The Chatroom

the MastersGroove.  Moriah and I regularly tune in to these live, inspirational broadcasts of Gospel House music, and join in the chats.  DJ’s that contribute to the MastersGroove also join the chatroom, regularly.  Last week I was inspired by a loving Word shared in this chatroom, from which resonates much of what the Word of God tells us.  Here's an excerpt from that chat:

We must lift each other up and stay encouraged . . . Part of the problem today.  We mind our business and don't want to be deemed a snitch...but you must stand up for righteousness or join in the devils army through silence. . . . Watch out for your neighbors child, help the elderly, share your wealth, bite your tongue, practice patience . . .

Oh how we must lift each other up and stay encouraged! We proportionately receive our own encouragement from being an encourager, ourselves – like we reap what we sow!! If we don’t heed this exhortation from the chatroom, we cannot effectively represent Christ and His teaching. In fact this exhortation is exactly HOW to represent that His Holy Spirit resides within us. We can positively and miraculously change our own neighborhoods and families.  However, without operating by the Holy Spirit (Love) and standing up for what is righteous and true, we will absolutely risk joining the devil’s army. None can combat and defeat wickedness in this world while sowing with the enemy’s tools; or silently allowing our friends and neighbors to remain engulfed in sin.

 “But instead warn, admonish, urge, and encourage one another every day, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ that none of you may be hardened, or settled into rebellion of sin; warn of the deceitfulness, the fraudulence, the stratagem, or the trickery with which the delusive glamor of sin may play on someone” - Hebrews 3:13

“And he set captains of war over the people and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city and spoke encouragingly to them, saying:  Be strong and courageous.  Be not afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there is Another with us greater than all those with him.  With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles" - 2 Chronicles 32:6-8

“Also David told Solomon his son, Be strong and courageous, and do it. Fear not, be not dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail or forsake you until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord" - 1 Chronicles 28:20

. . . Part of the problem today. We mind our business and don't want to be deemed a snitch...but you must stand up for righteousness or join in the devils army through silence . . .Watch out for your neighbors child 

“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them” - Luke 17:3

“And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!” - Matthew 18:5-7

Here we learn that to “watch out for our neighbor’s child” doesn’t mean just for their protection. We must live as examples and role models, exemplifying the manners and behaviors of righteousness and truth. Our children should see and hear us proclaiming only truths and generously loving one another.  Should something about our actions, life-style, or our words cause a child to stumble into sin, or create a deception of some truth about God – Jesus has promised a woeful judgment.

. . . help the elderly, share your wealth, bite your tongue, practice patience . . .

“If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person's religious service is worthless, futile, and barren. Religion, as it is expressed outwardly, that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.” - James 1:26-27

“Do not turn to mediums that have familiar spirits or to wizards; for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God. Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD.” - Leviticus 19:31-33

“In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility [as the garb of a servant, with freedom from pride and arrogance] toward one another. For God sets Himself against the proud, the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, and the boastful -- and He opposes, frustrates, and defeats them, but gives grace, favor, and blessings to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” - 1 Peter 5:5-7

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” - 2 Corinthians 9:6

“He who belittles and despises his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding keeps silent.” - Proverbs 11:12

“Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool. Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.” - Proverbs 10:18-20

“Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Depart from evil and do good; seek, inquire for, and crave peace and go after it!” - Psalm 34:12-14

“Finally, brethren, rejoice! Be strengthened, perfected, completed, and made what you ought to be; be encouraged and consoled and comforted; be agreeable one with another; live in peace, and then the God of Love - the Source of affection, goodwill, and benevolence toward men - and the Author and Promoter of peace will be with you.” - 2 Corinthians 13:11-12

Introduction to our blog

Greetings from Colorful Colorado.  I am a divorced, single-father, employed as maintenance supervisor at the residential neighborhood where I reside.  My daughter, now 11 years old, is the most significant thing that ever happened in life.  I've taken being a supportive and disciplinary (teaching) parent very seriously - having emerged myself in classes, programs, and internet research to develop healthy parenting skills.  As a young adult I attended different colleges, with different career pursuits, and ultimately settled into a "road-scholars" approach to living, traveling as a Merchant Mariner, hitchhiker, and tourist throughout the United States, parts of Europe, and Latin America.  A social life - which I now have none, if compared to most peer standards - evolves largely around being a published musician, blogger, audio engineer, and a Christian.  These activities focus a great deal of time on the Internet - promoting and networking with other musicians, fans, acquired friends, and Christian ministries - internationally.

From these experiences come numerous challenges - whether associations at work, at music, at home, in my community, among the followers of Christ, from my travels, or seemingly random - but Divinely appointed - meetings with people.  As I have grown in Faith and relationship with our God, I've acquired an incredible compassion for people of all walks of live, and more specifically ... those living in severe dysfunction, not having direction or purpose in life, seeking wisdom or understanding, needing a friend and to be loved, or otherwise seeming hopeless.  This indwelling compassion is regularly overwhelmed by an incredible passion and motivation to share my own hope, joy, and strength to those lacking.

So, ... in conjunction with scores of music websites, social networks, and other blogs; I decided to start this blog to specifically address these recurring heartfelt concerns that arise from our society.  Many times I find myself believing "enough is enough" with our social problems.  I'm emboldened to encourage or provoke insight about what our Creator says in His Word about us, about our situations.  Being led by an indwelling relationship with the Holy Spirit, I am regularly compelled to share His remedies and promises; desiring to improve the quality of life and self-worth for all of us.

My goal and purpose in creating this blog is both:  (1)  to create an outlet to share, or mentor; and, (2) personally document these "revelations" and personal insights.  I will share what arises from our common challenges to support, encourage, and discipline those we care about.  We are on a journey together, never truly alone when in fellowship with God.  Let's do away with this concept of being hopelessly alone and without purpose in our universe - "enough is enough."

Michael McMahon

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." (Proverbs 27:17) 

D-D-Praz's band site