Boycott people?....seriously

 One of the teachers of the law came and heard the Sadducees arguing. He noticed that Jesus had given the Sadducees a good answer. So he asked him, "Which is the most important of all the commandments?"

 Jesus answered, "Here is the most important one. Moses said, 'Israel, listen to me. The Lord is our God. The Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your mind and with all your strength.'—(Deuteronomy 6:4,5) And here is the second one. 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.'—(Leviticus 19:18) There is no commandment more important than these."

 "You have spoken well, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one. There is no other God but him. To love God with all your heart and mind and strength is very important. So is loving your neighbor as you love yourself. These things are more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."--Mark 12:28-33

I read an article posted on Fb this morning, and this article was about JC Penney's Father's day ad that featured 2 gay men and their children, and according to this "christian" blog THE END IS NEAR!!! This "christian" blog suggested that ALL "christians" everywhere should boycott all the JC Penney stores, and return all the catalogs because of their support of homosexuality.

I responded to this by simply saying, "boycott people...yeah that's what Jesus would do!" and of course this spawned an interesting debate (to say the least)--- I immediately got the "spiritually correct" response of: This is not a boycott against people, but against perversion and immorality. 

I replied, "If you're gonna boycott perversion and immorality I suggest that you sit at home because MOST PEOPLE on this earth are perverted or immoral (ESPECIALLY according to your standards) in some shape form or fashion!! You can't buy gas you can't walk into wal mart you can't eat a burger without coming into contact with someone who you consider "immoral" or "perverted' WHY do you think Jesus died? HE died so that EVERYONE could be saved.... UNMERITED FAVOR....have you forgotten about that?...I haven't it's called...GRACE 

I know what the Bible says and I understand the Church's beliefs in his matter... (I was a Pastor for 8 years) I'm not asking anyone to change what they believe... I'm convinced that it's our beliefs that make us who we are and I respect that and expect you to stand firm on those beliefs. 

I'm not out to change anyone's mind (maybe open it a little) but not change it. I believe each person has a RIGHT to their own beliefs...I'm not asking anyone  to accept or agree with my beliefs... all I'm asking is that you not beat me up, or those I love with those beliefs. This is not about what anyone believes to be "right" or "wrong" it's about people...believe it or not the LGBT community are people...people with a heart...people with feelings...people who love and want to be loved!!! 

If you want to "win" people you must love them...PERIOD---WWJD?

When you make comments like.. "All Christians should boycott these people because of their 'perverted policies'" and saying that you're boycotting perversion and immorality not people, when you're referring to the gay community, it's absurd to think that you're operating in the love that Christ spoke of in Mark 12...you might want to examine those verses and see who it is that you're reflecting...is it Christ or the Sadducees. 

I respect your beliefs... I just don't appreciate being beat up and criticized by them! 

Please respect mine!!! 

Don't change what you believe...Change how you love

You don't have to love my life--to love ME

I'm not arguing with your beliefs...whats making me so angry is the injustice and condemnation that the church is putting on a people... its discrimination PERIOD!!! Stop beating people with your Bible and love them your heart we are NOT called to CHANGE people God does that we are called to LOVE them... and boycotting people is HATE PERIOD!! 

Jesus' love for me has not nor will it change...why did yours? 

Just Bb

The "least of these" (part 2)

Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry. He wanted something to eat. While the meal was being prepared, Peter had a vision. He saw heaven open up. There he saw something that looked like a large sheet. It was being let down to earth by its four corners. It had all kinds of four-footed animals in it. It also had reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."
 "No, Lord! I will not!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything that is not pure and 'clean.' "
The voice spoke to him a second time. "Do not say anything is not pure that God has made 'clean,' " it said.
This happened three times. Right away the sheet was taken back up to heaven.--Acts 10:9-16



Peter had a vision-- a very scary vision-- All the things that the Lord was asking him to digest, was completely against everything that he believed...The Lord was stretching him and opening his mind to something new, and Peter was VERY reluctant. He tried to be super spiritual and say just the right thing, but the Lord said, "DO NOT say that what God has made clean is not pure"

In Acts 10 Peter came to the realization that Jesus never showed favorites; He was the original and radical... Equal Rights Activist! The Jews considered the Gentiles unclean, undeserving and well "the least of these" (Matt 25:40) of all humanity. But Jesus showed Peter differently through a life-changing...revolutionary vision...

Jesus radically changed Peter from a religious bigot to an all inclusive Christian (Christ like)... Now remember that it had been pounded into Peter's head that to even associate with the Gentiles would cause him to be unclean...the stigma that was attached to "these people" would effect his life in such a way that  his social status would forever be damaged... But Jesus showed him the error of his ways!

Unfortunately, we Christians tend to be very exclusive because of our strong beliefs. We have a tendency to reject people because of what we believe makes them "unclean" and unacceptable... Jesus on the other hand clearly says, "What I have made clean--I have made clean, and your opinion doesn't void the power of My blood and My perfecting--unconditional love."

Who are we to say someone is "unclean" or unacceptable or even abominable... When Christ lives on the inside of a person, they are saved--regardless of our opinion! If Jesus saved someone, He saved them completly--forever--He doesn't take that back.


I believe that God is trying to show the church something--BUT you cannot have a life changing vision if you won't open your eyes--

We are called to love people--ALL people

 Jesus NEVER excluded anyone..not even Judas--He called him friend

Just Bb

So who is this "enemy"

Every person has a life that is all their own to do with what, they believe, is best and what will bring them true happiness. Each person has their own pursuit and journey to find the life that best suits them to bring them this happiness. This is God's gift to everyone...He came that we may have an abundant life. (John 10:10) now the rest of that verse says that the "thief" came to steal, kill, and to destroy and that too is true-- the thief came to steal the happiness that every person strives for... the thief came to destroy the life that each person tries to build and the thief came to kill every relationship that each person holds dear.

That word "thief" means embezzler--someone who takes something that doesn't belong to them for their own personal use-- So who exactly is this "thief" that comes into our OWN lives to steal, kill, and destroy?... I'm SO glad you asked?

This thief is anyone who tries to come into YOUR life and steal your happiness by imparting, what they believe, is best and will bring you true happiness. This thief is anyone who tries to take over your pursuit and they decide which direction you should go on in your journey to find that happiness. The thief is anyone who cast you away because you won't allow them to take what belongs to you for their own personal use.

The Word says, "The steps of a righteous man are ordered by God (psalm 37:23)...I am righteous because He is righteous, not because I take the path that you or any other thief thinks is right...I'm on my own journey and I know that God has ordered my steps. I'm not asking anyone to approve or support my journey or join me in my pursuit, but I will say this--NO ONE will steal, kill or destroy my happiness.

Your journey is your own, I don't even begin to know what God has in store for anyone but I do trust that in His, NOT YOUR, infinite wisdom that He is guiding all of us to the same place. A place where we love like He loves... unconditionally.

Your journey is different from mine, thats what makes it yours...I will never try to take that from you, nor will I turn my back on you because you take a left turn when I think you should go right. I'm still walking (in the steps ordered by Him) and I'm still a Christian--Jesus is a friend of mine, and He doesn't have a delete button and neither do I.

So maybe what I'm trying to say is this... Have you been like Jesus... Are you loving people and enhancing their lives or...have you been the "enemy"?

Just Bb

The "least" of these....(part 1)

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’--Matt 25:41-45

Who are "the least of these"?


In Matt 25 when Jesus uses the term "least of these" He's not expressing His opinion of any one people or culture...He's trying to expose the human nature. He's showing the disciples (us) that somehow they have exalted themselves and excluded VERY important people because of opinion, social status and the stigma that comes along with "those people" It is these opinions that exclude a lot of people from the love of Christ...

If you want to know who the "least of these" are just examine your heart check your own prejudices...Is there a people that you believe are less because of their color, social status or sexual orientation? What do you think? Who deserves the love of Christ--that WE are called to give them...and who doesn't--

Right there...the ones that came into your mind....those are "the least of these"

Just Bb 

Religion vs. Grace

Matthew 23 is very clear...Jesus speaks very plainly about religion; I think it's safe to say the He hates it. Over the years I have listened to sermon after sermon about God's grace and mercy and I partially understood but there was something in me that wanted to be the best Christian I could possibly be so, in my passion, I myself, got entangled in religion. (THANK GOD FOR GRACE)

My former Pastor was constantly trying to teach me about God's grace and mercy, but me being me I was having a hard time embracing the truth about it. I think maybe I wanted to please God with how "good" of a Christian I really could be, and in order to do that I had to be "perfect" --DO THINGS JUST RIGHT--. During this time (I call it spiritual puberty) I became somewhat religious--critical--and self-righteous! This is not the easiest thing to admit, but it is the truth.

I believe that most Christians get "caught up" in religion completely by accident. I remember when I first met God, He was everything that I had been searching for! I was overwhelmed by His love and I wanted to serve Him with everything in me; that is where it all started. I wanted to do everything RIGHT.... I wanted to follow His Word to the T..... I just wanted to SERVE HIM with everything and I wanted to do it RIGHT! In my passionate pursuit I TOTALLY missed the point--if I want to serve Him I have to love PEOPLE!! ALL PEOPLE!!

 What must it look like from the world's perspective?  We are fighting silly battles over silly things, all the while the lost are watching and perceiving us as fools. I am grieved at how religion is destroying the Body of Christ...it's like a cancer!How is it that we expect the broken and the sick to come when we ourselves are pale, shriveled up and sickly from the symptoms of religion?

If we (the Church) can't love one another, overcome and even celebrate our diversity how can we embrace the broken and the lost? If I love and serve people (ALL PEOPLE saved or not) then I love and serve Christ... If I judge and criticize people then I judge and criticize Christ--PERIOD

God has shown me such a magnificent picture of grace...and I just wish I could paint it as clearly to the Church--If WE could just get it so would everyone else!

We are called to love as Christ loves--not criticize like the Pharisee

Agape is selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love

Just Bb

We are the body

These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing. “But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets. I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous. Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.--Acts 24:13-16

I don't understand the division in the church today... It truly makes no sense to me. I believe that Jesus Christ was born, He was was crucified, and He rose! Because of what He did on the cross I am saved--PERIOD!! The rest are simply details that have separated and divided the Church for centuries!!

I don't care if you tag yourself as a Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, or whatever if you call Christ your Lord and Savior then I call you brother or sister--PERIOD!!!

We all serve the same God, have the same commission, and have the same goal--WIN PEOPLE to Christ!! God called us to reach an unreached world and make disciples--NOT to argue and criticize one another over doctrinal differences!

I am not concerned with how you worship, or how you dress, or any other detail of your doctrinal beliefs...what I am concerned with is PEOPLE, after all PEOPLE are the reason Christ came and died...
Are they being reached, are they being saved are they being loved by the Church. Do they see the love and unity of Christ when they look at the church, or do they see a bunch of irrational rioting between denominations?

Let's just agree to disagree. LIVES are depending on it!!!

Jesus went into some pretty peculiar places and did some pretty controversial things; people didn't understand Him either... I follow the Way--call it a cult if you like; but the Word calls it Christ (John 14:6) 

We are the Church...We are the body of Christ...Let's join hands and build the Kingdom together

Pastor Brandiilyne

Who do you see?

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’—Matt 25:37-40 NKJV 

The Word tells us quite clearly to minister to the hungry, the sick, and even to the prisoners. When we read these verses literally immediately we have a picture in our minds as we unconsciously stereotype the people who would fall into each category.

When we think of the hungry a picture of a child from a third world country with a swollen stomach is probably the image we have.

When we think of the sick a picture of a person lying in a hospital bed attached to machines pops into our minds.

…And when we think of prisoners we visualize a rough looking character painted up with tattoos, dressed in stripes, wearing shackles on his hands and feet.

...and this is reality--this is what our physical eyes see everyday!

But if we will open our spiritual eyes just for a moment we can see a perfect portrait of a drug addict…

Addicts are people who started out hungry…they have a gaping hole on the inside that they have been trying desperately to fill—In their efforts to fill that VOID they became very sick with a disease that no Dr. can cure---Which in turn locks them in a prison from which hey cannot escape!

Unfortunately addiction generates a mental picture as well, and with it comes a stigma that produces criticisms and often times judgments. Today I pray that as we shine the Light of God’s Word onto the people trapped in addiction the first picture you see from this point forward is that of Jesus Christ!

Today is The National Day of Prayer, and today I pray that we as a people open our eyes to peoples needs and see beyond their faults, and love them as Christ does. 

Pastor Brandiilyne Irvin