"Coexist"

There are many different interpretations to this provocative statement  'Coexist'. For now, I'd like to focus on how it relates to my current missional situation as it relates to Muslims and Christians.

I recently read an article by Trevin Wax entitled  "I want a bigger bible."   http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2015/08/13/i-want-a-bigger-bible/#comments

I loved the whole idea.  Having a larger bible gives you more latitude when seeking to live out your mission among people groups that are different than you.  

I have a special place in my heart for our Muslim friends and after all, America is turning into the greatest nation with the greatest need for Gospel proclamation, so I do believe this desire is Gospel incentified (urban dict.)  Our borders are experiencing a deluge of immigrants from all over the world at about one million crossing each year. Today is the acceptable time for courageous proclamation.

Illegal immigration is a huge problem and a massive responsibility; but a great opportunity as well.

I believe there is a need to 'coexist'  in order for
1.)  Christian and Muslim communities to have an opportunity to expressly converse our opposing views to one another.  (How can the world hear without a preacher? Paul declares in Romans.)

2.)  To demonstrate to the world great civility when we stop and listen to one another beliefs and concerns.   I am reminded of the Apostle James command to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger (James 1:19) .

We can live among one another peacefully and respect each others belief without engaging in violence.  I am determined to prove this by continuing my Arabic language learning through various Meet Up groups in the Denver Metro area.

The Gospel demands that as Christians we are to be a light; to represent the light of Christ.  Knowing that it's only by personal revelation alone that one receives salvation, it liberates me so that I can cast that burden to Christ while at the same time joyfully recognizing the awesome responsibility of representation. This call gives me both innovation and incentive to faithfully speak the Great Commission to whoever might listen, to the Jew first and then to the Gentile.

                           Coexist. Without. Compromise.
 Let's do this.

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the rigid literalist

                                                                the rigid literalist

what it is, is what it is...

So this will be the heading of page two of The Beggars Post..  If you follow me on Twitter @jd_atkinson you will remember how I tweeted a few weeks back about a very liberal group of Christians scolding me for my hermeneutics (view of Scripture), then proceeded to call me a mean, grumpy, rigid literalist because I take Jesus' Word for what it says...

Well, I promise to offend (in order to produce good fruit) many people on this blog, because this is one area I am sure never to change in, and I make no apologies about it.

after the flood..

U2's  "Beautiful Day" -  'after the flood all the colors came out'... and after nearly one year away from this blog, I am almost ready to renew it's purpose.

Has God ever frustrated you?

Mark 1:38


Jesus failed.

Now if that doesn't get your blood pressure boiling, I am not sure what will. How can I say such a thing? After all, Jesus is God, and He never fails. Correct! I agree wholeheartedly. But here in our text, He does fail, sort of like in a God style fashion!

The Bible says that early in the morning Jesus gets up unannounced, finds a deserted place, gets alone with the Father and prays.

Mark continues his narrative by giving us detail into Peters emotional rant with Jesus.

Peter goes up to Jesus and says, "where have you been, everyone is looking for you"?

The sharp questioning of Jesus shows the frustration of Peter, because Jesus failed to notify them of His plans. At least this was the feeling Peter had as he confronts Jesus for his sudden disappearance.

I can hear him muttering under his breath... I follow You. I've left every thing and everyone to follow you. Why would you just run off and not tell anyone what you are doing? Is this a joke? Do you care that I left my business behind, and that I have no more income? Do you remember that I had told you that I had a wife and that I have left her to follow you to God knows where, and that I could be laying next to her right now? How can you expect us to follow this?

How many times have we uttered these words to God?

God, IDK what you are doing, or where you are at, and why you are not keeping me more informed. I'm confused and a bit angry right now.

The text tells us that Jesus does not react to Peters fleshly pow-wow. He did not respond to his frustration, but said, "let us go on to the next town that I may preach there also, for this is why I came out.

Essentially Jesus' response to Peter was... I don't owe you any explanations, so if you love me just follow Me. Another words, I am God, and you are not.

Jesus took care of the most important thing for the moment, praying to the Father. Once that was completed, he moved on with His mission.

The next time God frustrates you, and keeps you in the dark, don't expect any explanations, just follow Him.

Remember that when He leaves you in the dark, He is just taking care of business.

True grit

Testing's often come after God speaks....

Acts 18:8-16 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. 9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” 11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, 13 saying," This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.” 14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. 15 But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.” 16 And he drove them from the tribunal.


Not long after God had spoken to Paul about: not being fearful; not remaining silent in regards to the proclamation of the Word, and, after reassuring him of the many believers He had in the city, He puts Paul's faith to the test.

After Paul set's out to be obedient to the Voice, believing God to be the infallible, inerrant living Logos that He is, God allows Paul to question as to whether or not it was His voice that he had heard. By causing him to face opposition and turmoil, God would waste no time in allowing Paul to doubt Him, and waver in his faith. These are the moments when we find own personal true grit. Grit is defined in the Webster's dictionary as a "firmness of character; indomitable spirit." It is synonymous with resolute.

Thankfully, Paul passes the exam. His firm character and unwavering faith as we read in the text, helps him to get out of the jam he was in, and proves that God will always be faithful to His Word.

So the next time God gives you a directive, expect some opposition, but expect more deliverance, so long as you remain faithful and obedient to His Word.

Unnecessary scars

A hot tempered man stirs up strife; but he who is slow to anger quiets contention
- Proverbs 15:18


I recently had two young men accuse me of not responding to several issues, right away. The accusations were said in such a way that it made me out to be a coward.
In their mind, it would of been far better to deal with the issues immediately rather then to wait and let time pass. My hesitancy portrayed me as a frightened and confused leader. "I don't know how you deal with things, but I like to take care of stuff right away, he said to me angrily. True that! Ten years ago, I would have echoed the same sentiment, and would have reacted the same way as well.

I remember years ago my Pastor saying that it was far better to act rather than to react. Another words, he was instructing us how to avoid unnecessary muck.

So how do we accomplish this? By first praying and allowing time for you and the situation to cool off. During this period of cool down, God will begin to minister to your heart and reveal to you any sin that needs confessed on your part before proceeding. This will also bring clarity to the problem. Finally, humlity is absoluelty necessary, even if it makes you look weak.

I once shared with a loved one about a certain friend of mine whom I considered very meek. She commented back by telling me that often times meek people are weak people. I responded by saying, "Well, if that were the case, Jesus was a very weak individual then because He was the meekest man of all!

Nothing more was said.

If I would have reacted pridefully to the presuppositions of my accusers, the devil would have won. Instead, for starters, I quoted James 1:20 "For the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God". (I admit I was anger as well)
Then, James 1:19 "Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger."

Needless to say, these two verses alone justified the two weeks it took me to respond. They also silenced the Enemy, seared the tongue of these two Black Mamba spitting youngster types, and allowed me to walk away as the one who really was in charge of the situation.

This is what being obedient to the Word looks like.

Sometimes, the road to obedience produces unnecessary scars. If you don't believe me, just ask Jesus.

Ready yourself (for the mission)

The beginning of the Gospel of Mark starts off with a description of a preacher. This preacher, Jesus would later declare as the greatest Prophet to ever live.

The illustrious beginning of the Goods News of reconciliation starts in the heart as one hears the word of truth and becomes transformed by it. God has chosen to use man to proclaim His Word, and John was considered a forerunner pioneering the way for the rest of us.

The uniqueness of John was his character as well as his call. But think with me for a second. He was not greatly known, nor did he care to be so. He was not an author, or a theologian and he had never contributed to anything significant that we know of prior to the beginning of his ministry. What we do know is that his father was a high priest, his mother was a godly woman, and he came to baptize Christ as well as to be a crying voice. This man was a simple, rugged, perhaps uneducated man who possessed understanding, obedience and courage, and God used him mightily!

You might feel, like I have on so many occasions, that isolation and obscurity have left your life meaningless. Perhaps your living a mundane and transitory life because of your circumstances and you feel disheartened. Others around you are being used, while you feel like you've been placed on a shelf. You follow popular organizations who raise up leaders, and certain Facebook and Twitter folks grow exponentially with their websites or blogs ministries and then there is little old you, feeling as if you're nothing more than an old 747 sitting on an abandoned air field.

Relax! You're not alone. Many great men and woman have been right where you are at today. It's just not your time.

One of my closest friends, whom I had the great privileged to disciple once said this to me- "It'll happen Jerbear, the worlds just not ready for you yet"!

So…while you wait for the world to finally ready itself to listen to your crying voice, here are a few suggestions.

1) Have an understanding: Know your Bible, your calling and your stuff! Read good books and write down your thoughts. Prepare yourself. Pray and watch for God's timing.
This downtime is prep time!

2) Be obedient: Sit and wait patiently and don't lose heart. A heart that is lost can never help save hearts that are lost. Trust and believe that it will happen. Remember all the promises of God are Yes and Amen! (2 Corinthians 1:20)

3) Be courageous: Step out in faith and get on board with Jesus. He can handle the details. When it is time to "go", you will be equipped. Trust in Him and lean not on your own understanding!