting Thomas

Doubting Thomas

Yesterday, someone made a post about Doubting Thomas, and I meditated on it all last night, and here are a couple of thoughts.

First, I think there is a little "Thomas" in us all. I know many people who at one time or another demanded Jesus to give us proof that He exsists. You know how it goes...... Jesus, I know you love me, and I know you care, so why are you not doing this for me???? If you do not, You must be mean and uncaring. To me that is pretty much cornering Jesus telling Him to do this for you.

Second, if you remember Thomas was willing to die for Jesus, Jesus wanted to go into a country where passing could mean their lives (John 11:15-17) Thomas was very bold and spoke up. But, is that like all of us. When Jesus is close to our side, we are STRONG. But, when Jesus is quite, we freak out, maybe question where He is.

Third, when reading the Bible, always put yourself into the time and person first, then make a bridge. We have the Bible, and know the end of the story, they did not, they were living moment by moment.
Example; for centuries if you were a believing Jew, you knew that the prophets foretold of a coming Messiah. One to redeem them, crush the opposing Roman Empire. Herod told them he was god, but they knew/believed different.

Then, one day this Rabbi (An amazing teacher; maybe like Billy Graham of our time) came to you. You, a very common person, and this Rabbi told you He believed in YOU, and He want YOU to follow him. Just that fact that a Rabbi asked you (not evening knowing it was THE MESSIAH) was an honor.
Thomas, left and became a discicple of this Rabbi. (Matt. 10:2-4) During these amazing 3 years of being with this Rabbi, he came to believe...... he KNEW this was the Messiah! People are healed, rasied from the dead, He speaks like no-one he has ever heard. Finally, towards the end of the 3 years, He (Jesus) make His triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a donkey (Stand for royality) Thomas, must have thought....... THIS IS IT..... finally after centuries, I am going to witness the prophecy......... THE MESSIAH HAS COME TO REDEEM US!

Sadly, to see his Messiah taken, and killed the most brutal death.... I think if I were any of the disciples, I would be confused, hurt, scared, I just wasted 3 years of my life, where/what do I do now? So, for Thomas to want to see the scars......... would not you, maybe?

God Bless Jim
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My Drug Addiction

Scripture
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven
A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot
A time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build
A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain
A time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away
A time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak
A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

My Drug Addiction
Yes, I was very addicted to Oxycotin. (Medics compare Oxy to a high grade Heroin,and the effects are much the same. The drug is used for chronic long term pain).Let me explain my story a little further for those of you that do not know it.In 2005 I was diagnosed with a muscle wasting disease. The byproduct of this diseasewas amazing pain. When the disease first hit and I was confused and scared, I rememberworking the late shift, coming home, crying in the car ride home. Finally parkingthe car, pulling myself out, and crawling, literally crawling, up the stairs to park myself on the couch to curl up in my wife's arms.

Due to this extreme pain my doctors started to prescribe pain killers. If you arefamiliar with pain killers, your body will develop a tolerance to the current levelso you have to keep on upping and upping the level. My current level in July of this year, was 240 mgs of Oxycotin. This was equivalent to a whopping 48 Percocets a DAY!

The first of July, I felt God telling me that I did not need these painkillers, and that for what He had planned for me, these were going to get in the way. So,I started the journey to getting off the Oxys. I have to tell you, this is/was the hardest thing that I have ever done!

The first week It felt like I had spiders crawling inside my body and head. I couldnot sit still, I was nauseous, my muscles ached, could not sleep unless I had mytapered amount of the drug, I said to myself "This is what hell must be like." During the last part of my taper it felt like I had the WORST flu ever. It hurt just to take a breath. My heart felt like I just drank 3 large Monsters energy drinks.I thought my heart was going to pop out of my chest, and I still could not sleep.But, I beat it, I took my last Oxy 3 days ago, I am not done with my withdrawals,but every minute, hour, and day I am getting better.

You might be asking "Why are you telling me this?" Well, let me tell you :) WhenI was going through this season, I cried out to God, and yelled, Take this away from me." I know that you can, and I know that you love me, so please make me better!But, as I said this, I thought to myself that if every time I cry out to God, andHe showed up and granted every cry, He would not be GOD, he would be some cosmicgenie. Plus, if He granted every wish that we had, this would not be a fallen earth,it would be heaven, as we would want to make every situation perfect for us.
Take a moment to read the scripture on the left, this was written by King Solomon,by God's grace, the wisest man that ever lived. King Solomon says that there areseasons for everything; a time to heal, a time to weep, and a time to laugh. You ARE going to go though all these seasons in your life, it is a fact of being human,and engaging with others.

The happy seasons are wonderful. But, what about the weeping and healing? What isyour posture? Do you try and get out of the situation as soon as you can? Do youcry to God, and when He doesn't answer, you label God mean and uncaring?

God KNOWS you are there, and cares about you so much. He is allowing you to go throughthis season for some purpose that you may not know until much later in life. So,instead of focusing on "GET ME OUT OF HERE" focus on Christ, and His love, He isstill there. Maybe, He will show you a new side of you, one you never knew you had,a new strength.

I can tell you that the withdrawal off Oxy's was the hardest thing I have done, and I am still not done yet. BUT, since going through that season, I have a new heart for people that are going through a similar season. And I KNOW that God isgoing to place people in my life that I can help and love. :)
Have a great week in Jesus! - Jim
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How Do You View GOD?

Luke 15:11-32 ~ The Parable of the Prodigal Son

11 And he said, "There was a man who had two sons.12And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of propertythat is coming to me.' And he divided his property between them.13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country,and there he squandered his property in reckless living.14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.15So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who senthim into his fields to feed pigs.16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods thatthe pigs ate, and no one gave him anything 17 "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servantshave more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven andbefore you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of yourhired servants."' 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced himand kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heavenand before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and killit, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again;he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate.25 "Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house,he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your fatherhas killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.' 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!' 31 And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive;he was lost, and is found.'"

Greetings!

What is your view of GOD? Maybe your view of GOD is a huge being, a being so largethat you could never approach him. It would be the same as an ant trying to approachyou. Imagine an ant on the ground trying to get your attention when you are walking.If you did not step on him first, I would guess you could barely hear him or wantto even waste you time with such a small thing.

Maybe your view of GOD is this being sitting somewhere in heaven on His high thronewith some stone tablets, as He is keeping notes on all the times you screw up. Heis a god that has to be appeased. You must read your Bible so many hours a day, say so many prayers, try not to sin, and if you do, you have to work your way backinto GOD's favor.

I have known GOD all my life, and in 2001 I received a regenerated heart. Since then I have never been the same. I know of GOD's love, mercy, and grace but I stillstruggle with really knowing that GOD loves me unconditionally. I love Him and wantto please Him more than anything else, but there are times I feel guilty if I do not read my Bible, or spend time in prayer. I know that when I feel like this, I have just turned my relationship into a religion with rules and high standards.When I feel like this, I like to go back to the Bible and read what Jesus shared with us, God His father has unconditional love for us.

The story is The Prodigal or Lost Son. I have posted here for you to read. We touchedon it last week, but we did not really explore it. If you have heard this story most of the time people will focus on the "Lost son," after all the story is namedafter him. But, I would like to take a look at the lost son's father.

After you read the story, try and put yourself in the fathers place. What would have been your reaction? Would you yell at your child? Would you sit them down andmake them listen to your theology of the wrong they did, and how it affected you?Or would you just love them and welcome them back like the father in our story did?

I had a similar situation. Our son ran away after we had gotten into an argument,he was on his way out of town and not looking back. Soon after he realized that he needed money and a car to do these things, he was back home. Can you guess whatmy reaction was? Yes, I sat him down and told him how his Mom was out in the darklooking for him and she could of gotten hurt, how worried we were, "don't you everdo that again" speech. In looking back, we could have spoken about these things, but maybe right when he got home was not the time. Maybe we could have showed himhow at home there is unconditional love and acceptance?

I want you to stop and read verses 20-24 again. This is a perfect example of GOD.He did not preach to the lost son, turn him away, make him say all the right words,he did not even want an apology. All that mattered is that his son was lost and now he is home, that is all that the father cared about. Did you even catch the fact that he did not even wait for the son to come home, as soon as he saw him froma distance, the father ran to meet him.

Whatever your views of GOD may be like, this is what GOD is really like. He lovesyou and accepts you for who you are and what you have done. Nothing matters to Himexcept a relationship with Him. I know that Christians over time have distorted GOD and his views. I know that they mean well, but they portray GOD as a GOD who has a lot of rules that you must follow. Maybe you have heard the man on the cornertelling you that if you do not repent you will go to hell. This is not who GOD is,Jesus would never be on the corner with a bullhorn, we would be in the bars and in the homeless places, just loving people.

I do not know where you are in life, maybe you are the lost son or daughter and you think about the things that you have done, and there is no way GOD would evertake you back and love you. WRONG, He loves you just the way you are right now. Do not change, come as you are.

Maybe you are still stuck in religion. You think that you have to read your Bibleand pray, so that GOD will accept you and love you. You are WRONG, He loves you right now without doing those things, come just as you are without having to do all those things.

Maybe you are the bullhorn guy who believes that the only way to GOD is through a lot of rules and if you do not, you are on your way to hell. There are truth inyour words, but use GOD's example of love and acceptance to reach the lost.

John had the right mind set about GOD. In his book he refers to himself as thedisciple"whom Jesus loves." Then we find him in John 13:23 Leaning on Jesus' chest while dining. Can you imagine yourself leaning on Jesus Chest? Or introduce yourself as "Hi, my name is Jim, the one who Jesus loves. Can you say that? Can you say thatand really mean it with your heart?JESUS LOVES YOU! - Jim

23Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. 25He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? - John 13:23-25 KVJ

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