Saved memories

It was a nice Christmas spent with family. Christmas eve was spent with my wife's family, and Christmas day with mine.

My brothers and I went in together a few weeks ago and purchased family protraits for our parents. Oddly enough we never had one when we were children, and when my parents were divorced when I was 14 it became one of those things "never to be". Over the past few years though my parents, although still divorced, have begun getting along really well. They visit each other, and are together with us on the holidays. They were willing, and excited to have the pictures made. Thought I would post some here!



Mom and Dad before they were married.


Mom and Dad about three weeks ago!



..and with my brothers and me..


..and their daughters inlaw..

...and their grandkids!

I think most of us love when we have gotten people a gift you know they will love.


I think we succeeded!

Happy Christmas!

My great uncle's funeral a couple of weeks ago was as good as those things can go. I believe the Lord covered it and gave me the words to say. My focus was on treating each other with the kindness of Christ which assumes, of course, a relationship with Christ. Not the folks who aren't Christian can't be, or aren't, kind, but growing in Christ is walking in the Grace and Love that is birthed in us, remembering Whose ambassador we are - to seek to be as He is in this world. I spoke of remembering the fatherless, and the widow.

Christmas has been good - at our house we seem to carry it on for several days :)

The kids opened their gifts last night, and seemed to like the things they received. I'm glad to say that my children don't seem all that overly spoiled. There were no complaints and only smiles. Of course they got what they asked for, but ours isn't a family that can drop a couple grand for gifts.

My wife was the surprised one! We had decided earlier to forgo gifts for one another because we were expecting to have some things done around the house this fall. We were hoping to have a bathroom done, and an addition better insulated. We had folks come out and give estimates for both, but couldn't seem to get anyone to actually do the work...go figure. Anyway - since we didn't have the work done I bought her a few simple gifts; clothes, boots, a CD, and a movie. As our daughter passed the gifts to her from beneath the tree my wife began crying. She said she felt bad about not getting me anything because we had talked about not doing it, but I told not to worry about it. Her surprised an glad reaction was gift enough. Even if we had had the work done on the house I still would got her something. I don't like the idea of her not opening anything from me on Christmas.

I have mentioned before that we left our church of 14 years. I'm still not really ready to write about it, and will always love everyone there, but I will say this - thank God for His eternal salvation that is in Christ that can never be lost once given!

Merry Christmas to all who read!

May you and yours be blessed!

Grace and Righteousness

So often we as Christians are accused of bigotry for believing and voicing the opinion that the grace of God will lead to righteousness and away from sinful and destructive behavior. The ungodly are all too ready to accept wickedness (adultery, homosexuality, etc..1 Corinthians 6:9-10) while being offended by those who believe the truth of the gospel –that the grace of our Lord Jesus will lead (and it will lead!) to righteousness.

Grace and righteousness. Side by side, hand in hand. Eternally coexistent, yet the question is which begets, or is dependent upon, the other?

The understanding of many is that grace is the result of righteous living. It is believed that the grace of God is the reward or payment from the Almighty for living according to His laws (that would be His old covenant laws; i.e. the 10 commandments) and that in living righteously we have earned the right to become a part of the body of Christ. To the legalist (and neither Jesus nor Paul were legalist) grace is a controversial concept, and those who promote it live in danger of being seen as approving of sin. Nothing could be further from the truth, for to preach grace is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

How? Because according to the gospel of John grace is what Jesus brought - "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" -John 1:17.

On the one hand is works of the law; on the other is simply trusting Jesus. (John 6:29)

Any “gospel” message that leaves out the grace and truth of Jesus is not a gospel message at all. The “truth” of this message? That Jesus is the only way. (Jesus saith unto him “I am the Way the Truth and the Life: no man cometh to the Father but by Me.” –John 14:6)

In many ways the issue of works and grace for the believer is one of identity. Are those who call themselves Christians called so by works of righteousness (overcoming sin by their own efforts and will) or is it by birth?

If the answer is that we are Christians by overcoming this world and our human nature then truly grace is produced and earned by our own virtues and we have something of which to boast. However Paul says “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9

What the New Testament teaches is that we are sons of God, born of the Spirit John 1:13, John 3:3, John 3:6, 1Peter 1:23 , and that righteousness is not earned, but imparted as a result of that birth! The righteousness of God is imparted by grace through faith! (“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness”- Romans 4:5)

So am I saying that one ought not to seek to live righteously? Not at all! This is something Paul was accused of in his preaching of the gospel (“And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.”- Romans 3:8), rather it is Gods grace that enables us to live righteously by virtue of the Spiritual nature that is born of Him, for as Paul also said “…How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? " – Romans 6:2

Grace is the unmerited favor of God, that teaches us “.. that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” –Titus 2:12, and as it teaches us it never ceases to be the unmerited favor of God! ; “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us….” Titus 3:5

The Christian Life is never about proving our worthiness by our own merits, but it is always about Jesus! The “Author and Finisher of our faith..!” Hebrews 12:2

a difficult funeral....

A great-Uncle has passed away from complications with prostrate cancer.

He was 83 years old.

He passed away a day before his wife let any of his children know. Perhaps she was too distraught, or maybe past animosity with his children - she is not their mother - stopped her. Whatever the cause there is much friction in that family, and I have been asked to perform the funeral service this Wednesday.

When I visited his home for a few moments on Thanksgiving I told my wife that didn't think he would live much longer. Knowing it's coming doesn't make it easier.

Dear Lord speak through me and grant words of peace. Allow to me to send our uncle off with dignity, and bring comfort to people on all sides who are dealing with grief from loss, and the pain from years of what they wish had been.

Jesus, Grace, and the Judgment Side of God

Reading different Christian blogs around the web can be somewhat intimidating. Some of the Reformed folks, and others, are so well educated that I wonder what in the world must I be thinking to attempt posting some things? I am uneducated, and come - religiously speaking - from a Pentecostal background. These folks are so knowledgeable, and I enjoy reading them, yet I feel compelled to humbly offer what I have been given in the hopes that it adds something to someone. If nothing else, and if no one else reads, I am provided an outlet to write down some things as I overcome, by God's grace, the legalism and fear inherent in so much of what passes for Christianity. Jesus is the only way to God -and He is Love.

Grace Harbor will serve dual purposes I suppose as a diary at times, and a place to share my personal studies and what I believe the Lord has given me.

Following is a personal study I have entitled -


Jesus, Grace, and the Judgment Side of God

Lately I have wondered at the grace of God that saves us and influences our lives, and how this message of love at times divides. (Matthew 10:34-39)
Often we give great lip service to Grace while seeming afraid to let it sink into our hearts.

We read that we have been saved by grace through faith (Eph.2: 8-9) and we remain unwilling to trust completely in whom and what saved us.

To Him Who said My yoke is easy and My burden light (Matthew 11:28-30), and of Whom it is said to cast all our cares on Him for He cares for us (I Peter 5:7), we say "‘Not all Lord. Let me keep a portion."

So many times when we speak of grace we qualify it with an untrusting "but". "Yes, we are saved by grace but..", or "Yes, God is love but.."

What are we so afraid of? Are we afraid that in teaching grace by faith in Jesus and nothing else that some, particularly new, believers will use this as a license to sin? Cannot those who are mature, by example, help the weak along being confident that God will complete what He has started? (Romans 15:1-2) (Phil.1: 6)

Consider for a moment you who are born of the Spirit, living according to the Nature of God that has been birthed in you; do you really have a desire, being dead to sin to live any longer in it? (Romans 6:1-2) Or have we by habit and tradition found it easier to walk by sight and not by faith?

Instead of the narrow way of faith we choose the broad way of righteousness by our own works, unwittingly substituting good deeds and our own efforts for grace and the love of God.
The Gospel is a message of truth and beauty. How is it that we are so easily swayed from this message of grace?

We sing songs and speak of Jesus as being all that we need and within a matter of sentences, and the way we live our lives, we take it back!

We say that we believe God made Him Who knew no sin to become sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him, and that we trust the Lord completely! All the while we worry what our responsibility and work is - as if the gift of God could be earned. Jesus said, "this is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent" (John 6:29)

Jesus. Period.

Sometimes, somehow, we muddle that truth with some sort of initial salvation that the scriptures never speak of and dilute the message of grace, as though now some sort of works were necessary to remain saved. If anything the Apostle Paul told the Galatian church to stay with what they had initially received. "This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" Galatians 3:2-3.

Instead of Jesus came that we might have life, and more abundantly, what is often preached is Jesus died to make a way for us to keep the Old covenant law if we'll try really hard and then, maybe, we might be worthy of eternal life. Instead of a son and joint heir with Christ in our own house we become servants earning our keep in someone else's house. Fearing the hard Master of the house we forget whom God has birthed us to be (His people) and that perfect love casts out fear.

Often we seek for a balance between law and grace when no such balance exists. The scripture doesn't say the law came through Moses and grace and truth came by Jesus Christ, it says but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ (John 1:17), signifying a completely different covenant. Is the Moon balanced by the Sun or is it totally out shone?

Sometimes we speak as though to say that God is love (which the scriptures teach) and that all we really need to do is trust Jesus (which the scriptures teach) is somehow flawed because we become so concerned with the wrath and the "judgment side" of God. Yet, have you noticed that while the scriptures teach that God is a God of justice, they do not teach, "God is judgment"? They do teach "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love " I John 4:8. The very nature, the very fabric of God is love! This is why the scriptures also teach that.."mercy rejoiceth against"(or triumphs over)"judgment." James 2:13.

Is there a "judgment side" to God? All judgment for sin was placed upon Jesus, and certainly God judges between good and evil as He also teaches us to do, yet ".. God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." John 3:17.

Condemnation comes when men and women reject Jesus and, by disbelief in what He accomplished for us at the cross, seek to achieve salvation by their own works. So yes, there is a "judgment side" to God, but those with the love of God shone abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost are not appointed to wrath. (I Thes. 5:9). "For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth" (disciplines) "every son whom He receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?" Hebrews 12:6-7. So we see that even the judgments of God are based on His love!

"Like as a Father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame; He knows we are dust." Psalm 103:13-14.

As a Father loves his children so the Lord loves us and has filled us with His love. And love fulfills the law. (Romans13: 10)

We love to say that Jesus didn't destroy the law but fulfilled it! This gives us an excuse to hold on to our thoughts of earning (this is unbelief in what Jesus accomplished for us) the love and pleasure of God. And it is true that Jesus didn't destroy, but fulfilled the law - yet, what does it mean for the law to be fulfilled?

The Bible is composed of two testaments or "contracts". The "Old Contract" and the "New Contract".

The "“Old" is called old for a reason. The Apostle Paul said in that God promised a "New" that the first was decaying (obsolete) and vanishing away. (Hebrews 8:13). This means that it is no longer binding.

If an electrician and a painter are contracted to work on the same house the provisions of their contracts bind them until the house is complete. Neither person has anything to do with the others contract and as each one's task is complete, when the house is painted and the wiring connected, each is free to move on to other contracts with different provisions - they being no longer bound by contracts that have been fulfilled.

The "Old Contract"(or the law) that God gave to Moses was good and Holy, yet it did not impart righteousness. Paul said that it was a ministry of death (II Corinthians 3: 7), and again that ".. as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them" "And the law is not of faith: but, the man that doeth them shall live by them." Galatians 3:11&13.

God made this Old contract with the nation of Israel, and no one else, before the coming of Christ. Isn't it interesting how concerned so many of us are with a law that never applied to us? (If I were the electrician why should I be concerned with the painter's contract?)

The "New Contract" was promised 430 years before Moses received the "Old" (Genesis 17:2-7: Galatians 3:17), so the "Old" was given with the knowledge that there would be a "New"; one that is written on hearts and minds. (Jeremiah 31:31-34: Hebrews 8:8-13.)

What the Old covenant was in the shadow of outward works the New covenant is in reality in the hearts of believers’ -The righteousness of God! (Romans 3:28 - 31: II Corinthians 5:17- 21)

No longer is there a standing "contract" of God working as an outside motivator for servants of God to perform works of righteousness. Now those who are born of the Spirit are moved inwardly by their nature to perform and be what they are naturally, as children who have inherited the character and characteristics of their Father. (Ephesians 4:22 - 5:10).

First however someone had to fulfill the old contract. - Jesus!

Tempted in all points as we yet without sin! (Hebrews 4:14-15) The Lamb of God found worthy! (Revelation 5: 4-14) The mediator of a better covenant! A covenant of the heart! (Hebrews 8: 6-13; 9:15)

No, the law was not destroyed, but it was fulfilled and is no longer binding.

It is finished. (John 19:30)

Beginning Again...

So it looks like that whole "community" blog thing was a bust. I had really enjoyed the idea of ongoing online conversations, but I can understand that those who had expressed an interest didn't have the time, nor the at first thought inclination, to post. It remains an open idea though, and if any of you become interested again let me know. Until and if that happens Grace Harbor will continue as what it has become - my personal blog.



Thanksgiving was very good. My brother that we had almost lost in the motorcycle accident this past August was with us, and well!
He has been completely released from all physical therapy to the great surprise of his physical therapists. They are amazed at how quickly he regained, and continues to regain, strength. His voice has moments of weakness from where the trachea had been, but is improving. Though he is not yet working, or driving, these things are only a matter of time as his doctor continues to be impressed with how well he is doing. His arm and leg tingle some, but that continues to decrease. He proudly did a couple of push-ups for us on Thanksgiving. There has been no brain damage that doctors can tell, and his memory -except for the accident - is just fine. He is a bit thin, but well..and getting better all the time!

God is good. All the prayers have meant more than we can say.

My wife and children and I have still not settled into a new church, although we find ourselves visiting one in particular often. Leaving our home church of 14 years has proven to be much I think like what a divorce must feel like. Sadly various circumstances had come to the point where I felt no choice but to leave. I keep telling myself I will write about our leaving sometime -but is such a long, sad story involving people that I love dearly that I have not yet been able to bring myself to it.

Your grace ever covers us O God. I trust in You.