Do you live a life of control based on fear, or a life of freedom based on love?  Because we see ourselves as sinful, we have developed a need for control, based on the fear of, lack of redemption.  We are fearful, that unless we are good enough, Jesus sacrifice will not be enough to cover our salvation. We look for security based on our ability to follow rules.  I visited with her for a long time and she is not sure if heaven is in her future.  “I’m working toward it”.  What?  My comment was “you are very arrogant”.  She seemed offended.  “To think you can be good enough, to earn your way to his arms, is arrogant”.  The only way to his embrace… is deep love for him… deep love for others.  Short of love, it can’t be done.  We live in a world that is control based.  Rules.  They are everywhere and a part of everything we do.  So when we find out that Christ love is free. It has nothing to do with rules… it’s simply thru love.. it blows our mind.  Our bible.  The one we read daily.  Is not a constitution.  It is not a set of rules, to be followed, or we go to jail.  It is all about love.  It is God… as Christ… teaching us how to form more perfect relationships.  Relationships with him and relationships with each other. THAT is how we feel his embrace.  THAT is how we hear him say “Job Well Done”!

Romans 13:8

I Love you!

Perry

I often get asked what religion are you? What church do you attend?  I reply “I am someone who loves Jesus with all my heart”.  I have spent my life, until now, believing that religion had something to do with a building we gather in. That it had something to do with a group of people, that sing songs and listen to teaching.  Most of us are under the belief that religion, is about a group of rules, social obligations, and commandments having to do with external behavior. Religion is simple! It is the belief in God, which produces an inner freedom, that will lead toward deeper and greater love.  Love for all mankind, not just the people you gather with on Sunday.  Daily I encounter people who have moved from the pursuit of Christ, because of the nature of the churches they have attended, and the attitude of the people in that church. How can that be what our Savior wants? This new direction for HJD, God is leading me too, is about abolishing stereo types and offering love to everyone of Gods’ people.  Atheist, Agnostics, Black, White, Gay, Straight, New, Old, Strong, Weak.  If they are human they deserve our love… our respect.  Christ loves them, why shouldn’t we? As I read in my new testament, Jesus had more problems with the religious elite, than he did with the common sinners. Step out of your comfortable religion and take up the cross that Jesus asked of us.

Make it all about love.  John 12:24

I Love You!

Perry  

Oh to see, without my eyes!  Have you ever thought how our eyes deceive us?  We judge based on looks.  Based on lifestyle.  Her vision was taken from her at age six to save her life.  I pray for her, when I think of all she is missing.  I for one, enjoy the vision of a sunset.  I enjoy the beauty of my wife.  The look of my grandkids smile. Savvy cannot see those things, but she is blessed by seeing with her heart and not her eyes.  Eyesight is something we should never take for granted.  However, some days I ask that God close my eyes, and open my soul, that I may first love before judging.  That I may be kind before making a perception.  As I move forward, in the direction God is leading with HJD, it is important that I learn to see with my soul… before my eyes.  With my heart before my mind.  With my love before my judgement.  As people we tend to judge the lifestyle, before we love the person.  Christ has shown me through his heart that love is all that matters.  Love is the beginning and the end.  Love does not have room for judgement or condemnation.  Love is accepting.  Love does not look at the sins of others, but focuses on the image of God within.  I pray we close our eyes and accept those around us.  It is what Christ did.  It is what we should do.  1 John 4:19

I Love You!

Perry

It’s so good to be back with you on this journey.  A journey to find the heart… the spirit… of our Lord.  To explore what it means to deeply love people. To long more for love, than to worry about right or wrong. 

Katie has spent her life in the pursuit, to love as Christ loves.  To show others, the same love she feels, from our Savior. Katie Davis left her privilege filled life of comfort.  As a teenager, she choose to move to Uganda and serve those people.  Not worrying about rules.  Not worrying about comfort.  Not worrying about who is right or who is wrong. Simply loving those in her path.  The same kind of life our Savior lived.  Is it better to live a fact – truth life?  Working each day to prove your interpretation of scripture to be the right one. To prove that they are sinners, more than me.  To prove they are not saved, but I am.  Or is it better to live a wisdom – truth life.  Working each day to love people as Christ loved them. Not worried about being right, or wrong.  Not worried about who is a sinner, and who is not. Simply loving as Christ loved.  True love means, not judging but leading.  True love means, meeting people right where they are. We are ALL full of sin. One as bad as the next. Regardless of our sin… Christ loves us.  He sees perfection, when we see disorder! 

 Luke 6:24 – 48 (MSG)

I Love You!

Perry

47 years.  47 years and I am still a mediocre guitar player.  I watch John Meyer, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and I wonder why I’m not that good.  Then one day it hit me.  I have never been all in.  I have never dedicated all my time… my life… to being an amazing player.  As I take this time away from HJD, to spend time in contemplation and prayer, God is speaking to me more than ever.  I know from my time with him, I need to be all in when it comes to God… to Christ.  I need to spend each waking hour looking, talking, and listening to the message he wants all of us to hear.  By being all in, HJD can grow from 5,000 readers to 50,000. More people need to be exposed to his love, his grace, his heart.  I feel so strongly about this journey that I decided, at the age of sixty, to have the HJD logo tattooed on my leg.  Each day as I look at my tattoo it reminds me this is a life long journey.  It is a chance of a lifetime to share Christ love with people that need it.  The messages are headed in a new direction, with a love for other people that is overflowing, to the point of drowning.  As I start sharing this new direction on September 4th I ask that you help, by leading people to this journey. It will touch their life and bring a since of joy and compassion for everyone.  I can’t wait to move forward with you in September. 

I Love You!

Perry

His questions were warranted.  “How do I reconcile the violence in the world today and in the bible?  God wiped out whole nations of people even after he killed everyone except for Noah? I was taught he is a loving, merciful God, yet I read of his destruction and today I see his people being hateful to others.” My answer was simple.  I hear people say I believe this. I believe that.  We come up with our own interpretations of scripture, to mold what we want to believe. Giving explanation to why worldwide there are over 45,000 different christian religions with over 33,000 in America alone. It doesn’t matter who you believe or what set of rules they follow. Your pastor, your leaders, your teachers. It doesn’t even matter if everything we find in the Bible is accurate or correct.   What matters is who you trust… who you love…  YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO KNOW THE TRUE MEANING OF SCRIPTURE, NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU STUDY.   What matters is your level of trust in the one who died for you. Jesus! The deep love you have for him and the love you have people.  Base your faith… your trust… in him.  Allow him to dwell in your heart and your spirit. Only then, will you be free of the burdens placed on us by men. Christ came to love, not start another religion.  HE is the only way to happiness.

John 5:39-47 (MSG)   

I Love You!

Perry

As I talked with some students my question was simple.  “Do your parents let others in front in traffic?”  Do they offer their place standing in line?”  Overwhelmingly the response was “are you joking?” My heart is heavy and my burden is great. People take, and take, and take.  We live our lives wondering what is in it for us.  We look to those that lead, those that influence our lives, and we expect them to be perfect. We take of their position. Their power.  Their resources.  The pressure that puts on leaders is overwhelming. The pressure that our Savior felt was exhausting.  Most came, not to love him, but simply to take of his power.  His power to heal.  His power to save.  Why do we spend our lives believing we should always look out for ourselves?  We even spend most of our time asking God for something, rather than trusting.  When is the last time you prayed during the day to simply say “Thank You”?  To let him know how awesome of a God he is. Take a whole day and simply praise his name.  Don’t ask for anything or expect anything. Simply love him.  Do the same for those around you.  Let someone in front in traffic.  Open doors. Offer your place in line to others.  Tell your boss “Thank You” for your job.  The Kingdom of Christ is alive today.  You can experience it.  You simply have to show it to others first.

1 John Chapter 4 (MSG)

I Love You!

Perry  

Jesus, through out his life was demonstrating one principle.  The only thing that matters is faith, expressing itself in love.  Later the mystic Paul, thru visions and communion with Christ was about conveying one concept.  The only thing that matters is faith, expressing itself in love.  As I prayed for her healing.  As I asked for what we wanted. I heard him say to me “when did I stop being enough?”  We spend years, months, weeks and hours studying. We believe that more knowledge will save us.  We believe that if we study enough.  Pray enough. It will produce correct thinking.  So many of us believe we have to act a certain way.  Live a certain way. Follow a certain way of thinking, in order to be saved.  In our minds that works… until the doctor shares the diagnoses.  Then all that matters is not what you believe… as much as who you believe.  At that point it doesn’t matter what religion you call yourself.  How many hours you have studied. Doesn’t matter how many years you have gone to a building to worship.  All that matters is your belief in God… and his son.  Mostly you believe he can heal.  Love becomes more important than rules.  Love of God, Love of family, and Love of friends.  I believe in my heart that one way or another, God will heal this person I love. That faith. That love. Is all that matters.  2 Timothy 1:13 (MSG)

I Love You!

Perry 

I love, being in love, with you father.  It’s like a fine wine as it gets older.  It becomes smooth, easy and more joyful.  Daily I get drunk on your love… your grace.  It brings such joy, such peace, such understanding to my existence.  I drink it in, and allow it to move through every part of my soul.  As I come to better understand your heart… your spirit… I can taste and smell it’s aroma like that of aged wine.  I can’t imagine a minute without you.  I want each day, to know you more.  To understand you more.  To be one with you.  To rest in your warm embrace and taste the smooth sweetness of your love.  To know that you will always love me, and you will always accept me, into your embrace.  You will watch over me, and guard me, as each day brings trials.  Each day brings troubles. Each day brings tribulation.  At the end of such days you are there to greet me.  To reassure me.  To give me peace.  To grant me rest.  Father let your light shine from me, so others may desire to taste your heart, your spirit. That they may come to know the peace, only you can bestow.  When I die I don’t want to go sober.  I want to go drunk on your love… your grace.  Thank you father… for loving me even more than I love you!

Colossians 3:15 / Ephesians 3:14

I Love You!

Perry

The comment I heard from the christians was “we don’t want our kids around those undesirable people”.  As I walked straight into the crowded street of Belize my friends were questioning “should we be here?”. “These are God’s people” I replied and I have on his armor.  We live in a world of judgement. A world of placing importance on our position at the table.  Those that live one lifestyle, look down on those that live another.  As I watch… tears fall and my heart is broken.  Christ didn’t see undesirable people.  He saw those he could save.  Christ didn’t ask “should we be here?” He saw those he could heal. Jesus was more comfortable with the prostitute, than the religious elite. He never belittled anyone, criticized anyone, or treated them with pompous attitude. When he encountered those with an elitist attitude, he rebuked them.  How can we ever teach people of Christ, when we only associate with those we feel comfortable with?  How can we teach a prostitute unless we get to know one?  The Jesus I know made it clear… the kingdom of God is radically inclusive.  According to the Jesus I know, we can no longer label people male/female… good/bad… rich/poor…slave/free…sinner or religious.  When we see everyone as God’s creation, worthy of his love, it will open our hearts and our minds. We will then welcome them to the table and tell them how amazing our Savior is.  Romans Chap. 3 (MSG)  

I Love You!

Perry