Journal

Christ-mas

Author: December 24, 2014

Luke 2:10-11  Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.Randall Daluz | Nativity 1

I love Christmas.  Especially now that I am reborn and understand the true meaning of it.  Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  The truth is, December 25th is not the true birth date of Jesus.  No one actually knows His real birthday – though many speculate – no one is truly certain of the date.

So, how did we come up with 12/25?  In 325 A.D., Emperor Constantine (who had recently converted to Christianity), assembled a council at Nicea.  They were tasked with coming up with a uniformed set of rules to unify the empire under Christ.  Most Romans were Pagans.  In fact, before Constantine, Christians were murdered and persecuted for 300 years by the Romans.  The council – in an attempt to please the Pagans and make their transition easier – chose 12/25 as the day we celebrate the birth of our Lord.  You see, 12/25 is actually the winter solstice which used to be a Pagan holiday. Christians replaced the worship of false gods with the worship of the one true King, Jesus Christ.  What was once a Pagan holiday has become a day to honor the only true Lord of Lords. (more…)

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Fight The Good Fight

Author: December 20, 2014

Hebrews 12:14  Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

Randall Daluz | statue of MLK, Gandhi and other world peace leaders

Martin Luther King with Gandhi and other world peace leaders

Dear Readers:
I have been praying a lot for my country lately.  It was very hard to watch the video of police choking an unarmed man to death.  It was equally hard to see people rioting and looting in Oakland, California.  It was uplifting, however, to see all the peaceful protests across the nation; people of all colors coming together in a sign of solidarity.  Sometimes the most beautiful things come out of the ugliest situations.  America is a beautiful country, but we are plagued by racial disparities and class-ism.  There is no doubt that a segment of our society is being oppressed – not just colored men, but all underprivileged people.  Unfortunately, colored men seem to get it the worst.  Jim Crow is still in effect in our justice system.  People are still being lynched, but it is done in our courtrooms now and sadly, sometimes by police in the streets.  We can change if we put God in our hearts and soldier on.  We must not stop pursuing equality.  We must protest until we see real and lasting change.

I implore you to pray for our oppressors worldwide.  There will be a day of reckoning, a day of atonement, when God’s wrath and judgement will be meted out on the wicked.  It is not God’s desire that any of us shall perish or be condemned  to eternal damnation.  I pray that the wicked repent.  I pray that they change their ways.   (more…)

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Let The Lord Be Your Armor

Author: December 12, 2014

Ephesians 6:10-12  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Randall Daluz _ Armor Of GodDear Readers:
We all face trials and tribulations in our lives.  Sometimes the odds seem insurmountable.  We feel defeated and lost.  Well, let me tell you something in case you didn’t know; Our God is greater than any problem we have.  He is mightier than any pressure we experience.  I want to let you in on a secret.  If you are saved, if you believe in the Lord God with all your heart and soul, you can never be defeated ever by anything… especially not man or the devil.  Hebrews 13:6 says:  So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (more…)

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Fear Not! For GOD Is With You

Author: December 9, 2014

Hebrews 13:6  So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

Dear Readers:
I often share personal things that I am going through with you. I do this because I am currently going through a great trial – spiritually, mentally and physically. I look at it as an opportunity not only to share the gospel but also to show you the strength and wisdom God gives us through our trials. It is yet another testament to how mighty He truly is.  Praise God!

Randall Daluz Fear Not For God Is With You

As you might imagine, the situation I am in can produce a lot of stress, fear and doubt. But, glory to God, my Lord always helps me find peace. With the help of the Lord, I am able to endure things I never thought I could endure. People are often amazed at how calm I am despite my circumstances, but there are times when fear and doubt creep into my mind. The devil uses fear and doubt to shake our faith. Sometimes I lose sight of the fact that things of this world no longer matter, for I am saved by grace and thus I have eternal life in Christ Jesus. This week was one of those times. I was nearly blinded by fear and doubt. Something happened that made me feel hopeless and helpless. (more…)

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Peace In Christ: Thoughts On Ferguson / Michael Brown Tragedy

Author: November 29, 2014

John 14:27  Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Randall Daluz Peace In ChristDear Readers:
This is a very sad week for America.  I would like to tell the family of Michael Brown that I am praying for them.  I am praying for my country and the world. As a colored man who is facing racial injustice perpetrated by an unfair, unequal and corrupt justice system, I feel your pain.  I want to thank all the people who are standing up and peacefully protesting across America.  I would like to thank the people in Bangor who are standing up against injustice.  It gives me hope and warms my heart.  It is hard to believe that with all our knowledge, some people of the 21st century are still engaging in racism and classism.  The devil loves contention.  We must not allow him to manipulate this situation and turn us against each other.  We must find a peaceful solution.  We must not just focus on the anger we feel and the bad parts of this situation.  We must also focus on the opportunity we now have to discuss this issue and resolve it.  We must not fight hate with hate.  Only love can defeat hate.  God is love. (more…)

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Give and Ye Shall Also Receive

Author: November 27, 2014

Randall_Daluz_Thanksgiving_MealLuke 11:41 But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you.

The first Thanksgiving was meant to celebrate the harvest.  The Pilgrims did not know how to farm the land in the new world.  In an act of kindness, the Indians taught them and shared their crops with them.  When you have more than you need, you should share it with those who have less.  Jesus has more than all of us and He shares it with as many as will receive it.  We should give freely and without expecting anything in return or expecting recognition.  God will bless you for it, but do not do it for blessings; rather, do it because it is what is right in the eyes of the Lord.   (more…)

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Give Thanks and Praises

Author: November 24, 2014

Psalm 150
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp!
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!

Randall Daluz Journal Give Thanks and PraisesDear Readers,
Happy Thanks-giving to you and yours.  When I was a physically free man, this was my favorite time of year.  I love to cook.  I worked in many restaurants during the summers on the Cape when I was a younger man.  I took the skills I had honed in those restaurants and used them to create wonderful meals every holiday.  I have cooked our family’s meals since I was twenty years old.  These past two years are the exception, of course, due to my incarceration.  My mother is a Christian woman, so she made sure our family prayed before those meals and gave thanks to the Lord.  [Boy, do I miss mama’s apple pies right now.]  We gave Thanks to God on that day – even those of us who were unsaved.  It was tradition in our family as it is in many families.  Speaking for myself, I only gave thanks on those holidays; but what about the rest of the year?  You see, I didn’t appreciate God back then.   (more…)

Journal

Take Up The Cross

Author: November 19, 2014

Luke 9:23-27  Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.  For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?  For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.  But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.”

20141119_Randall_DaluzIf we follow Christ, then we must be willing to bear His cross.  There are many people who have made and will continue to make certain trifling aspersions about me and my Lord.  Many doubt the validity of my salvation.  Others doubt the existence of Jesus Christ.  Some claim to believe, but doubt I am eligible for the gift of salvation and forgiveness.  The devil loves contention.  He thrives on it!  When you are serving the Lord, you will face all manner of doubt and hate, but you must bear it in the name of the Lord.  When you are walking in Light, God’s enemies become yours and vice versa.  You see, before anyone ever hated us or persecuted us or cursed us, they did such to our Lord.  The Lord says in Romans 3:10, ‘As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;’   (more…)

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Unity and Diversity

Author: November 14, 2014

I Corinthians 12:13  For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

Randall_Daluz_ChristianWorldViewMy grandpa, Norman Tibbetts, was a wonderful human being.  He was English and Native American.  He had white skin.  Growing up in Aroostook County, Maine – during the depression – I don’t think grandpa had many colored friends (if any at all).  None-the-less, grandpa believed in freedom and equality for every American regardless of color or social status.  Grandpa fought in World War II and he used to tell me that he fought for every man, woman and child in America, not just whites.  My father was Creole and had dark skin.  I am pretty sure he was the first colored man my grandpa and gramma ever shared a meal with.  My mother was nervous that day, she told me.  My grandpa and my dad liked each other from the start.  They had a mutual respect for one another.  You see, neither of them cared about color; it was the character of a person that mattered.  Those were the values my family grew up with and they passed those values down to us kids.  My grandparents loved me from the day I was born and they never treated me any different because of my color.  My family is diverse and I thank the Lord for that.  I have been stereotyped (more…)

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Veterans Day

Author: November 11, 2014

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAI wrote the poem, “We Must Soldier On” as a metaphor for the spiritual battles and trials we endure in life.  This week, I would like to dedicate it to the service men and women who bravely and selflessly risk their lives for us.  Men like my grandpa, Norman Tibbetts Sr. (WW II) and my uncle, Norman Jr. who served during the Vietnam war and my nephew, Patrick who fought in operation Iraqi Freedom.  It is not for me to say who is right when it comes to war.  Only God can judge, but I am grateful that there are people willing to give their lives for this country.  I cannot thank them enough.  I long to go to Heaven where there will be no more war.   (more…)

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A Prayer For Peace

Author: November 11, 2014

praying w bible_redDear Lord,  I pray for all soldiers in all conflicts around the world, both spiritual and physical. Lord, I lift them up to You.  May You bless them and guide them toward the Peace that is Salvation.  Lord, I lift their families up to You, Father.  May You comfort them and guide them toward the same Peace that is Salvation.  Lord, I pray for the families and loved ones of the fallen soldiers.  May You comfort them and console them, Father, and may they also find the Peace that is Salvation.  I pray this in the name of the Holy Lord Jesus Christ.  May the world seek the Peace that is Salvation.  Father, help us all to know Peace in Jesus name.  Amen.

Romans 10:13  For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

A Prayer by Randall Daluz

Journal

Walking In The Light

Author: November 6, 2014

walkinginthelightEphesians 5:8-14  For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),  finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.  For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.  But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.  Therefore He says:  “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”

The Lord is the light; when you bask in His light, you are basking in the glory of the Lord. Hallelujah!  It feels so good to walk in the light of the Lord.  My brothers and sisters in Christ know exactly what I mean.  The devil is afraid of the light, that’s why he walks and creeps in the darkness. (more…)

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