Author: Rev. Charles Pugh

CHRISTmas day…the day that billions around the world acknowledge and many specially remember as the day that Emmanuel (Matthew 1:23) was born into this world. While it is unlikely that December 25th is the actual birth day of Jesus Christ, it is quite possible that this is the time, if not the very day, HE would have been conceived of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20). Whether or not one falls into the traps of materialism at this time of year, deifying some character such as Saint Nicholas, or possibly even sees this day too far gone or unholy in aspects of its origin, we each need to remember that there indeed was a turning point in history when Jesus Christ was born. The way we measure time (such as 2010 in this year) surrounds that monumental event of the CHRIST being born as a man into the world. HE came to redeem what was lost in the Creation. HE came to give—to give the Gift of LIFE.

Life is an amazing thing to consider! Life is contrasted with death and nothingness. Life is what gives meaning and brings movement. Life enables us to consciously exist and make choices. We exist in the midst of an incredible Creation, though found subject to bondage, and are ourselves found marred as fallen mankind. We, as is the Creation, are in need of salvation—being delivered from this bondage (see Romans 7:24; 8:20). We are born physically alive, but spiritually dead or separated from the Creator, due to our fallen nature. We are unable to deliver ourselves from our fallen nature and are in need of help. We need the Gift of LIFE!

Tragedy and troubles help you understand your need of LIFE. When you see the degree that we, as human beings, can stoop to in self centered living and attacking or taking things from others, you realize something is wrong. When you disappoint yourself and fail to live as you should, you realize there is an internal problem. When you find yourself feeling isolated and alone, maybe even thinking that nobody cares for you or that GOD has forgotten you, remember that GOD cares so much that HE became flesh in the Person of Jesus Christ. Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). HE came into this world and few living then even recognized Him for Who HE Is (John 1:10-11). HE came to give LIFE to those who would receive it (John 1:12). HE does not force LIFE on anyone, but does make it possible upon faith in Who HE Is and what HE has done. HE was crucified by man and only guilty of loving. HE rose from the dead, living again in the flesh and is soon coming back to earth.

Please specially consider this spiritual LIFE that only the Creator can give. Many in society today are lost and even spiritually dead, not considering LIFE as they should. The way in which we are devaluing life from the womb to the grave reveals this problem. Our institutions of higher learning do much good in research and discovery, yet often philosophically exalt their own life and collective academic thinking above the Creator. That is the very problem that led to the first sin in the Universe with Lucifer, the Anointed Cherub (Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:12-14). Evolutionary thinking is the underpinning for such a devaluation of life and runs counter to the reality of order and design that we see from the immensity in the far reaches of the universe to the infinitesimal building blocks of life that we study today. Life is highly ordered and designed in every aspect and should be considered precious from the moment of conception to the time it naturally ceases. So long as we are living, we should be giving and imparting LIFE to any who are in need. When you have the spiritual LIFE from the Creator on the inside, you are then empowered to better give and to help people come to the LIGHT who gave His Life and gives LIFE to all who come to Him in faith.

So, on CHRISTmas day or really on every day, please consider the real meaning of CHRISTmas and of living. It is to acknowledge that LIFE that entered the Creation in the fullness of time (Galatians 4:4) and to let His LIFE be born in you. This LIFE can be born in your heart and will enable you to be in the Spirit of CHRISTmas all year long. Come to and learn to better share this Gift of LIFE!

A few days ago there was another very troubling shooting incident, which you likely have heard about or even seen video footage of by now. A disappointed and troubled man, Clay Duke, walked up to the podium of a Panama City Florida school board meeting, went over to the wall and spray painted a big red circle and “V” (for Vendetta) on the wall and then pulled out a gun. There were many people in the room and this event could have escalated into a massive tragedy. Thankfully, he was not so troubled that he just started shooting at anybody around him and that he even let all but the school board men out of the room, including the lady that reacted and tried to knock his gun away with her purse. Only GOD knows whether he purposefully tried to miss the board members when he did start shooting or if he “just missed” when hitting the desk and the wall. 😉 Clearly, it is amazing that this shooter was the only person who ended up being shot! The security guard, Mike Jones, who had to shoot him to bring him down when he started firing at the school board members, is indeed a hero. Sadly, the shooter turned his gun to himself and ended his own life. What can we learn from this? What can Virginia Tech learn from this event occurring on the same day, when last year a trial coming from the 04-16-07 VT Tragedy was allowed to go forward (and the same day a tragic trial occurred in my own personal tragedy)?

As the Founders of this Great United States understood, our CREATOR GOD certainly does rule over the affairs of men in His Providence. HE allows many tragic events to take place, testing and leading to the confusion of those devoid of faith, yet HE always has a way of escape and/or lessons to be learned from what occurs. GOD did not allow any others in that room to be killed in that horrific scene, yet HE did allow this man to take his own life. His widow described him as a “gentle giant” and clearly, he could have done much more harm to many if he had fully intended to do so and GOD had allowed. Clay Duke was upset about what had happened to his wife, effecting his and her personal situation. He took a very extreme and improper way of trying to handle his disappointment with the system, just as many others choose to do in these types of shooting tragedies.

I believe the attitude that the security guard, Mike Jones, had about what happened is an example of what every person should have about such a tragic event. He had never even had to shoot anyone and only did so then as a last resort to try to stop any massacre. What I heard this man, Mike Jones, say, is what so many others need to understand about such situations. He did what he had to do to help things be as secure as possible and he had compassion for all, including this man’s wife and family and even for the shooter himself, Clay Duke. He did not simply vilify the man, ignore him as something less than a human being or seek to blame what he did on some mental health diagnosis. Do those approaches and ways of understanding and coping with tragic events sound familiar? Do you see where I am going? Perhaps you should consider this security guard’s example further or review the poem that the LORD led me to write on the first anniversary of the 04-16-07 VT Tragedy (“Learn to Prevail—32 to 33”).

We must learn from the lives of those who perpetrate such tragic events. We must consider the facts leading up to their extreme actions and learn to specially reach out to and help those around us who are similarly struggling. The more we fail to reach out to these troubled souls, the more of these tragedies we will see. Furthermore, if we simply blame any shooter’s actions on some nebulous mental health disorder or past criminal behavior and then just say that they deserve whatever punishment or isolation from society that comes to them, we are doing nothing but stooping to a similar level like the shooter took. It is like having our own personal vendetta. It is taking vengeance into our own hands, even if only by our opinion or attitude. We must change any personal vendetta type of attitude and help others learn to cope with the difficulties and injustices of life. We must trust GOD’S Providence and His final justice, not avenging ourselves and getting in the way of HIS Perfect Wrath (e.g. Romans 12:19).

Give your Vendetta to the LORD, be it with a school board administration or any other such authority!

The most active shopping season of the year is upon us again. Many are buying gifts to exchange with family and friends. There is much to consider about this time of year, both good and bad. Certainly, one revealing thing about the season is the tendency of many toward using money to buy material things. As I have recently discussed (see my 11-04-10 Blog, “For The Love of Money”) money is something that often dominates a person’s priorities. When families get together during these holiday times, it may also be sports that dominate their time together. Sports can be fun and exciting to watch and even play in, but they also can (and often do) take on too high of a priority in our lives. In fact, we each should regularly evaluate our priorities to be certain they are not out of order. May I challenge you in this Christmas and Holiday season to, as the song says, “rise up” and “have done with lesser things.”

There is nothing like a tragedy, a crisis, or some life changing event to help give you a greater perspective on your priorities. Too often, it actually takes a difficult time with something or even some personal affliction to get us to evaluate our bad habits and behaviors. This should not be the case, but because of our fallen human nature, it often is. How many times do you see someone finally making a positive life change after a negative event? An automobile wreck will at least help you to be more conscious of how you drive, and depending on how badly a person is hurt, may even lead to a change of lifestyle. Being physically sick, especially if it involves a terminal illness, tends to make you more thankful for the health you do have. Losing a family member or loved one will certainly help you reevaluate your own life and priorities. Tragedy and difficulty reveals the more important and the lesser things. It takes away the surface layers and reveals more of the heart.

I trust that your heart is whole and that your life is filled with many good things. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the small and simple things of life. GOD created large and small things for us to enjoy. It is bad, however, when we put those small or more minor things above the more important things. Even good things can become bad when they cause you to neglect the more important and best way that GOD has for you (c.f. Hebrews 12:1ff). It is also bad when your example causes others to stumble or leads them away from what is best (c.f. Romans 14:16). Parents, teachers, preachers and leaders have an even greater responsibility and a lot for which they will give account. Lesser things are important, but they must be seen for what they are and not put above the more important things.

Friend, I do not know what you value in your life. I do not know if you are caught up with things that will not mean very much in eternity. When you consider the heavens and the vastness of what GOD has Created and what HE sustains, it helps you to see how small you really are (c.f. Psalm 8:3ff). When you understand that your Creator also has a specific plan and purpose for your life, it brings meaning to what would otherwise be insignificant. I trust that you are valuing the things that HE says are more important. I trust you are regularly reading and studying His revealed Truth and not just a token reading on Sunday (if you attend church and they exposit the Word) or at Christmas time (if you even read the Christmas story during this holiday season). GOD, as understood in the Person of Jesus Christ, should have the priority position in every area of your life (c.f. Colossians 1:18). Of course, HE will allow you to choose another priority or lesser thing, yet you will still have to give an account to your Creator for everything you do—good and bad (Ecclesiastes 12:14; Romans 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:12). Jesus, Himself said that each person will even given an account of every idle word that they speak (Matthew 12:36). The greater question there 😉 is at which of the two key judgments will you be?

So, during this holiday season, please “have done with lesser things” and keep your priorities in order. I trust that you will come to know your Creator, Who became that Baby Who grew to give His life to become your Savior! Prioritize HIM!!

Are you traveling to be with family this Thanksgiving? Might you be flying? Are you concerned about some tragedy or terrorism in the skies or perhaps even those more intrusive TSA procedures that are currently claiming so much media attention? Playing off this and my own personal tragedy, this blog will address “Space: The First Frontier.”

The creators of Star Trek have it wrong (and not only in their belief of evolution)! Space is NOT the “final frontier” as is said (I do enjoy the creativity and philosophical thought of these science fiction shows ). While space—the heavens—is one of the last explored regions man has gone, it actually had to be one of the first things GOD created. Aside from some sort of veil or darkness to bring separation between GOD, Who is said to be Light and no darkness at all (e.g. 1 John 1:5), and HIS Creation, space is what GOD first created and then filled in various ways. Space was HIS First Frontier and indeed it is ours. We each have what is referred to as our “personal space.”

None of us likes to have our personal space invaded against our will. It is that bubble or area of comfort around you, closest to your body—where you live. Our personal space (generally, one to two feet around us, though somewhat subjective) defines how we relate and interact with the world and the life around us. How uncomfortable do you feel when someone gets too close in talking with you? How do you feel when someone “gets up in your face” or even touches you when you aren’t expecting it? We don’t like this, though we are more accepting when the conditions around us warrant it (like being in a crowded subway or area where it is expected that you might bump up against someone, popping that bubble of personal space). From your own perspective, space is your first frontier. It is the area around you that you most easily control. You probably don’t even mind giving up some control and having a person you can trust to occasionally enter your space.

I will resist veering off here and talking more about control (c.f. one of my first blogs on 05-01-08: “It is ALL about CONTROL!”). I have also spoken more about the frontier of the heavens/space in my 07-23-09 blog article: “SPACED OUT!” In fact, there is also a related subject—safety—which is part of the TSA controversy and which I addressed in my 05-13-08 article: “An American Idol…SAFETY.” Here, though, I am focusing more on your personal space and what you will comfortably accept. Will you silently accept yet another intrusion into your life or space, as reflected in this controversy with the TSA and the full body scans or pat downs?

Tying this into my own experience with tragedy, I certainly understand more of that personal violation of space. I have been forcibly taken (without a fight, though ) on five separate occasions due to the misguided fears of others. I recently (11-11-10) had my space invaded again and narrowly escaped what would likely have been yet another involuntary commitment! There comes a point where you must stand and resist, yet at the same time accept what is happening around you.

Friend, do you follow any of my thinking here? How are you really doing in your first frontier? Is your personal space growing or changing due to fears within or without? How are you doing on the inside of that bubble of space on the outside? There is a wonderful Truth you must come to understand. The Creator has made it possible for you to go beyond that first frontier and enter into HIS Personal, Holy Space. Through faith in Jesus Christ you can be at peace and enter into HIS Presence, where there is rest and much pleasure (see Hebrews 4:1ff; Psalm 16:11). Learn to really live above (see my last blog ) and explore and move beyond that first frontier of space!

Events in recent days lead me to today’s important article: Live ABOVE! Do you know that this is the answer to overcoming? Do you know that this is the answer to getting beyond any control of money (as I last discussed) or the control of alcohol or other substances (the blog before last)? Do you know that this is how you can survive and even thrive despite loss and tragedy? Living ABOVE is how I was even able to not react and keep from being detained or involuntarily committed again last Thursday (11-11-10) when surrounded, searched and intensely questioned by police after fear and confusion led to that fascinating scene on the Virginia Tech campus (students and others gazing on). Are you living ABOVE or are you caught in the fray? Are you defeated by the battles and trials in life or are you learning to prevail and win those battles–living victorious?

To live ABOVE is to not be caught up in the games that people play. Living ABOVE is not falling into the traps that people set and not letting others control you somehow. Unfortunately, secularism has stolen this important concept away from many by emphasizing only the natural. The argument is made that you must isolate anything of faith to a tiny private place in your life. Akin to this is a more familiar saying often leveled toward someone focusing on things of faith: “You’re so heavenly minded, you’re no earthly good!” That statement is a lie! It typically scares people away from thinking more about what is to come and living those things out in life. It is impossible for someone to be of no earthly good if they are indeed focused on the real things ABOVE! Who would want to miss out on that or not have everyone they know and love be able to enjoy what is truly ABOVE? In fact, if one is really living above while they are also living here below, they will bring the principles of heaven down to earth with them.

A verse of Scripture in today’s reading of the Proverbs (if you happen to have that wise discipline 😉 ) helps to clarify here: “The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.” Living above not only helps you escape from what some erroneously call “hell on earth,” but more importantly, the everlasting hell below. In fact, I submit that it is the modern philosophy of public secularism that even brings about those situations often characterized as “hell on earth” (see my important blog exactly one year ago today: “RADICAL CHRISTianity”). What is needed is for a change back to living ABOVE, as is often referenced in my blog articles.

I know how much this evolutionary secularism has penetrated our society. I have been the recipient of labels and legal judgments from 3 involuntary commitments and 2 times wrongly held in jails. My life has been turned upside down financially and with family and friends. I have kept my life right side up by living ABOVE, thus needing no substances or escape relationships to cope with my ongoing personal tragedy. Friend, this is a secret (due largely to evolutionary secularism) that I do not want to keep to myself. I want you to understand that you only need to live ABOVE to get your life in order and make it through any difficulties.

However, there is an obstacle to living ABOVE. You cannot live ABOVE unless you know the ONE Who lives ABOVE. HE is the ONE Who is your CREATOR! HE is the ONE Who became your Savior. You have to accept Jesus Christ’s sacrifice to pay for the penalty of your sin and trust in His victory over sin and death through His resurrection from the grave. HE can have no unredeemed sinners in His presence!! You would not want this either! If you have indeed trusted in Jesus Christ, then you must remember to love those things that are ABOVE and live in that place with that thinking. Consider Colossians 3:2: “Set your affection [exercise your mind] on things above, not on things on the earth.” Friend, Live ABOVE! 🙂