About Mission Lighthouse Ministry

Mission Lighthouse Ministry : The Rebirth

The Beginning.

In March 2003, I made the most important decision of my life.  I was 39 years of age at the time and it was a lifetime in the making.  Being born a Conservative Jew, I grew up knowing God and praising and worshiping God but not knowing a lot of the reasons as to why I worshiped God except for the fact that I had to, who it was that I was and where it was that I was truly headed in my life and discovering as I got older, God was getting further and further away from me.  It was getting to the point that I was afraid that I was going absolutely nowhere in my life that I had to find a way to rediscover my life and it had to include God.  It had to include not only here and there and when I had time but on a daily basis.

So, after meeting my wife Amy, a Southern Baptist, and marrying in May 2001, I discovered by attending church once in a while with her and her family in Atlanta, Georgia, that I was beginning to hear The Word again, the Word of God, The Holy Bible and it was time that I lived in it and with it.  I knew of the Jewish law as I was accustomed to try and follow and live the Ten Commandments and to know at least the Pentateuch, the First Five Books of Moses.  That is as far as it went for me, though.  I had never stretched my learning and my knowledge beyond the laws delivered to Moses from God on Mount Sinai.  

I had heard the name of Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior, The Messiah and the Son of God but only through the mouths of my non-Jewish friends.  I heard the name when I would be asked the all-important question:  "Why do you not believe in Jesus?"  I could only respond, "I am Jewish and I am not supposed to believe in Him."  Really, the answer was this:  I had no answer.  You see, growing up in a Jewish household, His Name  was not even allowed to be mentioned.  Unfortunately, when it was mentioned, it was in vain.  Little did I realize that I was not only cursing the Son of God but I was cursing God as well.

If there was such a thing of a Jewish Last Will and Testament Party as there is a high school senior Last Will and Testament Party, I would certainly be named, "The Least Likely to Convert to Christianity."  Well, that would certainly not have stuck.  Actually, at my high school senior Last Will and Testament Party, I was named, "The Most Likely to become an Israeli army general."  Go and figure.

The Conversion.

On Sunday, March 9, 2003, my life as it was known died away.  The person that I had known, no longer existed.  What was even greater, I was born again into Jesus Christ.  I accepted Jesus Christ as my Personal Lord and Savior, that He is the Messiah and that He is the Son of God.  I had been attending church for sometime before this day, almost a year, and I began to learn the truth.  What I have also learned is that knowing the truth is an eternity of learning. 

More about my conversion and what led to it in my new book:  Testimony of Faith:  What led me to Jesus which is due to be completed in 2013.

Why Mission Lighthouse Ministry?

Not long after conversion, I wanted to begin my time of witnessing to others and to teach them about Jesus Christ.  I also wanted to use my testimony, God's Word, the Gospels to do just that.  As scripture says:

"As servants of God (my emphasis) we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger, by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left...." 2 Corinthians 6:4. ESV

"For we are God's fellow workers (my emphasis).  You are God's field, God's building."  1Corinthians 4:9. ESV

and,

"Therefore, we are ambassador's for Christ (my emphasis), God making His appeal through us."  2Corinthians 5:20.  ESV

So, Mission Lighthouse Ministry was born knowing these three parts of scripture:  I am a servant of God, I am one of God's fellow worker's and finally, I am an ambassador for Christ.

The Name:  Mission Lighthouse Ministry

In secular terms, the idea of lighthouse to me means the lighthouse that stands watch to protect seafaring mariners so that their vessels do not come too close to shore and run aground.  This is the same thing about Christ.  He is our protector, making sure that we do not run aground, get lost and go to the darker side.  He is the Light and He is wants us, needs us to stay out of the darkness of Satan.

I love the study of the history of Lighthouses but they have such a deeper meaning.  A more spiritual meaning for me.  

Here is some scripture to back this up:  

The Light of the Gospel

"Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.  But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways.  We refuse to practice cunning or "tamper with God's Word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.  And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.  In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.  For what we proclaim is not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.  For God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."  2Corinthians 4:1-6. ESV

So, Mission Lighthouse Ministry is re-born.  It is my "tool" to present to you the infallible Word of God.  Just as I have come to accept and understand who my Personal Lord and Savior is, Who the Messiah is and who the Son of God is, I hope the same for you.

God Bless!  Glory Be to God!  

In the Most Holy and Precious Name of Jesus Christ,

David M. Brown

Founder

Mission Lighthouse Ministry

Tucker, Georgia

Thursday, January 24, 2013

So Much on My Mind, Yet, Not a Lot of Time

I want to start this blog post by saying that I really do wish I had all of the time in the world to do nothing but write, do my photography, but most importantly talk about God and His Word.  I am one who has been doing a great deal with this ministry and I want to continue, which I am going to, so that I can witness to those who have yet found God in their lives.  Yesterday, Christians around the world celebrated Easter and looking at Facebook many of them including myself knew that Jesus Christ went to the Cross an innocent man, one that committed no crime, yet, did so for us.  Then we also knew that on the Third Day, He defeated death, He defeated satan and He defeated the world as He AROSE and that HE IS ALIVE!

Then Monday comes.  How do we feel?  Are we still thinking about Sunday?  Do we still know that Jesus is Alive?  Do you still dwell in the Word of God?  Do you still walk with Him and Talk with Him?  I know that I do and that it will not stop.  Jesus Christ is my best friend, my Messiah, My One and All and He is also my Lord and Savior.  Things are not what they used to be for me, but knowing that Jesus is in my life, I have to continue to put Him first before life itself.  

For some time now, I have felt some changes in my life that have been both physical and spiritual.  Less than a year ago, I lost the last full time job that I had.  It was tough because of the way that I am living.  It is tough to still be out of full time work, but I also know that I have to put Jesus first because He will save me one way or another.  I have been diligently searching for that "paycheck" job because I know that it pays the bills.  However, due to age and due to a great deal of over qualifications, it has been hard to land a decent job, if one at all.

I thoroughly understand that with the way things are today, finding a job that I want or would like to have may not be in "the cards."  So, this means that I have to once again take the first thing that comes along.  I wish that was a possibility but when you are sending resumes day in and day out and do not get a single response, it is disheartening.  However, I still know that I have to put Jesus Christ first because He is going to save me.  

Here is what the Holy Bible has to say about working:  

Labor Alone Will Not Satisfy the Cry of the Soul
All the labor of man is for his mouth,
And yet the soul is not satisfied. Eccl 6:7 (NKJV)





Jesus Came to Help Us with the Burden of Labor "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matt 11:28-30 (NKJV)

We Were Created to do Good Works
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Eph 2:10 (NKJV)

There Is An Inheritance and Reward for Being Faithful to Our Work
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. Col 3:23-24 (NKJV)

We were created to do good works.  This is what I want to do.  No matter what it is that I do, I know that the Lord Jesus is there guiding me and giving me strength to complete my tasks.  I am a writer.  I like to take photographs.  I like to read, especially God's Word.  I like to spread the Good News of the Gospel.  Is this not work?  Is trying to work a ministry in the name of Jesus Christ, not work?  Does work always have to be about the mighty American dollar which is slowly sliding into worthlessness?

Our work, no matter what it is, is given to us by God.  He put us on this earth for a reason.  He placed us here to do a particular job and expects us to do it well.  Over the span of the last ten years, I believe, no, I know I did my work well.  I did not particularly do it for me, I did it for my everlasting life and love for the Lord.

As I write this blog post, I am still slightly suffering with gout and something with my prostate.  I am in pain at times but I still move on and ahead.  I do this because God gives me the strength to do so. I write my articles and I post them on social media sites for people to read.  I take pictures and post them on Facebook for people to enjoy.  I write about the Gospel on this Ministry blog site so people can understand what the Holy Bible, what the Word of God is all about.  Are people reading?  Are people looking?  Some are, not many, but some are.

Sometimes I get into a fit of depression because what I try to do seems to fail and sometimes fail miserably.  But you know what?  I still have God on my side.  There is no line to stand in, God is first and no one can cut before Him.  When I do good, God lets me know.  When I do something that is not quite right, God lets me know and sets me back on the right path.

I want my friends to know that I listen to them.  Most of them speak with God in their heart.  Some speak to me as if I am a twelve year old kid.  Both are equal because I know that God is in all of their hearts.   However, sometimes it is hard to follow the latter because they do not understand me.  They do not, I believe want me to succeed.  But, again, as long as God is in my life, I will succeed and I will do so by His grace, not someone else's.

Whatever comes to me in my life, I will know that I have done what I could in God's favor.  I know that I gave my all and I know that is what He is seeking from me.  I know that when I fall, it is not from the hands of my fellow man who picks me up, it is the mighty Hand of God that stands me upright and tells me to push on.

From this day forward, I will continue to do what I have been doing.  Working for God.  Spreading His Word because His Word is above all else.  I will continue to talk to Him through prayer as prayers are answered.  Maybe not tonight, maybe not tomorrow morning, but they are answered.

What I do from this day forward will be for His grace and for what He did for me -- He went to the Cross so that I might live another day.  I will continue to push forward for Him so that He knows that I LOVE Him for what HE did.  He was innocent and free from committing any crime.  Yet, the people hung Him high and they pierced Him in the side, they watched Him bleed and take a beating that no one man should have to endure for being innocent.  It is for Him that I continue to write and to take pictures. It is for Him that I keep this blog and the ministry going.  It is for Him that I breathe and sing and spread His Good News.  

We are all placed on this earth for a short while.  What we do should be in His service.  When we are done on this earth, there are no bags to pack, no vehicles to load on the heavenly train, no jewelry, no money, no nothing.  Just our soul.  What we earn stays here.  We pray it forward and give to our loved ones who remain until it is their time.  We have to enjoy what we have done and what we have earned here on earth and do so quickly because time is short, there is not a lot of time left.  

So, remember, it is not about me.  It is not about you.  It is about Him.  It is about what He did and we need to spread that across the lands and across the seas.  There are so many that have not come to know Him yet, but they will.  They will hear His name.  They will have a choice.  They will one day say, "What have I done?"  "What have I done for the grace of God?"  Sing alleluia to the Lord because He is Great.  He is the Mighty and Powerful Counselor of Counselors.  He is the Rising Sun.  He is the thunder and He is the rain.  He is the Light and He walks with us in Darkness and guides us to safety.  He is Emanuel - God with Us.  He is our All-in-All.

Thank You Lord for giving me the strength and the courage to write this.  Thank You Lord for what You did so that I can see the Light.  You are the Light, You are the Lamb of God.

In The Mighty and the Most Powerful Name of Jesus Christ and in His Service, I remain His forevermore.


David M.Brown
Grayson, Georgia

Pat on the Back: Goodbye Me, Hello Him: An Attitude Adjustment Party

The area of the Judean Desert where Jesus was tempted by the devil

A Pat on the Back:

Goodbye Me, Hello Him

“An Attitude Adjustment Party”

by

David Brown

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.” John 1:1-3.

The above scripture from the Gospel of John is no doubt extremely powerful, true and one of my favorites. Come to think of it, the entire Holy Bible is my most favorite book, and those of us who know it and believe what it says know that it is definitely, “The Greatest Story Ever Told.”

I am writing this post because of a recent conversation that I had with my very best friend and Brother-in-Christ. The same person who I entered into a mission of wanting to do what it takes to spread the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior, Son of God and Messiah. It was a long conversation in how we are to act in the presence of the Lord. We have to know that as Christians, we are to be no less like God and truthfully, no greater and no better than Him.

You see, as Christians we are on a worldly if not, heavenly mission. We are witnesses to the greatest man who ever walked this earth. I say man, but He was certainly more than that. He was and is the Word, and as John says in Chapter 1, Verse 1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This verse is from the New International Version of the Holy Bible as is all that is quoted in this post.

Every Sunday, I do what is necessary to attend my home church. This includes a period of fellowship first and then Bible Study and then the main service which includes Worshiping to the Lord through great music and praise and then a period of the Offering and then Communion. Following Communion, which represents Christians spending a few moments in meditation remembering what Jesus did for us when He went to the Cross with a broken body as well as a bleeding body from a whipping that no man should ever have to endure. He did and He did it for us.

Did Jesus do this to receive what the title of this post says, “A pat on the back?” No! He endured the beatings, the name calling and the going to the Cross because He knew it was coming, it was prophesied in the Old Testament, time and time again and because He sacrificed His life so that we could live a life like He did: One without sin and transgression. This is not to say that we do not sin, but we have to turn to Him when we feel ourselves falling away from the straight and narrow path.

There are many things that we do as humans and we can only hope that they are for the better rather than the worse. However, we have a daily tendency to fall away from the Lord and what He taught us and what is written in The Holy Bible. Why do we do this? Because we are a jealous people, we are a people who want something that is more in the way of materialistic things than spiritual and Godly things. I for one fall in this category at times and forget that we can't take the things that we have in this human world with us when we are called Home. It is nice to have for a while, but these things that we have do tend to get old.

Jesus never gets old.

I clearly remember a Christian song sung by children that goes something like this: “Jesus loves us because the Bible Tells Us So.” Well, this is true, He does love us and we have to turn right around and love Him for what He did for us. It is said to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18). Why should we do this? Because the Bible tells us so.

Here is something else that we have to be careful of. This is something that we all might find ourselves in from time to time and that is the act of jealousy. We have to be careful here. God said to Moses on Mount Sinai in the Book of Exodus that He Himself is a jealous God and that we should not worship any other. I take this as we should not be jealous of one another as we are all in this game together. We are a team of soldiers who believe in the same thing. We need to teach others through worship, through study and through prayer that we are not jealous of one another because if we get into this situation, not only is the jealous person hurt but so is the one who we find ourselves jealous of.

In the Book of James in the New Testament, he talks about jealousy and envy. Here is what is said: “...If you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.” (James 3:14). And, “For where you have envy and self ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” (James 3:16) There are actually two types of jealousy and one is Godly jealousy and the other is that of sinful jealousy. The title: “What does the Bible Say about Jealousy” at http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090321150517AANJTPg, the following explains the two fore-mentioned types of jealousy: “Godly jealousy is jealous to protect someone from being led astray and into false worship. Sinful jealousy is when a person is concerned about them self and worried that someone may withdraw from a relationship with them because of a rival.”

Reading the above paragraph really makes me think about some things that have been a part of my life for the longest of time. I lived a life of jealousy for a long time and most of it fell in the sinful type. I found myself working and working and seeing nothing come of it. I consider myself a hard worker, but at the same time I also find myself falling short of a completed goal. At the same time I see people around me getting everything they could ever ask for and then some. This is not the right way to live and I struggle with this every day. I strive for being not only good but to be God like. I know this comes from reading the Holy Bible, knowing the Word and not getting a pat on the back for doing something good.

I hear everyday, whether it be on the radio or on the television set or on the street, “Me, me, me, me.” It is not about me if you believe. It is about Him. It is about Jesus Christ and our lives have to be Christ-centered. We have to live as He did and we have to act accordingly. We have to watch not only what we say but what we feel and what we think. We have to take the Me attitude out of our lives and bring in the Him attitude.

Let us not be jealous of one another. Let us come together and have the attitude adjustment party. Let us come together in the center and be like Christ. Let us do this through great worship, let us do this through knowing the Word and let us do this by loving one another as we would ourselves. Let us dump our pride and jealousy and rise to the occasion of Jesus Christ.

I personally start now and I challenge you, brothers and sisters in Christ to do the same.