And They Say He Is Dead & The Fig Tree

And They Say He Is Dead

One of the Church’s long time anthems has to be that good old song, “Amazing Grace”. Held within the first stanza are words so filled with the true message of hope that this Risen Christ brings to every life that humbly excepts Him. Every true child of God can close their eyes while singing this first stanza and just feel the love of such a Savior we have.

Today I write to you from such a sorrow. Just as I picked up my computer to write to you today, my wife began reading something she had ran across on the internet. “Babe… listen to this crazy thing!” she said in amazement. “They think they found the body of Jesus and His family. I know it isn’t true but listen to how crazy this is.” I had heard before the claim of finding Jesus body but never in detail. Instantly the deceiver rushes bringing thoughts of hopeless faith. As I sat on the bed all I could think of were the words to the first stanza. Over and over again the verse went through my mind as though someone were singing it directly in my ear. As I still listened to the song in my head I began to ponder back to a youth camp I was in 4 years ago coming this July. My mind swiftly rushed to that certain place where I was knelt. I recall the CD that was playing on the church sound system, along with the fresh feeling of an early morning. I can remember the minute before my life changed. I can still feel the tears gather up in my eyes and then burst and begin to glide down my 15 year old cheeks. I remember the sweet Holy Spirit beckoning me to accept my Savior’s hand in Marriage. I remember my words of surrender as I solemnly began to share this love with Jesus. Beloved, I can still remember what it felt like to be born again. To have the old things pass away! To except a personal relationship with the Greatest Lover ever known! Dear Folks, we don’t base our spirituality from any tomb, though Christ is no longer in any tomb, but we base our lives on the reality of Christ alive within us! I don’t know if I should weep with joy or shout in my spirit right this very instant, but the joy of saying such words is unexplainable. I cannot even think of enough words to express the awe my heart is overwhelmed with at this moment in time. Blessed be the name of the Lord!! Blessed be the name of the One True God! Blessed be the name of the Risen King of King’s and Lord of all Lord’s. Beloved, bless the Lord with all your heart. Take a moment and just remember back to that first moment of love you and Jesus shared together, and then you can worship along with me also. I truly only have one thing I want to say; … AND THEY SAY HE IS DEAD?????! If they could just feel what I have felt. If they could just know what I know at this moment. If they could just have the experience with this Risen King as I have, they would know how crazy they sound. REJOICE CHRISTIAN! FOR OUR RISEN KING IS SOON RETURNING FOR HIS BRIDE.

“Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I’m found. I was blind but now I see.” …and they think He is dead…




The Wife’s Note: The Fig Tree

Right before Buddy and I got married I was at home and listening to a sermon by Carter Conlon, called “Footsteps in the Hallway”. I was in my room alone, feeling miserable in a sense. Everything seemed to be going wrong. I had reached the point of fed up I guess you could say and I started getting mad at the devil. I had finally stopped blaming everything else and just went right to the core of the problem. So I stopped throwing myself a pity party and went on the search for a sermon. I came across this sermon on The Time’s Square Church website. The sermon mainly talked about what an individuals destination would be, heaven or hell? But one part caught my attention. Carter Conlon briefly talked about a Fig Tree. He stated that many in the middle eastern countries called the Fig Tree a “hypocrite tree” because it’s leaves will many times hide the fruit upon the tree. It was not just called a hypocrite tree because of it’s tricky coverings, but because when people would approach the tree and peel the leaves back there would be no fruit.
A lot of times we as humans get that way too. Sadly, some of us do not even realize this critical mistake as believers. Don’t get me wrong it can be done on purpose and most definitely is more than not. We do this by having sin in our lives and trying to cover it up or hide it with our own protection without letting the LORD simply keep saving us, asking for forgiveness, or allowing pride to take control. Pride is a BIG one in this area. The bible says in Proverbs 16:(18-19): “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of the humble spirit with the meek and poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.” It is very easy to fall to this and not be aware, and it is very easy to just allow pride to take vigorous control. Never let yourself become like that Fig Tree because in that is only destruction. If you see that characteristic in your life have a humble spirit, ask the LORD to help you, and remember you are never to far down that he can’t pick you up and renew you by sitting you on solid ground. Do not be a hypocrite tree, bear fruit or bear the curse of death.