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

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!

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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