For those that knew my dad (EJ Morgan), you knew that he had a hilarious side to him. He would get in a big way of talking and just mix up words.

He loved the Apostle Paul and would give him credit for saying everything. He would be preaching about (let’s just use) Noah and the Ark. He would get in a big way of preaching and would say things like, “When Paul entered the ark, God closed the door!” You could always hear my mom saying in a loud whisper, “Noah, EJ, it was Noah!” Dad would hear her and would laugh and tell the congregation, “Well if Paul didn’t say it, or do it, he should have!”

I used to have a notebook called Things my dad would say. I lost it somehow over the years. I would give anything to have it back. He would get his stories mixed up, his words backwards and he never even realized he was doing it. I, however, was forever getting in trouble for busting out laughing (when I shouldn’t, of course) at his gaffs.

I mean really how can you just sit there and hear things like, “Paul went into the ark” and not laugh!

SO MY CHURCH (BRAT) STORY begins:

My dad loved to preach. He would engage the crowd with his passion for God’s Word. He was a prayer warrior! Today he would be called an intercessor.

He would literally pray for hours at a time. You have to understand he would pray and cry and wail and call out to God for the community, the church, his family…etc… for hours at a time.

I remember one time he was in the camper beside of our house and was praying, loudly and fervently! One of the neighbors got worried and sent one of their kids over to the house and asked us to check on “your dad” because something might be wrong. lol. But that was dad – he prayed a lot!

He loved to quote scripture when he preached. He loved to emphasize a particular part of the scripture he was trying to quote.

His favorite scripture was

John 7:38 – Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'”

He would quote that scripture almost every time he preached. He would find a place to use it.

One night under the gospel tent (yes, the same tent that Sammy climbed the 30′-40′ middle pole) he was in a big way of preaching. The audience was really in there with him. You could hear things like, “Amen!” “Oh, that’s good preaching!!” “I hear ya preacher!” I mean the congregation was in there with him preaching as hard as he was.

At one point in the sermon, he stood firmly and said loudly in the mic, “Out of your belly will flow LIVERS of RIVING water!

Wait…..what????? I couldn’t believe that no one caught it! I started giggling. I tried to put it out of my mind, because the more I think about things, the funnier they get. So, I am trying to forget what he just said!

But then —- oh but then — he grabbed a tent chair. They were wooden and not at all sturdy, so it got my attention very quickly — surely he wasn’t going to stand on that chair. But yes, he did! He began shouting, ” I said we would have LIVERS of RIVING waters!” The congregation then began repeating him!!!!

He stomped his foot on the rickety wooden chair and began shouting, ” I said LIVERS”

The congregations shouted, “LIVERS”

My Dad: of RIVING

The congregations shouted, “of RIVING“

My dad: “Wattttteeeerrrs!”

The congregations shouted, “Wattttteeeerrrs! ” The place explodes with clapping and yelling and shouting!

Oh my goodness, did everyone just repeat him!? Not once, not twice but three times!!! Yes, yes they did. Did they just say LIVERS with a straight face!

Are you kidding me?! I started laughing so hard, I lost my breath. I got my book and jotted it down with tears streaming down my face!

I felt my mom looking at me from across the room. I knew it was not the time or place to be laughing so hard, so I wouldn’t look at her, directly lol. I did glance her way for a split second and she was almost as tickled as I was, but she held it together better than I did!

Yes, I was old enough to know better than to lose my mind like that, but come on, they all repeated, “LIVERS OF RIVING WATER!” with the same fervor he had. I just couldn’t even!!!!

WHAT’S ON MY MIND?  GLAD YOU ASKED!

While this story is super funny, the “follow the leader” culture we are in now, is not.

There is so much danger in just following without question. Following even though it goes against God’s Word. Following even though it is not in the character of Jesus to do those things. Just mindlessly following anyone that everyone else seems to be following is dangerous.

This is why Paul (yes Paul actually said it lol) said things like:

1 Corinthians 11:1 Follow me as I follow Christ.

John said things like this:

3 John 1:11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.

We as Christ followers, we as people who have said we are surrendered to Jesus, cannot, absolutely cannot, live by the world’s standards.

Romans 12:2 -Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Do we live by what the world is making “legal” or do we live by what God has already said? Just because it is legal does not make it the right. Just because a law is passed, does not make it right. Just because everyone else is repeating it or living by it does not make it right.

Do you know what is right???? God’s Word.

So who are you listening to to determine how you should walk in this world as a Christian? Who are you letting determine who you are going to be in God?

Jesus determines that! Read His Word. Watch how He acted and reacted. See the character of Jesus and follow that. If you do not know where to start, start with the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). Learn about Jesus and Who He is!

Stop following everything and everyone that looks shiny and moves quickly. We cannot look to the government or to ourselves to be our guides.

It is human nature to not want to hear how bad things are. It is human nature to want the world we live in to be safe. It is human nature to look to people around you to bring you security. I know people who do not want to acknowledge anything going on around us….out of sight out of mind mentality. I am sorry to tell you, it does not work that way.

In Afghanistan (and around the world) Christians are ready to lay down their lives for the cause of Christ. Many will go to bed tonight and be forced out of their homes and killed.

Pathetically, we are not ready to lay down our pettiness for the cause of Christ. We are not willing to search out the sin in our lives so we can serve Jesus with purity. We are not willing to forego the desires of the flesh to even show Jesus to our unsaved friends and family.

How can we proclaim, “I love Jesus and He is first in my life!” when He is on the back burner of your day? Really???? Where are your priorities? What does your time go to? Where does your money go? Where is Jesus in all of the time, talent and treasure you have????

Did you you know He even gives us the ability to earn our wages?

Deuteronomy 8:18 NIV “But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth.”

God prepares us as we read His Word and follow in His footsteps. God prepares us as we pray and ask His protection around us and the people we love.

Thinking we are safe without Him — that brings sudden destruction.

1 Thessalonians 5:3 – While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.

Hebrews 12:2

PRAY THIS WITH ME TODAY (in your own words)

Jesus

I repent for every time I have not walked according to Your Word. I repent and pour my heart out on Your feet for You to clean it and give me back a pure heart toward You.

I repent for thinking only of myself and those that are close to me and neglect the people you have placed in my path.

I repent when I have followed the world and not followed You according to Your Word.

I come before you humbly to ask You to give me a new heart, give me a new lease on life, to give me a chance to be the Bride that You want to marry! I do not want You to be ashamed that I carry Your name.

I know that You love me and Lord teach me to love You as purely as I can. I love You, Jesus, but help me love You more than life, love You more than my agendas or priorities. Lord be my conscience and let me know when I am not living according to Your Word and Your will.

I love You. Help me to love You with a pure love, a love that flows from You through me to other people. I know You love me where I am, but love me enough to not leave me there.

Thank You Jesus for the Blood

Amen