One of the most politically incorrect, cutting through red tape blogs out there based on the truth of God's word.  I will challenge you, forcing you to confront the issues within your soul. We shall find the answers together inside the 66 books o the bible. Daily you'll get topics from apolegetics to family, Heaven to Hell, science to creation, etc. We'll laugh a lot together because I believe two people laughing together aren't too far apart. With some blogs, we'll even cry together.  But one thing I don't do, is write for hand claps and itchin' ears--so beware, you may get offended because the truth is absolute and it's not always trying to make you feel good.  Quite the contrary, my two goals are to, one, cause the truth to gently grab you by the shoulders and  hammer life into your soul, and two cause you to be a stronger defender of the faith.  Then the Ancient of Days, who loves you with an everlasting love, shall direct you to the frontlines of the battle against the enemy of darkness.  And when I don't have an answer to your question  or response, I'll simply respond, "I don't know" or "I'll have to research it" or if I am wrong I'll admit it  because I don't claim to be perfect or know it all, I just happen to know the One who does.  And may the LORD add a blessing to your day for reading today's post.

Who would have known that a little baby could be used as a change agent to stop so much evil in one man.  Who would have known that one infant girl could have changed the course of history.  Nevertheless, she did.  Nine pounds of life from the breath of God, changed me into the man of God I am today.

Kayla is my first-born daughter and I wanted to share with the world the depths of her kindness, caring and love of God she has in her heart. I will also be decreeing her future greatness in Christ and my gratitude to the LORD for it.  Before the Stegall family had even been created, God formed two of the biggest and brightest, most beautiful light brown eyes in the universe, to change the heart of one hardened sinner.  From her light brown flowing hair to her wonderful essence,  everything about her was created for God's purpose and glory.  That first purpose was to change this particular branch of the Stegall family tree from darkness to light.

Don't Be a hypocrite before your Child 

I remember one day I was in my apartment and God said, "Don't try and teach that little baby anything until you learn to live right yourself.  You're not raising a fool–as soon as that child grows old enough to learn her 1-2-3's and  a-b-c's , she'll know your nothing more than a hypocrite , a fraud, an imitation of a real bible believing saint."  All I could think was, 'Oh ,wait,  stop the train!'  I'm headed on the wrong road in the wrong direction.  Two months later, I had the infamous fight in the mirror.

Called to be a light in the Darkness

Eleven years later, Kayla has enough love in her to start her own homeless shelter.  Her best friend, Jordan,  who I also pray for in their godly relationship daily,  is a girl who also goes to the same church as her.  They are best friends and I know the LORD has wonderful plans for them in the future.

Although I do not get to see my daughter as much as I would like, God always makes the few times I see her monthly a great blessing.  Most fathers don't give a rip about their daughters and not only could care less about seeing them, but regularly ditch paying child support, like an adult version of hide and seek.  But praise be to the LORD God, he has kept me faithful in paying child support for 11 years now to prove to Kayla that not only do I say I love her, but I prove it by my actons.

I know Kayla will make a difference in this world when she becomes an adult and  I believe even do greater works in her lifetime than I will have when it's all said and done for Christ. I pray that  2 Peter 1:5-8  would be deep within her soul at all times.  She will have demons trembling  when she walks into a room because of the Spirit of God on her.  I call those things that be not, as though they were.

Prayer of the Righteous

Recently she graduated the fifth grade, making her daddy as proud as Superman at a Lex Luther jail induction ceremony . She graduated with honors, an even greater accomplishment because she does not  have me in the home  on a regular basis to encourage her and lead her by example.

The bible says, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man, avails much power,"  James  5:16, therefore I lift my daughter Kayla before throne of God again as I've down hundreds of times since her birth.  I declare that she will be a successful woman of God in reaching souls for Christ; that she would walk in love (agape) and the wisdom of the God.  I declare that she shall have the fear of the LORD at a very young age, so that she shall have wealth, honor and life.

I anoint her steps that they would be ones that would bring the gospel message to tens of thousands who are hurting and need a touch from God, throughout her lifetime.  I pray that everything she touches turns to gold and that others may be blessed by her because of her uncommon wisdom, humility and love.  May the cloak of humility be also wrapped around her heart so that she does not look down upon others when she is lifted up in Christ Jesus.  I also declare that she shall destroy Satan's kingdom by the word of God that proceeds out of her mouth.  Yes, my daughter, Kayla, when her life is said and done, I declare that she shall be in the front of the Throne room of Heaven with all of the other great Stegall Overcomers.  May the blessing of God be multiplied in her life, and may the Holy Spirit lead her into all righteousness in Christ Jesus.  In addition, this is why, before the foundations of the world were even created, God decided to use Kayla as an anchor that changed the Stegall family tree for eternity.

Love,

Daddy

Sometimes you can get around a person that does nothing but whine and cry about everything like a little mealy-mouth.  They can look at a sunny day at a park, while beholding a beautiful flower garden about to enjoy a wonderful picnic lunch with all the fixings and find a reason not to be filled with gratitude.  It's called a critical heart.

Now I praise the LORD for the changes he has made in my heart in this area over the years,  I'm not where I use to, but I'm still not where I want to be.  I use to be a hawk looking down my nose at people from above, when I would hone in on my prey, I would let loose a barrage of jokes and critical one-liners to take them out at once with one swoop of the tongue.

Now I know better than to talk about and gossip about others–it's ugly and God is never pleased with it. I realize the bible says in Proverbs 10:19 When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.  Although this is true, the bible also says in Proverbs 26:12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.  Although I ask for wisdom for God daily, sometimes in my heart I get puffed up and the root is always sin, whether I speak out of my critical heart or not.  God sees the heart; man looks at the outward appearance.

I must watch out for being ugly and critical in my heart without saying a word, it's what causes self-righteousness and pride.  I pray that I will be a man of God before my friends and family and especially before my enemies, with a pure heart and not crusted over with sin.  This can easily happen if I take my focus off Christ and put it on to myself.  I hate sin, that’s why I must point it out to my readers when ever I catch a tad of it in my life, so that I don't think to highly of myself.  My life must be about Christ and my family, not about me, anything else and I am failing to become the over-comer and ruler in the Kingdom God has called me to be.  The bible also says "the wise judge themselves so they don't have to be judged."

If a person looks into the history and mythology of the Celtic peoples of Europe, we find great tales of the Druid and Bards people who were supposedly bloodthirsty warriors and battle hungry for wars.  The religion of seeking Nirvana was a staple point for these people.  According to ancient history of Gaul, the Celtics would regularly decorate their homes with the heads of their enemies. Now if you can do that to another human being, that's an enemy in a half and their certainly is no love of God there.

Nevertheless, as steeped in the traditions of the culture that the Celtics were, no matter how right or wrong, they were sold out for the cause. 

The bible says in Romans 12:11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the LORD. Whatever we do as Christians, we must do it with our full zest and zeal, as if doing it unto the LORD. As we laugh and get a good kick out of the clown without his disguise on at the Celtic's game in the above video, notice how he does his "thing" with every ounce of fiber in his soul, sold out for the cause, whatever that may be.  Notice his passion, notice his fire,  notice his excitement. Is he doing it unto the LORD? Seriously doubt it.  He's at a Boston Celtics' game and in eternity he will most likely receive no eternal reward for this tirade, even though it is all good and fun.

The question is, "Is this the type of heart ablaze and energy you carry on with, daily, when it comes to worshipping God or are you more like the world's least energetic creature ever made, the sloth?"

People can lose their mind at a football, baseball or racing event when something exciting happens on the field.  However when someone gets saved, or a Christian decides to be a light in the darkness, or when it's time to praise the LORD in church, most Christians act as if they are winding down for a mid-afternoon nap.  We can take a hint from the zeal of the dancing-yahoo above- focus your zeal and excitement in your life unto our LORD Jesus Christ.

Just recently, the Boston Celtics just waxed the Orlando Magic in game six and it was in part for one newly arrived Celtic from the New York Knicks, Nate Robinson. He scored 13 points in the second quarter alone to single handedly lift the Celtics out of the doldrums when Rondo went down with a  hip injury.

However, more than this, when asked by the interviewer at the end of the game, what was his formula for success coming off the bench in the second quarter, he answered a resounding, "It was God. Yes, I'm a firm believer in Jesus Christ!"  After hearing that statement, I was ready to break my fast  because I didn't hear another thing he said because of all of the shouting and praising God I was doing. 1 Corinthian 13:6 says Love….rejoices with the truth.  I was more excited about that one bit of truth on national television about my Jesus, than I was about the Celtics going to the NBA Finals and the great victory they had just obtained. 

Despite the history and myths of the Celtics in Europe, Nate Robinson proved that the current Celtic's can truly praise and worship God and right before national audience. Of course, we know anyone can worship God if they have a personal relationship with Jesus. It just goes to show that the bible is true once again: Psalms 34:1 says "We should bless the LORD at all times and his praise should be continually be in our mouths."

Do you feel like you can bless the LORD at anytime, anywhere like Nate Robinson, boldly, and like the man in the video sold out for his song and dance?  If not, why not?Now before you put down your thoughts for the community to see, remember: If the Celtics fan in the video can make a royal FOOL out of himself for nothing more than the thrill-of-the-moment and a silly basketball team, how much more should we be on edge and ready to shout from the highest hills and give glory to the one who made the universe,  putting breath into our very lungs, and giving us the gift of eternal life?  Are there any real excuses for us who call ourselves Christians?

When people read the scripture regarding Luke 7:28, it throws a curve ball in their game like a Nolan Ryan pitch.  Pondering this scripture and the one like it in Matthew 11:11, the question arises: what was Jesus really saying? How could he say such a thing about a person who had been so faithful to his calling and ministry? We all know that when it comes to faithfulness for most Christians,  most are as about as faithful as a Sumo wrestler on a fast.

John the Baptist is not only looked upon as the greatest prophet in the bible but he was also the forerunner to Jesus who introduced him to the disciples and the world.  So for Jesus to make this statement was very shocking to the core, at the least.

So why did Jesus call him the "least in the kingdom?   From my studies and what other commentaries explain this statement refers to the timing of John on the scene, as the forerunner of Jesus.  Jesus even said in his first message reading in Isaiah 61:1-2, that scriptures are fulfilled. They were blessed among men to see and hear the Messiah's ministry begin. Many had waited to see this site of the Messiah, desiring to follow him, but most missed the opportunity to participate in his work on earth because they were not called.  Therefore, even though John was the greatest prophet, he was not chosen to have the greatest place, at the feet of Jesus, so to speak, participating and assisting in his ministry.

In Luke 10:23-24 the LORD spoke of how many desired to see and hear what those around him had the opportunity to see and hear but missed it.  You ever go somewhere anticipating to meet someone or do something special only to find out you missed that one and only opportunity?  How did it make you feel?  These people during biblical times either did not believe Jesus was the one, weren't called to be there or died right before his ministry began.

 In addition, I believe that it has to do with the new kind of salvation ushered in when Jesus came upon the scene. This was the age of grace, where the Holy Spirit would eventually indwell men.  Now before this time of Jesus' ministry and the unleashing of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit did not take up residency in mankind, but only came upon them as needed.  I think all these factors played a part in the understanding of this difficult saying of the bible.  What do you think Luke 7:28 was referring to? Do you agree or disagree?  Please share your comments with the community below.