Just need more time

Haven't blogged for almost a month now and I just can't find the time to put thoughts together so that someone might just make sense of them. I still want to talk more about Heaven, but that takes much time that I just don't have right now. So for those of you (1 or 2) who read my blog, please be patient with me until I can slow down enough to write something that peeks your interest. God bless you in the mean time and I will get back soon.

Old Jerusalem----New Jerusalem

In 1997, I was privledged to travel to Israel with my Pastor, Dr. Johnny Hunt and about 80 other people. This was a dream come true for me as I had always wanted to go and never dreamed that I would actually get to go. You see, I always had to dream what it was like and I've seen pictures of it, but I've had to imagine mostly.
Well, let me say in the outset that I'm not a very good dreamer because everything that I saw was so much different than what I had imagined. Everything is stone! Rocks galore everywhere you look. The mount of Olives, The Eastern Gate, The Old City within the Gates and the city outside the Gates. Mount Calvary, The Garden tomb, The Dead Sea, Jerico, Sea of Galilee, Capernium. I could go on and on and never express what all I saw. Being able to walk in the same places that scripture tells us that Jesus walked. Imagine how He must have felt walking through the streets of Old Jerusalem and how He wanted so much for them to believe that He was the Son of God and yet many didn't believe and many wanted Him dead and they got their way finally. Yet, you and I know that even death, the grave and even Hell couldn't defeat our Savior. Yes, I couldn't imagine the felling of knowing that I was right there perhaps even in the same spot that Jesus was at one time. What a felling, What a City, What a Savior. Well we're told in Scripture in Rev. 21:2 that there will be a new Jerusalem coming down from heaven from God. Yes He created the Old Jerusalem and He is creating the New Jerusalem and I can't imagine what it will look like either. My dreams of heaven I'm sure come mighty far from what it really will be like. God gives us detailed description of the architecture, walls, streets, and other features of what He calls a city which I believe is a literal geographical location. Physically resurrected people living in a physical environment. God calls this city which the New Jerusalem. The old Jerusalem will be done away with and a new one will be where we abide with Him for ever and ever. Read Revelation 21-22 and get some a glimer of vision as to what this city might look like and then just know that imagination will never be sufficient to keep you from being at awe when we finally see the New Jerusalem and when we get to see Jesus.

Just way to busy

Well, I had meant to blog more about Heaven by now but I've just been busy. Life seems to come at me with large blows or not at all. It's either feast or famine! I hope to get something written by next week, but can't bet on it. Have you noticed how everything seemed to move over to facebook and then nothing much here. Well, I like this medium much better than facebook. Who really cares what someone is doing right now? By the time we get it read, they aren't doing it any more. So it means nothing. Then all those people who say they are your friend that you don't even know. They write they are going to the bathroom and that's way more information than I need or want. Then you learn that some of the people that you thought you knew, are really different than you thought. They just aren't who they pretend to be or at least it doesn't seem that way. Oh well, I really like the blogging best and hope many of those who use to be here, will get tired of facebook and tweeter and come back to the old blogging site. Hope to bring another heaven message soon.

Misconceptions of Heaven

If I were to ask you what you think heaven is like, many of you would answer, "I don't have a clue", some would say, "It's like "and you would tell what you think it is like" and I've even heard this. "The Bible says that we can't know what heaven is like and they would quote 1 Corinthians 2:9 which says, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard. Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." If we stopped right there, perhaps we all could agree with their perception that there's no way we can know. However, if we continue on in verse 10 we read this; "But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes the deep things of God." Well, now, that sure sounds like it's possible to perceive heaven and know what it is like by allowing God's Holy Spirit to reveal it to us. So now, let me ask again, What do you think heaven is like? Your answer may be "I don't know" or "I haven't thought that much about it" or it could be, "I don't really care, I just know that I'm going there". Whatever your answer is, I do believe that God has given us glimpses of heaven and I also believe God wants us to know some of the things we can expect. If that's true, let's think about heaven and what it might be like.

First things first! We must admit that Jesus is in heaven and any where Jesus is, would be heavenly. The fact that Jesus is there may negate every other aspect of heaven and it just could make it a mute question. However, because Jesus has gone back there to prepare for us a place, then anything that Jesus has to do with, we should be excited and anticpating what it will be like. Second, we will also see friends and family there. Yes, I believe we will see people we know such as my Dad and my Mom and my Grandparents. That too will be heavenly for me to be able to talk to them again and to be able to worship with them again and we get to do this in the presence of Almighty God, Lord of Heaven, Savior, King and Heavenly Father.
Thirdly, the Apostle John writes, "The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. Can you imagine a peral that big? Imagine this, these gates are set in walls that are two hundred feet thick. How about those streets of gold that look like transparent glass. Can you imagine, that heaven will be fourteen hundred miles wide, deep and high. Now that's big. If you can, imagine the size of the United states west of the Mississippi River and then imagine that footing going fourteen hundred miles into the air. Remember this will be a new heaven and a new earth and so oxygen is not a problem for our Creator and the earth's orbit perhaps will certainly be different than now, but again, for our creator, no problem.
Can you imagine a new body, a new resurrected body that is no longer subject to sin. You see, heaven isn't absence of the body, but the attainment of a new sinless body. A Spirit without a body or a body without a spirit in incomplete and not human. No where do we find that we no longer are human. Remember, God created man sinless and it was man who committed sin,however God meant for men to be sinless.
Revelation 21:1, 3-5 says; Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth And I heard a loud voice fromt he throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne siad, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
Yes Heaven is going to be a great place and I've only mentioned a couple of things that we know about heaven, but we can be assured that heaven is real, heaven is where God is and Heaven will be our Eternal home.

Is your joy in Heaven

In 1985, I was living in East Tennessee where four seasons are realized and enjoyed. I had just accepted a job in South Florida where temperatures were sub-tropic all year long and seasons didn’t occur. The only difference in weather was it was either rain or sun-shine but normally always hot. Prior to moving to South Florida, I had only paid one visit there and really didn’t know much about it. I was anxious about going and anxious about knowing about the place I was going to. I had heard about South Florida, but had never really visited there ever before. I had seen pictures of the Florida Keys, Florida Bay and of course the ocean, the palm trees, the ficus trees but had never been there. Needless to say, much of my anxiousness came from not knowing what to expect. Would it be like being on vacation all the time or would it be like living in a Sauna all the time. These among many thoughts were to be considered and thought about prior to our moving. I read everything I could and talked to as many people as I could, but nothing really prepared me like going and seeing for myself.

As I think about that time, I realized I was a short-timer in East Tennessee and was moving to a foreign place that I knew little about, but I was excited. Scripture tells me that I am a short-timer here on this earth and that one day I will be moving to a foreign place that I know little about, but a much bigger issue is at hand. Am I excited about this move like I was about the move to South Florida. You see, I perceived that moving to South Florida would fill in the blanks of my life for me. I thought happiness would follow me there and I thought problems would be left behind and all would be well but that didn’t happen. Yet I’m told in scripture, that one day those things will happen and yet, I have to ask the question over and over again. “Am I as excited about that move as I should be?” Just think about it, you are leaving the place where you were born, where you’ve grown up and the place where you have lived all you life and your going to a new place and your going to have a new life. Why don’t we learn as much as we can about the new place we are going. Surely, if we hope to live there in this much better place than we now live in, we ought to know all we can about it and become acquainted with it.

Jonathan Edwards, the great Puritan preacher once wrote, “ Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can.” The only way that happiness could become reality for Mr. Edwards would demand that he plan and know something about this place he was going to. You see, if Mr. Edwards didn’t find happiness in Christ, why would he ever think he would find happiness in heaven. Many people today don’t find their happiness in Christ, therefore, they don’t see heaven as a viable option from the place they now live. They are so wrapped up in the present, that heaven doesn’t have an attraction to them. They are so enveloped in the things of this world, that they can’t imagine being without those things.

Then again, heaven doesn’t have an appeal to many people because they don’t have a clear perception of what heaven really is. Some think that when we go to heaven, we will just float around heaven all day strumming on our harps and feeling googooly-goock all the time. That’s not what heaven is like and even if it were, I know enough about Hell that I would rather be in a state of non-existence than to be in torment all my life. In fact, let’s just admit it, most of us know more about the place we don’t want to go than the place we do want to go. Right?

OKAY! Just so this blog is not too long for you to read and enjoy, I will break this up into several blogs, which will require you to come back and read the remaining thoughts I have concerning heaven. Since my blog on “Will we know each other in Heaven, I have had more hits on this than anything else I’ve written so I intend to keep you reading. Please respond to this blog if you say nothing more than “hey”
I would love to know your thoughts of heaven, so please respond to this blog. Let’s keep this going so we all can grow and know. God bless and see you at the next blog and we will talk about our misconceptions of heaven.

OKAY, where is everybody?

It seems that either summer or the sun-shine has caused everybody to disappear. Haven't heard from many of you in months. OKAY, let's see, there's Shelley, LuAnn, Beth Greg, Anna, Donna, Lisa, Jenny. Carol, Heather, Lynn, Jim, Todd, Andrew, Mari, Audrey, Shannon, Kristen and many more. Where are you guys. Now is the time to get back to blogging. How in the world am I suppose to know what's going on with you guys if you don't bother to write it out. Let's get with it folks, no more loafing. Hope to hear something ASAP from each of you.

Who is Jesus?

Who is Jesus?



Throughout the entire Bible we are introduced to Jesus and told of a man who would come on the scene of whose sandals none of us would be worthy to latch. We are told in the Old Testament that He would come as the Redeemer of Zion and He will bring salvation to the lost and all who come to Him will be saved. Then in Matthew, John again reminds us that there is one coming who would be one of them, meaning of the Jews, and He would rule and shepherd God’s people. He was to be born of a virgin whose name is Mary and his earthly father would be known as Joseph, a carpenter living in Nazareth, however His heavenly Father is God. We are told that this Jesus is God and that He came to earth, put on flesh and endured all the things that you and I endure, however He did so without sin. He began His ministry in the area of the Galilee, in the town of Capernaum which is right on the shore of this body of water. He was referred to as “the Light of the World” and was always the fulfillment of God’s Holy Word. Isaiah the Prophet said it this way, “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death, Light has dawned.” This Jesus took to Himself, twelve men, many of whom were “nobodies” and called them to be His disciples. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. His fame went throughout all Syria and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan. Everywhere He went He spoke to people in ways they had never heard before. He taught as one who had great knowledge and wisdom even from the very early age of 12. He related those who believed His message as to salt and light and He assured them all that He came to fulfill God’s Word, not to abolish It. He taught different than what the scribes and Pharisees taught and He spoke of issues of the heart was where all good and bad began. “Love your enemies”, “Go the second mile,” “marriage is sacred,” ,”Can’t serve both God and money,” “Do not worry,” “One way, One Truth, One Life and He is it.” He taught people how to pray and He made it clear that those who pray must be a part of the family of God and He spoke of forgiveness and reminded people that if they wanted their Heavenly Father to forgive them, they must practice the same. He made it clear that actions speak louder than words and He said you will know if people are His disciple by looking at the fruit of their actions. He continued to heal the sick and He cast out many demon-possessed spirits from people and He continued to do this so that the Word would be fulfilled as again spoken of in Isaiah the Prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.”
Daily as He lived in the flesh, scripture was being fulfilled and His presence was being felt and known throughout the entire known world. Up till now, Jesus was doing the healing etc; but we are told that after all these things that have been spoken of, Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But one day when He saw the multitudes of people, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. He then knew that He had to appoint His disciples to go into all the world, preach the gospel, teach them to observe all that He had taught them, to baptize and see that growth happened for the kingdom of God. He told his disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. “therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Then He called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of diseases.

Wow! So this is Jesus of the Bible? Yes, Jesus of the Bible and the very same who in Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” This is one in the same. God the Father, God the Son and now as we know Him, God the Holy Spirit. This is Jesus, our redeemer, our Savior, our Creator and our Sustainer. The one who chose to die on an old rugged Cross, shed His blood so that our sins could be covered and He forgave us our sins, because He is faithful to His Word. His compassion is just as great today and every time you speak the name of Jesus, He gives you power to overcome Satan and Sin and He continues to desire and to send you out, to preach and teach His Gospel to all the world.

About to have a Spell

Well, I really don't know how to write this but I need to share it with someone and you guys happen to be it. This morning in my quiet time, I was minding my own business, reading the Bible and then it happened. The Spirit of God made me want to shout, perhaps even dance although I can't dance, and I can't stop thinking about it. Scripture has a way of doing that you know! The Word was God and the Word is God and it is alive, powerful, piercing. Written many, many, many years ago and it is as much alive today, true today and relavent today as it ever has been. Yes, I'm going to tell you what I was reading.

Philippians 3:1-11 Now I'm not going to write out this scripture for you, just open your Bible and read it for yourself, and I hope it causes you to feel the same as it did for me. "Rejoice in the Lord" I started thinking back on my life and the dumb and stupid things I've done in the past and to see where I was and now where God has brought me and folks, I just have to say "Thank you Jesus" I don't deserve what I have, where I'm at or anything at all, in fact I deserve Hell and I got Jesus. Now that ought to cause anybody to "Rejoice in the Lord". Then the Apostle Paul says "Look out" There are those out there who want to cause you to think "Well look at me, look at what I've accomplished, I'm somebody" Then he reminds me that prior to his coming to Christ, he was top dog, real he-man, very accomplished and he did every thing he did with zeal and passion and was considered to be great at what he did. I remember being good at concealing my real heart. I was a good sunday christian and a good devil the rest of the week. Now if Paul could look back at his life before Christ and say, "Wow, that was all just garbage compared to life with Chrsit today", I too must say the same. That prior life was just garbage and meant absolutely nothing, but life today, putting my faith in Christ is everything and besides everything, it's also eternity with Christ forever. Now tell me that you don't want to shout, dance or sing. That's enough to make a man want to get up and run around the room. Well, that is what is going on with me. Just Rejoiceing in the Lord. Now I'm expecting Satan to show up and try his best to bring me down and without Christ working in my life, Satan can and does do that. That's why I need Him most.

Can you know---Do you know that you are going to heaven?

Revelation 21:27 But there shall by no means enter it(heaven) anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

So, there is a Book and God wants you to know if your name is in the Book. Is it?

Randy Alcorn tells in his book entitled "Heaven" about a professional singer who was invited to sing at a wedding. She did sing and she assumed all was A-OKAY for her and her husband to attend the reception, after all, she was the singer at the wedding. It was not just any ordinary wedding and reception, but one of prominence and intrigue. Waiters in Tuxedos offered luscious hors d'oeuvres and exotic beverages and only those who were invited could attend. When the singer and her husband tried to enter the reception hall, the maitre d' with a bound book greeted them and ask for their names. I am Ruthanna Metzgar and this is my husband Roy.
He searched the M's and said I'm not finding it. Would you spell it please? After spelling her name slowly and after searching the book, the maitre d, looked up and said, "I's sorry, but your name isn't here. Ruthanna replied, "I'm the singer. I sang for this wedding!" The man said, "it doesn't matter who you are or what you did. Without your name in the book you cannot attend the banquet.
Her and her husband were escorted out by the service elevator. On their way home, the husband ask Ruthanna, "What happened"? She admitted that she failed to return the RSVP because she was the singer and she didn't think it was important.

I personally believe many people are like this story about Ruthanna and Roy. They do good things throughout their lives and in most cases are real good people. But scripture tells us, "that's not what counts". Unless our name is in the Book, we cannot enter heaven. Christ has been inviting us all to the wedding banquet and according to scripture, most fail to RSVP(Invite Christ into their heart and life and ask for forgiveness of sin and place their faith in what Christ did on the cross for them)

How can we know that our name is in the book?
You see, if your going to go somewhere, you've never been, you get a map out and chart your course. You do this before taking off otherwise you might arrive at a wrong distination. Guesswork is not planning. Scripture tells us that if your name is not there, you can't come in and can you imagine how that must feel? Think back about Ruthanna and Roy. She sang at the wedding, surely that must count for something. Well, just like the story in Randy's book, no matter what we do, how good we are, without our name in the book, we are left outside.

Christ offers everyone the gift of forgiveness, salvation and eternal life in heaven with Him. Revelation 22:17 says, "Whoever is thirsty, let him come, and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of water of life." No need to try to work your way into heaven, you can't do it. Only what Christ did on the Cross is counted for you. You can't earn it, acheive it or even work for it. IT is a free gift from God based upon Christ's generous and sufficeint sacrifice on our behalf.

Keep in mind, that God knew that many people would try to get there on their own merit. Some would try a different way. Some would forget to RSVP.(Repent, Believe and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and that He was crucified, buried and on the third day, He arose and became victorious over death and the grave. He did all that for you and me.

The Spirit and the Bride say,"Come" Revelation 22:17
"Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on Him while he is near." Isaiah 55:6

Friend------Do you know Him? Do you know His forgiveness? Do you know His love for you? Is your name in the Book of Life? You can know these things and God wants you to know them.

Romans 10:9 says this; "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him (Jesus) from the dead, you will be saved." "For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

That my dear friend is how you RSVP. Don't delay, do it today.

The Names of God

As I was thinking about relationship with God, I was reminded that God was referred to by many names. Some of those names described His character. Some were titles that were assigned by people, but for the most part, the names were ascribed by God Himself as He was describing Himself. Even when no particular name is used, the occurrence of the phrase "the name of the Lord" reveals something of God's character
To call on the name of the Lord was to worship Him. To take His name in vain was to dishonor Him. Not to follow the requirements of the Law involved profaning His name. Priest performed their service in the name of the Lord. So with that in mind, let me share with you the names of God as used in scripture. I was not aware of all the different meanings as I have read them in scripture. See if this helps you to get to know our God better. I will probably do this in a couple of blogs rather than make this so long you will not want to read and or respond.

1. Elohim (L O HEM)

The term elohim occurs in the general sense of deity about 2,570 times in the Old Testament. About 2,310 times it is a name for the true God. The first occurrance is in the first verse of the Bible. It is used in reference to false deities in Genesis35:2,4; Exodus 12:12: 18:11; 23:24

The meaning of elohim depends on its derivation. Some understand that it comes from a root that means fear and indicates that the deity is to be feared, reverenced, or worshiped. Others trace it to a root that means strong, indicating a deity of great power. Though not conclusive, the evidence seems to point to the latter derivation signifying in the case of the true God, that He is the strong One, the mighty Leader, the supreme deity.

The Compound Names of Elohim is; El Shaddai, El Elyon, El Olam, El Roi

El Shaddai is an Akkadian word that means "mountain". This name of God pictures Him as the Almgihty One standing on a mountain. It was the name by which God appeared to the patriarchs to give comfort and confirmation of the covenant with Abraham.(Gen. 17:1; 28:3; 35:11 Exod 6:3 Ps.91:1-2, Ruth 1:20-21

El Elyon means "the Most High God" and it emphasizes God's strength, sovereignty, and supremacy. It was first used by Melchizedek when he blessed Abraham (Gen 14:19)

El Olam means "the Everlasting God" from an original form meaning "the God of Eternity" Gen. 21:33 It emphasizes God's unchangeableness. (Ps.100:5 103:17 and is connected with His inexhaustible strength (Isa. 40:28

El Roi means "the God who sees" Gen. 16:13. Hagar gave this name to God when He spoke to her before Ishmael's birth.

I will give a total of seven names and many compound names in the next few blogs.

Question:

Do you know Him as Elohim? Get to know our God as Elohim. Be in awe of His power, reverence Him as the one and Only true God, Worship Him and Him alone, Acknowledge Him as our one and only strong , Almighty and Supreme God. He is our High and Lifted Up God, He is Everlasting and He see's and knows our every need.
Get to know "the name of the Lord" He knows you.

Is Chrsit seen in you?

1 Corinthians 15:3-8

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred bretheren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

Well what a great day we just celebrated the resurrection of our Lord and Savior and we are one day closer to our resurrection which is our hope in Christ. The Gospel is about Christ and the Crucifiction and the Cross and it would mean absolutely nothing without the resurrection. One thing that I noticed as I was reading the above scripture is that God wanted Christ to be seen after the resurrection and scripture list several people or groups of people who saw Christ. Well, the world today doesn't have that opportunity to see the risen Lord unless, He is seen in you or me. Yes, we can verify the scriptures by showing the risen Lord in us. According to scriputres, when the resurrected Lord steps out of heaven and into our hearts, change occurs. Without change, there is no Christ. Two questions that Christians need to answer today. 1. Has changed occurred since Christ came into my life and what is that change? 2. Because of that change, can others see the resurrected Christ in my life? If you were the only evidence of Christ resurrection, would there be enough proof to prove it?


I challenge each of you to read April 5,6,7,8,9,10 of My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. Awesome thoughts and such precision on the Cross of Christ.

God help us to allow you to be seen by those whom we come into contact with everyday.

How do you treat others?

Throughout scripture, we are told to love the Lord God with all our heart, soul, and mind and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. We don't have to guess at what love really looks like, because Jesus taught us that in every action that he took. Romans 5:8 says that in while we were lost, undone, not even caring about Jesus, He went to the cross and bore our sins. IN other words, He paid a debt He didn't owe to keep us from oweing a debt we couldn't pay. Everywhere you look in scripture Jesus shows us how to treat one another. I find it somewhat strange that in some places, as He spoke to His disciples, He informed them not to talk about what He had done or said, and in some places, He readily wanted those whom He was talking to, to tell everybody they came in contact with. In the old Testament, God told Daniel to shut the book and not show it to anybody and in the New Testament, in Revelation, God told John to tell everybody. Confusing, Huh? As I started reading Revelation, I quickly got to chapter two where Jesus, the Head of the Church, had John write about the seven churches of Asia and if I had been judging them, I probably wouldn't had to much good to say about them, but not our Savior, even in the bad, He also had some good to say. To each of the churches, regardless of how they were viewed, Christ first spoke of their what was good about them, then he said what was bad about them and then He admonished them and told them how they could do better. Wouldn't it be great if we did that with those we come in contact with. With our children, our friends, our family members. Jesus is the standard and none of us will ever match that standard, but we are challenged to be like Christ and that will only happen as we yeild our lives fully to His will and become obedient even until death. Christ is our example and we should become examples to others by living out the separated life that He calls us to live.

Changing the Past

Have you ever been guilty of trying to change your past? You see, some people try to focus on the past. I've found as long as they do, change for the future will not be possible. Since no one can change their past, the past is really not what needs changing. In fact the past no longer exist. It is gone, never again to return. Because this is fact, then the present is what we need to work on. The best you can do, you can't change the past. What was; was, and nothing you can do, will change what was. Now you have today which you can effect and you have tomorrow (maybe) by which you can plan for, but you can't go back to the past. People who live in the past, are people who can't see a future. Now don't get me wrong, your past can have effect on the present and perhaps even your future, but dwelling on the past will keep you stagnant and will not allow growth in your life.

Have you ever been guilty of trying to live in the future? You see, some people try to focus on the future. As long as they do, the present holds little hope for them. Since no one can live tomorrow today, then trying to live in the future is meaningless. Nothing you can do, to live tomorrow, today. If these two facts are true, then we have only one choice and that is to live for today. You see, today is all you have. You have outlived yesterday and you haven't arrived to tomorrow. Living in either the past or the future makes no sense, therefore the past and the future do not exist.

If these are true, then living for today must be of upmost importance to each of us. I would give anything if I could change some things of the past, but I can't because it doesn't exist anymore, it's gone and will never return. I would give anything if I could change my future, but it doesn't exist, and I may never get to the future. Future is anything beyond the moment that I'm presently living. Past is anything behind the moment that I'm presently living.

Today is what I have and yesterday's gone and tomorrow has not arrived. Today is all I have and what I do with today will determine what my tomorrow might look like.
So if you are one who lives in yesterday or tomorrow, your trying to live in an area that doesn't exist. Live for today, forget yesterday, learn from yesterday and make the most out of today so that if God allows you to have a tomorrow, it will be for HIs Glory and His Honor.

1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

Proverbs 23:7A For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

Proverbs 27:19 As in water face reflects face. So a man's heart reveals the man.

Proverbs 28:26A he who trusts in his own heart is a fool.

The scriptures speaks much about the heart of man and how the heart(the very soul)of who we are can not be trusted. We are sinners by nature and we are lured to sin through our hearts. Trusting the Lord with all our hearts is not an easy thing to do since our hearts deceive us more than anything else. Some say they trust the Lord, some say they love the Lord, some say they depend on the Lord and yet when the world starts crashing down around them, they start leaning to their own understanding. That's why scripture tells us that the heart is deceitful above ALL things and that's why scripture tells us that God doesn't just listen to our words, watch our actions, but He looks deep into your heart.

Qustion: What's you heart look like today? Is it pure,and clean? Is it like you would want it to be for Christ to look at today? If not, scripture also says that God is faithful and true to forgive when we repent and ask for His forgiveness.

Billy Graham Prayer

Well, I've been out of pocket for two weeks and I guess you thought that I had just given up on the blog world but that's just not the case at all. The first week, I suffered down in Tampa Florida where the weather was in high 70's and the second week I really did suffer as I spent a week in the waiting room of Vanderbilt Hospital. That's why I've been absent but now I'm back and until next Wednesday I hope to visit the blog world daily. On Wednesday of next week, I go in for a minor surgery and hope to be back to work on the following Monday or at least that's what I'm hoping for. In the mean time, I wanted to share a prayer that Billy Graham prayed during one of his series as I felt it was very appropriate to what is going on in the world today. You tell me if you agree.


"Heavenly Father", we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil, good, but that's exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. we have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possession's and called it ambition. We have polluted the air waves with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. we have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God and know our hearts today, cleanse us from every sin and set us free. AMEN."


Surely Billy Graham has insight that few men have because he see's mankind as God see's mankind. We need the eyes of Christ, to see how far from right we have wondered.

Will we know each other in Heaven?

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, (died) lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then those who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
Therefore comfort one another with these words.

In the book, "Death, Life and the Hereafter" by Herbert Lockyer, George MacDonald was asked if we would recognize each other in heaven. His response was, "Shall we be greater fools in Paradise than we are here? Yet if you have ever had a conversation with someone about Heaven, that seems to be the most sought after question. First let me put my personal 2 cents in: I sure hope so and believe we will because I have a precious Mom and Dad there, I have a sister whom I've never seen there and I have many family, friends etc; who have died and I believe they will be there. What good would it be, how great could heaven be if we just lose all our memory concerning all the people we love? You see, many people believe that when we get to heaven, we all will just be spirits floating around in a place called heaven and we will have no identity nor will we have memories

When Jesus was resurrected and he found his disciples fishing, they recognized Him on shore as He was cooking their breakfast. They recognized Him when He appeared to old doubting Thomas. He was also recognized when He appeared to five hundred people.

Some argue that even his own Mother didn't recognize Him. But in reality that's not true. Let's see why. Jesus found Mary in the Garden crying. He ask her,"Woman, why are you crying"? "Who are you looking for"? Scripture says that Mary thought she was talking to the Gardener because she said, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him" You see, here's the scene; Mary is crying, eyes filled with tears, knowing that her Jesus was dead, she probably didn't even look up to see who was talking to her. She was distressed to say the least. Just as soon as Jesus called her by name, she recognized Him. She turned towqard Him and cried out in Aramic, "Rabboni" which means teacher.
Some say his disciples didn't recognize Him on the Emmaus Road however in Luke 24:16 scripture tells us that they were restrained from recognizing Jesus, but just as that restraint was removed they recognized Him immediately.

On and on we find evidence throughout the Bible that recognition is prominent. Scripture tells us that Jesus disciples recognized Moses and Elijah and they didn't even know what these two men looked like.

Scipture gives no evidence of memory wipeout Paul spoke of being with the Thessolonians in heaven even though he would never see them. Paul spoke of our heavenly reunion with loved ones in 1 Thes. 4:14-18. How we comfort or console someone with these words if we won't ever recognize them. How would we even know if they made it to heaven if we won't recognize them. Pauls tries to cheer wearied Christians with the hope of meeting their loved ones again.

In fact, I personally feel that in heaven, I won't forget names and or faces like I do now. We are created in Christ image and He never forgets us, never leaves us and never forsakes us, therefore in this breif blog, I'm voting that we will know each other as we are known and that we will be reunited with our family,and friedns.

How our real Government works

Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence at the White House in D.C. One from Kentucky , one from Tennessee , and a third from Jersey . They all go in to examine the fence with a White House official.

The Tennessee contractor takes out a tape measure and does some measuring, then works some figures with a pencil. 'Well', he says, 'I figure the job will run about $900: $400 for materials, $400 for my crew and $100 profit for me.'

The Kentucky contractor also does some measuring and figuring, then says, 'I can do this job for $700: $300 for materials, $300 for my crew and $100 profit for me.'

The Jersey contractor doesn't measure or figure, but leans over to the White House official and whispers,'$2,700.'

The official, incredulous, whispers back, 'You didn't even measure like the other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?'

The Jersey contractor whispers back, '$1000 for me, $1000 for you, and we hire that guy from Kentucky to fix the fence.'

'Done!' replies the government official.

And that, my friends, is how it all works!!!

Biblical Practicality or "Get the log out first"

Had pretty much a sleepless night. Not feeling real well and for some reason sleep was far from me all during the night. I purposely slept in (more like laid in) a little while this morning just because I was doubly tired. Got up, still felt terrrible, took a shower and shaved and got dressed, took my medicine, drunk a cup of coffee, took the dog out and got in my old trusty Honda and took off to the office. Yes, your right, you didn't see anywhere in this introduction that I began my day with a quiet time of any kind. NOt even a smudgin. Now I must tell you this is not normal for me, but this morning, I was stupidly tired and couldn't get it all together. I found myself putting my car keys up in my closet when I needed them to start the car. Yes, I losing it fast and this is just one of many stupid things I catch myself doing, but nonetheless, I get in my car and warm it up before I take off. Did I mention that it's real cold in Georgia and it was 12 degrees at our house this morning. Not sure what the wind chill was, but it was cold and my lttle Honda moaned and groaned prior to starting. OKAY, I'm on my way to the church and my car is warming up and it seems like everybody is going in slow motion. I'm thinking to myself, these crazy people need to just get out of my way. Why are they creeping along. The speed limit is 65 and they should be going 75 at least, but NO, they are doing the 65-66 speed limit. Well, obviously, I'm already late to work and I just need to speed up, so I do, I start passing everybody and I mean everybody. You just don't know how fast my little 91 Honda Accord can go. I'm doing the speed limit plus 10 + 15 +20 and believe it or not here comes a green jeep wagon and he passes me and cuts me short. Come close to hiting that dude and in my mind, I thought, man! if I was a cop, I would pull you over. Driving like that can get somebody killed. Where's the cops when you need them? Right! Having breakfast or lunch with who knows who I guess!. Well, I steam a little bit, get to the church, park in my parking space and go straight to my office. By this time, I realize that something is missing. OH YES! I didn't have my quiet time and I really need that. I just really need a quiet time with God everyday and especially this morning. I don't feel all that good, I've been held up by slow traffic and someone just about caused me to wreck and I really just need a touch from God or something!
In my quiet time which is a late quiet time for me, but at least, give me credit, I did stop to spend time with God. I started reading in 1st Timothy and just as I began to read, my mind immediately went to that dude who almost run me over. OH if I could have gotten hold of him, Iwould have not let loose. Then I go back to reading and just as I reached verse 8, here's what God said to me. "But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully. Now I don't really want to take this verse out of context but I believe God had something to say to me because, I've now slowed down and I'm emotionally stable again and here, God reminds me that I just complained about somebody else breaking the law and I sped to work going sometimes as much as 20 miles over the speed limit. Now Greg, I didn't get a ticket but I should have, but believing in GRace, I'm glad I didn't. Then if that wasn't enough to say, Eddie, you hipocrit, you sped to work and then your mad because somebody else went faster than you. Verse 9 says this: "knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust." Why do we need speed limits (law) Because of idiots like me. Why did I get upset because someone else broke that same limit. I didn't see myself as being a law breaker. Now I know someone will say, well, this scripture is referring to God's Law and not necessarily Man's Law. Either way, folks, I broke the law and I too could have caused someone else to wreck or to get hurt or even killed.


Why have I said all this, well just perhaps you too, look at the sins of others and take a pious stance and think, "I hope someone catches them" or "I'm glad I'm not like them" or on and on and on. I have a log in my eye and I couldn't see if for seeing the log in anothers eye.

I'm really gratful that God' Word is so plain and on target for everything that you and I experience. In 2nd Timothy 3:16-17 it says, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete throoughly equipped for every good work."

Needless to say, I had some repenting to do and some forgiveness to ask for. Yes, even speeding is breaking Man's law and God tells us to be submissive to those who are appointed over us and to render to Ceasar (Government) what they require, which is obedience to the state laws.

Will I ever speed again? I don't want to tell you, because I may have to repent for lying but I do believe that God wants His children to obey His laws and Man's laws
(for the lawless and insubordinate). I should have had my quiet time when I got up this morning like I normally do and perhaps I wouldn't have felt so guilty for being a law breaker. Let's learn to see our sins like God see's our sins and then just maybe we will be somewhat less sinful.

God reminds me of His faithfulness.

’ll never forget the day that we found out that we were gong to have our first baby. I was only 20 years old and my wife was 18 and we had only been married a little over four months. I was stationed at the Naval Hospital in Millington, Tenn. and making $199.00 per month. We lived in military housing and our duplex was among approximately 10 duplexes and was segregated from all other military housing. We almost lived in the back door of the hospital. In fact it was much nicer than all the other housing and we were blessed to live there. At that time, the hospital was an old World War 11 barracks type of building and had several wings which spread out from a main building. The maternity wing was almost directly in line with our house. We were very excited about becoming a Mom and Dad and I’m sure there were times that both of us were also somewhat afraid but none the less we were happy just knowing that Mom was healthy and every time she went for a check up, the report was our baby girl was also healthy. I remember going to Liberty Market close by and buying a blue outfit because we didn’t know at that time if it was a boy or girl. It only cost like less than $2.00 but that was enough with the salary I made. Seems like those 9 months was like 9 days and it was time for having that precious baby. Being a Military Hospital, and also being many years ago, they kept both Mom and baby in the hospital longer than they do today. I’m telling you all this to say, I remember the day after our daughter was born, that I had gotten off work, having stopped by the maternity ward to see my precious wife and precious daughter. Nothing unusual, just the regular talk and being anxious about when they can come home and how that will go. I’ve never been a Dad before and my wife had never been a Mom before and here we were, Mom and Dad and all that comes with it. A precious little girl with glows of auburn strains of hair. Beautiful by anyone’s point of view and especially her Mom and Dad. I went home that day thinking about what can I do to get ready for this new way of life. Everything had changed in an instant. One minute Mom is pregnant and the next here is a precious little girl and I must say both her and her Mom were beautiful to me. But what can I do to get ready. I could clean the house and I did as best I knew how. I remember going to the bedroom that we had decorated for our precious little girl and inside her bed was a baby rattle. I picked it up and made it make it’s noise and for some reason, I just started crying. I can’t tell you why, but I remember crying almost uncontrollably. We had just received the greatest gift any Mom and Dad could ever hope to receive and she was coming home tomorrow. I was scared to say the least and I wanted disparately to be the best Dad in the world, but I was just so scared. I also had to go to the grocery store because my Mom and Dad were coming down to help us out and perhaps even give us some pointers on babies and how to do the things we had never had to do before.

Yesterday, I met with a young couple who had their baby with them. It was a boy and he had blue outfit on and he began to cry and as he did, his Mom picked him up and a baby rattle feel out of the blanket that was around him. It was the same baby rattle that I had picked up the day after our daughter was born. It had the same design and same Y as a handle. I can’t tell you why but all of this came back to me immediately and it was “da-ja vu”.

Why did I remember vividly all that I have written about this? Why after 43 years, did my mind remember as if it happened yesterday? If you knew me, you would know that I don’t remember yesterday in most cases. Well, I believe it was God who caused me to remember this because He wanted me to just thank Him again for the blessings of my children. You see, as I wiped away the tears, that day in her little bedroom, I promised God that I would do the very best I could to be a good Dad but that I knew I was going to need His help and I begged him for it. You see, I didn’t live up to my part of that bargain, but God did and He just wanted to remind me how faithful He had been to me and my precious family. Yes, that precious auburn hair little girl is now grown and has 3 children of own and her oldest son is scheduled to get married in May and perhaps they will have children and Lisa and Mitchell will have to go and spend some time with them just to show them how to take care of something they’ve never had to do before and I’m trusting that they too will commit to God to be the best Mom and Dad that they can be. I know his Mom and Dad are the very best because she is that little auburn haired girl with a little blue outfit and a rattle with the Y handle.

What's our real problem?

Peace, saftey, and economic prosperity are all threatened in the world's current crises. Peace seems so far away when we speak of it since we are presently ingaged in two different wars. Wars and rumors of wars are everywhere we look. Israel is engaged in warfare with enemies bent on eliminating them off the face of the earth.Terriorism seems to be a way of life for many who claim their hatred and desire to kill comes from their God whom they worship. Uncalm is the by-word of the day when we think of all those in this world who are being killed on a daily basis just because they are different, poor and without protection. Safey, even within the U.S. is becoming a forgotten memory and now we are learning to live with the possibility of being shot on any given street within America all because some have and some don't have. In some cases it is because some are greedy and in some cases it's because some desire to have without the process of working for their needs. Economic prosperity went out the window in a period of about 6 weeks and many have lost their entire savings and many their entire retirement funds.


To say we as a nation are stressed and distressed is the condition of many (statistics say 3 out of 4 people)of our citizens. Many are asking the question, Doesn't God know what's going on and if He does, why don't He do something? I read a statement the other day that says it as well as anyone could conclude concerning the subject of peace, saftey and economic prosperity. This person said, "What the world needs to realize that the world's main problem is that it's inhabited by people like us sinners in need of redemption." That's true and yet many are still asking the questions of what can I do and where do I turn, so here are some comforting scriptures that can help bring our present situation into perspective and bring about comfort.

Life on Earth is short, prosperity is fleeting: Psalms 39:4-5
God does not change: Hebrews 13:8
Circumstances do change: Proverbs 27:1
Be diligent to look ahead and plan ahead: Titus 3:14
Be a wise financial steward: Romans 13:8
Seek and heed wise counsel: Proverbs 12:15
Don't fail to plan or to work because of laziness or indifference: Eccl. 10:18
Make your focus treasures in Heaven, not on earth: Matthew 6:19-24
Don't trust in riches and don't be greedy: Proverbs 11:28
Trust God; don't worry; be at peace: John 14:27
Be content, even if you end up with less than you're used to having: Proverbs 30:7-9
Remember God is the owner of all: Psalms 24:1-2
Remember God will require an account of us as His stewards: Romans 14:12
Remember God is sovereign over all thiings: Proverbs 19:21
Be generous with the needy; graciously share what you have now and in hard times:
James 1:27
Face trials and hardships with eternal perspective: Psalms 114:7
Remember God builds Character in times of trials: 1 Peter 4:12-13
Practice generosity: 2 Corinthians 8:13-15
Remember our true home is not in this world but in Heaven: John 14:1-3
Never forget, Jesus is coming back. 2 Peter 3:10-14


It will be hard to help someone else see our need for trusting in Almighty God if we ourselves are struggling with the day to day trials of a world that is lacking peace, saftey and in economic peril.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.

Let me hear what you think!

This morning, I've been able to study some for our men's conference that happens on the last Friday and Saturday of January and the first Friday and Saturday of Feb. The event has gotten so big that we have had to break it in two in order to serve everybody who wanted to come. We anticipate 12 to 14 thousand men. Now that's a lot of steaks to prepare and a lot of people to move around in a timely fashion even at Woodstock. I will be speaking on "The Temptation of Acquisition" which describes our antiquated theory of acquisition which changes our hearts from being a generous heart to one of greed. I was doing so well when my phone rang. My secretary was holding all my calls, but here is one that came through. On the other end was a women in rage. She wanted blood and she wanted it now. It just so happened that she had talked to one of my employees who didn't give her the answer that she wanted and she was just giving this person down the road. My flesh wanted to tell her some fleshly things, but believe it or not, I just remained calm, cool, collected and when she got through, I did what Proverbs says to do, I gave her a soft answer. Well, she wasn't having any part of soft answers, she continued to want blood and she wanted it now. I can't repeat some of the things she said, but I can assure you that everything and I mean everything was down grading and demeaning and harsh and terrible and devilish. She had nothing good to say about this person. Again, I tried the soft answer approach and I had already made up my mind, that if it didn't work this time, I was going to give her the "Hobbs" approach and you can only imagine what that is. Well, she did quiet down considerably and I assured her that I felt she had only misunderstood and that I would discuss this issue with a particular employee. I know this employee front and back and there's no way this person would say the things she accused them of. She didn't like what she heard because she wanted this person to agree with her opinion and thinking and when they did not. She let them have it. After hanging up, I wanted to call her back and unload on her but I knew that wasn't right and it would only allow Satan to have front seat attention and I didn't want that. I prayed for her and for my employee and I went back to my study. As I was searching for a particular scripture, I believe God allowed me to turn to Mark 7:15-23. There it was!. This women's heart, not her mouth was defiled. Her heart had gotten hard and it's no wonder why she misunderstood the employee. It's the same hard heart that cause all the other sins which are mentioned in these verses. Then immediately, I was reminded of Jeremiah 17:10 Where God says the heart is deceitful above A L L things, who can know it? I the Lord test the mind and search the heart and I give to every man according to the fruit of his or her doing. It wasn't my position to unload on this women, it is God's position to do this and He says He will. Well, I just wanted to tell you the the Bible is alive and the Bible never lies or deceives but the Bible always leads us to right and to Christ. Hope this encourages you to serve God and love His Word. I'm also reminded of Beth Moore's statement, "A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek God first to find her." Wow, what a statment and for us men, we should be able to say the same thing about us, by just changing the wording around to men rather than women.

Why gunnysack Shepherds?

Yes, I know that Christmas is over and for certain reasons, I'm kind of glad. But in reality, Christmas is never over because if it were not for Christmas and the celebration of the birth of Christ, we would not have Good Friday and or Easter. We all know the importance of those two celebrative Holidays. I'm intrigued by the Shepherd and why on earth did Almighty Sovereign God give the announcement of the birth of the Messiah to lowly gunnysack shepherds? Why not to priests and or to Kings? Who were lowly Shepherds that they should be eyewitnesses of God's glory and receive history's greatest birth announcement? During the time of the Patriarchs, shepherding was a noble occupation. Shepherds are mentioned early in Genesis 4:20. Jabal is called the father of those living in tents and raising livestock. In nomadic societies, everyone whether sheikh or slave was a shepherd. The wealthy sons of Isaac and Jacob tended flocks. Gen. 30:29; 37:12 and Jethro, the priest of Midian, employed his daughters as shepherdesses. Exodus 2:16 In Christ's day, shepherds stood on the bottom rung of the Palestinian social ladder. They shared the same unenviable status as tax collectors and dung sweepers. Only Luke mentions them. When the twelve tribes of Israel migrated to Egypt, they encountered a lifestsyle foreign to them. The Egyptians were agriculturalists and the farmers despised shepherding because sheep and goats meant death to crops. In fact the first murder mentioned in the Bible was a farmers resentment of a shepherd. Gen 4:1-8 I could go on and on how Shepherds were looked down on, until a young boy named David, who tended sheep ,also became a King. But later during the days of the Prophets, sheep herders symbolized judgement and social desolation.
Smug religious leaders maintained a strict caste system at the expense of shepherds and other common folk. Shepherds were officially labeled "sinners" a technical term for a class of despised people.
Into this social context of religious snobbery and class prejudice, God's Son stepped forth. How surprising and significant that Father God handpicked lowly, unpretentious shepherds to first hear the joyous news: "It's a boy, and He's the Messiah!" What an affront to the religious leaders who were so conspicuously absent from the divine mailing list. Even from birth, Christ moved among the lowly. It was sinners, not the self-righteous, He came to save. Mark 2:17
Today, Pastors who shepherd their flocks are immortalized by the Lord Jesus when He said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." John 10:11 Christ is also the great Shepherd Hebrews 13:20 and the chief Shepherd 1 Peter 5:4 No greater illustration so vividly portrays His tender care and guiding hand.
Let's never forget that it was a handful of shepherds, marginalized by the social and religious elite, who were chosen to break the silence of centuries, telling of the Messiah's birth. Happy Birthday again Jesus!