"I the LORD do not change.”!
If you had to put me in a box, I would label me as a “If it is not broken don’t fix it guy”. I don’t like change for change sake. I prefer to find a way that works and keep it that way.
Don’t misunderstand me I often shout for change when things don’t work. A few weeks back I was screaming at the TV screen because the Chicago Bear’s head coach refused to change his quarterback in the middle of the game. Every Bear fan that was watching that game and reading this is nodding their head in agreement knowing exactly what game I am talking about.
Even though I naturally resist change, I know of its importance when it is needed. I will literally be eternally grateful that the Grace of God visited me in 1979 through the Gospel of Christ that changed me forever. He changed my coarse, eternal destiny, heart, affections, nature, motives. I changed from a child of wrath to a child of God, from darkness to light, from the kingdom of Satan to God. Wow! Even a stuck in the mud of a guy like me loves these types of changes.
Ironically some of these changes the gospel produces are positional standings before God that will never change. This truth of Scripture is called Justification. This is the never ending position a Christian has before their Creator and Redeemer. What needs to change is now our practice. This truth of scripture is called Sanctification. Even though the Christian has now a new position and heart before God, our minds and behaviors are in constant need of changing into the likeness of our Lord Jesus.
His Mansion is a ministry that exist because the need of change. Change for
many of our residents that come through our doors is a matter of life or death. This
is not a dramatic statement but a statement of profoundness of reality.
I am a firm believer that you do not need the gospel of Jesus Christ to obtain a change from what many of our residents come here for deliverance from. Many people have found freedom from addictions using other means. To this I say, “Good but not best”. One does not need a motivation from God to change some of our earthly behaviors. The American dream of living the “Good” life is enough motivation for some to “just say no” and move on to other socially acceptable forms of self-indulgences.
The resolve from the human spirit is very powerful. Even God In the book of Genesis comments on this resolve. The magnificence of the Tower of Babel is a testament what man can do motivated by sheer pursuit of greatness. God's assessment of this accomplishment is a declaration that mankind’s motive to make a great name for himself can produce great things.
The one thing that man can’t do is pay the impossible debt he owes to a Holy God. In fact that was what man was trying to do with the Tower of Babel as they were trying to build their “stairway to heaven”.
Only the finished work of the cross of Christ can accomplish that. We cannot offer a brick to that perfect sacrifice to get ourselves one inch closer to God. That is the offense of the cross that our efforts are useless in trying to earn our way into God’s courts. Not only is that message offensive, it is foolish to a people that can land on the moon, have phones that we can speak to and get answers, go to a store and have 10,000 options of food items and grow a 1 ton pumpkin.
The gospel has the power to give one a new inward heart regenerated by the Holy Spirit to say no to our ungodly behaviors here on earth. This motivation does not have at its core a reliance that comes from the human spirit.
The Gospel has been the means for change His Mansion was built upon. For 40 years that has not changed. Laurie and I were first introduced to HM in the mid-80s. People, buildings, equipment and curriculum have changed but the gospel remains the same. In fact the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ that was once and all delivered by the Apostles in first century is still the exact gospel that we have today. What joy there will be in heaven when all the saints of all the ages will worship the same Lord and glory in the exact gospel of grace. Oh, for that day when the final total change is realized for those who have embraced the gospel. Come quickly Lord Jesus!
Since somebody brought up the topic of change, there has been a huge change here at His Mansion. Last August Ed Perrine arrived on the hill as our new CEO. Ed comes from the Cincinnati, Ohio area where he served as the CEO of an inner city rescue mission. Ed comes equipped with head and heart to co labor alongside in ministering to our residents who are in need of profound change. Please pray for Ed for wisdom. This ministry has a lot of nuances and dynamics. He has a great responsibility to guide and equip all the pieces of this puzzle called His Mansion. His Mansion needs your prayers!
I am a firm believer that you do not need the gospel of Jesus Christ to obtain a change from what many of our residents come here for deliverance from. Many people have found freedom from addictions using other means. To this I say, “Good but not best”. One does not need a motivation from God to change some of our earthly behaviors. The American dream of living the “Good” life is enough motivation for some to “just say no” and move on to other socially acceptable forms of self-indulgences.
The resolve from the human spirit is very powerful. Even God In the book of Genesis comments on this resolve. The magnificence of the Tower of Babel is a testament what man can do motivated by sheer pursuit of greatness. God's assessment of this accomplishment is a declaration that mankind’s motive to make a great name for himself can produce great things.
The one thing that man can’t do is pay the impossible debt he owes to a Holy God. In fact that was what man was trying to do with the Tower of Babel as they were trying to build their “stairway to heaven”.
Only the finished work of the cross of Christ can accomplish that. We cannot offer a brick to that perfect sacrifice to get ourselves one inch closer to God. That is the offense of the cross that our efforts are useless in trying to earn our way into God’s courts. Not only is that message offensive, it is foolish to a people that can land on the moon, have phones that we can speak to and get answers, go to a store and have 10,000 options of food items and grow a 1 ton pumpkin.
The gospel has the power to give one a new inward heart regenerated by the Holy Spirit to say no to our ungodly behaviors here on earth. This motivation does not have at its core a reliance that comes from the human spirit.
The Gospel has been the means for change His Mansion was built upon. For 40 years that has not changed. Laurie and I were first introduced to HM in the mid-80s. People, buildings, equipment and curriculum have changed but the gospel remains the same. In fact the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ that was once and all delivered by the Apostles in first century is still the exact gospel that we have today. What joy there will be in heaven when all the saints of all the ages will worship the same Lord and glory in the exact gospel of grace. Oh, for that day when the final total change is realized for those who have embraced the gospel. Come quickly Lord Jesus!
Since somebody brought up the topic of change, there has been a huge change here at His Mansion. Last August Ed Perrine arrived on the hill as our new CEO. Ed comes from the Cincinnati, Ohio area where he served as the CEO of an inner city rescue mission. Ed comes equipped with head and heart to co labor alongside in ministering to our residents who are in need of profound change. Please pray for Ed for wisdom. This ministry has a lot of nuances and dynamics. He has a great responsibility to guide and equip all the pieces of this puzzle called His Mansion. His Mansion needs your prayers!
Laurie and I also covet your prayers and we are very thankful for those who
do pray for us. Without trying to be hyper spiritual, the awareness occurs to me at
times that somebody is praying for us. I am the first to confess that I don’t
understand prayer but I know I believe in it.
Laurie and I are also grateful for those who send us financial support. We thank God for giving us our daily bread through the means of many of you.
We also are very encouraged to hear your responses to our newsletters. We have chosen to send out our newsletters mostly through electronic media. I often feel that when I hit the send button that our newsletters are going up into the abyss of space. Responses assure us that they are landing somewhere.
Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is" 1 John 3:2
Compelled by His Love
Jim and Laurie
Below are a few of our highlights this year in pictures. We had the pleasure of having both our son and his girlfriend come out , as well as our daughter.
Laurie and I are also grateful for those who send us financial support. We thank God for giving us our daily bread through the means of many of you.
We also are very encouraged to hear your responses to our newsletters. We have chosen to send out our newsletters mostly through electronic media. I often feel that when I hit the send button that our newsletters are going up into the abyss of space. Responses assure us that they are landing somewhere.
Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is" 1 John 3:2
Compelled by His Love
Jim and Laurie
Below are a few of our highlights this year in pictures. We had the pleasure of having both our son and his girlfriend come out , as well as our daughter.
Goffstown
Regatta.....Jim, Emily
and Laurie
Had a wonderful weekend
with friends.
Westport Point, Ma.
Westport Point, Ma.
1 comment:
I love this-- good but not best/ not always understanding, but believing... so, so true. Thank you for serving and directing people to the best healing! Have a blessed Christmas!
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