Through It All

March 28, 2015 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Life certainly can be rough sometimes. Maybe not to you directly at the moment, but to those around you. To people that you know and care about. Right now one of my coworkers is with her mother who is at the exit ramp of life. A friend from high school just lost his mother this week. She was a spiritual giant who will be truly missed. A family member of mine had her house partially damaged by a tornado that hit near Tulsa, Oklahoma. You certainly don’t have to look very far to see the storms of life.

I have been listening to the song (a lot lately) “It Is Well” by Bethel Music featuring Kristene Dimarco. One of the lines in that song, that I really like, says, “The wind and rain still know His name.” When we are going through the storm we often forget this. We take our eyes off of the one who can calm the storm, and we look at the circumstances around us. Doing so will weaken your faith. Jesus may not directly speak to the storm you are in and calm it, but I assure you He will get you through it all.

First Impressions

March 16, 2015March 16, 2015 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

This week’s blog is a little late, because I have been traveling. I’m was visiting my kids in Texas, and getting to meet my future son-in-law. This is my first future son-in-law. I’ve got to say, “It’s a little nerve wracking. He’s was trying to make a good first impression, and I was trying not to embarrass my daughter! He said something that was interesting. He said, “I think first impressions should last like a month.”

This made me think about people in general meeting us for the first time. Us meaning those who profess to be a child of God. What is their first impression? Is it a good one? Would a month long first impression be better, so when you tell them, “I’m sorry. I’m really not like this normally” they will believe you? You see when someone does get more time to get to know you they will see that you’re not perfect, but that you indeed are striving to be like the one who is. Jesus

So until we are perfect be mindful of how others see us. Their impression of us may turn into their impression of Jesus Christ. Oh, and to my future son-in-law, I welcome you into the family.

Zombie Dogs

March 8, 2015 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

My friend enjoys watching scary movies, but since her husband passed she won’t now. I can certainly understand as I too have to pull my feet up onto the couch when I get scared from a movie. I don’t want that thing under the couch to get me! (It’s probably just lent.) She says her dogs will usually lye in the living room while she watches most things, but she has noticed they will not go in there if she is watching a zombie movie. She thinks it is because there are no zombie dogs.

After hearing this I got to thinking about why there are no zombie dogs. I wondered if it was because dogs don’t taste like chicken. (I don’t know.) But then I realized that zombie are or were humans and when a human is doing something wrong they want others to be doing it too. Sin loves company.

My thoughts then turned to what the wages of sin are, and that is death. (Romans 6:23) Zombies are dead humans who are still alive. One reason for them wanting to bite a normal human, other than because they are hungry, is to turn them into a zombie. To join them in their miserable state of being dead, but alive.

One thing about death is; it is final. Whatever a person was going through at the time of their death ends immediately when they do. In some circumstances death can be welcomed, and if the person dying has the hope of eternal life with Christ in heaven then there really isn’t anything to fear. I find it hard to believe that the “act” of dying is more painful than the process of living can be at times.

So quit living like your dying, and start dying to live. Jesus said in John 10:10 that He came so that we may have life more abundantly. Jesus wants us to be fully alive now and to really live the way God intended when we are in heaven. That kind of life starts by accepting Jesus Christ into your life to be the Lord of your life. By asking Him to forgive you of all of the sin in your past that causes eternal death.

Okay. A search on the internet turned up a couple of zombie dog movies.
(This blog post is dedicated to Arlene.)

Endorsed

March 2, 2015 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Many of you are probably familiar with the popular social network of Linked in. This is where you create a profile of your professional life. Your skills, certifications, education, etc. Then you may “link” with other people you know, and who know you and of your experience. One of the features of this website is your connections “endorsing” you. Verifying to prospective employers that you have these skills.

As I read an email this past week notifying me that I have been endorsed for an IT skill the thought crossed my mind, “Would these same individuals “endorse” me to enter heaven?” In other words, have I demonstrated the skills, gifts and lifestyle that would cause them to say, “Yes, I endorse Mark to be allowed into heaven.” I certainly hope I faithfully live the kind of life that would allow them and anyone else to say this.

Would you be endorsed for heaven?

The Rev

February 23, 2015 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

I have a friend whom God u God Speaks 2 ses to speak truth into my life. Many times the words that God speak through her are very hard to hear, but direct, on the mark. Recently I was complaining to her concerning an email I had received from a manager that I work with. The email was implying that I wasn’t consistently doing my job. I replied to this email with some very direct words and I even put one in ALL CAPS! Yes, I know, I yelled through written words.

My friend had told me how wrong my reply was and why. I proceeded to explain to my friend why I was so upset by the email as I work hard and take great pride in my work, and in this case the accusation was obviously an error. My friend simply said the words of God when she said, “Then you should take great pride in your response as well.” Ouch! She was right, because God is always right, See why I call her, “The Rev?”

Reach Out and Touch Someone

February 16, 2015February 16, 2015 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

They’re all around you. They are hurting, discouraged, lost, or broken. Life has not been fair to them either through circumstances, or even perhaps by their own doing. Regardless, they still need a touch. There is nothing like the touch of another human being. A study was done some years ago and found that infants who were touched, held, cuddled had fewer health problems in the early years of their lives.

There are so many ways to touch someone. I heard a street beggar once say, “Even if you don’t want to help me at least acknowledge that I exist by looking at me!” Wow! So you see, a simple glance, or smile can touch a person’s life whether you know them or not. But for those you do know, you can do more. Encourage them with a spoken word, an unexpected hug, a note they will find later that expresses your love and appreciation of them.

One of the biggest keys to touching lives is seeing them, and being mindful of them. Sometimes they give you clues as to what they need from you. Sometimes it’s a shot in the dark, but an effort that misses the mark is still a message that says, “I know something’s wrong, and I care.”

When you look at others, and try to touch them in some way you will many times find that your own heart is touched. It’s a quick and easy investment in others, and it pays back in great dividends. I hope you will follow the One who first touched you, by touching others.

15 Seconds

February 9, 2015 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

One of the greatest sermons I have ever heard only lasted 15 seconds. It was given by a street beggar. I was waiting for the crosswalk signal to tell me when I should be safe to cross the street in Chicago. The man simply said, “I don’t care what you are going through. If you are going through it with God then it will be okay.” Amen!

I Tasted Sin

February 1, 2015February 1, 2015 / Mark Brady / 1 Comment

Now I know what sin taste like! I was buying some sparkling water in downtown Chicago when there it was. Its dark covering looked so appealing. It was as if the packaging itself was saying, “Mark, come hither.” It’s okay. You can eat just one. This one small bag won’t hurt you. Look, it’s a limited edition. You better hurry. You don’t want to miss out. You don’t want to be the only one that doesn’t know what this taste like do you?”

Isn’t that just like sin? I know these phrases have been used from the beginning of mankind. From satan tempting Eve with the forbidden fruit to this bag of milk chocolate Wavy Lay’s potato chips. “Milk” that’s healthy isn’t it? Doesn’t milk do a body good? “Yes!” I bought the bag.

Sin – it draws us in through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. You see – you want. You imagine – you feel. You think – you become. All of this starts in the mind. That is why the bible instructs us to “bring EVERY thought into captivity.” Capture the thought, and let it become subjective to God’s words, God’s ways, and God’s plan.

Sometimes sin isn’t presented in obvious packages, but introduced to us subtlety, slowly. Watch, be aware, and be mindful of how satan tries to use your weaknesses to kill, steal, or destroy you. He doesn’t care about you, he is just trying to get revenge on God

Oh! In no way am I saying it’s a sin to eat chocolate covered potato chips, but find a group of people to share them with, so you don’t over indulge and become a gluten. Now that might be a sin.

Surviving Life

January 26, 2015 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

What does it take to survive today? Life can be harsh, unforgiving, and even down right cruel. Unfortunately, so can people. What do you try to do to survive? Does it work? Has life disappointed you? Have people? Is any of this let down caused by you, and your actions? Would you admit it, or are you one of those where it is always someone else’s fault?

Being raised in church I have heard the right things said many times, but you know what, they are true words even to this day. That a life lived with Jesus Christ is so much more than a life lived without Him. Yes it takes faith, hope and love. Faith that there is hope that there is one who truly loves. Jesus is that one who truly loves you and me. He is our hope that there is a better life coming, and to get us started in believing this He provides each of us a measure of faith. This is how you survive life.

Human Remains Found

January 18, 2015 / Mark Brady / 2 Comments

Isn’t it funny how you can read the bible several different times and each time see something new? I think that may have something to do with who you are and what you are going through at that time. Well recently in the following scriptures one word stuck out to me:

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (KJV)

When I was young people used to joke that in verse 16 “the dead in Christ” was referring to the Baptist, but it’s not! The portion of scripture that made me start thinking in particularly is verse 17 where it states, “Then we which are alive and remain”. I know this scripture is really just referring to those that are still alive and “remain” on earth, but what if we looked at this word “remain” a little differently.

What if this word “remain” really meant still living for God? So this verse would say, “Then we which are alive and still living for God shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

Living for God has always been hard, because it calls us to living a life that is opposite of our very nature. It is easier to just be our natural self, especially when we see all of the evil and hatred around us. Living for God can cause us to get weary. Some get so disgruntled with not having what so many others have that they give up hope and fall away from living for God to living for themselves. That is why living for God takes God Himself helping us, encouraging us, and strengthening us.

Jesus is for sure coming back to call us home. I pray that you will still be alive and “remain” in Him. Our struggle is only for a moment compared to eternity of peace, joy and love with the Lord who loves us more than anything. With the Lord who actually died for us. When Jesus comes back may He find humans remain!