Gregory T. Jacobs
 
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Isaiah 40:31
"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Today I had the opportunity to go to Churchill Downs to our banks corporate "Finish Line Suite."  Several of the bank officers invited customers and prospects to wine and dine them for the afternoon.  Although betting on the horses is not my cup of tea, I thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to go and be pampered in the lap of luxury. 

For those of you that have never been to Churchill Downs, there was a famous race run there almost two weeks ago.  You might have heard of it: The Kentucky Derby (that is for all of my out of town friends).  

While driving with my two customers to The Downs, I happened to look up and saw a large Falcon perched over the interstate.  I know that a Falcon is not an Eagle, but it sure looked the same size.  I remember thinking to myself what it must be like to be free to fly.  When we arrived at the racetrack, the steward pushed the button for us to go up to the 5th floor.  Keep in mind that there are only 6 floors, which I might add is really high up.

When we got up there and looked out over the track and the Louisville skyline, the view was breathtaking.   The horses looked like toys, the people like ants, and the birds were BIG.   While standing on that balcony, it all of a sudden hit me how high up I was.  More than anything, I was surprised at how insignificant things seemed on the ground.

It is easy to get discouraged while down in the valley, but when you are soaring up high problems just seem insignificant.  I didn't realize until the end of the day how much I enjoyed being up high (and the lack of crowds and foot traffic).  It wasn't until we descended from the 5th floor to the 1st did I realize how much I cherished the day.

The moral of this blog is not that we should spend our days on the 5th floor Finish Line Suites at Churchill Downs.  Rather, to spread our wings and fly as often as we can, and not get so bogged down with the flow of traffic in the valley...
 
 
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II Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

One of the most important questions that you can  be asked is the following:  "What are you currently studying in the Bible, and what is the Lord speaking to you through this?"

Unfortunately, we are a society that is so caught up in this fast paced microwave generation, that we have forgotten how to study.   No, I am not talking about cramming before a test, or attempting to rapidly know a new product or service offered through your employer.  I am talking about the slow methodical ability to pick-up the Bible and STUDY it.  Notice I didn't say Read it. 

Have you ever sat down and read a Readers Digest or maybe your favorite novel, and walked away thinking, HUH?   I can't tell you how many times I have sat down to read a book and at the end of the page, I have to start all over because I didn't remember a thing I had just read.  This can happen to us when we read the Bible as well.  It is not because the Bible is not interesting, or because it is too complex to understand.  Rather, it is because our minds are so cluttered with busyness that we have forgotten how to focus.  In this fast paced lifestyle it is absolutely imperative that we focus on Christ, and not give him second best.  In order to accomplish this, we must STUDY His Word, rather than just Read it. 

There is no set time of the day that is dictated that you have to read the Bible and Pray.  There is nowhere that says you have to do it everyday, or for 30+ minutes per day.  I have found that personally at the end of the day, my mind is all cluttered up, and I don't do my best focusing.  I like to take time throughout the day to study His Word.  It might only be 5 minutes here and there, but He is continually on my Heart.

If you are a frequent computer user, try using www.biblegateway.com  It is a great online Bible resource where you will find several versions of the Bible.   Instead of putting a Readers Digest in your restroom at home, try placing a Bible there.  Keep one in your glove box in the car, so that if you have some time to drive to a park for lunch, you can have some one-on-one time with the Lord.

I used to think that I studied the Bible, but over the last couple of years I have realized that in the past I just read it.  Since I have taken the time to really dig in, the Word of God has become so REAL to me.  It is an action packed, war story, romance novel, geographical history study, foreign journey, shipwrecked, earth swallowing, viper biting, fire consuming, grace-riddled, mercy bestowing, salvation for all man kind, compilation of work.  For somebody that says that it is boring, I just respond that they haven't been reading my Bible.  The one that I read keeps me on the edge of my seat daily, and is the foundation of what makes this ball that we live on spin. 

Remember, the question posed at the beginning of this blog is not really the important part.  THE  ANSWER  IS  WAY  MORE  IMPORTANT  IN  ORDER  TO  MANIFEST  YOUR  CLOSE  RELATIONSHIP  WITH  JESUS  CHRIST!

 
 
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What satisfies you in life?  Is there certain things that your personality feeds off of?  Some people are fed by crowds of people through socialization, yet others are rejuveninated through solace and solitude.  The question that I pose is who or what are you dependent on? 

El Shaddai--The Hebrew name for God meaning "The All Sufficient God."  El means "God."  Sha means "Who."  Lastly, Dai means "Enough."  When you put it together, El Shaddai in Hebrew is interpreted as "God Who is Enough!" 

Genesis 17:1-2 (ESV) says, "When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly." 

In the Hebrew Pentateuch in Genesis 17, El Shaddai is found, but then translated into English as "God Almighty."  The question that I pose is quite simple:  "Is God Enough in your life?"  We have all heard Amy Grant sing about El Shaddai through the years, but do we really understand what that word really means?  Are we prepared to walk through a wilderness and still say that God is enough?

If people reject you and friendships are lost, are you willing to say that God is Enough?

If you say that you aren't getting anything out of the church that you attend, are you willing to grow spiritually through your personal quite time with Him?  Will God be Enough?

If you are persecuted for your beliefs as a Christian, are you willing to say that God is Enough?

If the fellowship is not there from others like you want it to be, are you willing to say that God is Enough?

The list can go on and on...  The point being is that when you feel like God has you going through the wilderness and you are all alone, is God Enough?  Is He ALL  SUFFICIENT, or isn't He?  There are times in our life where God will have us go through a valley of dry bones that feels like complete abandonment.  Others around you won't understand or comprehend what you are going through, and as a result you feel abandoned. 

This is not a state of being or a place that we should avoid, but rather embrace with all certainty.  The certainty comes in the fact that we know that God will provide for and comfort us.  Unfortunately, so many people get to this stage and in response they turn to man to fill their every need and desire. 

El Shaddai wants to know if you are willing to accept and embrace Him as the All Sufficient God.  He is either ENOUGH in your life, or He isn't...
 
 
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Acts 2:17 (ESV)
"'And in the last days it shall be, God declares,  that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,  and your young men shall see visions,  and your old men shall dream dreams."

I am a firm believer in paying close attention to your dreams.  So many people dismiss dreams as just coincidence, or merely the cause of ice cream or pepperoni they had before they went to bed.  I have a totally different opinion of dreams.  I feel that you can tell a lot about a person by their dreams.  I have always evaluated and sifted through the dreams that I remember as to whether or not they are legitimate, or merely a byproduct of REM (Rapid Eye Movement).

Last night I had a dream that I was staying in a hotel at the foot of a mountain.  There were all kinds of people in the hotel.  Some that confessed to be Christians, others who didn't.  What I noticed right off the bat was a line that was forming down by what looked to be a recreation locker.  It was on the main floor and was closely guarded by a lock and key.  There was a gentleman down there that was unlocking the closet that was full of supplies.  There were only two sorts of supplies that you had access to, all you had to do was ask the gatekeeper. 

The first set of supplies was simply a bicycle.  The majority of the people were asking for the bicycles.  They climbed on their bikes and rode off into the valley.  From my vantage point I could see lights, flags, and music rising from the partying going on down in the valley.  The people that chose the bikes just simply rode on into the glitz and glamour that this world had to offer them.

The second set of supplies were a little more elaborate.  I saw backpacks, boots, poles, tents, hard-hats, etc.  Some people were standing in line not to receive these items, but to turn them back into the gatekeeper.  Others were standing in line to receive.  I must mention that very few people were left standing there to receive these items, as the bikes were plentiful and the majority of people rode off into the sunset already.  As I looked, I saw a few people equipped with the necessary gear and heading out on a narrow path to climb the mountain.

When I woke up, I felt the Lord speak the Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV) passage to me:  "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."

I believe that the gatekeeper was the Holy Spirit.  The Word of God says to "Ask" and He will freely give.  The valley represented Vanity Fair and the things of this world.  Not only did the people not have to work for anything, but it was a downhill ride that they just coasted on their bicycles.  Women were wearing high heels, and the guys dressed in dapper party attire.  However, the trek up the mountain represents our walk with God on this earth.  It has never been promised to us that the walk with the Lord will not be strenous, but the Holy Spirit promises to equip us.  Evidence of this can be found in Ephesians 6, and the manifestation in Galatians 5. 

ENOUGH SAID...
 
 
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Psalm 91:1-2
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say to the LORD, "my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

I am curious what the title of this blog evokes in your mind.  Is it a comic book hero or villain?  Is it a cold dark place, or a Honda motorcycle?  Maybe it sounds ghostly to you, or quite possibly not something that interests you much.  The truth is that we need to embrace the term and concept.

I have often said over the last year that the next book that I write will be a book on opposites.  Meaning that God's ways are not the ways of this world.  The lust of the flesh and the pride of life is not the way that He has ordained our lives.  Rather, He wants us to abide in the shadow of His Almighty presence.

I was laying in bed yesterday morning at about 4:00a.m. and felt the Lord speaking to my heart.  I felt Him asking me if I was abiding in His shadow.  I had never thought about the concept very much, as in today's society we are taught to be in the lime light and out front.  It is not ingrained in our selfish nature to play second fiddle to anybody, but that is exactly what Christ is requiring of us, if we are going to call ourselves Christians.

When I was a little boy, I memorized Psalm 91.  It has always been my favorite passage in the Bible as it assures me that He will deliver me from danger and give me refuge and shelter.  In this macho world where we are taught to suck it up and not show emotions, He is giving us permission to be in His shadow.  In order to exist in His shadow, I must first dwell in His shelter.  In order for this to occur, I must trust Him as Lord of my life.  I  HAVE  TO  BELIEVE  THAT  HE  IS  ALL  SUFFICIENT,  AND  THAT  I  NEED  NOTHING  ELSE!

I say with confidence to my LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust."  Will you say this as well.  Better yet, will you proclaim it with your actions to the Almighty???
 
 
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This last week while we stayed in Gatlinburg, TN we decided to take a 16 mile drive up to Newfound Gap.  This is the point in which Tennessee and North Carolina meet at an elevation of 5,045 feet.  It was so cool to see the thermometer on our van when we started out down in the valley read 53 degrees.  The higher we drove, the temperature kept dropping.  My kids were asking the rationale of this when they knew that heat rises, and the basement at home tends to stay cooler then the second floor.  What can I say, I have some pretty smart kids.  So as any father would do trying to outsmart their kids, I just simply said, "Because God says so..."  How can you argue that point.  Actually I just kept my mouth shut and let my lovely wife that is a school teacher with two Masters degrees impart her wisdom and prowess regarding thinner air, barometric pressure, etc.   I just nodded my head in agreement as I attempted to keep the minivan from careening over some cliff.

When we reached the top at Newfound Gap, we encountered a parking lot absolutely packed with cars, suv's, motorcycles, campers, etc...  After finding a parking spot, of course the next thing on the agenda was a family photo op.  As I patiently waited for my daughter to actually look in the direction of the camera, I fidgeted at how cold it was.  Just before getting out of the van I noticed that the temperature had dropped from 53 degrees in the valley, down to 40 degrees up top.  That is a 13 degree drop for all of you math majors out there.  However, what I didn't tell you was that the wind was blowing at around 20 miles per hour on top of that mountain, and we could see our breath as the ice formed on the edge of our nostrils. 

Just ahead we saw a small sign that denoted that this was a trailhead for the "Appalachian Trail."  The sign said that it was only 1,979 miles remaining to the finish in Maine.  WOW... I thought that maybe we could go a couple hundred yards up the trail to see what it was like.  In case you don't know, the Appalachian Trail spans 14 states and runs from Georgia all the way up to Maine.  The total length is 2,178 miles and can be hiked several different ways.  The most devoted will hike this trail in one season which is called "Thru-Hiking."  Still others will just take it in pieces which is called "Section-Hiking."  I was there for neither.  I just wanted to get a view from the top. 

My wife and I and our three kids started up the trail.  Along the trail we encountered snow and ice.  I later discovered that we had gone from an elevation of  5,045 to 6,250.  Although I had hiking boots on, the rest of my family just had tennis shoes.  To say that we were ill prepared would be like saying the Titanic just sort of touched an iceberg.  We had guys passing us with 50 pound packs on their backs, and metal walking sticks in each hand.  They were setting out to accomplish and tackle this trail.  About a mile up the strenuous trail, my wife and daughter decided to turn back.  It was decided by my two sons and I to pursue it a little further up hill.  The farther we climbed, the more snow , icicles, tree roots, and rocks we encountered.  Did I mention that this was April?  We finally decided to turn around and head back. 

As we were heading back, I noticed the gear, or lack thereof of the people heading up.  One girl was wearing flip-flops.  Another person was wearing shorts and a t-shirt.  Others were carrying cameras and bottles of water, which prohibited themselves from having a free hand if they slipped.  I was curious why I hadn't noticed this on the way up while I was passing people, or for that matter not noticed my lack of equipment and gear.  You see when I was heading up that mountain I didn't know about the ice and snow up ahead.  For that matter, I had no idea that the temperature would get even cooler, and that the wind was whipping even more.  I had no idea that the ice and snow melt would make for a muddy footing and one treacherous  slip could mean my demise.  I was naive and ambitious.

How many of us are that way in life?  We are ill equipped to handle what comes our way.  We see others turning back, but have no clue as to what is in store for us.  One of my favorite passages in the Bible is Ephesians 6.  It talks about putting on the whole armor of God.  In many ways that was what those experienced climbers had done.  They knew not to enter that trail with flip-flops.  They knew they would need changes of clothes for the different climates, as well as food and shelter.  Every one of them had metal walking sticks because they were fully aware that one slip on those rocks could mean their death. 

As we got closer to the parking lot on the return trip, I will never forget what I saw.  There was a man that was equipped to the hilt.  He had on the correct clothes, had the walking sticks and the pack on his back.  He shouted out as he passed by me and my two boys: "YEAHHH   BABY.... Only 1,979 miles to go..."  I am assuming that he started in Georgia and was a "Thru-Hiker."  All I remember thinking is that this guy has the correct attitude and equipment to succeed. 

God gives us the required equipment in His Word, it is up to us to have the right attitude.  Will you go out equipped, or be the one I pass wearing flip-flops???
 
 
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This past week I took my family to Gatlinburg, TN for a little R&R.  The time together and away from the hustle and bustle of life proved to be very rewarding and satsifying.  I know that some of you are reading this thinking that the previous sentence is an oxymoron.  You might say that there is no way that Gatlinburg /Pigeon Forge could in any way be apart from the hustle and bustle of life.  However, we stayed in a Chalet in the mountains of Gatlinburg with an impeccable view of Mt. LeConte.  The only time we got stressed was either driving on the treacherous roads up or down the mountain, or the traffic that we got stuck in down in the valley.

Speaking of traffic, I feel that I have gotten a glimpse into what HELL is going to be like.  I felt like I was trapped in the inner sanctum of Hades every time that I ventured into downtown Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge.  One day it was pouring down rain so we figured that we would go to Forbidden Caverns.  I have to admit that it is a beautiful cave system that is totally outside of civilization.  However, in order to get there, you must first drive through the bowels of hell.  It is a pre-requisite that you view every last gimic that is being marketed and sold as if this Vanity Fair of sorts was to be your daily sustenance and lifeline. 

Allow me to vent for just a second...  My dear wife wanted to buy the boys some shorts, so she very politely put in a request for an outlet mall venture.  Hades, here we come.  The crazy thing is that you can see how bad the economy is down here by the amount of stores and outlet malls that have closed.  We went to an outlet mall on one side of the street in Pigeon Forge, and it was a ghost town.  Then we went to another large "red roofed" one on the other side of town, and it too was empty.  Folks if you want a pulse on America's economy, that is about as good as it gets.

Forgive me for digressing, we finally found a "Tanger" outlet mall that was so swamped with cars and robots aimlessly walking around, but we could not find a parking place to park our steed.  I guess because all of the other outlet malls had turned into ghost towns with tumbleweeds blowing with the wind, the robots decided to all congregate at this one that was still open.  Eventually after circling the parking bays what seemed like hours, we found a spot to park the Kia.  My wife was not convinced that it wasn't handicapped, but I told her that it wasn't.  After all, I do have that tinge of pain in my knees when I have to go to any mall of sorts.  By the way, there was no book store for men, no wi-fi hot spots, no tool stores worth anything; just benches for the emasculated men to sit on for hours while their wives drag them from one store to the other while they swiped their plastic.  HOLD ME...I think that I need counseling.  It wasn't that bad.  Thankfully, I married a sweetheart that doesn't enjoy shopping all day long.

My point to this rampage is that I have no point.  It was just useless drivel about how I think I might have had a glimpse into HELL by driving through Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg, TN.  Now before you write me and say, "Greg, you have no theological understanding or comprehension of what hell will be like..."  this blog was meant to be fun.  I hope you enjoyed my commentary.  Moral of the story if you come to the Smokey's (which I have enjoyed for many years) stay in the mountains, hike in the National Park, and stay away from Hell...
 
 
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YOU  BETTER  BELIEVE  IT...  Why?  Is it because of the Easter Bunny, the marshmallow Peeps, the Egg Hunts, or maybe the new wardrobe that you purchased to look "Springy" on this beautiful April 4th day.   I hate to break it to you, but none of that matters.  Sure the kids enjoy candy, but what day on this green earth is that not the case.  We all like to look new and fresh in bright clothes, but does that make Easter? 

It might just be semantics, but I would rather call today "Resurrection Sunday" then Easter.  Why you might ask?  Simply because of the commercialization that Christian days of observance have turned into.  Don't get me started on Christmas...

Before you start thinking that I am anti-Easter, let me make my case.  I am so excited that Jesus died on the cross for my sins, but more importantly because He rose from the dead.  This distinct factual evidence is what sets my God apart from other gods that people worship.  I am so emphatic about Him being "Alive" that I have chosen to celebrate this fact EVERY DAY!!!  Why not?  If you believe so strongly in something, why would you want to keep it a secret the other 364 days a year. 

So while I rejoice with everybody today as they celebrate Easter, I would like to proclaim that as in years past, I will be celebrating and rejoicing that my Savior LIVES and is ALIVE today.  I pity people that think that this is a religion from the past and just a relic.  I have no idea where they are coming from.  The Bible comes alive to me on a daily basis, because I am proactively yearning to know who I serve.   I am not religious, but rather have made a concerted effort to pursue a relationship with Jesus.

May we all understand the importance of Jesus Christ rising from the dead.  I  SERVE  A  RISEN  LORD.  May we serve Him every day going forward...
 
 
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Matthew 17:1
"After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves."

Mark 5:37
"And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James and John..."

Have you ever wondered why in the Church Institution as a whole, we have catered towards the worlds marketing plans?  I know, because I bought into this for several years.  I was so caught up in the amount of men that I reached in my Men's Ministry, that I lost sight of what Jesus portrayed in his own life.  Jesus showed us the ultimate marketing plan in that if we put our focus on a few and disciple them the way that He commanded, then they will turn around and do the same.  Jesus poured into the twelve disciples, but took even more emphasis with Peter, James, and John.

Unfortunately in church buildings all over the world; ministers, pastors, missionaries, elders, deacons, etc. have bought into the "American Way" of marketing.  Many have chosen the path of blitzing the masses with a shotgun approach of liturgy, whereas others have idly sat back and let it zing right over their heads.  Television and print commercials are designed to lay out a product in hopes that somebody will stumble across that specific media path.  I feel that God's way is a little more acute and fine tuned then that.

John 16:8
"...He will Convict the world concerning Sin, Righteousness, and Judgement."

Humans do not have the power or ability to convict someone of their sin, only God who works through his Word, Creation, and Holy Spirit has that power.  We are never to presume that we have the authority to convict or forgive somebody of their sin and rotten heart.  This is the work of the Holy Spirit.  It is our responsibility to express and Show the Galatians 5 "Fruit of the Spirit" in our lives, that Jesus might exude from every corner of our being. 

I have been leading a Sunday School class in the month of March at church.  A couple of weeks ago there were several people that forgot to set their clocks forward an hour, and thus did not show up to class.   The leader of the class apologized for not having a "Full" class for me to teach.  I told my dear friend that I am no longer about the numbers, and the masses.  I was quite content speaking to the 10 that were there, rather than the 30 on a normal Sunday.  We have to get to a point of not looking at a congregation of 500 and asking what might "I/We" do to grow it to 1,000.  God is the one and only who has the ability to GROW His CHURCH!!!  I am not talking about a congregation with people, but the CHURCH as the Bride and Body of Christ. 

I grew up going to Michigan for summer vacations.  One thing that I learned at an early age is that the fish at the top of the lake swim in multitudes.  They are comfortable just nibbling here and there on your hook.  Some might get a taste, but they never really latch on.  the smaller the hook that you use, the smaller the fish that will nibble.  However, the bigger the hook and the deeper I fished, the fewer fish would I find.  The more depth in fishing results in the greater catch when strategically placed.

My prayer is that each of us does our part in devoting our lives to Jesus as sold out Jesus Freaks!  We must be so in love with Him that we abhor sin!  Then we have to make ourselves available to His calling in not only our lives, but others.  When we do that, we will not be just casting seeds on rocky and thorny soil (Luke 8:4-8), but rather on fertile soil that has been tilled and prepared by His Holy Spirit.

Think Backwards when it comes to Christ.  He is not of the things of this world and what we have been sold.  Reach a Few, and go Deeper with them in the Lord!!!
 
 
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II Timothy 4:3
"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."

It never ceases to amaze me how people always find others to agree with them.  My wife Amy has always been a sound voice of reason to me.  She does not always tell me what I want to hear, but rather shares the truth in the fashion that I Need to hear.

Politics can be  much the same way.  We tend to have discussions on these topics with like-minded people, but it does not always mean that your stance is the correct one.   If you are as conservative as can be, you don't discuss politics with liberals for fun.  I don't know about you, but I am absolutely fed up with career politicians that exist for no other reason than to run for re-election.  I am all for term limits, but that is a topic for another blog.  The point being that sometimes we can get so caught up in our own opinions that we forget to observe the truth around us.  Oh, and if you think that there are no absolute truths in life, you are living under a halo of deception.

This brings me to the II Timothy passage.  It seems like all around us we are putting people in positions of authority and leadership that are telling us what we want to hear.  It is not what we need to hear or should hear, but rather what soothes our wants and desires at that moment.  Washington D.C. is full of these types of politicians.  Washington has turned into a bunch of men and women in suits that are run by special interest groups.  Guess what???  Churches are full of them as well.  I have seen many a pastor hired that was controlled like a puppet by the Deacons/Elders.  They are too afraid to make the necessary changes and to speak the inerrant Word of God in fear of offending somebody.  I praise God that my pastor is not one of these men, but is subjected to the Holy Spirit's calling in his life.  He is not afraid to preach the Word without fear of offending the masses, with the possibility of encouraging the few.

It is unfortunate that we have become a society that just drinks in the vinegar from the news in hopes that it will appease our unrest.  It is absolute blasphemy that we have adopted an apostasy of the Gospel in this televangelist society that preaches that it is all about how you feel and what you can accomplish in life.  May we stop buying into the myths as a result of turning away from the TRUTH of God.  May you personally study the Bible so as not to fall into this insiduous snare that satan has set out for the masses.

May His SHEEP be separated from the Goats in these last days!!!