When God talks, His words manifest what He says.  Whether He says, “Let there be light,” or “Take up you bed and walk,” to the cripple or “Arise,” to a young, dead teenage girl, His Words contain the power to bring themselves to pass.  So when He calls you blessed, you are. When He said to Isaac “Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham,” that was a great day.  Why?  Because just like Isaac, we are the seed of Abraham, which means God’s Word to Isaac that day was spoken to us as if we had been right there with him!

Frankly, the Bible says that JESUS set us free from the curse so that the blessing of Abraham might come upon us.  And of course that blessing goes like this:

“…And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing;
And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

God’s Word marked Abraham for the rest of His life.  Today, you and I are marked by that same  Word as well as the blood of JESUS.  God looked at you and called those things which were not as though they were.  And neither you nor I can change that.  We are exactly who God says we are!  The only power we have is the power of choice; to accept it or deny it. I know what I’ve done.  How about you?  PRG

God is a master builder and he has built you.  He has already connected all the dots in your life and is just waiting for you to pursue Him to find where to start. Forever, His Word,  all of his plans are settled in the heavens.

Your life has a beginning, middle and end.  It is up to us to unwrap the package God has given us and discover the daily joys He has purposed for us.

Eye has not seen, ear has not heard nor has entered into the heart of man all the THINGS which God has prepared for those who love Him.  Those who love Him are those who pursue Him and daily discover His love, mercy, strength and supernatural provision in every area of life.

No matter what you do, make certain He is doing it through you.  Don’t be caught alone doing your own thing outside of God’s master plan.  It is futile and exhausting.  Go to Him for what He has already supplied today and enjoy the feeling that is foreign to so many, the feeling, of peace.

Be blessed today.  PRG

Here’s a question.  “Do you see JESUS?” If you do, your life is about to change!  Stay with me.  Colossians 1:15 says that He, JESUS is the image of the invisible God; that He is the visible representation of the invisible Father.  Think about that, the invisible became visible.

So many people ask the question, “Are we the only life form in the entire universe?”  “Is there life anywhere out there?”  The answer is, “Yes, most definitely!” But it is not what some may think.  The out there I am talking about is the invisible spirit-world.  And that world is much more active and dynamic than our 3D world on earth.  JESUS is proof.  He came from the spirit realm, not in some inter-galactic cruiser, but in the womb of a woman.

And to be clear, in no way am I implying that JESUS is some kind of Star Wars type creature from another galaxy.  But I assure you, He is not from earth.  Nor was He conceived by the Seed of a man (See Gen. 3:15).  He is the living Son of God, sent from a very real place called heaven.

The eternal Son of God left His throne in heaven to come to earth as Adam II.  It was the only way God could satisfy the debt which Adam I incurred for all the rest of us.  JESUS came to make us ALL RIGHT after we had become all wrong!

But JESUS came not just as our Savior and holy substitute for our sin-sick lives; He also came to show all people that the invisible can become visible!  So in Hebrews 12:2 we read, “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” Again, look at Him, (the tangible manifestation of the invisible God), who is also the Captain and our greatest example of faith.

There He is.  The living God, and you can touch Him! In other words, if you can believe who He is, you can experience anything you saw Him do, beginning with salvation.

Look at Christ’s life in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  He is the visible expression of the heart of our heavenly Father.  JESUS did only what the Father instructed Him to do.  And we saw the results; salvation, healing and deliverance.  Those acts have never stopped happening for those who see Him!  There is no reason not to believe that they will happen for you?

Therefore, JESUS told us in Mk. 9:23 “…all things are possible to him who believes.” And Romans 8:32 sums it all up with one question.  And careful now, your answer to this question is the key to the abundant life which you were created to possess, and it is this, “…will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?”

If your response is, “Yes!” then let it be unto you according to His Word.  For the JESUS you see and believe determines not only your eternal dwelling place, but the quality of your life on earth, right here, right now.  See Him and rejoice!

PRG

Our culture is possessed with The Look! Today, it’s not the color of your skin (which is a good thing), but wait, that skin better be tight.

Tight skin is cool, but I have a question.  “What else do you have?”  You see, a McLaren F1 is a million dollar supercar.  Sweet!  And it shimmers on a showroom floor like few cars do.  But if it came with a Ford Fiesta engine, it becomes something else altogether.  It becomes…disappointing.  Some would say, ” A Cheater.”  A Deception!  For though it had all the appearances of a race car, it was not even close.

America is being cheated today because too many parents are buying into a glossy and shallow society.  It’s time to pay the price of building our children from within…by example.

Somebody is going to get their attention and become their number one influence.  Will it be you ?

We have a historic opportunity today.  An opportunity to lead from the heart.  And our audience is all ears.  Our future leaders should not be influenced as much by the culture as they are by mom and dad.  How they act on the soccer field should reflect what they have learned around the dining room table, not on Jersey Shore.   This commitment to our children should cause us to be the everyday mentors our young people are crying out for. 

Let’s develop a thought life rooted in the Word of God along with the principles of love, faith and the riches of  His grace.  As parents, when we commit to building our hidden parts, our children will see the results outwardly.  It won’t be long before they too will begin to hunger, not just for a fancy paint job, but for that powerful engine of character and honor which will propel them into the victory zone of life all of their days on earth!

God is a God of order.  He makes everything right and appropriate.  He loves it when everything fits.

God has filled the earth with abundant resources.  For instance, crude oil from beneath the earth.  Where do we drill for it?  We drill in the exact place where He put it.  And where do we place those mammoth wind turbines?  We put them wherever He makes the wind blow. Fisherman fish certain waters at certain times of the year because they know that the precise fish, crab, shrimp or other sea life which they desire will be there.  These are just examples of how some people cooperate with God.

Whether you acknowledge God, go to church or not, your spiritual “handle,” is irrelevant.  From Atheist to Zen and everything in between, everybody acknowledges the earth’s  cycles, seasons as well as the meteorological and geological patterns that are all around us.  We respect these patterns and we use them to our benefit.  We have also learned that disrespecting “mother nature” can lead to disastrous results.

Think about it.  Is not science simply the discovery of the vast power which surrounds us on earth?  Every advancement in human history, from the wheel to the microchip has come from a discovery.   It is man harnessing the potential within a God-made substance.  Once a scientist discovers a “constant” in nature or in a compound they become 99.99%  certain that the same  results will occur every time the same conditions are present.  It is a constant. They are convinced.  And as a result of relying on these certainties, our world has become a much more glorious place to live.

If we can rely so heavily on the unchanging laws of nature and see the consistent benefits of doing so, we must not hesitate to take the same stance with God’s Word!  For God’s Word is the only constant on earth that is 100% reliable, 100% of the time, to 100% of those who believe it.  For it was His Word which created the world when He spoke by the breath of  His mouth (Psalm 33:6).  Once a person makes God’s Word their own, they will never lack any good thing in this life or the next!

When you and I begin to cooperate with God’s Word, we will  become more certain about God’s love and His promises toward us than those who rely on the Farmer’s Almanac.  We will experience blessing and multiplication upon all we put our hands to.  If we don’t doubt the seasons, how can we doubt the very Word that created them?  Let me challenge you to believe that the God who created the earth also created you to experience the abundant life JESUS promised.  Put God’s Word in your heart, then on your tongue.   Now release that Word with faith and watch what God does.  What YOU SAY will come to pass.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17

This is not an anti-gay diatribe by another “hate the sin, love the sinner” style preacher.  I want to begin by saying that I truly understand that many homosexuals have heard or sensed something very real within them which they sincerely believe was a signal that they were gay.

Yet it did happen again,  just a few weeks ago.  A young college student, Tyler Clementi, jumped to his death off the George Washington Bridge in New York.  What a heartbreak.  Another bright kid, nothing but opportunities and fortune ahead of him, here no longer.   Life, just too complicated at eighteen.  And it’s not just Tyler.  But many other gay teens are choosing suicide, nationwide.  Did this young man jump off that bridge because his roommates dishonored him?  No.  He did it because he was confused, confounded, humiliated.  Why?  Let me explain it this way.

I have never met a member of any ethnic or “religious” group who had to warm up to who they really are.  In my case, I am an unapologetic Christian American.  I would never limit wearing JESUS to just my shirt sleeve.  I wear Him all over, especially on my attitude and my outlook on life.  I never had to get used to being a Christian.  And I have never had issue with anyone who does not understand or appreciate my devotion to Christ.  Nor am I offended when people scoff at my particular brand of Christianity   or deride my Savior.  I am just as confident and secure in who I am and who my God is as I am in being an American living in the USA.  I am happy, even eager to tell anyone that I am a flag-waving, Christian patriot, anywhere in the world.  And so would most reading this blog.  Why?  It’s like breathing.  It’s natural.  There is no shame in being who you know you are.

Let’s get to truth.  If an offense could be taken today, it will be with this statement, not with me.  It’s not my statement, nor my word.  I simply believe it.  Any offense would have to be with God, whose Word I take from the New Testament book of Romans, Chapter 1, verses 18 through 32. (New King James Version) Here is an excerpt:

“…because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful…God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves…to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.  Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error…”

Yes, there are young people who feel something, hear something or have a desire they have never had.  No objection.  But it is a false reading.  A deceptive bluff.  You don’t have to believe it or submit to it! And why is this such a leap?  Remember the first drag on a cigarette?  We thought we would die.  Every nicotine addict I know wishes they had gotten a clue on that first try.  Why can’t we apply this to the kid who “feels” he’s gay? Imagine if people gave in to every rogue thought or act they “felt” like doing.  It would be chaos.  Homosexuality is a choice.  And for some, it is a very tough one because of the high level of deception involved.

Those who hold to this belief are not anti-gay or against any lifestyle choice.  We must resist the notion that standing on Truth is being “intolerant.”  Would we call someone intolerant because they resisted a person who prefers straddling the lines on the freeway?  “I just don’t feel right when I drive in between the lines…I need to straddle them” A moral society must have at it’s bedrock, undeniable truth in order for it’s citizen’s to prosper.  This has always been America’s secret.

We must question anything that our minds and bodies tell us they “feel” if it goes against truth.  And that is really the crux.  Truth.  The Bible clearly states that homosexuality is neither God-designed nor God-inspired.  And to say that God sanctions and looks with favor upon homosexuality is nonsense.  It is unnatural.  It is a mixture of what God made as natural and then something else joining in (The deception).   That fatal flaw will forever produce mixture.  Thus the shame, the uncertainty, the acting out along with the increasingly loud, loud voice to defend it.  But truth settles every dispute.  “We don’t get to choose what truth is, nor can we change it. We just get to accept it or deny it. And, everybody finds out in the end what the TRUTH really is.”  If your truth gets you where you want to go, congratulations, you made a wise choice.

Yes, it has taken far too long for our nation to recognize that we indeed had a birth defect called slavery.  We are doing much better.  But those attempting to place homosexuality in that same status are misguided.  The evil within legit racism, and I must say legit because our present culture will label you a racist if you accidentally pull out in front of the wrong person in traffic!  The evil within legit racism is marginalizing and devaluing another human life on the basis of something they have no control over, namely, the color of their skin, or their ethnic genealogy.  Never has there breathed a human being with an option in either.  Which is why I contend that the greatest form of racism is abortion.  When we deny life, not the right to vote, not a better seat or a superior job, or even human dignity, but when we deny life itself to a person, who through no fault or choice of their own came into existence in the identical manner as the rest of us; can this be a depiction of anything other than our worst selves?

America has begun to line up with the Bible when it says,  “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28.  Simple, right?  We are ALL equal in God’s eyes in every way.  And that is how it works.  When we get into agreement with Him., life is more enjoyable and productive for everyone.  However, God will not reverse Himself because we are screaming for Him to give us what we want.  He loves us too much to do that.  He is our Father, after all.  Any dad who gives in to the lesser wisdom of his children will certainly regret it.  Of course, God has no regrets.  And neither will we if we stay submitted to His Word.

Carly Simon still sounds great belting out this classic hit.  And she’s singing a Biblical truth.   Nobody, does it better.  Get on this ride with me.  Who doesn’t enjoy watching a real top-notch Elvis impersonator?  I know I do.  But here’s a comment you’ve never heard leaving the impersonator’s show.  “Hey, I saw Elvis when he was alive.  But this guy was better!” Right?   C’mon.  There was only one Elvis, and Elvis was the best Elvis there was!  But wait.  There is only one you.  And nobody does you, better than you.  You are the Elvis of your world! Let’s make two quality decisions right now, shall we?

Read the rest of this entry

It’s been said, “What’s a New Year without a New Day.”

Unlike a New Year, a “New Day” is a choice, and, of the highest quality. It’s a choice not just to pray daily, but throughout our day. It is choosing to forgive first and ask questions later, to stay encouraged about our future and courageous about releasing the past.

A New Day is deciding to dream more, believe more, receive more, doubt less, worry less, complain less and then GIVE. Give extravagantly. Give what only you can give…Your smile, Your hug, Your love.

2010 is not blessed, prosperous or otherwise. 2010 is what you make it. It’s 8760 hours waiting to be filled and fueled by the kind of person who believes that they are here on purpose, and they have all they need to fulfill that purpose. And I believe that person, is you.

I celebrate your life and your year of uncommon blessing!

Rev. Ralph D. Gerard
Pastor
Ephesians 2:10

A very merry and blessed Christmas to you and your family.

I’m inviting you to a party in south Florida! 2010 is just days away and Joanna and I could not be more stirred up in our faith than we are right now! As I speak these words, the spirit of destiny is upon me and I want to share a very important moment with you.

I know that for our family the key word for us in 2010 will be CHANGE. America has shifted in the last year. Never in our nation’s history has there been such a spotlight on the differences between secular and sacred, darkness and light, right and wrong. I literally tremble with excitement as I see a fearless, yet wise and well-equipped church flowing in the love of God and Power of the Holy Spirit!

Please mark this day on your calendar, Saturday, January 9th – 6:30 PM – Heron Bay Marriott in Coral Springs, Florida. That night, Joanna and I along with Christa Joy and Rapha Simeon will be in town! January 9th also happens to be our 28th wedding anniversary and Joanna and I are inviting you to be our special guest!

We have extraordinary music guests joining us and then I’ll be sharing a very particular word that will be streaming live around the world over our Dream Church Radio Network. Immediately afterward we look forward to splendid fellowship over snacks and refreshments.

Cannot wait for this night! Saturday, January 9th 6:30PM Heron Bay Marriott. 954-753-5598. Click HERE for their website.

See you in Coral Springs!

Pastor Ralph and Joanna Gerard

Over the last several  years millions of people have watched the motivational/inspirational movie, “The Secret.”  It is a very powerful look at the law of attraction and the possibilities associated with focusing on the picture of your dreams and  true desires.  What is interesting is that with all of its initial sizzle and monster sales, people who bought, watched and listened to the movie began to discover something.  Well, more like, “something was missing.”  The Secret became, “Who can harness the Secret?”

For most people, it just had little staying power and even less results.

What happened is that they had connected with one of God’s principles.  They  had gotten excited, inspired, fired up for ninety minutes, “Yes, I can,” If I can see it, I can have it,” “All of my dreams Can come true…” Wonderful!    Except, no God.  Close! When you give the “Universe” credit for God’s works the results are always the same, empty.  Power comes from God alone.  The universe [all of them], are God’s servants.  Look at Psalm 119:89-91  “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.  Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides. They continue this day according to Your ordinances,  For all are Your servants.” The reason there was no lasting fruit with The Secret is that no one was told what the secret really was.  Actually the Bible calls it a “Mystery.”  “…the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.  To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:26-27.

The Mystery is a Person!  The Secret is Christ in you, the hope of glory.  He is the Source of all power, and when you apply His principles with faith and expectation you discover something much greater than the universe.  You discover that you are a child of  The Source.  And as such, the universe bows to His Word in you!  The Secret works!  But only for those who realize that it is Christ’s love that makes the abundant life possible.  As long as we attempt to take the glory for our achievements we will struggle in one form or another.  But what rest and peace we find the moment we acknowledge that all we have or ever will possess comes from the hand of our loving heavenly Father who designed our purpose long before the world existed.  This one you need to see for yourself…Ephesians 2:10. Shalom!

Everywhere you look, whoops, there it is.  A Cross. Whether perched atop a church steeple, carved into a gravestone, engraved on a piece of jewelry or suspended on a chain.  The cross is the universal symbol of Christianity.  But think about it.  Does this make any sense?  How strange that an emblem representing the cruelest torture becomes the image defining a culture of life and hope.

There are other let’s say, cheery symbols marking other faiths.  The six-pointed star of David, the crescent moon of Islam, the lotus blossom for Buddhism.  And yet a cross for Christianity.  An instrument of execution.  Correct me if I’m wrong, but I have not seen any tiny electric chairs worn around people’s necks.  Have you ever walked into a home and seen a gold plated hangman’s noose displayed on the wall?  How about a guillotine printed on a business card?  Yet we do so with the cross.  Many even make the sign of the cross as they pray.  So why?  Why is the cross the symbol of Christianity?

The answer is no mystery.  It is in the simplicity of the cross that we discover it’s depth.  Two beams, one horizontal, the other vertical.  One reaches out, like the love of God toward all humanity.  The other reaches up, as does God’s purity, power and grace.  And at that intersection, at the cross, is where you and I meet Him.  For it is there that a holy God put our sin on His perfect Son.  It was the ultimate act of grace.

It was there that He who was without sin was punished so that we might be forgiven.  It was there He was wounded that we might be healed.  It was there He died our death that we might share His life.  It was there that God’s justice was satisfied that His unlimited grace might be released.

And it’s why Christians call This Friday…Good.

Happy Easter!

R. D. Gerard

Each year people from all over the world travel to Kenya to experience the adrenaline rush that only a genuine Serengeti safari can offer.  Perhaps; for I never visited Kenya. But I certainly remember my first trip to Lagos, Nigeria (West Africa) in the late eighties.  I promise you that the taxi ride from the airport to the hotel proved to be a kind of cosmopolitan safari which included more thrills than a herd of stampeding elephants!

After seeing my life pass before my eyes the second time, I discovered the problem.  There were no lines painted on any of the roads, including the freeway!  It was a chaotic free for all at speeds reserved for the autobahn.  In the absence of lines, drivers maneuvered in whatever way they believed would give them the edge to reaching their destination.  You would have thought there were daily cash prizes awarded to the motorists scoring the most near misses and escapes from death.

Traversing life without lines is also very perilous.  We are each born with a God-given purpose, an assignment, which we must discover and pursue (the earlier the better) in order to live a life of significance.   The road for the journey changes along the way.  Sometimes it’s a twelve lane highway, downhill with nobody near you for miles.  At other times it becomes a narrow two-way street with sharp turns and steep cliffs just off the shoulder.

But the one thing that should never change regardless of the road ahead, are the lines.   The lines on our life’s journey are our values.  These are the truths, the principles (non-negotiables), by which we live; rich or broke, mountain top or valley, in public or in private.  The lines are our core!  We cross them at our own risk.  Violating them costs us. Penalties are certain.  The lines define our character and shape our world-view.  They keep us safe and make our life attractive.  They do not change because the road becomes narrow, nor are they compromised for sake of opportunity or circumstance.  They keep our destiny in focus, our choices clear and our decisions precise.

And although it’s very easy to judge someone by where they seem to be at any given point on their journey, their true measure is determined by their faithfulness to the lines.  For as our journey progresses and our life unfolds, our significance and our joy will come not from how many deals we made or how many promotions we received.  It will be about our commitment to something greater than our ourselves; our generosity and our graciousness toward others.  It will be about our stewardship to the lines along life’s highway.

Have you defined your lines?

Ralph D. Gerard

JESUS said, “treat people the same way you want them to treat you…” So how do you want to be treated? Let me take a shot and you let me know how I did: You want to be treated like a person whose life matters. You want to be respected, listened to, encouraged, forgiven, thought the best of. You want to be treated courteously and with generosity. You want to be appreciated and celebrated for your gifts, your talents and accomplishments.  And you want to be understood when you miss the mark or fail the test. How am I doing so far?  You also want to be treated kindly, with love and affection, not provoked, maligned or whispered about. You want to feel the same way we all do, significant!

It’s not a secret.  Become that person who you would like to enter your life.  Make someone say, “WOW!” after meeting you, and your WOW person will be released into your future. Dale Carnegie said it like this:  “You can make more friends in two months by becoming really interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you. Which is just another way of saying that the way to make a friend is to be one.” Here’s a tip: Make this a conscious decision everyday and do not let your guard down, especially with your family and closest friends.

Please hear me now.  If you are in any kind of slump, emotionally, financially, spiritually or otherwise,  here is the key to your turn around… Stop trying to make yourself feel better. Rather, make somebody else feel better about themselves and then watch what happens within you.

Remember, you attract who you are, not what you say.  And just like a seed will produce after it’s own kind, so will your attitude.

Happy Sowing!

Ralph D. Gerard

After feeding 20,000 people with a few sardines and small pieces of bread, JESUS directed His disciples to get in the boat and go over to the other side of the lake.

As the people departed, JESUS went up to pray and stayed in prayer for quite awhile.  By this time the disciples were way out in the middle of the lake, so of course JESUS just walked out there to where they were.  No big deal if your’re JESUS.  However, it is a big deal if you’re in a first-century row boat fighting a mini-hurricane in the middle of the night, and you see a man walking toward you on the water.  You better believe JESUS said, “Take courage, It’s me.  Do not be afraid.”

JESUS surprises us sometimes.  Sometimes He does it a little differently than we’re used to.  He allows a new circumstance to arise, an unexpected storm.  Often our response is, “What’s this?”  “This is strange…doesn’t feel right.”  Relax my friend.  You are exactly where He wants you and His word has not changed.  “Take courage.  I AM!  Be not afraid.”

When the winds of life begin to blow, He’s always there.  Perhaps not the way you expected.  But then you hear His Voice.  Embrace His Word and then step out toward Him.  Be bold.  And just like Peter did, if you get overwhelmed, call out to him.  You won’t sink.  He will hold you up through the toughest moment and set you back on solid ground.

Don’t worry.  When the test is over, the wind will cease and you will worship Him like never before.  Remember, He is the Prince of Your Peace.

And here’s a news alert:  I am preaching in south Florida this weekend at New Life Worship Center in Hollywood, Bishop Darrylle Hood.  Sunday, May 1oth -  11am.

Here’s the 411 on New Life:     http://www.newlifeworship.faithweb.com/contact.html

I call you a Champion!

It’s our joy to join the Blog Talk Radio family with our new online radio show, Ralph Gerard Radio! (RGR) You can listen live at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Pastor-Ralph-Gerard M-F at 4PM Pacific / 7PM Eastern or just come right here and listen anytime at your convenience. Just press the play button in the blue Blog Talk Radio thingamajiggy (that’s the technical term) below and we’re on! Whether you are already a Christian or about to become one, you will find Ralph Gerard Radio informative, encouraging, OK, entertaining, there, I said it. And most definitely, Life-Changing.

God’s will for humanity is that we should all live maximized lives. That doesn’t mean overly busy, but rather, highest quality. Life on earth as it is in heaven; blessed, healed, productive and joyful. Walking with God is an adventurous journey. Consider RGR a daily partner who will add wisdom, encouragement and growth for your daily life. We look forward to being with you.

Of course we love to hear from all of our guests, listeners and partners at RGR. You can post a comment right here on my blog or email me personally at Pastor@RalphGerard.com. It would be our joy to agree with you in prayer as well as answer any questions you may have. Thanks for coming today and please, tell somebody you know about Ralph Gerard Radio. “Fresh Voice, Eternal Truth…”

You’re A Champion!

Pastor Ralph D. Gerard

In 1987 Bob Dylan, according to some, had an experience with Christ and wrote the song, “Gotta Serve Somebody.” Now I cannot speak as to the spiritual state of Mr. Dylan, but I certainly can tell you that the foundational message of his “revelation” could not be any more Biblically sound (JESUS said, “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Luke 16:13) or socially relevant than it is today.

Do not be fooled. This day, this moment you and I are yielding our lives to something which drives our thinking, our feelings and our decisions. And as the song says, “It may be the devil, or it may be the LORD, but you gotta serve somebody…” Life changes the moment truth is confronted and allowed entrance into our hearts. Truth is knocking. Open the door. Don’t miss RG Radio today. You believe that something radical must take place in your life. If not now, when? Catch you on or in the air.

Pastor Ralph Gerard

The God We Can All Understand.   I’m going with the “Church Lady” on this one: “Well, isn’t that special?”  Please, let’s NOT have a God we can all understand.   For could you understand Him in His fullness, He would be too small, or you, would be God.  Neither of those works for me.

Let’s have the omnipotent God whose ways are beyond understanding.  The God who said, “Let there be…”  then there was…galaxies, planets and stars by the trillions.  Let’s have the God who created the earth and everything in it, planned the beginning to the end, pressed play and is now enjoying the show.  Oh, and He consulted no one.  No summit.  No board of directors, no Congress or international counsel.  Nothing!  Just one colossal, unilateral, Theocratic decision.  Let’s have that God.

Now this does not mean that we do not know His nature or how He works, in a general sense.  And again, this must be said, because the day you think you have Him figured out, well, you are in for a surprise, usually big.  For although there is one “for sure thing” about God, which is that He will never violate His Word, He still retains the right to do what He wills with anybody, anytime any place.  And here is where we need some basic knowledge about Him.  Let’s get some wisdom on this.

In so many people’s minds God is ALL mercy.  That is very problematic because, if that were the case, everyone makes heaven anyway, why sacrifice Christ?  JESUS’ coming to earth would have been unnecessary.  That would also mean that at this moment Adolf Hitler is in the presence of God himself.  God is not ALL mercy.  Then we have those on the other end who believe that God is ALL justice.  Also quite problematic since then heaven’s population will consist of The Trinity and the angels.  For since all men are sinners and heaven is home  for the righteous, God’s absolute justice would ban any human being from its sapphire sills.

And let me assure you, it is God’s will that none perish.  In fact, He does everything necessary for every human on earth to make a conscious and willful commitm

ent, either for Him or against Him.  And may I assure you that any decision other than that of acceptance, is rejection.  Unbelievers will not blame God for hell.  But they will spend eternity in unimaginable agony owning the fact that they alone chose to reject Him, thus failing the greatest test in life!

When Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of All Saint’s Church in Wittenberg, Germany around 1517, a new day had come for those who would seek God.  The religious stranglehold which the Catholic Church had placed on both sinner and saint would begin to collapse.  Soon the world would understand the mystery of the ages; that man is saved from sin and justified by faith alone, “Sola Fide!”  That was it.  The word was out.  Martin Luther had heard God, and there it was, in the Bible, right where it had always been.  Ephesians chapter two, verses eight and nine.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.  Not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Justification by faith alone is the article on which the church stands or falls.  Ignorance and religion want to keep Christianity in the dark ages, but to no avail.   We’ve moved on.  It is time to join the party.  It’s the real thing now!

Religion requires an understandable God and universe.  A god you can wrap your intellect around and either logically or scientifically quantify.  It’s amazing that people talk about all their concerns and problems with Christianity then tell you that they have no problem believing the virgin birth or the physical resurrection of Christ.  Well, you really cannot have it both ways.

Here is a very accepted viewpoint by many who want their kind of JESUS.  It goes like this: “JESUS was a great man and a holy teacher and God flowed through Him, but He was not God.” Really?  Have we thought this through to it’s logical conclusion?  If JESUS was not God how then could he have been a great man or a holy teacher, much more, have God flow through Him?  For He said He was God and that His Father, who is in heaven sent Him to be the Savior of the world.  If He is not who He said He was then He was a liar at least or a decieved crackpot at best; but certainly not a holy man of God and holy teacher. Religion is still the problem alienating people from God today.  Biblical Christianity is what JESUS lived, and it is what the world hungers for to this day.

JESUS forgave, prayed for, ate with, healed and loved sinners.  The multitudes flocked to Him.  It was the Pharisees and the Sadducees whom he railed against;  those religious hypocrites who heaped impossible laws upon helpless humanity.  And that hasn’t stopped either.   And  sure enough, according to God’s plan, it was those same religious leaders who led the revolt to the court of Pontius Pilate. You know the rest.

Since that day, it is Christ’s shed blood that has now made the way for us.   It is our turn to go and touch our world with the same love and power which He demonstrated.

Pastor Ralph D. Gerard

A million thanks to all of our regular as well as  brand new listeners to Ralph Gerard Radio.  Our listenership has doubled this week!

We have been talking about winning attitudes for guaranteed success in every area of  life.  We have celebrated a positive attitude which says, “No problem is too great to solve. “  Also, how being courageous about your place with God will drive fear out of your mind and out of your house!  And we also uncovered the Enthusiastic Life.  Our world changes when we get excited about living “our life,” not copying another’s.

I cannot wait for today’s program.  Today we are going to once and for all Whack Worry!  Worry is the expectation of pain.  It is like paying in advance on a bill you do not owe!  Let’s kill this giant, shall we?

And Do Not miss Freedom Friday tomorrow with my special guest, Rick Howard, host of http://travelwithrick.com.  Rick is a winner with the attitude to prove it.  He is a prolific internet entrepreneur/personality, public speaker and a trendsetter in the world of social media.  We want to excite you about confidence and the power of positive expectation in business and in life.  Get your notebooks out.   You are going to love how we close the week.

It makes our day when we hear from you.  So leave a post, send us an email;  let us know what is going on in your life.  And feel free to type more than 160 characters… We look forward to hearing from you and remember, tell your friends that Lives Change For Good, at Ralph Gerard Radio.

You’re a Champion,

Ralph Gerard

Ralph Gerard Radio will be “dark”  today and tomorrow as we prepare to unveil our new program schedule which will run Tuesdays through Sundays!  The new format will include a week day (Tue.-Thu.) Flip This Mind, Eagles Nest for achievers who are hungry for life’s top level!   Then on Friday evening, Saturday evening and Sunday morning we will bring “Dream Church Radio“ to Blog Talk.  You will be able to join us at any of these Live Church Services where God’s Word will be preached and where you can come to the “Phone Altar” and receive prayer for whatever need you may be facing at that moment.  These services will carry a strong presence of the Lord and will bring hope, healing and deliverance to all those seeking a touch from God.

Stay tuned, the best is yet to come…

Pastor Ralph Gerard

It’s been a week…

Life is a compilation of moments.  This present moment you are somewhere reading this blog which will be immediately followed by your next moment, and the next, which will eventually lead to the moment you retire to bed tonight, and so on.  On Monday of this week I had an unexpected moment while hiking with my family on an easy trail we had hiked previously this summer.  On a downward curve in the trail and just after alerting my “crew” to watch their footing for small loose rocks, it happened. Before you could say, “Whoops,”  I was on the ground in excruciating pain.  I knew instantly this was not going to be a “get up and walk it off” moment.  I was in trouble and my family knew it!

As God would have it, just on the other side of the lake two men were fishing who witnessed my “moment.”  As outdoorsmen, they knew this was not going to be good.  Within minutes they were there, one on each side of me, and practically carried me the quarter mile to our vehicle.  We all talked along the way, even made a few jokes.  It was already dark when we got to the truck.  Once they were sure we were safely inside I saw one of the men extend his hand to the other and say, “Hi, my name is Roger.”  The other gentleman replied, “I’m Bill.”  That’s when we all realized how cool this moment had become.  A stranded family experiencing an unexpected moment being rescued by two complete strangers who by entering this family’s moment, created their own unique…moment.

To make a short story longer, we had traveled north of our home for this expedition so it took ninety minutes to arrive at the emergency room of the hospital closest to where we live.  Within minutes I was in an examination room then promptly admitted for tendon surgery the next day.  Did I mention that Moments Matter?  Let me allow you to get to your next moment.

Here’s the punch line.  I could not have asked for a better hospital experience.  Scottsdale Healthcare, Thompson Peak, Off the chain!!  Every doctor, nurse, staff, perfect. Surgery was in and out, not one issue.  Even the food was great, and this, coming from the unabashed “foodie” that I am.  There’s a few weeks of rehab ahead, but as this has been, so shall it continue, led by the Lord who is Master of  causing “all things to work together for good…”

This blog comes to you from my last moments in the hospital as I await my wife to be “sprung.”  So how’s your week been going?  Not exactly the way I had planned mine.  Here’s the take home lesson.  In life it’s not what happens to you.  It’s how we respond to what happens to us that determines how we enter the next moment.  You can build positive or negative.  Good attitude and expectation or otherwise.  Our choices order the quality of our future.  So take it from someone fresh off an unexpected moment.  The God you serve may not have ordered it, but He will allow you to make the most of it, and, with heavenly style.  It’s you choice.  I believe you will make the wise one.

And don’t miss our next moment together, today at 6PM/EST on Ralph Gerard Radio.

You’re A Champion!

Ralph D. Gerard