2 Corinthians 5:14 (New International Version)
“For Christ's love compels us…”

Excellent living is a concept often misunderstood and may contain a lot of myth.  A common phrase enters my mind – Live for God.  Neither you nor I have the ability to live our lives for God.  The Scriptures exhort us to be holy as God Himself is holy.  This is impossible for any believing man.  The secret, once again, is since we cannot live out a pure and holy life and only Christ can we must surrender and yield ourselves to His Spirit to live out the Christ Life in, through, and for us.  That’s right excellent living is not about us living for Christ but about Jesus living for us!   

The thought, “God lives for us”, is often very far from what we have often considered.  We think, feel, and choose to serve God as best we can; only to discover that we fail in thought, choice, and feeling.  It is the flesh that fails not our spirits.  Jesus is living within our spirits and has transformed the real you and me into a new creation, a saint, a holy servant and now He chooses to express His life through us here upon the earth for His glory and honor.  It is all about Him! 

As we read through the 36^th chapter of Ezekiel we see God’s anger because man has been damaging the Lord’s reputation on the earth.  So what does God do?  He decides and communicates that He will clean up the mess because man cannot.  So He gives us a new obedient heart with right desires.  With this new heart, we desire Christ to rescue us from evil because we realize that we can’t overcome ourselves.  Only Christ is holy, pure, and perfect; and only Christ is able to live Christ’s Life!         

So what motivates us to cooperate with Christ our Life and Liberator?  Love!  Yes, love is our only compelling source of  glorifying our Lord, of obeying our Lord, of living a life pleasing unto our Lord, and of following Him; bringing honor to His holy name.  Let me throw you a paradigm.  I am not referring to our love for God; rather to His love for us.  We must study and learn of the love our Lord has for us, more than our favorite sinful habit or our favorite biblical strategy; in order to experience holy living – freedom from and victory over that favorite habitual sin we MUST know the Truth, reckon the Truth (i.e., take possession of the Truth), yield all our body parts, inside and out, to the Truth, walk in and with the Truth, and remain focused on the Truth!  It is His love for us that motivates our thoughts, choices, and feelings to surrender in cooperation with Jesus’ Life residing in me, desiring to live through me; and YES!!! even for me. 

You are now asking – What am I to do?  The answer is total abandonment of the flesh (self life), i.e., surrender!   As we read, ponder, and study – as we drown ourselves in His Word we discover how Christ lives and desires to express Himself in and through us.  As we learn the “how’s”, we then choose to cooperate; allowing Jesus the opportunity to express Himself; using our individuality, our God given abilities and skills, and our God designed personalities.  We think, choose, and feel as God desires; for the sole purpose of Jesus expressing His life in, through, and for us.  This was His original plan of fellowship for man in the Garden.  As Believers we are now restored, being restored, and will be restored to His image and purpose.  What a perfect holy plan – the only strategic solution that empowers us to live pure, perfect, and holy as God.  Think about it – we get to experience God’s LIFE!  

It is His love for us first that even allows us to love Him.  1 John 5:3 then teaches us that this love we now have for our Almighty God is an action of obedience and that obeying Jesus teachings and words is not difficult.  Wow!  It is not hard to obey God.  This makes sense doesn’t it?  If we know and experience His love for us, thus, loving Him more than anything else, we give Him our full confession and allegiance – He is Lord (Lion and the Lamb); we give Him our full attention and ambition – He is Life, we give Him our full surrender and trust – He is Liberator, and we give Him our complete loyalty and following – He is our Leader – our Light – He is our Perfect Lover!

In John 6: 63 the Apostle records Jesus teaching, “The Spirit gives LIFE; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I (Jesus) have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.”   Hallelujah!!!

Jesus is our Lord, our Lamb, our LIFE, our Liberator; He expands Himself toward us becoming our Leader, our Light, and our Lover.  This is the current of grace – the River of God.  When we choose to flow in the current, we are enabled to live Holy and Pure; we see all of our problems resolved as we experience Christ LIFE each day; and over time we are enabled to follow Him as we deny ourselves (surrender) and take up our cross daily (not Jesus’ cross but our own personal cross that embraces LIFE in dying – again surrender).
 

Luke 9:23 (New International Version)
Then he (Jesus) said to them all: "If anyone would come after me,
he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

NewHeart Expressions is one voice amidst hundreds of Christian ministries.  Just ONE!  When I read the stories and history of God’s people throughout all the Scriptures it seems there was usually only one voice, not hundreds or more.  In our modern world there are many voices, including all those who speak Truth on behalf of our precious Lord Jesus.  It is a privilege to live in such a culture as we, where everyone seems to have some voice in this world. 

My first question is – how can this one voice of NewHeart Expressions or Pastor Ron ever be heard?  Or why should it be heard? 

I think I have an answer to the “why”.  Why?  It is because God has and continually compels this voice forward with Truth cushioned in Love; a light in the darkness of storm.    

What is our voice to say?  What is the Truth for today?  I believe Christendom has gotten somewhat side tracked onto the wrong battleground.  It is all well and good for the Church to strive to protect our Christian freedom and rights with law and knowledge.  It is a great endeavor for Churches to speak out against sin.  It is a wonderful privilege that we as families may protect the innocence of our children, such as Dave Parker and his wife in Boston.  We have many great privileges as a nation in the USA and to an extent across the globe.  But what is the Voice of God really saying amidst the rumble of war. 

God spoke to Moses in the heat of battle at the Red Sea.  God spoke to Joshua at Jericho regardless of the mocking screams.  God spoke to Ezra steadily to rebuild the walls and not to be distracted by the screeching bawl around him.  It amazes me how easily distracted we are when the world shrieks!  What are we to be focused on?  We all know Who we are keep our focus toward – Jesus.  However, it seems that not many of us understand the Voice of our Lord as He speaks to our world.  We know we are to look upon Jesus but so often we are deaf.  The Gospel of John Jesus makes a BOLD statement – My sheep hear My voice!  How?  So many voices – which is His voice?  My dear Faithfuls, Jesus stated – My sheep hear My voice!  This means that you and I hear his voice regardless of how loud the noise around us becomes.  Isn’t that good news!!!  As children of God, as new creations made pure and holy, as hearers of the One Voice we do not need to be confused; rather we need to tune in to His voice. 

How?  I have discovered that as I walk after the Spirit, the “Flesh’s” gnawing screams become more and more distant; and the rushing mighty wind in the gentle breezes of Almighty Spirit swell up within us.  Everyday He becomes the calm peace that blows our minds away, yet protects us from harm, causing every situation in life to work out for the good of making me more like Jesus!

Knowing this, today I am RECKONING this TRUTH for NewHeart Expressions and myself.  I am taking possession of the LAND!  God has given NHE men and women who have ear to our Lord Jesus’ Voice.  This is what He says in midst of all the noise: Eternal Life is – knowing the Father and His Son!  All those who look upon Jesus and believe shall be saved!  Salvation is experiencing forgiveness of sin and Jesus’ Life everyday; not one time but a continuous forgiveness and Life, exploding within our lives, regardless of how loud and gruesome the Devil, our Flesh, and this World screams – kills, steals, and destroys.  You see, we can not be defeated because the real battle is already won!  Hallelujah!!! 

What about all the pain and loss we encounter each day?  “Each loss is truest gain if, day by day, He (Jesus) fills the place of all He takes away.”  The Apostle Paul quoted our God saying, “My grace is sufficient”!!!  Jesus our Lord, said it best, “I will never leave you”... and the battle belongs to ME! 

Sinner’s sin... this is no surprise to God.  Christians have the power to choose not to sin... this is no surprise to God.  Gays have gay sex... this is no surprise to God.  People from all walks of life try and impose their thoughts, choices, and feelings – their affections and values upon all communities and cultures.  This too, is no surprise to God.  In the horrors of man’s quest to get his ultimate needs met in and of himself, outside of Jesus – the ultimate supply of our needs; just because He loves us – God still is sovereign and in control and ABLE! 

Join me in VOICE—

sharing this TRUTH of Eternal Life and Salvation!

Be sure to check how you define these terms.  The Word of God is very specific:

Eternal Life is knowing God (John 17:3)!

Salvation is the continuous experience of Jesus’ forgiveness and Life everyday

(Romans 5:10)!        

Visit “The Way of the Master” .com

Today is my birthday.  I am a retired 41 year old man.  Scary isn’t it?  Brain injury leaves me unable to return to the workforce; which opens the wonderful door of having lot’s of free time to disciple men in grace and truth; assisting men who desire to come out of the gay lifestyle or any chronic problem consuming and destroying  their lives. 

I ask you 700 or so people surfing through the pages of this site, to pray that I would respond to the LIFE God gives me each day, serving Him with all He gives, filling all the losses brain injury has brought into my life.

I am grateful to my Lord for the gifts He has given me; primarily, the gift of music that once again allows me to play piano and sing, in celebration and worship of my Lord Jesus.  Hallelujah!!!

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Pastor Ron's BLOG

          "Mission Under Grace"

A Feature on Pastor Ron

It has been strongly suggested by medical and mental health teams that Pastor Ron reduce his ministry of direct discipleship mentoring so that he can spend his time in more effective ministry.  The evaluations indicate that among Ron's skills remain the ability to communicate - speaking and writing - when he is not fatigued.  Therefore, the NewHeart Expressions Trustees have endorsed his reduced counseling load so that he can focus on writing and internet development.  Pastor Ron continues to disciple; he mentors three to five men and spends the remainder of his time resting, healing, and writing.  We at NewHeart Expressions ask that you hold Pastor Ron up in prayer and with your support, both financially and with your friendship.  How?  How could you financially support Pastor Ron and/or offer friendship to him?  

First, you may support Pastor Ron directly by making your contribution on our website at

www.newheartexpressions.org 

or you are welcome to mailyour check to:

NewHeart Expressions

 1320 Idalia Ct. Suite 103

Aurora CO 80011.

Please indicate, in the memo line of your check, that the monies are for NHE's aid to Pastor Ron.  Note that Ron is no longer on salary but that NewHeart Expressions provides a monthly allowance based on how you give; providing him the excess he needs above temporary disability.  For now, Pastor Ron is temporarily on "Aid to the Needy and Disabled" until he is awarded Social Security Disability Income. 

Second, you can support Pastor Ron with friendship.

Ron enjoys cards, letters, and telephone calls (720.949.0687).  He enjoys visits from those who live in the Denver Metro Area or who are visiting Colorado.   

Some further clarifications:

Remember that Ron does not have the necessary inhibitors to know when to stop talking; it is your responsibility to cut the conversation when you need to go.  Ron understands this dilemma and does not take offense.  One of the best ways to do this is to give Ron the amount of time you have available at the beginning of the conversation.  When this is done you will find that Ron will end the conversation himself out of respect for you and your limits. 

Also keep in mind, that Ron is not mentally retarded. Please do not consider his impairment from the 2005 accident an inability to comprehend what is said. Ron says, "I still have skill and a purpose in this life!"  Pastor Ron confesses that he sometimes wonders  why God has left him here.  Yet, the physical handicaps do not trouble him so much because he knows that God will still use him.  What is more  troublesome is his mental handicaps.

Ron communicates, learns, and administrates at 93%.  These are his higher brain functions.  His lower brain functions such as, short term memory, his speed of processing, word finding, comprehension, and attention and concentration are all leaky.  When the lower brain functions leak out, his higher executive capacities cease to work.  The more leakage and fatigued the less Ron is able to accomplish.  His foundation is leaky.  Ron may learn at 93% but he retains at only 9%.  This impairment is what causes him the most emtotioanl pain.

Ron testifies, "The amazing wonder of our God is that, when the subject of Grace and Truth arise, I am invigorated beyond my deficits and soar as an eagle when sharing God's Word.  I credit this wonder with Romans 8:11 (NAS) - 'But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give LIFE to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you'".   Ron enjoys Grace and Truth; it is here, God, provides him LIFE, energy, and reason.