that was then ... this is now

I would like to introduce everyone to someone I once knew. I will call his name Lost.

Lost was a boy who went to church with his grandma when he was little, because he liked playing with his friends after church. He went to church outtings on a fairly regular basis. He spent some time in sunday school where he got to here alot of bible stories. He learned a little along the way, but never really took the time to think about any of it.

As time went by, and he grew older,he lost interest in spending time in the church. He didn't spend much time with his church buddies either. By the time he was in high school he didn't go to church hardly at all. Every now and then ,maybe two or three times a year, he would go when asked.
You see Lost had a mom that was sold out to God, and whether Lost went or not ,his mom never stopped praying for him. Well it was actually his step mom, but Lost never thought of her as anything less than a real mom.

Lost's parents got a divorce when he was a baby, and his dad got remarried when he was still very young. Lost would go back and forth from living with each parent on a regular basis, so Lost considered himself as having two real moms.

Through high school Lost got into alot of different things. He had some friends that were not the best kids in the neihborhood, but you couldn't really tell unless you really knew them. They would get into a little trouble all along, but Lost would never be involved. For some reason Lost was never around when the trouble started.



Now let me tell you about someone else. I will call him J. J is a guy several hundred miles away that does not have any idea who Lost is. Ironicly, he is in bars drinking and being a heathen also. I cant go into a lot of details, because I dont want to tell to much about this person without his approval. J is into alot of stuff he shouldnt be. He ends up marrying an incredible woman, and having a couple kids also.



As time went by Lost moved away to live with his biological mom. After he had been there a few days, he met an amazing girl. They started dating shortly after that. They dated for a couple of years, and then they got married.

This did not make Lost any better of a person. Over the next several years they had a couple children. He always provided for his family, but still had issues with some things. Lost and his wife started going out drinking with friends on the weekends. Lost had a very flirty personality, and that never worked real good with drinking. It was bad enough without drinking. Lost let that get him in trouble a time or two. Well it happened again, but this time it has possibly cost him his family.

Lost and his wife decide they are going to try to make this work, but they both know there are some changes needing to be made. They have tried everything in the world together except god ,so they turn to god. It just so happens that the church they begin to go to is the same church J and his family have been going to for several years now.

To begin with Lost got in church whole heartedly, but his wife was badly hurt emotionly from the things Lost had done to her. J's wife turned to Lost's wife, and they became best friends. Lost and J also became best friends. Lost wife did eventually heal and forgive Lost.

Now let me fast forward a few years.Lost is no longer lost. He is now Johnny Loveless. He is now trying to reach his world with the gospel. He sings for the Lord. He reaches out to the children, and guides them away from things that he has more knowledge of.

Lost's wife is now Mary Loveless. She is an awsome woman of God, who also sings for the Lord. She spreads the gospel to everyone who will hear, most people who dont want to hear it, but she tells them anyway.

How can you keep to yourself the grace and mercy of a god who forgives all the filthy things in your life, and makes you a new creature.

J is Jay lewis, who I would like to thank for being my best friend. For being there when I call at 2 am, and he never fails to come through for me.

His wife is Rhonda Lewis who I know personally has spent many sleepless nights in prayer for me and Mary.

I would like to say thank you to my mom for the prayers that went up for me when it could have been spent doing something else.

Thank Brother Phillip Harrelson and Bro. Patterson for not minding the gray hair on his head that I'm responsible for.

I am not where i want to be, but thank god I'm not where I used to be

OUTWARD APPEARANCE.....

What good is it to look to be something on the outside, if the inside is all wrong? We see people that claim to be christians, but their actions dont agree. I hear people use language christians dont use. I see people wear things christians dont wear. I see people do things, and go places christians dont do,and go. The worst one in my opinion is to look holy, but be something else.

It is easier to mislead people if you look the part, than it is if you dont. If you were listening to music, the message could be great, but if the music is no good,the listener will turn it off before the music starts. The music is the first appearance. If the music is good sometimes people will ignore the message behind it. We need to not only have good music (appearance), we also need to have a good message (be holy inside).

Jas 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
Jas 3:9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
Jas 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
Jas 3:11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
Jas 3:12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

How can we tell dirty jokes, or talk about someone else when 2Timothy says "shun vain and profane babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness." It does not say it will cause ungodliness. The ungodliness will increase. That tells me that the ungodliness was there already.

How are we to reach lost souls, if our souls are not where they belong? We need to start with letting our lives speak for themselves. We can reach the world without participating in worldly activities. We dont need to reach the drunkards by sitting with them in a bar. We need to reach them by taking a stand on a salvation that we have found, and letting the spirit transform our lives, and letting it be seen. There have been more people see a change in me since I found christ just by my living habits.

If you would notice, when you go out to eat, when you bless the food before eating, strangers that dont even know you will notice you pray over the food, and will get quiet at tables around you until you are finished with your prayer. Your friends also notice when there is a change in the way you live your life.


Tit 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
Tit 2:8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.


Rom 13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
Rom 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

The bible says nine times," Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself." I dont know anybody that dont like theirself. When we have people come into our churches, welcome them. Dont act all HOLIER THAN THOU. We cant reach anybody with an attitude that we are better than them. We are supposed to love thy neighbor, so show them some love. Be kind and curteous. Act like your glad to see them. Who knows, that might be your next best friend. I dont know of any time in the bible when Paul was not welcomed by "THE CHURCH". HE WAS A MURDERER. He was going to kill all of the church that he could before God spoke to him. I've never seen anybody come into our church with intentions to kill anybody.


Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Eph 5:7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. Eph 5:12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

We also dont need to let ourselves get involved in gossip. You have know idea who you are effecting if you start talking about someone behind their back. The persons listening may have their whole opinion based on your gossip.

Jas 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

Jas 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
Jas 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature and it is set on fire of hell.

We need to keep our tongue under control. It can do more damage than other part of the body, and I mean worldly body,and body of Christ.We need to be the whole body of Christ. Act as if you are thankful for the church, and what god has done for you. Dont tear down the chuch in the middle of building it. Let your life, and your attitude be a testimony of its own. Reach out to those around you. Reach out to the new people coming in. Work as a church body, and not individuals in your own will. Lets let our outward appearance and our inward commitment, and desires fit Gods will and plan for our lives, and those around us.

PROBLEMS NOT SO BIG

Gen 1:1-31 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. The world and all its surroundings were created in six days. God said let there be... , and there was.

We all have things we call problems. We're all human. Sometimes we let them get the best of us. We tend to think they cant get any worse, but really they might. After the problem, whatever it may be, is over, and some time has passed, we look back on it ,and it really wasn't that big of a deal normally. We have worried, and sometimes stressed over little things.

We have a mighty god who cares about us.
Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Our god created the heavens, and the earth, and everything in it in six days. If he has the power to speak things into existense, I believe he can handle our problems.If he created everything you see, he can create a solution to things that hinder us. He wants to help you with things, however dont let that be the only time he hears from you. Dont let your relationship with God depend on the size of your crisis.

Look around. The water in the ocean knows where to stop because God told it to. The sun and the moon know where to hang because God put them there to stay. Sometimes we cant even hang a picture on the wall without it falling, or pour water into a cup without making a mess. We have someone on our side that wants to help us if we will let him.

Joh 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

My family and I have recently come back from vacation at the Smoky Mountains in Gatlinburg,Tn. We went up on top of the mountains, and looked out across the peaks, and down into the valleys. When you are in a place that amazing, you cant help but to take into account the power of our creator. He is limitless.

I know there are things we dont understand. I know there will always be things for us to worry about. God will never put more on us than we can bear. We may think it is more than we can bear, but it is not. I know there are illnesses without a known worldly cure, such as cancer, but if it is meant for us to be cured of these things, we will be. God made the flesh we live in. If he can make our flesh, and blood from nothing, he can repair it. That does not mean he always will though. It may be a trial to bring us to him. It may even be a trial to bring someone else to him. My dad died of cancer, and I was out of church,and lost in the world.I believe if my dad was still around I would not be saved, or in church today. Im thankful that God reached me, I just hate that things happened the way they did.

Sometimes we need not to focus on our problems so much. We need to spend more time focusing on our blessings. I believe every cloud does have a silver lining, and if you really focus on it, the lining is greater than the cloud ever was.
I hope i have touched someone, and made a difference in their outlook. God bless you all

A RUNNING SERVANT
J. LOVELESS

RUNNERS OR RIDERS?

When the idea of a modern olympics became a reality at the end of the 19th century, the initiators and organizers were looking for a great popularizing event, recalling the ancient glory of Greece. The idea of organizing a marathon race came from Michel Breal, who wanted the event to feature in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens. This idea was heavily supported by Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics, as well as the Greeks. The Greeks staged a selection race for the Olympic marathon on March 10, 1896 that was won by Charilaos Vasilakos in 3 hours and 18 minutes (with the future winner of the introductory Olympic Games marathon coming in fifth). The winner of the first Olympic Marathon, on April 10, 1896 (a male-only race), was Spiridon "Spiros" Louis, a Greek water-carrier. He won at the Olympics in 2 hours 58 minutes and 50 seconds.

It caught my attention that the winner of the first marathon in 1896 was a water carrier.Today the water carriers for a marathon ride in a car and meet the runner at certain checkpoints. If the first water carriers would have rode i do not believe they would have the stamina to win a marathon, and possibly not even finish it.

In order to endure the trial, there has to be some sort af training that first takes place. The runners did not wake up one day and just decide they would run twenty-five miles after breakfast. There was alot of training and hard work that took place. There were many hours of sweat and hard work put into the job before the job was ever attempted. If that first olympic marathon winner would have sat in the back of a truck and handed the runners their water he would have been in no shape to endure such a task. People that enter in a marathon these days, sometimes do not enter to win. They make it a personal goal just to finish. It is something they want to acheive and to persevere to the end. Today people have been known to finish even after the race has been called to an end. That takes commitment, and dedication. To know you are not going to win, but run anyway, that is devotion.

The same thing goes for saints of god. You do not have to be the first one to heaven, you just have to make it. However, you do have a choice on the things you do to get there. I dont want to just ride the church pew, I want to run. I want to do all I can for the benefit of the kingdom. 1 cor 9:24 says "Every man that runs in a race runs, but only one will receive the prize, so run that you may receive it." That is speaking in worldly race point of view, but a spiritual application.We do need to run as if we are winning.The point is to not give up. Heb 12:1 says "Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and sin which so easily does beset us, and run with patience the race that is set before us." This is speaking more on spiritual terms. God has given us a job to do. We are supposed to do it with all our might. We are sopposed to give it our all. 2 Tim 4 says (in a nutshell) God is going to be our judge.We are to preach the word. Be instant in season, and out of season.Reprove, rebuke, and exort with all longsuffering and doctrine. Endure afflictions, do the work of evangelists, make full proof of the ministry." It says to hold out till the end.2 tim 4:7 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."

We have to be training to reach our goal. If we just sit and watch everything as it happens, the devil is going to do everything he can to beat us. We have to train for the race. We train by knowing the word of god, by prayer, by fasting, and knowing gods will on our lives. We are supposed to be reaching the world with his gospel. We are supposed to be casting the net. If we dont try to get closer to God, we will never get there. If we can sit in front of a t.v. for hours at a time, why do we have so much trouble spending time on our knees talking to the God that has given his life for us?

The superbowl is coming up in less than a week, how many people will sit and spend there whole day watching it, and not once think about the greatness, and the mercy of God? There will be thousands of people spending time, money and energy on that game that wont even be there. People are going to be jumping and shouting and giving their body a work out over something that has not ever given them anything. Please dont think i am against football. I love football just as much as the next guy, but I dont owe it anything.

It does not stop there. How about racing? I have racecars of my own. please dont think i am trying to put down every past time, or hobby in the world. I just feel that sometimes we let our priorities get a little backwards. How much time and effort is spent in getting a car ready to race? You can spend hours on top of hours in the shop. For what? Money? Bragging rights? The bible says, "What good is it to gain the whole world and lose your soul?"

I think we need to be getting in shape for the race. We can not get spiritually lazy. If we are to make it to the end, we have to be able to endure. We have to be able to persevere. Lets be what God wants us to be. Lets have some commitment. Lets have some dedication. Lets have some thanks for the one who made it all possible. Lets get our priorities in order. LETS BE RUNNERS AND NOT RIDERS.

And by the way. We are not running alone. We have friends, brothers, and sister running the same race. team up with some of them. You may be surprised how helpful they are when you think you have gone as far as you can. And dont let your pastor run alone. CARRY HIS WATER, because your race has already begun, and you are just in training. Do all things as if your salvation depends on it. It does.So RUN RUN RUN!!!


JUST A SERVANT
J. LOVELESS

PAST AND PRESENT

recently i have gotten a heavy burden for people of my past. i remember people that used to pray for me when i was a child. these people really made an impact in my life. at the time i was 8 or 9 years old, and in church mostly to see friends, but these people used to pray in the alter over me. they were showing me there was something more to church than play time. well now i am 35 years old and sold out.i look at pictures of the people that now i know were spiritually tuned in, and the dont look holy.the have very questionable pics on different sites, but still claim to be holy.they have pictures in very questionable places, wearing very questionable clothes,that they would not have worn 20 yrs. ago. romans 6:19-22 speaks about yielding to holiness and righteousness. if we are the body of christ lets SHOW IT. the bible says we have to be set apart. a very wise man once said "if you look like the world, and act like the world, you must be the world." how can we expect to win anybody to the lord, if we are not sold out ourselves?

there is also a problem with the way i hear some christians talk. 2timothy 2:15-16 says to show yourself approved unto god,a workman that dont need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of god, but shun vain and profane babblings. come on people, lets step it up to the next level. dont be satisfied with your walk with god just riding the pews. there is no telling how god will use you if you commit yourself to his will, and desire for your life. matt 12:33-35 the bible also says what is in your heart will show itself on the outside.

people are looking to us every day, and we dont even know it. some people look for us to make mistakes, while others are looking for encouragement. lets be holy. lets do what god has put us here for. lets check ourselves everyday. at the end of the day we all need to ask ourselves "Have i been christlike today? Did i do anything that may have been misleading? Have i told a joke that may have been off color? If god was standing next to me all day, is there anything i would have done differently?" if any of your answers to these questions are disappointing to god, we need to up our standards. remember god is next to you all day. lets try to be like the apostles, and change the world. everyone knows we need it.
god bless you all. and have a wonderful day.
remember you are being watched.

j loveless