TRUE north

The North Star serves many as the directing principle while navigating nature. For centuries navigators utilized this natural guide to aid them in their destination. I would argue that mankind needs a North Star aiding them to navigate life as well. The True North that should guide us is contained in the two important qualities our Lord displayed in His earthly ministry: truth and grace. We read in the Gospel of John that Jesus,“became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14). It is my contention that these two qualities become the believers guiding principles throughout their lives. Other Scripture’s speak to this dynamic such as: "Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ” (Eph. 4:15) “…which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth” (Col. 1:6) “Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love” (2 Jn. 2:3). We see the emphasis of two critical ideas on the same coin, but different sides. Love and grace are so important because this will cause me to slow down, consider the situation, and take in all the information. I think about this as “pumping the breaks” and allowing God to work fully. We see this throughout the Gospels with our Lord as He would draw near to “sinners” while the crowd stood at a distance. I find it insightful that when we examine how Jesus ministered, He was always near people, and in doing so, was able to better minister to them. Hearing people’s stories is powerful and loving, it shows the person that you genuinely care. On the other hand we have, truth. You cannot love someone without guiding them to the truth. Oftentimes, our culture deems truth as “mean” or “intolerant”, however, that is far from reality. Consider a caring parent that is guiding their child throughout their lives. It would be grossly unloving if the parent(s) simply allowed that child to make poor decisions that the parent could have helped to prevent. The main issue, that I (and from my observation) many other believers need to think through is not speaking the truth, rather thinking through the manner by which truth is spoken. We can learn much from Proverbs 25:11 in this regard, “Like apples of gold in settings of silver, so is a word aptly spoken.” Meaning, it is not just what you say -but how you say it. Oftentimes, we need to think through how we will deliver truth and also take in consideration the timing of the message. All of this is hard work which is why love is so critical to the process. In conclusion, I utilize the concepts of truth (grace) and love in all of my relationships, from parenting to ministry, and everything in between. I believe these two ideas sit on the same seesaw but on different sides and it is up to me to carefully and prayerfully consider how best to utilize them. Though not always done perfectly, having these two principles pointing me toward Truth North will most likely guide me to the best destination.

Easter Sting!

Easter Sting A vacationing family drives along in their car, windows rolled down, enjoying the warm summer breeze of the sunny day. All of a sudden a big black bee darts in the window and starts buzzing around inside the car. A little girl, highly allergic to bee stings, cringes in the back seat. If she is stung, she could die within an hour. "Oh, Daddy, " she squeals in terror, "it's a bee! It's going to sting me!" The father pulls the car over to a stop, and reaches back to try to catch the bee. Buzzing towards him, the bee bumps against the front windshield where the father traps it in his fist. Holding it in his closed hand, the father waits for the inevitable sting. The bee stings the father's hand and in pain, the father lets go of the bee. The bee is loose in the car again. The little girl again panics, "Daddy, it's going to sting me!" The father gently says, "No honey, he's not going to sting you now. Look at my hand." The bee's stinger is there in his hand. 1 Cor. 15:55--"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" Jesus says to us, "Look at my hands." He has Satan's sting, the sting of death, the sting of sin, the sting of deceit, the sting of feeling worthless. Jesus has all of those stingers in His hands. When you see that nail-scarred hand, realize that, on your behalf, Jesus took all the pain that Satan could throw at Him. He reduced Satan to a big black bee that has lost its stinger--all Satan can do is buzz.

How to lose weight (setting goals) 2021

Listen to Dr. Anthony Roscoe and his wife Marissa, as they share life a changing message on setting goals! https://youtu.be/aXrO0oR5ROU 1) HEAD over to: YOUTUBE and type in Faith Presbyterian Church Hermitage, Pa. OR 2) Paste the above link in your search engine.

Anthony has a Nickname??

Have you ever had a nickname?

Not the nice ones either.  You know the kind that I am referencing here.  The ones that made you avoid walking down a certain hallway in school because so-and-so was standing at the end of it; waiting to unleash the new thought provoking title in a very loud manner. In front of EVERYBODY. Simultaneously humiliating you and enraging you... Don't worry, I have had that happen to me too once or twice in my life. 

Nicknames are not always a bad thing, all of us have known a "scooter" or "slick" at one point in our lives.  Nicknames can actually reveal a lot about a person if you think about it. Pastor Craig Groeshel teaches that how a person addresses you will reveal how well they know you.  I think he is right.
Let me illustrate:

Let's pretend you are at dinner with me and we are waiting to be seated.  10 minutes passes and then you hear the server announce, "Klll U Deet US Party of 3."  Two things will go through your mind (1) Anthony you have a really messed-up last name and (2) the server absolutely does not know Anthony Kladitis.

Let's take this a step further. If you call me "Mr. Kladitis" or "Pastor Anthony" the chances are that you know me, but you are not that close to me.  You know of me, but the intimate details of my life are not on your radar.

Along the line there will be the people that call me, Anthony. Most people call me Anthony (at least to my face) and this tells me that we are, generally speaking, close.  At least closer relationally than the above groups.

But then there is this other group, the mysterious category of people that call me by a nickname: "Anth" or "Ant."  If you call me this, then this means we are tight. We have stories -scratch that- we share stories.  Private ones. One's that date us back years.

Here is a rule that I just made up: The way that you address someone will change according to your relationship with them. Take for example your spouse. When you are introduced by your spouse, they refer to you as their husband or wife.  I have never witnessed a wife walk up to her friends and say, "Hello!  I would like you all to meet Dr. John Wilson."  But I have experienced on several occasions a wife introducing her spouse the following way, "Everybody, I would like you to meet my husband, John Wilson."  The wife introduced her husband according to her relationship with her husband.

The names people call you reveal something about their relationship with you and it is no different with God. [The God-Bomb. You knew it was coming, it was only a matter of time].
David said, "Those who know your name will trust in you."
Let me ask you, How do you address God? 
-Saviour?
-Lord of all Creation?
-King?
-Friend?
-Father?

What do you call God? Do you feel close enough to call him Friend? Do you have in mind a distant Father?
Jesus had a nickname for God. It was something that a little child would call his father, "Abba."
Abba, translated into English simply means Daddy and was used by infants. Jesus was 30 years old and still called His Father Abba.  Let me ask you a question, Do you still call your mother and father by the same title today that you did when you were 3?
I thought not.
Jesus did.

It's pretty amazing what the nicknames people closest to someone will call them.
Isn't it?

Anthony, I Still Remember: A poem dedicated to my son.

Anthony, I still remember. 

Anthony, I still remember, 

As the middle of January is always tender,

Yesterday was January the tenth,

A day for me that still does not make any sense.

I laid in bed late last night and wondered to myself silently,

What life would of been like if you had pulled through,

But the emptiness reminded me that was too good to be true.

Another birthday gone by, 

There wasn’t a single card, call, or contact; 

No-one remembered to wish happy birthday to you, 

No one even tried.

Anthony, I know you are out of most people’s minds,

As January 2011 seems like ages ago,

But one person that holds you close is your daddy; 

Understand that I will not let you go.

Son, I still remember. 

And I will always wonder, 

Always asking, “Why?” 

Having to trust in God’s plans before I trust I.

Anthony.

I still remember.

And I know that some others still do, too. 

Because you left a mark etched in our hearts, 

That time will never erase anytime soon.

_____

This poem is dedicated to Anthony Christopher. 
When inspired, I try to put in words something that cannot be described with human language.
His short life altered mine in such a way that is indescribable.