Eddie's Place

Where have we been?

2010-11-20T06:59:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been way over one year since I wrote on this blog. I've been trapped in business, facebook an Twitter. I really like writting and not sure why I left the blog, but I hope to be back shortly with things that God is placing on my heart and mind. The older I get, seems as if I have more to write about but less time to do it. So if you will keep coming back, I'll do my best to get started again. It takes time to build a blogisphere audiance but I will give it my best try. See you in a few.

Looking at First John

2010-04-29T07:36:00.000-07:00

I love reading First John.It is so plain and simple and perhaps since I'm plain and simple, that's why I love to read it. It's apparent that this John is the Apostle John as his writtings here refer back to the gospel of John in several of the verses. This Epistle doesn't seem to be written to any one particular church, but maybe to all who read it. It's almost like it is written on a flyer and given out to the general public. 1. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life--. The message that John speaks of here is the same message that Jesus gave to His followers. It is a message that they heard. The heard it from the mouth of Jesus with their own ears. It was not hear-say, it was not public opinion nor was it voices on the street. They heard the message that John is writing about with their own ears directly from Jesus Himself. They not only heard Jesus speak this message but they were there in person with Him and they saw Him with their own eyes. Again, it was not something someone else said they saw, it was with thier own eyes, so unless they were deceived by their own eyes, they saw as they heard Jesus speak. They touched Jesus after the crucifiction, John reminds us that Doubting Thomas needed to touch his pierced hands and side before he would believe it really was Jesus. I'm certain that the love the Apostles had for Jesus would have been a touching love, one that shows concern and abiding love for the Savior. Now John refers to Jesus as the Word. John referred to Jesus as the Word in the gospel of John by saying "the Word became flesh" and in Revelation 19:13 he refers to Jesus as the "Word of God" John also on many occassions referred to Jesus as the Life. In John 2:4 he refers to Jesus as the Life and that that Life was the Light of men. He is the resurrection and the Life. So in First John 1:1 we are told up front what to expect because John is giving us a front row seat to knowing Jesus.
Do you know the Word of Life? Do you really know who Jesus is? Stay tuned and we will blog out First John for you.

Not sure what happened.

2010-04-12T13:10:00.001-07:00

It's been seven months since I looked at blogging or even thought of blogging. Didn't even view this sight for the entire time. Now what makes a person do that? I use to blog two or three times per week and stayed in touch with all those who were blogging and then seven months and I don't even look at it. Well, I've traded blogging for tweeting and facebooking I guess. Facebook and Twitter get you more people to talk to. I had very few people who reponded to my blogs therefore, I went to Twitter. Now everything I say, goes to the number of folks who follow me. My friends on facebook are numerous and I can get my message out to many who may or may not want to read what I have to say. So, I might just get back to blogging just to give it one final try. But will have to think on that one for a while. In the meantime, find me on Twitter and on facebook. God bless and stay tuned. You never know, I might just be back here before long.

Just need more time

2009-09-09T14:41:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-10T11:08:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-23T12:31:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-17T10:37:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-12T05:48:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-06-08T06:32:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-06-03T08:13:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-15T06:24:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-05-04T05:49:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-15T10:43:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-04-13T08:27:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-04-07T12:32:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-06T05:02:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-03-30T13:50:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-24T13:14:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-02-23T05:57:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-16T10:19:00.000-08:00

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"

2009-02-05T07:42:00.000-08:00

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.

2009-01-27T13:16:00.000-08:00

’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?

2009-01-22T10:47:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-01-14T05:53:00.000-08:00

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?

2009-01-07T12:31:00.000-08:00

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!

Merry Christmas to All and to all a good night(year)

2008-12-18T06:20:00.000-08:00

Well, here it is December 18th. Seven more days to Christmas and 13 more days until 2009. Where did time go? It only seems like it was yesterday that I was thinking about taking a weeks vacation during spring break, yesterday since I was thinking of taking a week off for summer vacation, yesterday since I was thinking about taking a week off and going to the mountains to see the leaves turn orange. Where is time going? I can remember my parents talking about how "time flys" and I always thought, I think it goes by slowly and yet we both were spending the same amount of time. I guess when you get as old as dirt, like I am, you realize that time is going by fast and you don't have as much time left as you use to. Statistics say that I have already lived 77 1/2% of my life already, which means if statistics are right, I only have 22 1/2% of my life remaining. Think about it! If you have a glass of water and you drank 77/12% of the glass of water, you only have a little bit left.
You might ask youself, well, why on earth are you thinking about time anyway. We can't control time, it is what it is and life on earth is already determined. God already knows if I die before statisticals, at statisticals, or after statisticals and nothing I do will change that. Well that's not exactly true. Yes, God does know when I will come home to heaven to live with Him and He knows the exact time only because He is God and He is soverign all knowing God, however, I could do things that cause my time on earth to be shrotened or lengthened and He does know which of those will occur. It does matter what I do while I'm here on earth. It does matter what I believe and live out here on earth. According to God's word, I can choose to be blessed or cursed. Jeremiah 17:5-8 I can choose to read God's Word which blesses me or I can choose to read other material which only gives me information which in the long run is useless based on eternity. Listen to God's Word,
"Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the Words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the T I M E is near. Rev. 1
Psalms 116:15 says, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of HIS saints.
Psalms 90:10 "The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is ony only labor and sorrow."

Throughout scripture we are told about T I M E. Scripture also says a thousand years to us is like a day to the Lord, so when God talks about eternity, then that is really a looooonnnnnnngggggggg time. In Ecclesiastes we are told there is a time for everything; a time to be born and a time to die, but it's all those times in between that really count for eternity. What we do with the time that God gives us is so important. It makes the differnce between being blessed and being cursed here on earth. It makes the difference both here and in eternity.

So time is important and it's important as to what you do with the time you have. Follow Christ in all that you do, love those around you and remember that no one should ever be unloved by you. You must love them as if their eternity depended on it and perhaps it might. Then when your time comes you will be able to say,

"For this is God Our God forever and ever; He will be our guide Even to death"
Psalms 48:14
I hope you and yours has a very Merry Christmas, a happy New Year and a blessed life with Christ forever and ever.

I LOVE GOD'S WORD!

2008-12-15T06:29:00.000-08:00

I have been reading a chapter of Proverbs everyday for a long time now and many of the Proverbs are life principles for me. Being flesh, I sometimes violate those same scriptures that I consider as principles in my life. I realize that doesn't happen to you but I have to battle this almost daily. In other words, just like in vs. 1, I don't always answer softly, but sometimes I answer with a loud voice and I want to stir up anger. That's the battle that i have to fight daily. Well, the Proverbs contain great wisdom and great principles for all of us to live by. I would encourage everybody to read a Proverb everyday. Chapters 1,15, 16 and 30 each have 33 verses and in chapter 1, we find out that we need knowledge, in chapters 15 and 16, we get understanding and in chapter 30 we read about real wisdom. Now I didn't intentionally leave the other chapters out because they too, relate to Knowledge, Understanding and Wisdom, but it just so happens that today is the 15th and this is where I'm at in my quiet times. I encourage you so much to read the Proverbs that I went ahead and printed chapter 15 below so you wouldn't have to go get your bible. It's in the NEW KING James version and it is just full of principles that both convict and convince my heart. I bet-cha you can't read these 33 verses without being convicted about something. When we are convicted, we just need to repent, Praise God and move on and don't do that thing again. Just recently, someone just unloaded on me and let me have it with both barrels. Now because I disagreed with this person, my first thought was to let this person have a full dose of "I got cha's". As I look at it today, I still believe that person was totally wrong and they were speaking from the flesh only and not able to back up what they were saying to God's Word. I could have given them scripture upon scripture, but then vs two says "the tongue of the wise pours forth rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. So this time, I answered softly and shortly.
Now I know this person expected me to unload also, because I've done it on numerous occassions, but no, I didn't act in the flesh. Now all I can contribute that to is trying to live out the Proverbs. Don't get me wrong, I can mess up as well if not better than most, but this is how the Proverbs is helping me. So I say all this just to say, todays Proverbs are full of nuggets of knowledge, understanding and wisdom. Read them below and see if God brings to mind something, someone or sometime that you needed to exercise these nuggets but failed to do so.

Proverbs 15
1. A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
2. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.
3. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But the perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
5. A fool despises his father’s instruction, But he who receives correction is prudent.
6. In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, But in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.
7. The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, But the heart of the fool does not do so.
8. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
9. The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But He loves him who follows righteousness.
10. Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, And he who hates correction will die.
11. Hell and Destruction are before the Lord; So how much more the hearts of the sons of men.
12. A scoffer does not love one who comes to him, Nor will he go to the wise.
13. A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
14. The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
15. All the days of the afflicted are evil, But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.
16. Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, Than great treasure with trouble.
17. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred.
18. A wrathful man stirs up strife, But he who is slow to anger allays contention.
19. The way of a lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, But the way of the upright is a highway.
20. A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother.
21. Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, But a man of understanding walks uprightly.
22. Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established.
23. A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!
24. The way of life winds upward for the wise, That he may turn away from hell below.
25. The Lord will destroy the house of the proud, But He will establish the boundary of the widow.
26. The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, But the words of the pure are pleasant.
27. He who is greedy fro gain troubles his own house, But he who hates bribes will live.
28. The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.
29. The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.
30. The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, And a good report makes the bones healthy.
31. The ear that hears the rebukes of life Will abide among the wise.
32. He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.
33. The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor is humility.

America: From Glory to Shame

2008-12-10T11:18:00.000-08:00

America: From Glory to Shame

I wrote this blog and due to my dumbness, I lost it and so here it is again, not exactly the same, but for the most part the same. I hope you will read this and then pray and ask God to bless America. We are in deep trouble and it doesn’t seem like we have any concept as to why things are going South for America. I am gathering my information from the book that I just read called “Truth Decay”. It is authored by Steve Hale who is an evangelist.

In Matthew 7: 24-27 we read about obedience and disobedience to God’s word being likened to two different types of foundations. One built on rocks and the other built on sand. Foundations are important to the final structure of a building. Poor foundations built on sand are likened to a foolish man and a well built foundation built on rocks is likened to a wise man. Which are you? Foolish or Wise

One thing about both foundations is that storms of life come to both. In these verses, the differences in the two foundations were directly related to how God’s Word was received. Obedience to and reverence to God’s Word creates a solid foundation that can withstand the storms of life. However, disobedience to and defiance of God’s Word creates a sandy, unstable foundation that leads to a great fall. What can be said about individuals can also be said about nations. In the early stages of America, scripture was highly esteemed, and throughout history as we know it, God has protected America. However, it is well documented that the centrality of the Bible has now been replaced with other ideologies. Our forefather’s commitment to absolute truth as contained in Scriptures has now been substituted for moral relativism.
Jesus warned that any person or nation that disregards God’s Word would experience a great fall. History proves Him right and America will not be an exception. Steve Hale likens our position today as that of the titanic. We know that all the reports show that the icebergs are out there and we as a nation are saying, “full steam ahead”.

Even though America is not mentioned in scripture, as we read chapter one of Romans, we feel as though it is a mirrored picture of America. Vs. 18 of chapter one says, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” We must not miss this; that through out scripture we read where God “gave them over”, “He gave them into the hand”, “He gave them up”. Now we read again in verses 24,26,28 that again God is saying He will give individuals or nations over to their own desires and take his hand of protection and provision away. In Psalms 81:9-14 we read that God commanded that Israel not worship other God’s and they did so and so He gave them over to their own stubborn heart. Psalms 106:35-42 we see where they started sacrificing their own daughters and sons and shedding innocent blood. ( Could this be related to our practice of abortion today?)

The Vietnam War Memorial contains 68,000 names and it stretches 500 feet long, however if a memorial was built today for all the innocent, defenseless babies whose blood we have shed since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, it would have some 50 million names on it and would stretch for some 80 miles. Remember, Israel was brought into subjection to her enemies for these very things and that’s why God will have to deal with America if we don’t change. See Psalm 78:58-62—Nehemiah 9:29-30---1 Kings 14:9,16 Romans 1: 26 says, “For this reason God gave them up”. America has exchanged truth for a lie and rather than serving the Creator, we serve the Creature. If you continue to read these two verses 26 and 27 we see that God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise, men did the same. Verses 26 and 27 tell us that the Homosexual lifestyle is , 1. Unnatural 2. shameful 3. in error to the truth 4. penalty to be paid. Notice, verse 26 strongly claims that homosexuality was not the cause of God’s judgment, but rather it was the consequence. Homosexuality was an instrument of God’s judgment.
Social Experts say that America’s social cauldron began in 1987. That’s the year that the number of kids in foster care began to rise and continued to keep climbing. Out of wed-lock births began to rise at very high rates. The rate of juveniles committing violent crimes began to rise and the national drug network started exploding off the charts. AID’s had a big jump in cases. Now these same social experts wanted to know what really made 1987 so significant to cause this kind of massive change. So they went back in the archives and chronicled the news for 1987. Here are the top four news events in 1987. 1. Jim Bakker and Jessica Hahn with their sex and money scandal; 2. Jimmy Swaggart charged with plotting hostile takeovers; 3. Oral Roberts holing up in his university’s prayer tower vowing never to emerge unless he raised $8million dollars that God told him to do. (so he says)
4. Oliver North’s Iran-Contra, charge of trading weapons-for-hostages.
All of these were Christian leaders engaged in unethical behavior. 1987 was also important because of more development in drug trade began. That’s when smokeable cocaine, better known as “crack” became available to the public. Although America has morally changed, drugs was not the reason, it was only a symptom. America believes that there is no such thing as absolute truth. America believes that Truth and morality are relative. What’s right for you, might not be right for me and vice versus.
So when did this exchange of truth for a lie actually happen? It was not 1987. That just happened to be when (social experts) noticed it. Some would say it started in 1925 with the Scopes trial, others would say it was 1947 when evolution began to be taught in our public schools. Some say the 1960’s when in 1962 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that leading in prayer in our public schools was now illegal and unconstitutional. Here is the prayer that they ruled illegal. Only 22 words and it stirred hatred and strife. “Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers, and our Country.
Amen. Really threatening don’t you think? That was just a beginning of what was to come. The next year, the same court outlawed the reading of the Bible in our schools. Then in 1965, that same court ruled it was against the law to verbally pray over your meal in a school cafeteria. In 1973, that same court ruled in favor of abortion on demand. In 1980, it became unconstitutional for the Ten Commandments to hang in the hallways of classrooms of our educational institutions. In the early 90’s it was ruled unconstitutional to pray at high school graduation exercises. It is now unconstitutional for a board of education to use or refer to the word “God” in any of its official writings. Without question, it is now unconstitutional to show the film that depicts the settlement of Jamestown because the fact is there was a cross erected at the Jamestown settlement. Don’t forget that Woodstock New York occurred during the 60’s
Now that we’ve told God that He is not wanted in our schools, our court houses, our homes, our businesses and certainly not in our education process, is it no wonder that God might just “give us over to our own desires”.
Until the 1960’s, America was still considered and respected as a God-fearing and law-abiding nation. Interestingly enough, from 1927 to 1962 there were never more than two consecutive years in which SAT scores declined. But then after the Supreme Court started rulings like I just spoke about the SAT scores declined for 18 consecutive years. Since these dates, America has become the world leader in crime, juvenile homicides, pornography, divorce, abortion, teenage pregnancies, and illegal drug use. I said WORLD LEADER! Now not only are we world leaders in these areas, to top it off we are now among the world leaders in illiteracy. Yes, Glory turned to Shame! Bill Bennett in his address to the Southern Baptist Convention several years ago said this; “The simple fact is that we cannot expect to maintain our civilization with 12 year olds having babies, 15 year olds killing each other, 17 year olds dying of AIDS, and 18 year olds ending up with diplomas they can’t even read. Our glory is changed to shame and we don’t even know it.
I won’t even give you the test scores that are written on pages 29 and 30 but the end result is we are last in almost everything.
Well, America said “we did not like to retain God in our knowledge” and so there you go. Here we are and the down hill grade is steep and we are speeding up.
Steve goes on to say that the solving of this problem is not in the White House but in God’s House. Jesus clearly handed the church the responsibility of upholding the nations morality when He declared to us to be the salt of the earth.

OKAY, I know this has been long, but I hope I have wetted you appetite to get his book and read it. Here are the chapter titles. 1. A nation is crisis 2. Moral Relativism 3. Truth Matters 4. The way we were 5. America’s favorite pastime
6. The danger of “safe” sex 7. Abortion: The American Holocaust 8. Alcohol: America’s beverage of choice 9 Random chance or intelligent design
10 The glut of smut 11. The abnormality of Homosexuality 12. Bring back the glory.

Its’ only 233 pages long and you will really like this book.

Birth Announcement

2008-12-09T13:11:00.000-08:00

Luke 2:1-20 1And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Ceasar Augustus that all the world should be registered.2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David. 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.
6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 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. 11”For there is born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 “And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.
17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

What a blessed story and what a blessed Savior! Notice, the very Son of God is born and the first people to know about it were Shepherds. Think about it: The Lord wanted the Shepherds to know about this first. Remember, Jesus always referred to Himself as a Shepherd of the sheep. Shepherds lived in the field with the sheep. They were the one’s who chose the special sheep to be sacrifices and now the spotless lamb of God is born and they are notified of it. They no longer will have to provide sheep for sacrifice, they no longer will have to determine which one dies and which one lives. God the Father decided the one and final sacrifice would be His Son, Jesus and He’s letting the Shepherds know about it. The Shepherds met Jesus and it was such a life changing event that they had to tell everybody about what had happened. You too have to meet Jesus before you can tell others about Him. If you haven’t met Jesus yet, listen to the Spirit of God telling you that a Savior is born, and His name is Jesus. He will change your life and you too will then want to worship Him.

OK, something happened and it didn't come through

2008-12-09T06:29:00.000-08:00

Well as you can see, below, that I started to post my blog yesterday and something happened. Don't ask me what, but all of the blog didn't show up. I have no idea where the rest is and I don't have the time to redo it. Maybe I will learn about this blogging deal someday and not mess up so much, but until then, I will have to go out there into cyber space and look for it. I can almost see it now. It's just out there floating around as if it's lost, and it is, and I just can't reach it. Oh well someother time. Soon.

America: From Glory to Shame

2008-12-08T11:03:00.000-08:00

I was given a book for Christmas that I began reading today. It's author is Steve Hale who is an evangelist from FBCW. The name of the book is "Truth Decay" and after reading the first 50 pages, I highly recoommend it.

Out of Pocket

2008-12-03T13:47:00.000-08:00

Spent Thanksgiving with Beth, Lisa and the grandchildren. Started feeling bad on Friday and by the time I got home on Saturday, I had full blown Bronchitis. Tried to die couple times but went to the Doctor on Monday and I'm hoping to go back to work on Thursday. Had new carpet put in my office while I was out and hope my computer is plugged in when I get back. Otherwise, If I have to do more than turn it on, I'm out of luck. HOpe to be back in saddle in next few days. By the way, anytime with my girls and grandchildren is a great time.

"Watch Out!" "Is it I?"

2008-11-21T08:31:00.001-08:00

Have you ever warned someone to "watch out" when you saw that they were about to do something that might cause them harm? You might say, "watch out" to someone who was about to step out in front of an automobile, or someone who was about to step on a nail. You might say, "watch out" to someone who is considering doing something that they've never done before, you might say, "watch out" to someone who is getting into a relationship that you forsee might be a problem. We tend to warn people a lot of the time and yet we don't always warn people when we see them perhaps skirting with hurt,pain and trouble. I used the term this morning when I was sharing with a young couple concerning their finances. I can see that if they continue the way they are going, they may get hurt in ways they never imagined, so I say,"watch out". How many times, I wished someone had said, "watch out" to me. You know many times due to experience and or understanding, we might just have the spirit of fear that others may not. That same spirit of fear that I believe God gave to all women. Us men, we have no fear in the sense, we can fix everything. If you don't believe me, just ask me. We've got the answer to every situation that we hear about. I could fix the war in Iraq in two days if they would let me. I could change the mind of those homosexuals if they would just let me, I could change the Iranian dictator if only someone would let me. I've got answers for everything, Right? Well, not really, I might have a solution, but maybe not the right answer. Women fear and share their fear and normally they are right, but not us men, just let us have at it and we can fix the issue. Well, I'm really going somewhere with this. When you see someone who is actining out un-Christ-like things, do you shout out, "watch out". In many cases I bet you don't. Because we make excuses like, "well, he deserves what he gets", and "am I my brothers keeper" and so on and so forth. We now must ask, Am I really that way? Do I see people in trouble and not warn them? Well I reminded of two scriptures in Mark that are real close to each other and they really apply to all of us and especially me. In Mark 13:32-37 we read that one day Jesus is coming back and none of us knows when, but we see men and women everyday living the life of Satan and we don't warn them and we are warned by Jesus Himself to Watch and do His work as we watch. Then in Mark 14:18-21 we read about Jesus having the Passover supper with his disciples and he announces that one at the table is a betrayer. Everybody ask the question but out loud and to themselves; "Is it I?" and each of us need to ask ourselves this question. "Is it I who fails to warn others about their direction in life, is it I who knows the love of God and fails to share it with others, is it I who betrays the Savior by not obeying His Word?

Well I challenge you today to be so loving to those you come in contact with to warn them, "Watch out" and know that one day that Jesus is coming for you and me and ask your self the question, Is it I? who fails to love others to the point of warning them of the consequences of failing to follow Christ and the benefits of following Christ. Let's all be more bold and let's all be more obedient.
Vs. 21 says, "The son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born."

Examples of Contentment in real life.

2008-11-19T07:16:00.000-08:00

I must say that for the most part, I’m a very sheltered individual and am naive about how most of this world lives. I was born in the U.S. and outside going to places outside the U.S. on vacation and on mission trips, I know very little about how the other half lives. Now, I’ve heard stories and seen pictures, but that doesn’t bring reality close enough for a person to really know what it’s like to be poor and without. You see, if for some reason this morning we ran out of milk, I could jump in my new automobile, which is filled with expensive gasoline and go to a near-by grocery store and get milk and pay for it. Most likely, I would still have some money to buy other things if I had wanted to. I could pour that milk into a bowl of cereal and use utensils that we have plenty of. I could cut on running water inside my house and clean those bowls and utensils and place them back with all the other bowls and utensils and all the other plates and saucers etc; I could put the milk back into our side by side refrigerator to keep it cold along with all the other things that need to stay cool. Last night, even though it was cold outside, I was able to have heat and I was able to have a comfortable bed with clean sheets and covers. I was able to jump into the shower this morning without fear of not having hot water.
In other words, I’ve pretty much got it made.
Now, this past summer, I was privileged to go to Honduras on a medical mission trip. Now Honduras is in Central America and not really all that far from the U.S.
However, it didn’t take long for me to realize something was different, real different. We had to fly into a different airport than originally planned because an airplane had crashed on the originally planned landing strip and they had not cleaned the debris up as of the time we were scheduled to be there. This perhaps should have been the first thing that made me realize, this was not going to be a vacation. So we fly into San Pedro Sula which is by third world countries standards, an OKAY place to be. It’s about 50 miles inland and it’s the most northern city of Honduras that we visited. Everywhere else we went, was south of that area. Now just to give you some geography lesson, Honduras is south of the small country of Belize, east of Guatemala and El Salvador and north of Nicaragua.
Shouldn’t be so much different than some parts of the U.S. Right? We spent 4 nights in what was known as their very best hotels. Now this hotel was inside a guarded fence and there were several guards with rifles and pistols and they seemed to mean business when they talked. The rooms were two small bedrooms, a small kitchen and a couch to set on to watch TV. The first night we heard gun shots outside our room and there were several shots. Not sure what happened but no one could tell us the next morning what happened. We had breakfast there and all was well. When we went to the church that we were going to have the medical clinic at, we started to see some of the poverty. We saw small houses, all behind fences or walls meant to keep others out. All were small and dirty. Auto’s were all old and I didn’t see any auto that looked like it hadn’t already paid a visit to the junk yard. In fact, I saw wagons being pulled with mules, and oxen. It started to sink in that this was going to be different. The church had a high metal fence around it to keep people out. In the U.S. we want people to come in. The bathroom was outside and both men and women used it. In the U.S. we call them outhouses. The sewer system can’t take toilet paper so it’s discarded in the trash can. Now I had seen that before in Portugal and a lot of eastern Europe is like that. The streets had water flowing on both sides of the street. This water was run off from water used inside these homes and anything else. No telling where all that water came from. It was also suppose to handle the rain water also, but that didn’t happen, because when it rained , everything flooded. Cleanliness is an obstacle in these 3rd world countries. We spent 3 days and 4 nights there and then we moved on. On one occasion, our bus drivers had to drive back streets and unpaved streets to avoid having our windows broken out and the bus trashed only because a strike had occurred for all drivers of buses, cabs, etc; We headed to Comayagua which is located toward the south and in the mountain regions of Honduras. Roads are paved by not very wide and everybody believes the entire road belongs to them and they drive on either side and it would cause any sane person to go crazy just watching how close you come to being in an accident. Now we are out of what they call the city and we are in the countryside. Houses for the most part are not houses made of wood, but we see more houses made from clay or mud. Children playing outside as if they were ordinary children with every thing they ever needed. People working in the fields, Pineapple fields, coconut fields, banana fields, etc; Now we had just left the wealthy and now we were going to the poor. The people we just left would have been considered poor in the U.S. but not there, they had the upper lifestyle. Now we were really going to see the poor. It was hot and muggy in San Pedro Sula and now it was beginning to cool off somewhat as we got into the mountain region. We again went to a church that was surrounded by a metal high fence which was to keep people out and someone had to allow you through by unlocking the gate. We spent 3 days and nights here and it was obvious, that these people here had little of nothing and this was their once a year visit to the doctor to get medication to get rid of worms, parasites etc; that they got from drinking the water and who knows where else. One day, we drove by a military base used by the U.S. during the Santanesta uprising several years ago. The U.S. still maintains that base. We drove toward the capital city of Tequcigalpa but we didn’t actually go there, just close by. We visited the WOL camp missionaries who were our host during our stay in Honduras.

Now there really is a point to this story. I had everything in the U.S. that I needed to be comfortable. When I got to Honduras, I perceived that things were not the same and therefore, even though I felt God wanted me to be there, I was not content with the situation. It was different and less easy and less comfortable. I could find differences in food, in housing, in bathroom facilities, in cleanliness, in comfort, in communication, in travel, etc; It was different and I perceived it to be different.

Now, the people I met in Honduras were awesome people. They were happy, they were friendly and standing in line for medical help was no big deal to them. Some stood in line for many hours just to be able to see a doctor or dentist. It was obvious, they had little of nothing and yet they smiled and were beautiful people. The children were playful and didn’t seem to have a care in the world.

What’s the difference? I say it’s perception. They don’t know any different, thereby their perception is, “this is the way it is”. My perception is , man this is different and it don’t have to be this way. Now that’s the real difference in Contentment. To God be the Glory for the U.S of A. But also, to God be the Glory for great things He has done. Many people were provided the only medical attention they will get until we go back again, and many people prayed to receive Christ as Savior during this trip. Would I go back and be uncomfortable? You bet ya! Would consider it a privilege. I have visions of little children embedded in my mind who smiled and said Gracias, even when I didn’t do anything for them. God bless the precious people of Honduras and Estoy mas o menos, ee todo esta bien.

The Secret to Contentment

2008-11-18T07:33:00.000-08:00

Seems as if my thoughts lately have not been what I did yesterday or recently but have for the most part been on things, places and people I knew long ago. That's really strange for me since most of the time, I can't remember yesterday, but seems that many years ago comes back to me very vividly. We use to live on a farm not to far from the house I mentioned in my last blog. Obviously, I'm not a farmer, its just too much work involved in farming. My father-in-law's family owned the farm and they had cattle, grew tobacco and raised some corn etc;. However some of the hardest work that I ever assisted in on the farm was when hay was bailed and stacked in the barn. You know hay isn't stacked on the ground, but it's in the very top of the barn, up high and where it's hot. Again, my thoughts come back to me that one day as we were putting hay in the barn, I can remember my father in law telling me to go to the loft and I was to stack the hay neatly and pack it in tight. Well, I'm a banker by trade and choice and not a farmer, but I did the very best I could. I'm not the strongest person in the world and would probably come closer to being one of the weakest when it comes to hard work. Putting hay in the loft of a barn is hard work. I can remember just after unloading a wagon full of hay bales, I just laid down in some of the hay. I was exausted, tired, sore and wishing it was over. However as I laid down in that hay, it felt pretty good, no in fact it felt fantastic. I was in "hay heaven" if you will. It was the most confortable place that I could imagine at that time. I couldn't have ask for a better place to be other than maybe in my own bed, but it was restful. I could even fell a breeze coming through some of the cracks int he side of the barn. This was good. Now, I've said all that to say this. I was content. Now think about that. It's clear that I'm in the top of a barn, hot as it can be, laying in a bed of hay and I'm confortable, I'm OKAY, I'm content. Contentment comes from perspective. It clear that a great deal of our happiness is rooted in our expectations, and not necessarily in any particular level of comfort in which we find ourselves. It's obvious, that my contentment came not from where I was, but from my perspective. Anything was better than lifting those hay bales, stacking them in tight and sweating like a pig. I'm more convinced than ever, that our expectations, whether met or unmet, are key to our contentment in this life. Whenever our expectations exceed reality, we experience discontent. Therefore, whenever our reality exceeds our expectations, we experience contentment. Now, I could have complained about the hay loft being hot, the hay not being comfortable, but in reality, it was better than I expected. Now what about our state of contentment or discontentment in our life today? Are we expecting too much? Do we criticise everything that comes our way whether it be good, OKay or even bad? Can we ever be happy? Can we ever be content? Well, only if we live in reality and consider all things and consider everybody else above ourselves. You see, I promise you that even in your worst time, in your worst situation, someone else has it worse than you. It really depends on your expectations and your perception. If you get your perception right and your expectations in line, contentment is possible even in troublesome times. Our perception should be reality. Reality is; God owns everything, God is in control, God is our provider and we should live out our lives expecting God to do only what God can do. Now that's contentment. Hope you have a very God contented day.

God's Word is never wrong

2008-11-13T05:20:00.000-08:00

Many times early in the morning, I'm awakened as if I have slept the full night and need no more rest. In other words, I'm fully awake. Normally, this is a time that I feel God wants to communicate to me and even sometimes He allows me to speak back to Him. Now don't get this wrong, I just think this is when God can catch me still and of course His word says to be still and know that He is God. Well, anyway my mind begins to wander and just so happened, I remembered something that happened a long time ago. Now you have to know me, I normally can't remember yesterday, but for some reason and I have to believe that God had a purpose to bring this to my remembrance. We were living in Tennessee and we lived two doors down from my in-laws. The house right beside us belonged to a relative. This relative had a young daughter who played with my daughters. My Father in law grew tobacco to help pay taxes on the farm that he and his brothers owned and when that tobacco was ready, it was cut from the field, brought in and placed in the barn to cure. When it was cured, it was taken off the stalk, tied and placed on a basket to be later taken to market and sold. Just so happened that one year because it was cold in the barn, my father in law brought some of that tobacco and put it in our garage and it was pulled from the stalk, tied and gotten ready for the market. It was warmer in the garage and easier to work. Many times, people would take the stalks and put them on their yards, one to hold down straw if if were a new yeard and two just to fertilize their present yard and the second was what we did. Now I've said all this just to set this story up. Again, all this was coming back to me early this morning. My duaghter and this her cousin who lived next door where playing in the yard. They each grabbed one of the stalks and were hitting each other with this stalks. Now the first thing that come to my mind, is they are going to put each others eyes out if they not careful. Isn't that what we always think and say. It's a wonder to me that we are all not blind from doing such silly things like this. So I called each by name and said, "You girls stop that, you're going to punch somebody's eyes out and then you'll be sorry". Well, my duaghter reluctantly put the stalk down and moved on to something else. Now she may have in her mind, thought, he's crazy, he over exagerates, I really don't know what she thought but she minded her dad because she knew consequences could arise if she didn't. Now the other little girl looked at me and said, "Your not my dad, I don't have to mind you". Well, needless to say what I thought, but she was right, I wasn't her dad and I couldn't correct her even thought I would have liked to take that stalk and leave it's prints on her behind, I was not her authority and she knew that. In other words, she was letting her sin nature, disobedience, rear it's ugly head and she was doing only what she knew how to do.
OKay, Why did I say all that? Well, this morning I was reminded that scripture says that God loves and because he loves, He chastens His children. I had just been given a view of what God really meant. I could chasten my daughter because I am her father, but I couldn't chasten her cousin because I wasn't her father(authoity) Now as I continued to think this through, I was reminded many times when the Heavenly Father has had to chasten me and it was those times when I said, "Your not my daddy, I don't have to do what you say". Yet His word says "For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He recieves. I couldn't wait to get up and find this in the Bible. I knew I had read that, but I couldn't remember where until I opened my bible and it on the page I opened to. Is that odd, just circumstance or was that God. Well I'll leave that up to your imagination and I'll believe what I believe in this. The best part about this is not just the verse that I was thinking of but the verses that come after it. The one's I've read before but didn't remember. Hebrews 12:7-17 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom the father does not chasten? But-----If you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore------we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of HIS HOLINESS.
Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore: strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all people, and HOliness, without which no One wlll see the Lord: Looking carefull lest anyone fall short of the grace of God: lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birhtright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

How many times have I said to God because I chose not to be obedient, "Your not my daddy, I don't have to do what you say". Everytime we choose to be disobedient, we chose to say to God, "Your not my daddy, I don't have to do what you say."

Well, needless to say, getting into God's Word this morning was a rich experience. There's many times that it's not that eventful for me, but I thank God for those times that I feel His presence, His knowlege and His wisdom and His reminding me that He is my Daddy and I do have to do what He says. I'm learning and living the consequences of previously saying, "Your not my daddy, I don't have to do what you say."

When God shows up

2008-11-07T06:16:00.000-08:00

Daniel 6:20-22
And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke saying to Daniel. "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?" Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever! "My God sent His angels and shut the lions mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you."

Wow! "That makes me want a shout Hallelujah, thank YOu Jesus, Lord your worthy of all the glory and all the honor and all the praise." When that song was written, they must have just read Daniel 6:20-22. When, not if, but When God shows up, you always know it. You see there wasn't just one lion that Daniel was facing that night, there was more than one, because God's word uses the plural here both in the words lions and mouths. Daniel was probably just a mouth full for those lions. Had they eaten him, they would have probably still been hungry and yet, not one bite, not one scratch,probably not even one growl. When God shows up, He demonstrates His power, His might, His control and absolutely nothing can defeat Him or change HIs plans. You see, God had a plan for Daniel and it wasn't to be food for the lions. Even though mankind, wanted to change the plans, Proverbs tells us that "many are a man's plans, but the Lord directs his steps". God has a plan for each of us and He will complete that plan regardless of the number of "lions" that come against us. He had a plan that His one and only Son would freely give His life on an old rugged cross just for you and me and nothing would change that plan and it was accomplished and today, you and I can have eternal life with Christ if we only confess the Lord Jesus and believe in our hearts that God the Father raised Jesus the Son from the dead and that today He sets at the right hand of the Father interceding for you and me. No army of lions can change that. The Shepherd watches over His flock.

Remember this, An army of sheep led by a lion, will defeat an army of lions led by a sheep. In this case we are the sheep being led by the Lion, of the tribe of Judah and the battle has already been won. It just makes me want to shout,
Hallelujah, Thank you Jesus, Lord your worthy of all the glory and all the honor and all the praise.

Think about it!

2008-11-05T04:53:00.000-08:00

Isaiah 55:8-9
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."

Proverbs 21:1 "A king's heart is a water channel in the Lord's hand: He directs it wherever He chooses."

The 2008 elections are over. As I write this, I'm thinking back to last night when the very first returns came in and I was praying that God would allow that trend to continue. Obviously, as the night progressed, that trend did not. The election was decided before the evening was over and now major changes can be expected in Washington, DC. We have to remember that our God is Sovereign. He is always in control and never surprised. His eternal will shall be accomplished here on earth just as readily as the angels hasten to do His will in heaven. We must continue to have total faith in our Lord and in God's plan even though His thoughts and ways are much higher than ours and we can't always see His plan. One thing we do know is we can trust His Hand. Many will question how this election can and will glorify God. You can be assured that God will glorify Himself and that all things work together for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes. This is just another event that must happen prior to the Rapture of the Church and soon followed by Jesus return as the King of Kings, ruling over all the earth.

Now that the election is over and the decision has been made, you and I still have much to do. It appears to me that the things that are important to those of us who support family values and the sanctity of life will have to be more fervent in our prayer life and also be more vocal in order to preserve the ground we've taken over the past decade. I want to challenge everone who reads this blog to remember these three things; 1. God is Sovereign and on His Eternal throne. 2. His plan is established through the ages, and cannot be changed by man's efforts, 3. It is His will that all men and women, boys and girls, have the opportunity to accept His free gift of salvation offerd through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, The Promised One.

Nothing, and I mean nothing can change these three principles of Almighty Sovereign God. We are in a new chapter of American history as we know it and we are in a new chapter of life here on earth. We all can make the most of it by keeping our trust in our Lord. Today, please pray for President Bush as he makes the transition back into private life and then pray for our next president and his family that God would turn his heart whatever way the Lord needs to to bring America back to the Lord.

2008-11-04T05:39:00.000-08:00

Two Flies were buzzing around a messy kitchen table that had the remains of a recently prepared bologna sandwich. The knife used to slice the bologna was covered with the little particles of meat. The two flies started at the tip of the knife and ate their way to the end of the handle. Then they flew away, only to become dizzy and fall to the floor-dead.

The moral of this story is: Don’t fly off the handle when you’re full of bologna.

Thought you might want to laugh before you read my blog today since I'm being very serious. Today is election day and the news thus far doesn't sound too good for the A team. I don't know what the end result might be, but I know that my God is still in control and if it doesn't come out the way I would like, it just may be that God is giving us all what we deserve. Think about it. Now think on this:

Exodus 18:21
“But you should select from all the people able men, God-fearing, trustworthy, and hating bribes. Place them over the people as officials of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.”
When God told Moses to choose leaders to represent Him and listen to the people He gave a specific criteria for who should be chosen. When the Israelites tired of rule under Samuel and the Judges, they demanded a king. They were tired of being responsible for their own obedience under the Judges so they did what was right in their own eyes. They wanted to be like other nations, looked for ways to increase their own wealth and began to cheat God on their offerings in the Place of Worship. When Samuel, under God’s direction chose Saul as their king, as Samuel had predicted he levied heavy taxes, took their young men for his armies and demanded more and more from the people. When their enemies conquered them, they took their harvests and made them slaves. Once the Israelites asked for and then received a King and his accompanying government, they were slaves to the system and never recovered their prior wealth and freedom.
God carefully instructed Moses to choose men who were not easily corrupted with bribes to be leaders. Our current financial crisis has been manufactured by those who took bribes, accepted favors, increased their wealth and brought the USA to the point of financial collapse. God said the chosen leaders should be trustworthy, those who would not make promises they could, or worse, had no intention of fulfilling, and had the well being of the people as the chief purpose of their election. God also instructed that well-qualified men be chosen and their limits of government be clearly laid out and were not exceeded.
Today, in the United States, we are voting in the most critically important election in the recent history of our nation. We will choose between two basic philosophies of government. One group of candidates will limit government growth, will not take more of our money and will deal with spiritual issues, such as the sacredness of life in a God-honoring way, and will continue the commitment to our God-inspired democracy as outlined in our founding documents; there is another group that is the antithesis of these standards. I encourage you to vote, and to make it an extension of your own life values and principles.

Do you have a "Michal" in your life?

2008-10-30T06:31:00.000-07:00

Have you every had a person in your life that seems to never see anything good about you or what you do. This could be a friend, a co-worker, a spouse, a child, a brother or sister. It is said that Satan always has a "Michal" to meet us whenever we rejoice or feel we have accomplished something that's good or even when we rejoice over something that God has done in our lives. In 2 Samuel 6:20-23 we read about David's wife, "Michal" and how she despised David because he wasn't who she wanted him to be. He didn't do things the way she wanted. He was happy and she was not. Now David couldn't throw all the blame on her, because he would have to admit that his marriage to Michal was not a God thing, God did not lead him to Michal. He won her by slaying Goliath and by fulfilling Saul's murderous requirments. This lifetime alliance with the family of Saul meant trouble from the very beginning as an ungodly alliance. Many couples have obtained their spouse through ungodly alliances and life will never be right for them because they chose to leave God out of their decisions. God would never have agreed for someone to divorce their spouse and go to another or to marry someone without God's approval. Life will always bring about unhappiness, unfruitfulness and shame. Michal never exhibited any faith in the God of Israel. She was jealous because she wanted David to act better than those whom he served. She wanted him to display his royal power in pomp and ceremony. David preferred to take his place with the common people and glorify God
David just had a God moment in praising the Lord and her words must have cut him deeply. Her words revealed a wicked heart and David knew even then that he must deal with the situation he had gotten himself into. We can't blame anyone else but ourselves when we go against a Holy God who knows His plans He has for us and we choose to mess it up. Well, as we read, we see that Michal died without children and this was great shame for a Jewish women to die without children. It is said that David answered this fool according to her folly. (Prov.26:5)

When others criticize you, and you know that your heart and motives are right, don't get discouraged. You see, if David had acted like most saints today, he would have just quit serving the Lord because of the opposition that his wife asserted. No, I'm glad that David gave the example of doing even more as you can read in Cpt. 7
The proper spirit to have is to honor God regardless of what obstacles Satan may put before you.

Growing our knowledge of God

2008-10-29T11:59:00.000-07:00

1 Peter 1:14-16, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance but, as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.”

Many Christians, including me, in the world today, need to grow in their knowledge and the doctrine of God’s Word. Before I was born anew, I did not know how to please God, and nothing I did or said could please our God. Once I became a child of my Heavenly Father, I needed to understand and learn how to conduct myself in ways that would please Him, just as when I was a child, I had to learn how to obey and please my own earthly parents. One of the problems with the Church today is that many of the members do not yet understand how to please the Father, and are still conformed to the old desires and ignorance out of which they were saved. Not that I have arrived, but I am attempting, sometimes poorly, sometimes better, to please my Heavenly Father because He has commanded me to do so.

Our Heavenly Father is a great and Holy God, His Name was so revered by the Old Testament Saints, they would not even pronounce it audibly, nor write it fully, using only the consonants to spell out the Name. The Commandments given to Moses for the Hebrews strictly stated no one should use the Name of God in an irreverent way, yet we use derivatives of His Name as expletives, allow profanities into our presence through our TV’s and radio, do not correct others when they use our God’s name in an irreverent manner, and I fear we will be held accountable. Even children from Christian homes see no harm in using the common phrase, “Oh my Gawd” in conversation, and even more prevalent in the letters OMG while texting.

God has commanded us to be holy, that is, sanctified, made pure, having no vileness or sin in our selves or actions, a perfect life dedicated to God’s glory. This can only be achieved by recognizing we are already fully covered, wrapped in the faultless, pure, white robes of Jesus’ righteousness.

We are saved from eternal death, we are fully forgiven, made perfect in Jesus the Promised One, and kept in His Hand. We should live this day and every day God allows us to have to the glory of our one and only true God that is eternally perfect in all His attributes.

An attribute is an inherent characteristic of a person or being. While we cannot describe God in a comprehensive way, we can learn about Him by examining His attributes as revealed in His Word. Below is a list of the Natural attributes of our God.

This first group is known as natural attributes
God is a Spirit---John 4:24 God is not a physical being limited to place and time as we are. He is present everywhere, and He can be worshiped anywhere, anytime. He became visible in human form in the person of Jesus Christ, but His essence is invisible.
God is changeless ---Hebrews 1:12
God is All Powerful---Genesis 17:1, Genesis 18:14, 25 Isaiah 40:27-31
God is All Knowing---Job 38:39, Romans 11:33-36, Job 37:16, Psalms 147:5
God is Everywhere----Psalms 139:7-12 Genesis 18:25
God is Eternal---2 Peter 3:8, Revelation 1:8

This second group is known as moral attributes
God is Holy----Isaiah 6:1-3, Ephesians 4:24
God is Righteous---Gen. 18:25, Deuteronomy 32:4, Romans 2:6-16 Romans 3;24-26
God is Truth---John 14:6
God is Wisdom---1Tim.1:17, 1Kings 3:8,9, James 1:5
God is the Source of Power in our Lives—John 15:5,6 Exodus 33:112-17
God is Love---Genesis 1:31, Psalms 145:9, Mark 10:18

Knowing who our God is, helps develop our faith in Him allowing us to stand up for Jesus, as a soldier of the Cross.

LOVING LOUD!

2008-10-27T12:41:00.000-07:00

Our church family just spent 3 days of what we called, "Loving Loud". I really can't tell you how many people were involved, but it was probably several thousand. This past Sunday, we celebrated all that was done. We had people here who served and those who had been served. I personally worked with the Medical Clinic. We served over 600 people during these three days and over 130 of them were seen by a Dentist and the rest were seen by a physician. Teeth were pulled, decays were filed and filled, Medications were prescribed and given and everyone of these people had the gospel presented to them. 160 persons in this group of people prayed to receive Christ as Savior. We had people who repaired homes, built porches, provided computers to a Foster Home and some trained to become Foster Parents. Angle House is a home for young (13-19_) girls and they were treated like royalty, given manicures, had their hair done, bought new clothes for them, took them to the movie and out to dinner. These are just a few of the many, many things that were done. There is a saying that goes like this; "Actions speak louder than words". Even now in this bad economy, our church spent over $200,000.00 just to love our community loud. Now, I only told you the amount, not to brag on our people, but to brag on Jesus. We realize that everything belongs to Him and we realize how blessed we are and how others are lacking. I couldn't begin to tell you all that I've heard that Jesus did during these three days and the one thing that continually rings true and that I hear from so many people is, "Let's not let this end". What an attitude, What a blessing, What a Savior.

Loving Loud is a Biblical Principle. 1 John 3:16-23 and of course we have no better example than Jesus Himself. John 3:16 As I think about this word love, I'm finding that it means so much more than I had allowed it to mean. When I say "I love" many times it was meaningless. Now I don't mean that I didn't love, but I was loving the way I thought it meant to love. You see, when Jesus used the term love, He meant something far different than what you and I have allowed it to mean. I always considered "Phileo" love as good enough love to please God. But God's love was meant to convey His Will to His Children concerning their attitude one toward another and toward all men and in so doing, God was expressing His essential nature.
Vines expository dictionary says, "Love can be known ony from the actions it prompts.
In other words, LIke this; God's love is seen in the gift of His Son. Obviously this is not the love of complacency,or affection, it is an exercise of Divine will in deliberate choice, made without assignable cause which lies in the Nature of God Himself. God's Love which He wants you and I to have for all men is this: Again from Vine Expo.Dictionary: "In respect of agapao as used of God, it expresses the deep and constant love and interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects,producing and fostering a reverential love in them towards the Giver, and a practical love towards those who are partakers of the same, and a desire to help others to seek the Giver.

Question for me: When I say, I don't hate, does that mean that I love and if so, is the same Love that Christ has for me and desires me to have for others.

I'm having a good and bad time with God today as you can see. I'm learning,but it's hard to be wrong and admit it and do something about it. Surely, God can use this with others as He has used it with me today.

Did you eat your wheaties this mornig?

2008-10-22T06:51:00.000-07:00

Manna in the Morning

Ephesians 6:11-12, “Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.”

In our daily lives, we often take the full responsibility of defeating the adversary and resisting his temptations. We need to be reminded we are only a minor part of the spiritual warfare, but we cannot fight the adversary in our own strength! This is not to say we do not need to be on the alert for every seemingly harmless thing that turn into major battles in our lives, but our warfare takes place in many arenas. First we have to be fully aware we do not fight against another person, the fight we face is not against a human enemy, we fight against Satan who may at times use individuals, but our fight is against the devil on a spiritual level. Next, we fight against a whole host of demons, dark angels, evil spirits and those who are expert in spiritual warfare, since they have been fighting for thousands of years. Third, we fight against all the unfair, deceitful, ugly, cheating tactics of the devil, the great adversary of God and Truth.

The warfare takes place in the heavenly places, where we cannot know, assist or affect the outcome of the battle. Daniel was told by Michael that he was delayed in answering Daniel’s prayer because he was in warfare with Satan himself. It continues in the minds and actions of rulers and authorities on this earth. There are those that are completely in the control of Satan because they have willingly sold their eternal lives to him for some earthly benefit. They will always be under his dominion and power, such as Mahmud Aminijad of Iran, who swears allegiance to a god not our Jehovah God Almighty.

We are part of the great army of God that can move mountains, cause God’s work to prosper, prevent Satan from harming those that love and serve our God. Our prayer life should be directed to thwarting Satan’s endeavors on this earth, not just on the wellbeing of those that are loved by us, but our prayer for our world, for God’s purpose to be fulfilled, and for souls to be saved from Satan’s grip are prayers that join the angels and spiritual warriors that ultimately will cast Satan into the lake of fire at God’s command. Our gracious Heavenly Father, give us a burden to enter into spiritual warfare on behalf of your Kingdom this day we pray in Jesus’ name.

New Questions for New Quiz

2008-10-17T07:04:00.000-07:00

OKay, Lisa won the first set of questions and I was convinced by several folks that the second set of questions were somewhat unfair for lack of study material by some. I agree and have withdrawn those questions from the contest. So here are you new questions. Now it's very important that you answer each question. Don't take anything for granted and don't leave any part of the answer out. Because I'm trying to grow the number of my blogging friends, each set of questions will require your getting someone new to get involved in the question contest. I want to get as many involved as possible, so remember, new people who have not been active in participating on my blog. Here goes. We will conclude this set of questions and anounce the winner by Wednesday October 22 in the PM.

1. Scripture teaches us about the Sovereignty of God which means that God is in all and over all. We learn that God's Sovereignty is creative, it's moral, it's beyond our comprehension, it's purposeful. God's Sovereignty also allowed man to have freedom which can mean that not all things that occurs in this world is God's will.
With this in mind, can you believe that Christ admitted to not knowing everything?
Tell me what,if anything, Christ does not know and tell me where you found it?

2. Biblically speaking, When was the "Ark of the Covenat last heard of?

3. God appointed certain Feast days as solemn,eucharistic meetings and all males and children from the twelfth year on were required to attend. These were seasons of joy and gladness, sacrificing and also entertainment. Name nine feast that God appointed.

4.There are several "Mary's" listed in Scripture. Name at least five of them and who they were.

5. What was Jesus first sermon, what was His text, where was He and on what day was it given?

OKAY! It was unfair questions

2008-10-17T05:13:00.000-07:00

OKAY! I've been beaten, stabbed and stomped on and I have to admit it was an unfair question since most people don't have access to apocryphal scriptures. Therefore without further comment, I agree and withdraw this last set of questions and will be much more careful for the remaining questions. Remember, the intent is two fold, one to get you and I to open God's Word, study it and two to bring new bloggers to this blog. So far, only five persons have actually participated. HELP ME HERE FOLKS, I saw a blog the other day where 220 people responded to a women who was talking about how to get the gray out of her hair. Surely talking about Jesus should be more important. Now Beth referred her blogging buddies to my site and many may have come over, but I don't know that since none chose to comment. Everyone of our blogs should be a something that helps people, puts smiles on peoples faces or something that draws them closer to Christ. That's my intent and that's why I thought the question contest might be a ploy to get some new readership. I remember in church several years ago, the moto was "Just one win One" and that's the idea.
Can you imagine haveing an audiance of 220 people that you can speak into their life. That's bigger than most churches. I believe the internet certainly is one avenue that has some many potentials that we haven't begun to understand it's vastness. Again, my heart is to have fun, have communication with my friends and family and bring more people into those categories. Give me your thoughts as I might be wrong in my approach. I've had others refer me to various sites, I just thought that might be the way to do it. OKAY,I've said that and more questions will be coming, hopefully before I leave my desk for the day.

Bible Test # 2

2008-10-16T12:28:00.000-07:00

OKAY--It's obvious that I must go a little deeper if I am to stump you. Lisa was the first to complete every question and answer each question correctly and have her person complete the questions also. Now this test is a little harder. So please answer each of the questions completely and don't forget I have two fold reasons for doing this. I want you to open your Bible, search for the answer and I also want new blogging friends who will drop in occassionally. Each time the questions will get harder and I will also throw in a Math quiz just to make you think. Here goes!
Let me also say that these questions will cause you to engage the entire scriptures as known to man. This should be a good clue for you as you search out these answers.

1. There were several times in scriptures that people were mentioned but their names were not given. Name at least six persons who fit this category. Tell me their names and where you were able to find this information.

2. Who were the 20 kings of Judah? Name them in their canonical order.

3. A man spends 20% of the cash in his wallet. Then he spends 20% of the cash that remains in his wallet. He spends $36.00 in all. How much csh did he originally have in his wallet?

4. Challenge someone who does not normally read my blog to answer these questions. They must log in and give me anwers in order for you to complete the test.

Good luck and there is a prize for the first to complete this test with 100% correct answers and has their blogging friend log in. You can work together or separate, but both must log in with correct answers.

Biblical Test--You must respond with your answers

2008-10-15T11:29:00.000-07:00

OK, I initiated this blog in order to be able to share Christ with those who would read. It's obvious that my readers are few and far between. So here's the deal. I'm going to post some Biblical questions and I want you to answer them. I also want you to tell at least one other person about this blog and have them answer the question also. I will announce the winner--'s as quickly as I feel all that is going to respond have responded. I'm hoping that by asking these questions, you will have to open your bible to find the answers and by doing so, you learn and I get to know more people. DEAL? Here goes, your first of many Biblical Questions:

1. Who was Israel's first High Priest? Who were his parents? Who was his sister?
Who was his wife? Who were his sons? What happened to his two oldest sons?
Was this man allowed to enter the promised land? Where did he die and at what age?

2. Who did you ask to check out these questions? Did they follow your leadership?

Please be as precise and directly to the point in your answers. We will announce the winner at some time in the future after several questions have been ask.

Hard to beat Tennessee

2008-10-14T10:43:00.000-07:00

Now just so that you don't misunderstand my title, I'm not talking about Football. In fact this year, if you don't beat Tennessee in Football, you probably would be considered a misfit. They have won two games and I'm not certain if they will win any more the rest of the year. Yes, I'm being pessimistic, but let's also be honest, they need a new coach. It's hard to keep going back to records(history) when your performance today(present) stinks. Now that's enough about Tennessee football.
What I was really referring to was a trip I took this past week-end to the hills of Tennessee. Traveling up to Pigeon Forge by way of state route 321 N. was very invigorating to say the least. I moved away from Tennessee in 1985 and have not been a resident of that state since then, however, once a Tennesseean, always a Tennesseean. There is probably no more beautiful state than Tennessee especially during the Fall season when the leaves are changing and falling to the ground. The weather was "God sent" and could not have been more pleasant. Although, everybody else in the world had the same idea about going to Tennessee at the same time, it still was very pleasant. You would be hard pressed to find a time when more people were there at one time. Traffic was a parking lot where ever we went. Gatlinburg was an impossible place to go, find parking and walk down the main street. Just a mess, but again, because the weather was so pleasant and the foliage was so pretty, it didn't seem quiet so bad. We stayed in a cabin and sitting on the front porch and watching the time fly by was still invigorating. I had forgotten what Tennessee looked like in the fall. Maybe, it's just because this old boy is getting old and my obtuse memory allowed me to go back to some good ole days in my past. God has been good to me,much better than I deserve and just to be able to sit down, rock in a rocking chair and remember some of the good ole times, places and people was just so relaxing. I had a great time rmembering when my girls were small and the times we spent enjoying the fall and some of the Sunday trips we made to N.C. and even to Gatlinburg because it was just 1 1/2 hour away. Obviously, Pigeon Forge has grown by leaps and bounds since then, it was still pleasant to remember those times of fall and family. Both my parents are in heaven now and I miss them greatly and I can remember a time when we came to the Smokies when I was just a young boy. The car we drove was a 49 Chevrolet and going across the mountain to Cherokee, we had to stop and put water in the radiator because the motor got too hot and spilled the water and antifreeze out. I can remember seeing bears along the road side trying to get food from trash cans. I can remember my mom and dad buying me an Indian head dress and a tomahawk. Oh my goodness, that was a long time ago. Well, I guess I've rambled on long enough, but I will conclude that this was a very pleasant weekend and I spent it in the hills of Tennessee.

By the way, I got this in my email while I was gone so, I felt it might just be the right thing to share it with all two of you who read my blog. IT's called the,
TENNESSEE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Some people in Tennessee have trouble with all those "shalls" and "shall not's" in the Ten commandments. Folks just aren't used to talking in those terms. So some folks in middle Tennessee got together and translated the "King James" into "Jackson County" language. NO JOKE, read on;
The Hillbilly's Ten Commandments (as posted on the wall at Cross Trails church in Gainesboro, Tennessee)

1. Just one God
2. Put nothin before God
3. Watch yer mouth
4. Git yourself to Sunday meetin
5. Honor yer ma & Pa
6. No killin
7. No foolin around with another fellow's gal
8. Don't take what ain't yers
9. No tellin tales or gossipin
10. Don't be hankerin for yer buddy's stuff.

I guess that's as plain as anyone can say it and it sure ain't offensive.

Remembering My Dad

2008-10-08T08:54:00.000-07:00

My Dad passed away on Easter Sunday morning in 1991. He had lung cancer and died six months to the day that he found out about the cancer. That's been over 17 years ago and I still miss him. My Dad was a great man and he really loved the Lord. I can remember prior to his being saved, how he responded mostly in anger and frustration, but after Jesus came into his life, he became a very gentle man. Now my dad only had a 7th grade education, so as the world would believe, he was not a smart man at all. But what the world didn't know about my dad was he had mucho common sense. He may have had trouble doing math, but he didn't have trouble using math. He may have had trouble using proper english,but he didn't have trouble saying the right things.In fact, when I was much younger, I use to think of my dad as someone who just wasn't to smart. In fact, if I'm going to be honest, I thought my dad was dumb. But something happened the older I got, the smarted he got or at least in my mind, that's the way it was. He became one of the smartest people I knew and then he died. You see there are thiings today, I would like to ask my Dad and I don't have that opportunity to do so. There are things today, that I believe my Dad could give me good sound advice and yet I can't ask him for it. So let me say to those of you who read this blog. If you Dad is still alive, ask him all the questions you can. Get as much information from him as you can. Someday, you will be like me, you won't have that chance to ask any more. I read the following just the other day and I believe this is so very true at least it is in my life.

The Fatherhood Cycle
When I was 4 years old: "My Daddy can do anything"
When I was 7 years old: "My Dad knows a lot, a whole lot"
When I was 12 years old: "Oh well--naturally--Father doesn't know that either"
When I was 14 years old: "Father? Hopelessly old fashioned"
When I was 21 years old: "Oh that man is so out of date. What did you expect?"
When I was 25 years old: "He knows a little bit about it--but not much"
When I was 30 years old: "Maybe we ought to dind out what Dad Thinks"
When I was 35 years old: "Let's ask Dad wha the would do before we make a decision"
When I was 40 years old: "I wound what Dad would have thought about that? He was pretty smart."
When I was 50 years old: My Dad knew absolutely everything"
When I was 60 years old: I'd give anything if Dad were here so I could talk this over with him. I really miss him.

That's my feeling exactly.

The Love Dare

2008-10-02T07:22:00.000-07:00

Well, yesterday, Beth mentioned something about going to the movie "Fireproof" and she highly recommended it to anyone who had not seen it. Well, I had seen it early on. One of the Pastors at Sherwood Baptist Church brought it to our church and showed the staff about 6 weeks ago. I loved it then and last night my wife and I went to the movie theatre and I saw it again. It was even more powerful the second time around. So in my blog today, I thought it might be good to just share the DARE with all (the two people)who read my blog. I really believe that God is going to do great and mighty things through this movie and I'm asking Him to do it even in me. What about you? Have you seen it yet? When you see it, will you apply it? Hope so.
Here goes:

THE SCRIPTURES SAY that God designed and created marriage as a good thing. It is a beautiful, priceless gift. He uses marriage to help us eliminate loneliness, multiply our effectiveness, establish families, raise children, enjoy life, and bless us with relational intimacy. But beyond this, marriage also shows us our need to grow and deal with our own issues, and self-centeredness through the help of a lifelong partner. (Now folks, I just have to stop here and confess, that I have messed up everything that you just read, big time). It goes on to say; If we are teachable, we will learn to do the one thing that is most important in marriage---to love. This powerful union provides the path for you to learn how to love another imperfect person unconditionally. It is wonderful. It is difficult. It is life changing.
This book is about love. It's about learning and daring to live a life filled with loving realtionships. And this journey begins with the person who is closest to you: your spouse. May God bless you as you begin this adventure.
But be sure of this: it will take courage. If you accept this dare, you must take the view that instead of following your heart, you are choosing to lead it. The world says to follow your heart, but if you are not leading it,then someone or something else is. The Bible says that "the heart is more deceitful than all else" Jeremiah 17:9, and it will always pursue that which feels right at the moment.
(Again, folks, I have messed up again, I thought following your heart was right and now I'm learning that I must lead my heart to do right. Wow, You never get to smart or too old to learn.)
We dare you to think differently---choosing instead to lead your heart toward that which is best in the long run. This is a key to lasting, fulfilling relationships.
The Love Dare journey is not a process of trying to change your spouse to be the person you wnat them to be. You've no doubt already discovered that efforts to change your husband or wife have ended in failure and frustration. Rather, this is a journer of exploring and demonstrating genuine love, even when your desire is dry and your motives are low. The truth is, love is a decision and not just a feeling. It is selfless, sacrificial, and tranformational. And when love is truly demonstrated as it was intended, your relationship is more likely to change for the better.
Each day of the journey will contain three very important elements:
FIRST, a unique aspect of love will be discussed. Read each of these carefully and be open to a new understanding of what it means to genuinely love someone.
SECOND: you will be given a specific dare to do for your spouse. Some will be easy and some very challenging. But take each dare seriously, and be creative and courageous enough to attempt it. Don't be discouraged if outside situations prevent you from accomplishing a specific dare. Just pick back up as soon as you can and proceed with the journey.
LAST: you will be given journal space to log what you are learning and doing and how your spouse is responding. It is important that you take advantae of this space to capture what is happening to both you and your mate along the way. These notes will record your progress and should become pricless to you in the future.
Remember, you have the responsibility to protect and guide your heart. Dont' give up and don't get discouraged. Resolve to lead your heart and to make it through to the end. Learning to truly love is one of the most important things you will ever do.

NOW THESE THREE REMAIN; FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE. BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE
1CORINTHIANS 13:13

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What a Word, What a dare! God help us all to love like you love.

For it or Against it ?

2008-09-30T11:15:00.000-07:00

Well, yesterday was a very eventful day. The market dropped over 700 points and the President said something must be done or we might experience something likened to the Great Depression. Now we are told that tax payers need to give Paulson 700Billion dollars so he can buy bad mortgage paper and bail the lending (investing) institutions out of this mess so they can again start lending to you and me or the small business man. We're told that if this don't happen by Friday of this week, Depression with a D will begin. Now if you look at the polls that Fox news is taking, over 70% of America don't want this bailout to occur. Does this mean that America really doesn't understand the magnitude of this problem or does this mean that America knows more than the Government. Well, I would like to be first to say, Congress is probably one of the most dumb group of people that I know, but unfortunately, this time, they are right that something has to be done. How can we be sure that 700 Billion will be enough. We can't nor can Congress guarantee this amount will work. Regardless of how much, something has to be done. Unfortunately, time is of essence and something, right or wrong, has to be done. If we do nothing, then the economy will start to shut down as we know it today. Banks will begin to close rather than consolidate. They can't stay in business, employee people without income. The grocery store can't get money to buy food to sell. You and I couldn't buy it because the banks closed and we don't have any money. The Government can't work fast enough to determine who has what. No gas could really mean no gas. The economy would shut down. We don't understand that or we wouldn't say don't do anything. If we had known in time, perhaps something realistic could have been done, but we don't have time on our side. Fannie and Freddie fed all the fat calfs and you can't make loans to people who can't repay and expect to make it up in volume!
You can't finance your way out of debt! I'm praying that God will give favor to America, but we sure don't deserve it. Remember we are the country that said no to Jesus in schools, God in our lanquage, We are the country that kills baby's and gives it no thought whatsoever. So we probably deserve anything and everything that comes our way, but I'm still praying for favor.

What do you think? This is a survey, so please respond.

Do you believe that the bailout should occur? Yes or No

Let me know.

Sun, Stand still---Moon stop

2008-09-23T06:13:00.000-07:00

Joshua 10:12-15

Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel:

"Sun, stand still over Gibeon:
And Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon."

So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
Till the people had revenge upon their enemies.

Is this not written i the Book of Jasher? so the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.

And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the Lord heeded the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel.

Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.

Wow! Have you ever wished that God would heed your request like that even when it might go against His established plan. I have, but It didn't work for me. Now I'm reading why. Because God said so, that's why. I guess I have to agree with that, don't you think?

The other day, I was saying to myself, just after a car(driver) about ran over me, "I wish I were a cop, I'd pull that dude over and make him pay big bucks."
"Cops are never around when you need them." They are probably having lunch with ++++

Then I was at the mall. Not my favorite place to be, but was doing my honey-do behavior and there was a group of young people, most of whom had pins in their noses, hoses and roses. Their hair was multicolored and they used vile language and just not the kind of kid you would want your kid to turn out to be.

My first thought was, "I would like to take that pin in your nose and run it clear to your brain if you had one". Then I would like to take that vile tongue of yours and pull it to the ground and step on it".

Now what if God heeded my voice in these two instances, the result would have been disasterous and I could have hurt or gotten hurt and no one would have believed in God because of my actions.

I guess what I'm trying to say is it's important to do the right thing, remember whose we are and who we are and represent Christ in a way that brings Him glory and honor.

Well that's my spill for today and I will let you go, but don't forget to respond and let me know that your reading these blogs. OK

What does it take for us to know that the Lord is God

2008-09-19T06:17:00.000-07:00

In Jeremiah 17:5-6 Thus says the Lord: "Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited."

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins. he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

To turn away from God and do our own thing brings about curses on our life. I know this first hand. Many times it doesn't just effect us as individuals, it also can effect many others, our family, those that mean the most to us. You see you and I can't sin and it just effect us. Sin has a way of spreading it's cancerous consequences on not only us but others. But thanks be to God, we can be forgiven, but sometimes the consequences continue. Scripture tells us that God is faithful to forgive and to cleanse, but it doesn't say He takes away the consequences everytime.

I'm reminded of Manasseh who became King at the age of 12 and for 55 years he remained King of Judah and he lived in Jerusalem. Even at the age of 12, scripture says that he did evil in the sight of God. You see Israel had already gone through defeat and destruction for disobedience to God. Manasseh's father, Hezekiah was a good man and had tried to bring Israel back to God and yet his son didnt' listen and he did more evil than Israel had ever done in it's history up to that point. Had bad was he? He did everything opposite of what his dad did. His dad tore down what was called the high places where they placed idols, gods etc; and Manasseh built them back. He raised altars to Baals, built wooden images and worshipped them. He worshipped all the stars and made gods by their names. He even built himself a god and placed it inside the house of the God. Now he not only did this evil, but scripture says he seduced all of Judah to do the same things. Scripture also says that God tried to speak to Manasseh and all of Judah but they would not listen. So here's what happened.
God allowed Assyria to come in and defeat Judah and when they found Manasseh, they put hooks in his nose and led him out of Jusah and they bound him up in leather straps and took him captive.

Now Manasseh did just what most of us do when we get into trouble or when we place other things before our God. He prayed! Scripture tells us that as evil as he was, His God heard his prayer and He answered his prayer. He was faithful and just to forgive his sin and to cleanse him from all unrighteousness. Scripture says that then after God brought him back to Jerusalem, that he knew that the Lord was God.
It took all those consequences of sin to bring Manasseh back to his God. He made all the changes that he should to restore his relationship with God but consequences remained and he then died.

God is faithful and just to forgive and to cleanse. Don't be upset if consequences of sin remain, but never forget that Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.

How long will you shine?

2008-09-17T05:43:00.000-07:00

I've recently heard of "moveie stars" "Hollywood" come down hard on Sarah Palin. They complain that she doesn't have experience, doesn't have what it takes to be VP or President. I heard one say the other day that she was not famous so therefore she shouldn't be in the lime light. Now I really thought that was nothing more than jealousy, but I don't guess I could expect anything deeper than that from Hollywood.
Then I heard Sarah Palin say that the thing that makes her qualified for the job is God working in her life. Now how better could one say it. She gives God credit, glory for who she is and for her future. This is a very wise women and in my book she shines better than any "movie star" who is in the lime light today.

Wouldn't you just know it, in my quiet time today, God led me to scripture that just fit into my thought process. Now it probably is the other way around, God allowed me to have thoughts that just confirmed His Word, but which ever way, God is true.
Listen to this: Speaking of the coming of Christ,Daniel the prophet wrote in chpt 12"At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall wake, some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. (this is good, listen what God says to you, me, Sarah Palin, to the whole world. Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.

WOW! Did you hear that? God says that if you want to stand out, give glory to Him,
Be a praising worshipper, Shine in His Kingdom, we are to seek out wisdom and win people to the Lord. This is not like the stars in Hollywood who come and go in a certain period of time, This is a for ever and ever period of time. ETERNITY!
How can you and I become wise, well God didn't hide it from us or just allow certain ones to be wise. In James 1:5 God says to everybody; "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. Then in James 3:13-18, we are told what real wisdom is.
So folks, we have no excuse for not shining like the stars of heaven, we have no excuse for not shining like the moon and the sun. God desires for us to do so.
Ecclesiates 8:1 says; Who is lie a wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? " A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the sternness of his face is changed."
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Sharing God's word with the world is God's plan for bringing in the sheeves. Jesus says that, He came into this world to seek and to save all that are lost. That was you and me and now, we have the awesome privledge to share what God has done in our life with the world.

Are you doing this? Are you shining like the stars? Are you giving God glory and honor by and through your life?

I challenge you to get into God's word today and begin to shine.

What'cha think?

2008-09-15T13:17:00.000-07:00

I ran across this poem today that was written by John Leland back in the early 1700's
I think. It was later put to music and a song was made of it. The more I read it, the more I liked it. I like reading poetry and the history behind it and or songs. Most of them have great stories behind them. Read this and tell me what'cha think?

Oh When shall I see Jesus
and reign with Him above
and from that flowing fountain
Drink everlasting love!
When shll I be delivered
From this vain world of sin,
And with my blessed Jesus
Drink endless pleasures in?

But now I am a soldier,
My Captain's gone before
He's given me my orders,
And bids me not give o'er;
And, if I hold out faithful.
A crown of life He'll give'
And all His valiant soldiers
Shall ever with Him live.

Through grace I am determined
To conquer, though I die;
And then away to Jesus
On wings of love I'll fly.
Farewell to sin and sorrow,
I bid you all adieu;
Then, O my friends, prove faithful,
And on your way pursue.

Whene'er you meet with troubles
And trials on your way,
O cast your care on Jesus,
And don't forget to pray:
Gird on the heav'nly armor
of faith and hope and love;
And when the combat's ended,
You'll reign with Him above.

O do not be discouraged,
For Jesus is your friend;
And if you lack for knowledge,
He'll not refuse to lend.
Neither will he upbraid you,
Though often you request,
He'll give you grace to conquer
And take you home to rest.

And when the last loud trumpet
Shall rent the vaulted skies,
And bid th'entombed millions
From their cold beds arise;
Our ransom'd dust, revived,
Bright beauties shall put on
And soar to the blest mansions
Where our Redeemer's gone.

Our eyes shall then with rapture,
The Savior's face behold;
Our feet, no more diverted,
Shall walk the streets of gold
Our ears shall hear with transport
The hosts celestial sung;
Our tongues shall chant the glories
Of our unmortal King.

Try this

2008-09-12T06:05:00.000-07:00

Have you ever read the Proverbs only in the positive and then only in the negative. I challenge you to do it. Now here is what I mean. Today is the 12th of September so I'm reading the 12th chapter of Proverbs. Here's a new way to read these proverbs of Soloman, son of King David.

12:1 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge.
12:2 A good man obtains favor from the Lord
12:3 But the root of the rigteous cannot be moved
12:4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband.

So on and So forth: Then read the negative like this

12:1 But he who hates correction is stupid
12:2 But a man of wicked intentions He will condemn
12:3 A man is not established by wickedness
12:4 But she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.

There is such contrast in the Proverbs that I sometimes find it easier to read them like this and I tend to remember them better by sometimes reading them like this.
Not Rocket Science or anything like that, but just a way sometimes to emphasize the positive and the negative of life lessons. Just try it one time and see if God can speak to you in a more personal way. We should all try to get closer to God each and everyday and anything that will help us do that is worth trying.

Soloman was the richest and most wise man in his day and God uses these proverbs of Soloman to give us common sense approach to life. Again, this too is not rocket science, but just the heart of God. I've learned to love the Proverbs and if you and I had no other Word from God but the Proverbs, we could come to know Christ and we could know what God wants from each of us and the path that He would have us to be on.

Well, today is Friday and I will leave this with you until Monday. Hope you and yours have a great week-end and don't forget the Lord's Day and sometime between the time you read this and Sunday, find time to spend with God and do your best to be open to the Spirit of God speaking to you. God bless.

Two Treasuries, Two Perspectives, Two Masters

2008-09-10T13:41:00.000-07:00

Martin Luther said; "I have held many things in my hands and I have lost them all. But whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess."

Jim Elliot said; "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

In the greatest message ever preached, Jesus addresses the believer's proper relationship to money and possessions:

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where theives do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

"No one can serve two masters, Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." Matthew 6:19-24

Jesus always had two kingdoms in mind. He spoke here of the two treasuries, two perspectives, and two masters of those two kingdoms.

Each couplet presents two options and demands one choice. There's a default choice if "no choice" is made. Unless the right choice is deliberately made and tenaciously clung to, the wrong choice will naturally be implemented. In that case, as if on automatic pilot, people will spend their lives investing in the wrong treasury, adopting the wrong perspective, and serving the wrong master.

Question? What treasury, What Investment, What Master are you contributing to?
Be honest now. Which means the most to you. The things here on earth,or the things in heaven? Honesty here will help you get real with where your heart is and knowing where your heart is is essential to serving the right master.

Making it through the Storm

2008-09-09T08:37:00.000-07:00

We've heard lots of news lately about the storms(hurricanes) in South Fl. and Louisiana and how many lost their lives down in Haitti, Cuban etc; It's a terrible thing to have to suffer through when everything you have is on the line. Many of these people losts everything they had but their life. Storms are of awesome power and the winds, rains, lightning, thunder are all under the control of our Heavenly Father. Did He purposely send this storm to kill people? No, but He did allow these storms to happen. This morning, I was reading about another storm that Jesus allowed in Matthew 14:22-33 I'll let you read it, but here are a few things that I got out of these passages. 1, There are lessons to be learned out of every storm we go through. Jesus used the circumstances of this storm to teach his disciples about Faith or the lack of Faith. 2. Not every storm comes about because of disobedience. Notice in vs.22 it says that Jesus MADE His disciples get into the boat. In other words, they were obeying Jesus but the storm still came about. 3. The disciples couldn't see Jesus, but He could see them. Scripture tells us that they went before Him and they Jesus went into the mountain by Himself and that He was there alone. We should always remember that trusting Christ (Faith) is without vision. We don't just trust in what we see, but what we don't see. When we can't see His hand, then we have to trust His plan. 4. Their fear eventually became their joy. They seemed to be without hope, just knowing that they were going to die in this storm. Believing they were going to sink, they became fearful. Jesus chided them a little by saying, " Oh you of little faith". How many times has He said that to me? Thousands! It's much easier to trust what we can see than to trust what we cannot see. 5. Jesus ALWAYS comes through at the right time. His timing is not always our timeing. Jesus is always available with His hand stretched out to bring you and me to Himself. Many times we just have to do this through faith and not because we can see His hand. His thoughts and ways are much higher than ours and we cannot always know where, how, why, when what He is going to do, but we can always know He is always there because He promised to never leave us or forsake us.

The folks going through these hurricanes know first hand, either they trusted or they did not. No man could stop the winds and they became catergory 4 winds. In scripture today, our Savior can stop the winds or the storms of our lives if we but just trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not into our own understandings, but in all our ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct our paths. You see, one day in the storm with Jesus, the disciples learned how to trust. Perhaps you are going through a storm in your life. Maybe the winds are howling around you, perhaps the rains are soaking you down. Be of good cheer, Jesus has His hands out waiting for you to take hold and give Him that storm.

Back in the saddle again

2008-09-05T07:03:00.000-07:00

Well, a week at the beach is enough for anybody and now I'm spending a few days back in Tennessee with Beth and Lisa. I love coming to Tennessee at this time of year. You can see the change of season is in the air. The leaves haven't changed, but the grass is just not as green as in the summer. The air gets cooler at night and it's just something in the air that says, Fall is in the air. I had dinner with Lisa last night and we got to talk about her children, my grandchildren. I love talking about them. I'm so proud of them and yet I can see how God has worked in and through their lives. Their mom and dad have been faithful to teach them and help them see Christ in everyday life. They didn't give them everything they wanted and that has helped them to appreciate things much more. Zach called me and told me that his golf team at school won a tournament and that he shot a 77. Now that's my boy. Zack went on two mission trips this summer and he got so excited about doing God's work. Golf was his life and all he talked about but I heard him say that life was not made up of just golf. Now he still loves the game as his granddaddy does, but he sees the picture much bigger now. Anna, fell in love with missions and she wants to go back now. She is working hard at school and working hard so she can buy those backpacks that I'm hearing about. She is top notch and a beautiful young lady. Is she perfect. Well! in my book she is but I know that life is tough for a young girl today and I pray for her daily. Now, let's talk about my oldest grand-son. Brandon was always the kid who could make top grades without much study (like his mom) and he was the one that I thought would perhaps be a doctor, lawyer etc; but after about 3 years of college, he's got burned out and has stopped going to school and has gotten a job at a bank. Now that's not what I would have planned for him, but you know, God is in charge and he is God's child and I have to trust that God will have His perfect will done in and through Brandon's life. I pray for him everyday also. Well, this morning Lake had to go to school and Kaden and Granddaddy stayed together while his mom took Lake to school. Special times with your grandchildren are just the greatest times. Kaden always has funny things to say. This morning, he says "Granddaddy, I know how to cook breakfast. I put milk in cereal" No doubt he got that from his mom, ha. Now my youngest daughter is still back in Atlanta and I always miss her when I'm not there. She is the youngest and probably the most spoiled. I like to think that all my girls are "daddy's girls", and if their not, I still like to think so. Their mom, might think different, but this is my blog and I will say what I want and think the way I want. OK? I will be going back to Atlanta either Saturday or Sunday morning and back to work on Monday morning. My schedule is fixed and counseling is heavy at this time. I will be traveling at the end of September and then the next thing you know, it will be Christmas. Well, enough of this scribble, I've bored you to death, not that I really believe anyone has read all this, but hopefully I will be back to my normal blogging next week. See ya then.

Another Battlefields and Blessings blog

2008-08-22T08:05:00.000-07:00

Well I decided to read this again today and it was just were I was in reading scripture. Matthew 6:9-13 and Matthew 7:7-11

Jackson's Hatred of War

On April 17, 1860, a few weeks before Virginia seceded from the Union, a peace conference was held in Washington, D.C, to try to avoid a war. Stonewall Jackson was heard to say:
"If the general government should persist in the measures now threatened, there must be war. It is painful to discover with what unconcern they speak of war, and threaten it. The do not know it's horrors. I have seen enough of it to make me look upon it as the sum of all evils." His Wife Mary Anna writes (However it may surprise those who knew him only as a soldier, yet it is true that I never heard any man express such utter abhorrence of war. I shall never forget how he once exclaimed to me, with all intensity of his nature, "Oh how I deprecate war!"
Jackson went on to say:
Should the step be taken which is now threatened, we shall have no other alternative; we must fight. But do you not think that all the Christian people of the land could be induced to unite in a concert of prayer to avert so great an evil? It seems to me that if they would thus unite in prayer, war might be prevented and peace preserved. (His wife Mary concluded)...In his public prayers after this, his most fervent petition wa that God would preserve the whole land from the evils of war.

It's interesting that the great warrior, Stonewall Jackson, hated war so much. he took no pleasure in the prospect of war, but he was willing to do his duty if called upon to defend his cherished state of Virginia. Jackson's faith in the power of prayer wa his first answer to war's inevitable horrors. he believed that if all
Christians would unite in prayer, was could be avoided. Jackson describes this united effort as "a concert of prayer." There is power in the united effort of praying people.

As a Christian, do you believe in the power of "a concert of prayer"? If Christians all over the world or even here in America were to be a part of "a concert of prayer" concerning the coming election, the coming of Christ or the salvation of People, perhaps we too could change the coming days. Think about it. Prayer is the Key to heaven, Faith unlocks the door. Good song and very true.
I will be off for couple of weeks and will not be blogging. Stay tuned, stay clean, stay pure and know that if Jesus taries His coming, we as Christians need to join in
"a concert of prayer" for our nation.

Battlefields and Blessings

2008-08-21T11:42:00.001-07:00

A good friend of mine wrote a book entitled Battlefields and Blessings. This is a daily devotional book with stories of Faith and Courage from people who lived and died during the Civil War. I haven't kept up on a day to day basis but every once in a while I get the signed book down and look at it. Today I just happened to read January 18th. Now I know I'm way behind but I've got so many devotional books and right now I'm sticking to "My utmost for His Highest" but I still love to read about the Civil War. I wanted to share this day with you.

THE WAR IS OVER
Confederate Soldier Walter Sullivan wrote:
Desertion from the ranks was a major problem for both sides during the war. Fear was only one of the factors that led me to desert. The miserable daily life of the soldier---the lack of food, clothing, shoes, (particularly in the South)---led men to desert the army. The call from the home front might be too great to resist....many mothers and wives wrote letters encouraging their men to desert and come home to feed and to protect them. Many soldiers answered the call....Two confederate deseters had been caught in Floyd County and placed before a firing squad. As the order to "fire" was about to be given, a rider approached. He bore the message, "The War is over! The war is over!"
The two deserters believed their lives had been spared, but the Confederate officer did not believe the news and gave the command, "fire". The two deserters died, but for nothing; the war was over indeed.

The word "finished" is telos in the Greek meaning "to bring to a sense of completion or end." A war has been waged from eternity past between the forces of heaven and of hell. satan's foremost plan was to keep Jesus from implementing God's eternal plan. If Satan could erect some type of roadblock, then he would be thwarting the way of salvation for lost people. But when Jesus was dying, his last words were not of gloom and defeat, but words of victory. He won the battle on the cross and sealed it with his resurrection. Unlike the two Confederate soldiers, Jesus death was not in vain. Therefore, we have no cause to fear death---we can welcome it as a friend.
In John 19:30 Whe n He had received the drink, Jesus said, "it is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up the spirit.

It no doubt was a hard time during the Civil War. Many men lost their lives through battle, through starvation, through cold and freezing weather and I'm certain that many wanted to depart the ranks and go home, "desert". What about the soldiers of Christ today, many are also departing the ranks and deserting. Jesus says that when this happens, we can know that His return is soon. Praise God today for the words,that Jesus spoke on the cross, "It is finished". We can stand firm and know that the war has already been won.

Morning Quiet Time

2008-08-20T05:04:00.000-07:00

This morning, as I was reading scripture, I just so happened to be reading John 15&16 The first 8 verses of chapter 15 have really eat my lunch for some reason. There is an issue of which my daughters know about that I've been praying through for many years now and this morning seemed to be a revelation to me. Here's how my thought process went.

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser" I always imagine grape vines when I read this passage. My grandmother use to have grapevines along the side of her house. These grapevines sometimes would produce many grapes, the real deep purple ones which were so sweet and some years, it seemed like the grapes just were "so-so", not much "punkin" you know what I mean? I don't remember lots and lots of stories about my grandparents, but I do remember my granddaddy who was an itenerate preacher, cutting the grape vines back to almost nothing and I always wondered why he did that. It just did not make sense to me, it appeared that he would kill the grapevine.

"Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit". I remember that the grapevine would run down a clothes line and it seemed much bigger by doing that, but he would cut it back almost back to where the grapevine went down into the ground.

So as I'm thinking about that, I find myself asking God, not to take away branches, but to prune the branches in my life so that fruit can be produced and glory and honor comes to Him. And as I was praying that and just stopped reading and prayed and prayed that God would do a great work in the pruneing of my life, I felt release and peace. Then I read the next verse and it said;

"You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you." I felt like God and I were just having a conversation. You see, I'm visioning either a cutting back a short distance for the pruneing and a cutting all the way back to the trunk of the vine and that part being thrown away to be later picked up and placed on a heap for the fire. But it was if Jesus were saying, "You are mine and I just need to prune you, not dead limbs but just some that need to produce more fruit.
Wow! what a feeling, what a picture that I received. Better still, What releif! Jesus said, that if I confess Him with my mouth and believe in my heart that God has raised Him from the dead, that I would be saved (in other words, HIS) I remember when that happened for real. You see, I did that when I was young, but there was no real change, but on Dec. 3, 1971, at First Baptist Church, Blountville, Tn, I prayed and ask Jesus to come in and do what He needed to do. Then He came in and cut everything back to the trunk. You see, I had no fruit producing limbs on me. Cutting back and throwing the dead part on the heap to be burned was what He had to do, and now all He is doing is just pruning so that more fruit will be produced.

Now the rest of those verses: "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (so that's why He needs to prune) If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Wow! Wow! Wow! I've read those verses hundreds of times, but never like this morning. Jesus says that He does the pruning, He is the one who produces fruit through me and I have to abide. I can do nothing without Him. Oh, how many times have I tried to produce certain fruit. I can't produce fruit,Jesus does and all I have to do is abide in Him. So now, I'm questioning, Lord what does abiding mean for me?
Have you ever seen a limb grow that was not attached to the tree? Never! Have you ever seen a tomatoe grow that wasn't attached to the tomatoe vine? Never! So now, it appears that God says to me, OK you made the first decision on Dec 3, 1971 which was necessary to become attached to the vine, but so many times you have tried to grow on your own. You tried so hard that you forgot where your source is! Wow! Wow! Wow! YOu just need to abide (stay in my Word, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, Be all that God intends for you to be, Stay attached to the vine, realize the giver of life is God and God alone,) and so much more, but you get the idea and
God says, I want to grow you, so that the fruit of the Spirit is settled in and through you and when I do that for you, you will be in a position that you will only want what I want and desire what I desire and I will see to it that you get it if that's your desire because you were created to bring God glory and honor.

Hello! All these years, I've wanted a good thing and I believed God for it, but I wanted it for me. Not for God, Not for anybody's sake but mine.

Perhaps you are not feeling the way I am right this minute, and that's OK but let me tell you, this has been a "God moment" or whatever time it was. I love it when this happens. The light comes on and God gives you wisdom from on high. Praise God for His undiscribable gift.
I apologize if I rambled but I'm just a tad excited. God bless each of you who read this today and my prayer is that God give you some of those "God moments" in your life also.

Randomness from the Randumbness

2008-08-19T12:05:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been awhile and I've been swamped and I believe I would have to get a ladder to see rock bottom. It really doesn't pay to be away from work and I'm getting ready to do something I haven't done in the eleven years I've been at First woodstock. I'm going on a two week vacation. Now I get four weeks per year and I've always taken one week at a time and have carried over some weeks just because I haven't either had the time or the money to go any where. But I'm going to be gone for two weeks. Now the last time I was gone for one week, I came back and had over 240 emails. Now that takes awhile to read and answer all those. Some, I can just delete but most I have to answer. Did I hear someone ask where I was going? Well, I'm so glad you ask. I'm going to Panama City, Fl. Normally we go to Destin which is about 60-70 miles west of Panama but this year, it's Panama City. I intend to do absolutely nothing unless I just want to. Brenda and I haven't done something like this in many years and we are going to do it. Now Faye is out there trying to raise up some fury but that don't even bother me. I think it would just be terrible ha,ha ha, if I had to just sleep for one solid week and couldn't get out because of weather. I love great sea-food and the Gulf is a great place to get good sea-food. I use to live in South Florida where the very best of sea-food is found, but I will be glad to settle for gulf sea-food. When I come back from Florida, I imagine we will go to E. Tenn. to see family. Beth and Steve and Lisa and Mitch will be so glad to see me coming, no doubt in my mind. Normally, I stay at Beths, because Lisa and Mitch both work and they have strange schedules and it's just easier to stay at Beths and I love aggrevating Steve. He loves his father in law and loves to see me coming.ha I have five grandchildren and normally I get to see four of them. The oldest grandson is at Tenn. Tech, (I think) (maybe) (perhaps) just don't know about that boy. He's very smart as it pertains to books and learning and he's somewhat less smart when it comes to life living. I still love him very much and I believe one day when he has sowed all the oats he can, he will settle down and be something great. The other four I normally get to see. Anna works and goes to E.Tenn. State U. and Zach is a senior in high school. Lake is in second grade and Kaden is like his mom and has it made. Well, this about all I can say at this time since I'm not the random guy.

"I'm only a bellman"

2008-08-12T11:56:00.000-07:00

What does it mean to carry your cross daily? Is it to be humble? a servant? God centered and others-centered? not self centered?
To be a servant is ultimately in our eternal self-interest. Randy Alcorn (my favorite author) wrote in his book "Safely Home" about a man who dies to himself daily. Li Quan is a brilliant scholar, Harvard Summa Cum Laude, serves as a locksmith's assistant because in China, an outspoken Christian can't be a university professor or great writer. He quotes Martin Luther King who said," If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets as Michel Angelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the host of heaven and earth will pause to say, "here lives a great street sweeper who did his job well." In his book, titled "Heaven" Randy tells of meeting a Bellman in Atlanta who was a great Christian who died daily, but was happy to do so. So what does it look like? Here is an excerpt of that description.
He writes; Should we be excited that God will reward us by making us rulers in His kingdom? Absolutely. Jesus said, "Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven." Matt. 5:12 God will choose who reigns as kings, and I'm confident some great surprises are in store for us. Christ gives us clues in Scripture as to the type of person he will choose: "Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth, blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" Matt 5:3,5,10. Also God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may life you up in due time" 1 peter 5;5-6
Look around you to see the meek and the humble. they may include street sweepers, locksmith's assistants, bus drivers, and stay-at-home moms who spend their days changing diapers, doing laundry, packing lunches, drying tears, and driving carpools.
Randy says that he gave his book on heaven to a hotel bellman in Atlanta. This man spends his days carring peoples luggage and seving them in countless ways. Randy discovered he was a committed Christian and this bellman told Randy that he had been praying for all the writers who had come to a convention and were staying at his hotel. When Randy gave his book to this man, he seemed stunned and overwhelmed. With tears in his eyes he said, "You didn't need to do that. I'm only a bellman." He said it immediately struck him that this man had spent his entire life serving others and was so happy and humble to do so that it will likely be someone like this whom Randy will be serving in God's kingdom. He was only a bellman who spoke with warmth and love, who served, who quietly prayed in the background for the success of Christian writers conference at his hotel, his appointed place of service. Randy says he saw Jesus in that bellman, and there was no "only" about him.
Who will be the kings of the New Earth? Randy says he thinks that bellman will be one of them and he will consider it an honor to serve and carry his bags.

Our bus driver drove us back to Atlanta and prayed before we left and he was so happy to serve us that way. Bill Stromate may be a ruler in the coming Kingdom of God.

You can never be separated from the love of Christ

2008-08-07T11:20:00.000-07:00

Do People mistake you for Jesus?

2008-08-05T08:30:00.001-07:00

I thought you might enjoy the following. I sure did and conviction set in and makes me really think about my actions.

A few years ago, a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago. The had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner.
In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table, which held a display of baskets of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed boarding, all but one.
He paused, took a deep breath, got in touch with his feelings, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned. He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were allover the terminal floor. He was glad he did.
The 16-year old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as teh crowd swirled about her, no one stopping, and on one to care for her plight. The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them into the baskets, and helped set the display up once more. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket. Whe he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, "Here, please take this $20. for damage we did. Are you Okay? She nodded through her tears. He continued on with , "I hope we didn't spoil your day too badly."
As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered girl called out to hi, "Mister.." He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes. she continued, "Are you Jesus"?
He stopped in mid stride and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: "Are you Jesus?"
Do people mistake you for Jesus?

That's our destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace.
If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would. Knowing Him is more than simply quoting scripture and going to church. It's actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day.

You are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked you and me up on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.

This should compell each and everyone of us to be more Christ-like in our thoughts and actions. Love is a verb not a noun, put it to work today.

God's Word is so Compelling

2008-07-31T10:51:00.000-07:00

Well, I wanted to write this blog this morning but was unable due to being so busy. So here I go trying to remember all that God was sharing through my thoughts as I read Proverbs 31. Most of us know this passage and we hear it mostly on Mother's Day. It speaks of a virtuous wife or one that is morally excellent. As I read this for the (umpteenth)(many) time. I tried to get the feel for what all God is saying about this type of women. You see, He wasn't talking about a particular women but was trying to say that a women of moral excellence is noted for doing particular things and He list many things that a women like this is found doing. He begins by saying, money can't buy her because of her real value to her husband and her husband knows he is worth much more with her than without her. Everything she does brings about worth to her and her family and there is no laziness about anything she attempts to do. She is a hard worker and is not afraid of work and usually can be found working both night and day. She is an early riser and can also work late into the night. She's a good business person and is aware of a good deal when she see's it. She is generous to her family and also reaches out and helps the less fortunate.She plans ahead and even bad weather doesn't freight en her because she is prepared. Because her husband is known in town, she does everything she can to not bring about harm or hurt to his and her names or families. She is a women of intelligence and is known for her kindness. She doesn't waste time but uses her time for benefit of her family. Now with all that, it sounds like this kind of women is just a figment of one's imagination, however the real test of this virtuous women is this. Her children recognize her for her value and love and they bless her and sing her praises. Not only her children, but her husband sings her praises and puts her on the pedestal that she belong on. This type of women doesn't have to wonder if her husband or children love her because they continually show her the value she presents in their life. God says that many women have done well, but the women who does these things cannot be outdone. Then God promises that if this kind of virtuous women will fear God, then God will also see that she is blessed and everyone around her will know of her relationship with the Heavenly Father.

Do you know anyone like this. Well, I've been thinking about all the women in my life. You know, My Mom was a virtuous women and she loved God with all her heart. Because of her health, she didn't work outside the home,but she made things go further than anyone I know. She love her children and her children's spouses. She was known for a women who feared God. I know for a fact that she prayed all night without going to sleep for one of her daughter-in-laws. I do believer today that all her children rise up and called her blessed. You see, my brothers and sisters would be nothing outside what my Mother taught us and what she demanded her children to be. She prayed everyone of us to Jesus and I'm thankful that we all are in the family now. I also believe that each of my daughters have many of these virtues and are growing toward maturity as a virtuous women also. The greatest thing in this world for a women is to fear God and have her children call her blessed and her husband also. Well, these were just some of my thoughts today. My mother passed away in early August three years ago and today I had her on my mind and these verses reminded me of her. I know other women who fit this mold and I feel blessed just to have known them. Guess I've bored you stiff by now, but this was in my heart and head today and I thought I would share it with you.

Learning to be content

2008-07-28T11:00:00.000-07:00

Psalms 119:33-38 Just tell me what to do and I will do it Lord, as long as I live, I will wholeheartedly obey. Make me walk along the right paths for I know how delightful they really are. Help me to prefer obedience to making money! Turn me away from wanting any other plan than yours. Revive my heart toward you. Reassure me that your promises are for me for I trust and revere you.

Today, I was reading about the Martyrded Missionary Jim Elliott who felt called to serve God among the Auca Indians in Ecuador. His life span was only 29 years and yet his journals revealed that he was so content doing what he knew God's will for his life.
Jim Elliott wrote in a letter to his family, "Remember you are immortal until your work is done. But don't let the sands of time get into the eyes of your vision to reach those who still sit in darkness. They simply must hear."

Just before he left for the last time Elisabeth (his wife) asked Jim if they were attacked by the Aucas, would they use their guns? Jim's response was clear and certain: "We will not use our guns!" When Elisabeth asked why he simply said, "Because we are ready for heaven, but they are not."
On January 8, 1956, Jim Elliot, along with Ed McCully, Roger Youderian, Peter Fleming and Nate Saint, wiated hopefully for another meeting with the Auca or Huaorani Indians, haveing had serveral friendly encounters in previous days. However a group of 10 Huaorani men attached the five missionaries and brutally murdered them. Jim Elliot's mutilated body was found downstream in the river. There was no funeral, no tombstone for a memorial. However, on resurrection day the glorified bodies of these champions for Jesus will rise from the dirt of Eucador! Jim left behind his wife Elisabeth and a baby girl. They had ony been married less than three years.

Now it's easy to understand why I have answered the call of God on my life to teach stewardship to the church. I work hard at it and I love every minute of it, but no one is threatening me, no one will probably do me harm just because I try to teach them about stewardship. I don't have to leave my family and I've got it pretty easy if I have to say so. But I have to ask myself, What does it take for a man to give all to Christ and give all to the message of Christ? What kind of committment did this man have that I don't have. IT's a committment of contentment with God and His infinate will for one's life. You see, I like my committment, but if you added danger or perhaps the possibility of loss of life or leaving family, would I be as happy about this call? In all honesty, probably not. That's why I admire Jim Elliot. One among many is his famous saying that I quote time and time again, but today, it's meaning is greater than ever before.

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose"

Great Week for My Devotional Time

2008-07-25T07:12:00.000-07:00

I try real hard to spend quality time with God every morning. This week has been especially good. I read a chapter of Psalms, a chapter of Proverbs and normally I'm somewhere in the New Testament also reading a chapter. Someone taught me a long time ago to journal my thoughts and I do that. Now this is not a diary but just my thoughts which run from one end of the spectrum to the other. Some days I do well with that and some days I don't do so well. Some days, after having read scripture, I feel like nothing new and then at other days, it's like Jesus just wrote that scripture last night and it was only for me. Ever have those type of "Quiet Times"?
Well as I said, this week has been good. Proverbs has been rich this week and I've read them hundreds of times before, but for some reason, these verses have taken on new meaning or at least I've been able to apply them personally. My trip to Israel back in 1997 has made the Old Testament come alive more than ever. Psalms really has new meaning as I have read chpts 46 thru 51 this week. I've read all of 1 Timothy this week and it's been alive. Ever have those times? I've been the exact opposite before seeming like they were just words and having very little meaning. I don't have those too often but they do happen. Whatever the reason for either of these situations, I'm glad God's Word is alive and that I have the privledge to read it. I'm reminded that in many country's I would not be allowed to do so without persecution or even death. We need to love God's Word, we need to love to read God's Word and we need to love to share God's Word. Sorry if I bored you with this, but just so happened this is where I am today and maybe tomorrow, I'll be not so boring.

Will Wonders never cease!

2008-07-24T05:15:00.000-07:00

This morning in my quiet time, I was reading in Proverbs 24 (because today is the 24) that wisdom is too lofty for a fool and that it's wisdom that makes us strong enough to make right decisions. Well, I moved on, drank my coffee and drove to work.
While reading some of the emails I received over night I came across an email from Author Randy Alcorn. (only because I'm on his mailing list, did I tell you, he's my favorite author?) He made mention of a recent Barnas Survey of 35,000 professing Christians. In this survey 57% said they believe that there is more than one way to get to heaven. This 57% believe that different religions have different ways to get to heaven, but they will get there by their own beliefs. Now this was from supposedly professing Christians. Now the thought comes to mind, that several years ago, Billy Graham made the statement that 50% of people who have their names on church roles are lost people. As I travel from church to church, I'm wondering if he was being gracious in his thinking of only 50% being lost. What has happened to TRUTH. John 14:6 just becomes a thought rather than real TRUTH if these people are right. If these people are right then my Bible becomes a book of fiction and is a marriage of writings of ignorant people then. I'm here to proclaim, that My God is an Awesome God, He reigns and takes a back seat to no one or nothing. He is the ony way, He is the only TRUTH and He is the ony Life and HE says NO ONE CAN COME TO HIS FATHER EXCEPT TRHOUGH HIM! What is this world coming to? It is coming to an end as we know it and I'm believing that we might just hear the shout of His coming at any time. Please be ready people, please be ready, for He will come when we least expect Him and then????????????

New Movie coming in September

2008-07-23T07:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we had the producer of the new movie "Fireproof" give a pre-viewing of their new movie. If you remember, this is the church in South Georgia that made the movie "Flywheel" and "Facing the Giants". Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany Georgia
is doing awesome things through this type media. Having seen the entire movie now, I have to say, this is the best yet. I cried through much of it and it is so much like real life. I won't tell you about it so that I don't ruin it for you when it does come out in September. For the men, they also intend to give a 40 day assignment which is a "fireproofing of your marriage". I whole heartedly recommend this movie and it's a must for married couples to see. God is all over this movie and the Gospel is very plain and convicting and I believe many people will come to Christ and many marriages will be healed after viewing this movie. If a couple comes away from this movie without being changed, then I'm not certain if they can be changed. It's a must for men and women and you will agree with me, I'm sure, that it is so much like real life as each of us know it. When I lived in Tennessee, in addition to working at a bank, I was also a volunteer Firemen. My Father in Law and his Father in law were both volunteers and in fact all the fire calls came in through their phones at home. This movie was filmed using the Albany Fire Dept. and many of the things they did, reminded me of days gone by. One of the important things that firemen are taught is never leave your partner. If you do, bad things can happen. This is true in real life and in marriage and obviously this movie drums home the importance of sticking it out and backing your partner up. OK, I said I wouldn't tell you about the movie and so I guess I sorta did, didn't I? OK, no more, you have to go see it when it comes out in Sept. I'm told it will initially be seen in over 1000 movie theaters. Go see it. OK

Now that I have placed a big advertisment for this movie, I guess I should talk about something else. If you have read Beth's blog, you can tell that in body she is still at home but in mind and spirit, she has already gone to Disney World. Now she made mention that "her dad always says that he doesn't know where people get the idea that they deserve a vacation". Now Beth tends to stretch that statement to mean something that I really didn't mean. She has the suttle ability to do that you know. What I really mean is that I see people everyday who will go on vacation even when they can't afford it and will use credit cards to do so and when then struggle all year long just to try and make ends meet. That type of thinking comes with, "I deserve a vacation, I've worked hard and I've earned it." That type of thinking is just ludicrous. Now I'm grateful that Beth and hubs don't do that, but as a Dad, I'm always trying to teach and I'm grateful that hopefully my three daughters have learned from "old dad". Did I mention that my youngest daughter is leaving the same time Beth is, but they are going on a carribean cruise. Lisa and her husband just came back from vacation and so soon all three will have gone and come back and then I'm going to rub it in good because I am then going on that vacation that nobody deserves. KNOw what I mean Vern.

I've calmed down for now.

2008-07-15T08:28:00.000-07:00

In my quiet time this morning, I read Rev. 22 and it spoke of the River of Life and the Tree of Life and just so that I don't take that running spell or that shouting spell again, I will wait till later to tell you how that spoke to me. I'm getting ready to go to a church in Gainesville, Florida where I will train people in the how's, why's and when's of financial counseling. The training is 20 hours long and done in two and one half days and is very demanding on me. I have been ask to preach in two morning worship services and also the night service this coming sunday. I would appreciate anyone who reads this if you would pray for me as I try to accomplish what God has placed inside me to share with this church. The church's weekly attendence is around 2500 persons and I'm aware that God wants to do a great work in the lives of those members. I never speak to others that God doesn't really want to do a real work in my life and for that I'm always greatful. Not always receptive, but always greatful.

Blessed by His Word

2008-07-11T08:01:00.000-07:00

In my quiet time this morning, I read Proverbs 11, John 21, and Psalms 103. Because God is so good, He spoke to me through His word this morning and I just had to shout!
So if you haven't had a running spell for awhile or a shouting spell for awhile, just read God's word and therefore I feel compelled to share it with you.

Psalms 103
1. Bless the Lord, O my soul: And all that is within me, bless His Holy Name!
2. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
3. Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases,
4. Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness
and tender mercies.
5. Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like
the eagle's.
6. The Lord executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.
7. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.
8. The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
9. He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to
our iniquities.
11. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those
who fear Him.
12. As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions
from us.
13. As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him.
14. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.
15. As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone. And it place remembers it no more.
17. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear
HIm, And His righteousness to children's children,
18. To such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do
them.
19. The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.
20. Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding
the voice of His Word.
21. Bless the Lord, all you His host, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
22. Bless the Lord, all His works, In all places of His dominion
Bless the Lord, O my soul!

For some reason this morning, I really needed that and as God's Word penetrated my heart, it was most obvious to me, that God is sooooooo Good and what He has done for
me is monumental even from the smallest to the most important and He did it all through Jesus. What a WORD, What a Jesus, What a Savior, What a God!
I'm running right now, and I think I may have to shout again.

Getting Settled in time to go again.

2008-07-08T12:28:00.000-07:00

Well, I no sooner got back from Honduras till I spent a long week-end at Beth's and Lisa's. It was good to see my girls and my grand-children. Anna and Zack just came back from a mission trip on Friday night and I don't believe I have seen them so excited over anything like they were over this trip. Although we didn't get to talk all that long, it was eveident to me that they had experienced God during their trip and for that I am eternally greatful. Going back home is a good feeling and I certainly miss my children, grand-children and others that I love so much. I even got to have breakfast with my brothers and sisters. Will wonders never cease? I always come back to Georgia, realizing that this is the place that God has for me at this time and I'm always praying that one day God will see fit to return me back to the hills of Tennessee. I started back to Georgia Sunday morning early and it was gray and cloudy and I expected rain any minute yet I had a song in my heart and I was excited about getting back to work and doing the things that I know that God has called me to do. Do you know what God's will for your life is? I pray that you do but if not, remember Romans 12:1 & 2 tells us what God expects from us and how in so doing what he calls us to do, we find out what His will for our lives really is. Today, even though I miss my two daughters in Tenn. very much and I really miss being around my grand-children, I am content in being in Georgia doing the will of my Heavenly Father. Now, I will never finish all my e-mails and I will be behind until Jesus comes back and if He taries until next Thursday, I will leave again, this time going to a church in Gainesville, Florida to teach and preach God's great Salvation plan through the art of Financial Fitness Counseling. I am more content in doing the will of the Father than at any other time in my life. I've made many mistakes in my life, hurt my family, responded in the wrong way, decided to hate rather than love and yet, my Heavenly Father calls me to do His will through my ministry and blesses even when I don't deserve it. Yes, contentment is great gain and God's love covers all mistakes. So until next time, I'm still thinking on the Revelation blog, but not sure of what I will write on next. Seems like the random thing works good for right now.

WELL ! I'M BACK

2008-07-01T10:22:00.000-07:00

Got back real late Saturday night, got into bed about 1:30AM and got up at 6:00 and drove my wife to Maryville, Tenn. to spend a week with her mother and father and brother and sister-in-law. Got back to Georgia about 3:00PM and I haven't rested up yet. In my last blog, I left my readers with the following and ask you to guess what it meant. "Donde estan los servicion" You guessed it, I needed to be able to ask the question "where's the bathroom"?

Well what a trip. We flew into San Pedro Sula, Honduras and from the time we touched ground to the time we returned to Atlanta, God was all over every aspect of this mission trip. I've seen poverty before, but not like I saw there. Living in mud huts was in some cases better than some of the cardboard boxes I saw. Everybody distrust everybody and walls around the houses that cost more than the house itself and bars on every window and armed guards at every business. It was a sight to see.
Thirty five established gangs were within a five mile radius of the church we worked at and everyday, we were able to share Christ with a few of them. Several came to know Christ as Savior. Here's the final statistics. we saw 1781 patients of which 250 were also Dental patients. Pulled 406 teeth, 32 filings(only because the electicity was on a few hours per day) and we fitted 600 people with a pair of glasses. The real good news about this is 532 people prayed to recieve Christ as Savior. The local church had already scheduled a baptism service down by the river.
One story about a young married couple. The wife said she had thought about coming to the clinic but decided not to because she didn't want to bother with it. She fell and cut her arm and about a 3 inch gash and her husband brought her to the clinic and we sewed her up. Her and her husband both prayed to recieve Christ. God has a plan for us all and he came to seek and to save all that is lost and even though this young couple was doing all they could to not be saved, God had a plan, and it only took a cut on the arm to bring it all about. That's my God. Go GOD!
Well, I was touched by all the children who were sick. Most of them don't have enough to eat and their little belly's were what I would call "pop belly". They were full of parasites and yet they smiled and wanted to love on me. No telling what desease they might have had, I just had to cry and love on them at the same time. My heart was broken knowing that my children are so healthy and my grandchildren have some much and here are kids with nothing but a smile and they seemed happy. My, how spoiled we are and how uncontented we seem and unthankful for what we have. God have mercy on us for complaining and not giving more to HIM for such a time as this. Yes we have hurting people in America, but compared to these people, there's nothing to complain about. I talked to a young man whose wife had just told him that she was leaving him for another man. He was so distraught and felt like he had nothing to live for. He had two young children with him and they were beautiful. As best I could, through an interpretur, I shared the love of Jesus with this man and he prayed to receive Christ. You see, God had a purpose for me going if for no other reason than to share Christ with this man. He not only has Hope now, He has everything to live for. His children and Christ. Well as you can see, I'm walking high today even though I have 10,000 emails waiting on me and even though I covered up with counseling appointments. I had to share with you because I know some of you promised to pray for me while I was gone. Not sure what my blogging will be about in the coming days, but I get to go home and see two of my three daughters and 4 of 5 of my grandchildren. Hope I get to see my brothers and sisters while I'm there and who knows maybe others that I love dearly. So until later, remember this; God has a plan and a place for everybody and He never fails and never leaves us.

Leaving in the AM

2008-06-20T07:27:00.001-07:00

Buenos dias Senor and senora and senoritas, Well, we've packed and filled 25 suit cases full of medicines and medical supplies. We've repackaged some medicines as if the prescription has already been written and we are ready to go to San Pedro Sula Honduras and later on to Comayagua Honduras. We have two doctors, two dentist, two P.A. and numerous nurses and special medical assistants going on this trip. Actually 42 of us. It would be a legitimate question to ask, Why am I going? As I said before, I really don't know why yet, because my only medical experience was when I was in the military and that's been many, many years ago. I can't speak Spanish, but I am learning a few phrases. Que tenga un buen dia. Como estas. Estoy bein gracious. Como se llama usted? Mi nombre es Eduardo.

That's about it at this time but I hope to know more soon. Last year, we had over 500 persons pray to receive Christ during an eight day clinic. Over 350 teeth pulled, over 1000 people seen by doctors and 15 suit cases of medicines dispensed. We anticipate many more this year. So I'm excited and expectant of God to do something even more abundantly than I can imagine. Oh yes, I have learned one other phrase which at the age of 62, almost 63, I really needed and I'll let you figure this one out. Donde estan los serviciou? Pray for us and the people that we will minister to.

Just had to share this with you.

2008-06-16T10:40:00.000-07:00

This morning in my quiet time, I came across this statement. "None of us can enthrone the true God unless in the process we dethrone our other gods." Wow! That really caused me to think. Do I have other gods still on the throne? Then I remembered another statement that I had read during the time I was writing about the Rapture. "If Christ is not Lord over (you fill in the blank), then He is not our Lord." Because this statement set heavy over my thinking, I had to take inventory as to what or who I might give preeminence to over or before Christ. Folks, the more I thought about this, the more God brought to my remembrance of things I cherished or perhaps placed before Him. Listen to the list: Time: Many times I spend 30 minutes or even an hour in quiet time before God and think I've done well. But at the same time, I spent 3 hours yesterday afternoon watching Tiger Woods in the U.S. Open. Effort: Saturday, I worked furiously and hard getting things ready so the painter could get started painting our house on Tuesday. I took all the screens down, I moved all the plant stands, I even fixed a window lock that needed adjusting. I was serious about this and I made all the changes that were needed in order to get this process started. You could say, I was zealous about doing everything just right. Yet, this morning as I came to work, and just in case you don't know this, I work at my church as a Stewardship Pastor, thinking, I dread this week because I have so much to do. Money: I tithe more than 10% of my gross earnings and I give offerings above that and this morning as I came to work, I saw a man standing at the intersection with a sign that said, "Hungry, homeless, please help and I drove on by without giving him much of a second thought.

These are just a few of the things that came to my mind and I'm certain that if I continued to consider these things, that God would bring other things to my mind where I allow other things to be more important. You see when I saw that man on the street corner, my thinking was, "Yeaa, I bet you have more money in your pocket than I do. You see, this man may have had more cash in his pocket than I do, but the principle would be the same if he didn't. The question here is where is my compassion. Jesus spoke about the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37 Two religious leaders passed by and did nothing and the good samaritan not only bandaged him up, but saw to his needs for many days to come.

OK, I just had to blog about this, because I think we all sometimes allow other gods to come before God and we need to do some "dethroneing". Just thought you might relate to this. I certainly want God to be Lord and I many times take Him off the throne of my life by putting other gods on the throne.

The last and final Question on Rapture

2008-06-13T07:59:00.000-07:00

Well, the more I studied the Rapture, the more I concluded that this is a subject that could be written about forever. There is so much that I could write about but I must admit, some of it is confusing. Only confusing because of my lack of understanding, certainly not confusing to God and maybe not even to you. We've not discussed the historical and Hermeneutical basis of Pre-trib, Intervening events in heaven and earth, nor the judgement of Israel or the Gentiles, the Partial Rapture theory, the doctrine of the end and the Day of the Lord, the work of the Holy Spirit now and then and on and on. So then, I must come to a conclusion on this issue of Rapture vs. Second Coming and I must decide where I stand in my understanding of God's Word and what my Spirit allows the Spirit of God to convince and convict me of. What it really comes down to is this: Is my faith strong enough to believe that God will do what He says and am I willing to take HIm at His Word when He says, that He has gone back to prepare a place for me and that one day He will return and take me where He is and that we will be together for eternity. Do I believe that the Church is His Bride and that just as any Groomsmen would do, he will protect her.
Do I really believe that "Hope"is saftey and security or will that "Hope" allow me to suffer under the Great Tribulation? Many, Many questions and within the church today there are many, many answers. Only one is right and I pray you will study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
I believe scripture itself proves that the church is in nowise involved in the Great Tribulation. Scripture futher demonstrates that in spite of the fact that tribulation has characterized the warfare of the saints through the ages, a future time of trouble is in prospect for which the term"the great tribulation" represents.
Will the church be translated or go through that Great Tribulation? You must conclude that we will not. Well, I've done the best I can to help you and me see the clarity of the Rapture Questions and now it's up to you. What will you do with what you've read. What will you do with the rest of scripture? My prayer for you is that you will know that you know that you know what you believe and why?

Well, I'm going on a medical mission trip to Honduras. Don't ask me why, because all I know is that I'm just being obedient to what God has placed before me. I can't speak Spanish and I'm not a doctor or nurse and yet He said "Go" and so I'm going, not knowing what to expect other than I know His plan for my life and I'm living it out at this time. Then shortly after returning, I hope to go see Beth and Lisa and my grandchildren. This summer is real busy, I am speaking at several churches on Stewardship and will be training financial counselors at 3 different churches this summer. Next June, I will be going to the UK and train over 500 financial counselors in a two week period of time. I love doing what I do and I can't believe that they pay me to do this. God is so good and so in control.
Next , I'm thinking that I may either go through the book of Revelation vs by vs. or who knows, I may just do some random blogging. Let me know what you would like to hear. It really does make a difference if you just say "hey" to let me know your out there. God bless and will be back shortly;

Done it again!

2008-06-12T06:07:00.000-07:00

Well as you can see, If it takes brains, I can't do it. I had written the last blog on Raputre and didn't save it and when I tried to post it, it was Raptured, I guess. Oh Well, perhaps later today, I will attempt to re-write this final blog on Rapture and perhaps this time, I will "gether done".

Final Question on Rapture

2008-06-12T05:32:00.000-07:00

Question #7 Rapture and Second Coming Contrasted

2008-06-11T13:58:00.000-07:00

OK, are you current now and have you followed all of the Rapture Question so far? Because the Rapture is so important to our beliefs concerning the HOPE we have in Christ, knowing what you believe is so important. Now today, I want to contrast the Rapture or Translation to the Second Coming of Christ. Many people try to harmonize these two by suggesting they are one in the same, but those who attempt to do that must resort to wholesale spiritualization of details that do nothing but clash and they have to turn a blind eye to the striking differences as described in Scripture.

(a)At the time of Rapture (translation), the saints will meet the Lord in the air.
(b)At the time of the Second Coming, Christ will return to the Mount of Olives which on that occassion will undergo a great transformation, a valley being formed to the east of Jerusalem where the Mount of Olives was formerly located. (see Zech. 14:4-5

(a)At the Rapture,(Christ coming for His church, the living saints are also Raptured (translated),
(b)At the coming of Christ to establish His Kingdom, there is no translation whatever

(a) At the Rapture (translation)of the church, Christ returns with the saints to heaven.
(b) At the second coming, Christ remains on the earth and reigns as King.

(a)At the time of the Rapture(tranlation), the earth is not judged and sin continues,
(b)At the time of the second coming, sin is judged and righteiousness fills the earth.

(a) The Rapture(translation) is before the day of wrath from which the church is promised deliverance.
(b)The second coming floows the great tribulation and outpoured judgement and brings them to climax and culmination in the establishment of the millennial kingdom.

(a)The Rapture(translation) is described as an imminent event.
(b)The second coming will follow definite prophesied signs.

(a) The Rapture(translation)of the church is revealed only in the New Testament
(b)The second coming of Christ is the subject of prophesy in both Testaments.

(a)The Rapture(translation) conccerns only the saved of this age.
(b)The second coming of Christ deals with saved and unsaved.

(a)At the Rapture(translation), only those in Christ are affected.
(b)At the second coming, not only men oare affected but Satan and his hosts are defeated and Satan is bound.

Now agreed, there are some similarities in the two events, but contrary to some opinions, that doesn't prove they are the same. There are some similarities between the first and second coming of Christ, but these have been separated by almost two thousand years. After the church is Raptured(translated), tribulation saints will be able to see the distinction of the coming for Rapture(Translation) and the coming to establish the kingdom in full clarity.

Now just a small note to really confuse you, some Pre-Trib believe in what is called a partial rapture meaning that only those who are faithful in the church will be raptured or translated and the rest will either be raptured sometime during the tribulation or at its end. They believe "The saints will be raptured in groups during the tribulation as they are prepared to go." I do not intend to give any more mention of this because, again, I believe our HOPE is in Christ taking us away from the Great Tribulation.

That's enough for today and I hope this is interesting to you. If it is, please let me know, It helps just to know that someone is actually reading this and getting something out of it. Just say "hey" just to let me know you want me to continue.

Question #6 The Rapture Question

2008-06-10T09:51:00.000-07:00

OK, have you kept up with the questions so far? Ask yourself right now, Of the things I have read, what makes the most sense to me at this time? Of course, you don't have to understand when and how it happens, because that's why we call it "hope". It's faith believing that God is true to His word and having never been raptured before, it's all a faith issue. You've never seen God and yet you beleive. Right? Same thing here, this is something not seen, but believed to be true and therefore, "HOPE" is what we have.
OK, we discussed last time, who is the church that is mentioned when we talk about the Rapture? Again, you must know what you believe about this in order to determine what you believe about the rest. Much of the confusion arising from these things I've been discussing as to whether the church will go through the tribulation has its source in difference of opinion as to the nature of the tribulation itself. Both the post-trib and the mid-trib views have a different concept of the tribulation than the Pre-trib position. Their views depend upon less literal interpretation of the tribulation passages. A literal interpretation of Scriptures dealing with tribulation, however, supports the pre-trib concept. Interpretation of scripture is very important as you study this aspect of what is going to happen. Post-trib believe we are in the great tribulation now. Now is the great tribulation and tribulation one in the same or are they different. Chapter 7 of Rev. uses the phrase "great tribulation" and the other question here is the confusion with church and saints. Many Scholars say this is only place where the term Great Tribulation is used in scripture, but Christ used this same term in Matthew 24:21 and in the old testament it is used in Jeremiah 30:7 and is referred to something obnormal in Daniel 12:1. Scripture reveals in many passages that the church may expect tribulation. Christ told his disciples in John 16:33 they would experience tribulation and he told them in John 15:20 that they would be persecuted and Paul and Barnabas told beleivers in Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch that they must go through tribulation to enter into the kingdom of God. Paul also says in Romans 5:3 for us to rejoice because of tribulation and obviously Paul and John both mentioned tribulation many times in their writings. Now this said, I believe that there is a difference between tribulation and the great tribulation. we as Christians are told we will go through tribulations and persecutions but the future time of Great Tribulation will concern 3 classes of people. 1. the nation Israel; 2. the pagan Gentile world; 3 the saints or elect who will live in that time of trouble. It is of utmost significance that every scripture which describes the participants in this future tribulation period refers to Israelites as Israelites, Gentiles as Gentiles, and the saints as saints without ever once using any of the distinctive terms that apply to believers in this present age. The tribulation passages in the Old and New Testament further illustrate that there is a twofold purpose in the time of great tribulation: 1. to bring to conclusion"the times of the Gentiles" (Luke 21:24
2. to prepare for the restoration and the regathering of Israel in the millennial reign of Christ following the second advent. The purpose of the tribulation therefore is not to purge the church, nor is it primarily a discipline of believers. It deals in broad terms with both Gentiles and Israel in anticipation of the collapse of Gentile power and the restoration of Israel as the nation.
In conclusion: When we look at the major portion of Scripture dealing with the tribulation confirms that the church is in nowise involved in the time fo future trouble. Even though tribulation has been characterized as the warfare of the saints through the ages, it is eveident that there will be a future time which is termed "Great Tribulation". Therefore you should not be confused with these two terms, "Tribulatin" and "Great Tribulation".
Now ask youself this Question: After reading the scriptures mentioned in this writing, what makes the most sense? What do I really believe now and if I am part of the church, where is our "hope" if we have to go through that"Great and terrible day". Hope this helps and I hope it gives you more "hope" in Christ as the Savior of mankind. Stay tuned next as we talk about the translation and the Second Coming.

Question #5 Who is the Church as used in Scripture?

2008-06-09T07:46:00.000-07:00

OK, I'm back from a needed weeks vacation. Just a note of interest, perhaps, we went to Nashville, Tenn. I was born and lived in Tennessee good portion of my life and never went to the Grand Ole Opry, but now I can say, I've been there and done that. Saw Carry Underwood, Montgomery Gentry, Old Bill Anderson, Jim Reeves and other's I don't remember. Stayed one night at Opryland Hotel. One night is all I could afford, and now I have to eat crackers for a week to make up for it. Went to the Hermitage(President Andrew Jackson's home) and obviously sought out every mall between Atlanta and Nashville. Ok I'm back and ready to talk about the church.

I told you in my last blog, that I'm a pretribulationalist and it's safe to say that pretribulationism depends upon a particular definition of the church, and any consideration which does not take this major factor into consideration will make any communication, beside the point.

If the term "Church" includes saints of all ages, then it is self-evident that the church will go through the tribulation, as all agree that there will be saints in this time of trouble. If, however, the term "church" applies only to a certain body of saints, namely, the saints of the present dispensation, then the possibility of the translation of the church before the tribulation is possible and even probable.
So, defining the "church" is all important in order to determine what and how we should believe concerning the Rapture.
In the New Testament, the Greek word "ecclesia" is found in at least four important meanings. It is used to mean, 1. an assembly of people. In this sense it has no special theological meaning. it can refer to Israel as a gathered people in the wilderness (Acts 7:28) or a regular assembly of citizens (Acts 19:39) or a group of people gathered for a religious worship.(Heb. 2:12)
2. The same word is used for an assembly of Christians in a local church (Acts 8:1,3; 11:22,26) and in the plural for a group of such churches (1 Cor. 16:19; Gal. 1:2) Each assembly or church has a local gathering composed of professed Christians. That all in the assembly are not necessarily true believers is clear from messages to the seven churches of Asia. (Rev. 2-3)
3. Ecclesia is also used of the total of professing Christians without reference to locality and is practically parallel in this sense to Christendom. (Acts 12:1; Rom. 16:16, 1 Cor. 15:9; Gal. 1:13, Rev. 2:1 3:22)
4. The same word is used of the body of Christ, composed of those baptised by the Holy Spirit into the church. (1 Cor. 12:13) Ecclesia used in this connection becomes a technical word referring to the saints of this age.

The church future in Matthew 16:18. The teaching that the body of Christ in the New Testament is a separate entity is supported by the predictive statement of Christ. "Upon this rock I will build my Church." The figure of speech rests upon the concept of a future undertaking. Christ did not say, "I am building" but "I will build". It is significant that this is the first reference to the church in the New Testament, and is here regarded as a future undertaking of Christ Himself.

The body of Christ was formed at Pentecost. (Acts 1:5) Christ predicted: "John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence". Ten days later was the Day of Pentecost. The classic passage on the baptism of the Holy Spirit, 1 Cor. 12:13 declares: "For in (by) one spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit." What does this mean? The Baptism of the Spirit is the act of God by which the individual believer of Christ is placed into the body of Christ. The Spirit is the agent by whom the work of God is accomplished.

Now let me say, that The church age, Daniels seventieth week, the mystery of One Body, The church as an organism, Christ in you, Christ the fullness of the Godhead bodily, the indwelling Christ the hope of glory, translation of saints as a comforting hope, are all issues which we could discuss, but you would leave me before I could say any of these things, so let me conclude with this;
Based on the usage of the word ecclesia in the New Testament and the obvious contrasts in the character of the church to believers in either the Old Testament or the future millennium, I have to conclude and I believe scripture validates this, that the body of believers in the present age which composes the church has a distinct place in God's plan and program and as such is contrasted to saints who will come to know Christ in the tribulation period or in the future millennium.
Therefore, when the question is considered whether the church will go through the tribulation, the last generation of the church living on earth at the time is in view and must not be confused with those described as saints or with Israel or with the elect in the tribulation period. One other note: Never are tribulation saints referred to as a church , or as the body of Christ, or as indwelt by Christ, or as subject to translation or as the bride.

Now you have to decide if these questions spur your thinking and what of all this do you believe. Remember faith is the substance of things not seem. Does this help you as you go forward to knowing that you know and does it put things in place for you as you give thought to the provoking Question of Rapture of the Church. Stay tuned and I will give you some thoughts to consider when you think
"Tribulation" as contrasted to "The Great Tribulation".

Need a week of rest

2008-05-30T06:40:00.000-07:00

I will be out for a week and expect to pick right up where I left off. We will define the church and what the church can expect before and during the Rapture. Hope you have a good week of blogging and Just like Jesus said, "I'll be back".

The Rapture Question #4

2008-05-28T10:53:00.000-07:00

Ok, in our last blog, we stated that if the church has to go through the Tribulation, then it is futile and perhaps even dumb for us to claim the coming of Christ as an imminent hope. Instead, it should be recognized that Christ cannot come until these predicted sorrows have been accomplished. On the other hand, if Christ will come for His church before the predicted time of trouble, Christians can regard His coming as an imminent daily expectation. Much of the difficulty in arriving at a solution of the Rapture Question has been occasioned by failure to define carefully the term "tribulation". Until the nature of the tribulation is established, it is impossible to discuss intelligently the question of whether the church will endure it. A wide variety of views on the tribulation exist, and each form of millennial teaching can be broadly characterized by its own position on the tribulation. Now I know this is a lot of writing but I'm so fixed on this and not smart enough to write it without many words. That's the kind of writer I am, many words rather than few words. I tend to make a short story long. OK, now lets consider what we really believe about what Tribulation is and how it should be regarded.
Postmillennial attitude toward the tribulation: They consider the tribulation as a final state of trouble just preceding the grand climax of the triumph of the gospel.
The National conversion of Israel and the general conversion of Gentiles is viewed as containing in its last stages of final conflict with Antichrist which is equated with Romanism. They do not attempt a literal interpretation of the tribulation. Many think of it as an imagery of events to come and others believe it is intended to show forth the different phases of the spiritual life of the church. Non the less, the general belief is that the tribulation will occur whenever trouble, past or present, is associated with the apostolic period. The tribulation, however, according to postmillennialism, is not very definite and its character is not sufficeiently serious to interfere with the onward march of the church to a great climax of triumph at the second advent of Christ. They consider the tribulation as a minor phase of the closing events of the age.

Amillennial attitude toward the tribulation: The amillennial interpretation of the tribulation does not differ essentially from the postmillennial although it has a different theological context. Some believe that the tribulation has already occurred and is identified with the troubles of Israel in connection with the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. Now that the Book of Revelation was written after this and it clearly states that a tribulation time will occur, others hold to future tribulation placing the fulfillment of Scripture dealing with tribulation, including the battle of Gog and Magog, after the millennium. The amillennial view, therefore, holds to future tribulation period, but they tend to avoid the details and try to spiritualize the sequence of events which are prophesied.

Premillennial attitude toward the tribulation: The belief is that the coming tribulation is literal, however the Posttribulationals believe the church will remain on earth throughout the tribulation period. Even though the belief is literal, the midtribulationals view is that the church will be translated at the coming of the Lord for His Church just before the great tribulation, but in the middle of the seven-year period predicted by Daniel as preceding the coming of Christ. Daniel 9:27 This is a somewhat new view and little is said about it. The third view which is popular and a view in which I hold, is pretribulational. This is a belief that holds that Christ will come for His Church fefore the entire seven-year period predicted by Daniel. The church in this point of view does not enter at all into the final tribulation period. This teaching was espoused by Darby and the Plymouth Brethren and popularized by the famous Scofield Reference Bible.

OK, now the question comes to you. You've read all that I've said so far and you have to decide. Which is right? What do you believe? What makes sense with the rest of Scripture? So far, you've had to answer several questions and if any of these questions are still unanswered, you are confused about now. If you have answered all the question so far, you will be ready for me to continue. However, I will have to do that at another time, since I have other work to do right now. Stay tuned. Can you believe now that we need to determine the meaning of the term
"Church" and what did scripture mean when it used this term. Yes, so hang on.

Rapture Question #3

2008-05-28T06:24:00.000-07:00

OK, I hope you have ask yourself the questions I gave you in session 1 and 2. It's essential that you have a clear understanding about who you are in Christ and what you believe about His Word (the Bible)

Late in His earthly ministry, our Lord Jesus Christ dealt with this same searching question from His Disciples. In Matthew 24:3 they ask; "What shall be the sign of they coming, and of the end of the world?" So this question has been around for a long time and every generation since Christ Ascension has been asking this very probing question. Well, in answering this question, our Lord said (prohesied) (predicted) certain major events which would be signs of the second advent. This period of time in general was described as a time of "Great Tribulation". In His prophecy he exhorted those living in Palestine at that time to "flee unto the mountains" Matthew 24:16 He made it very clear how people should respond to this very terrible time. "Let him tha is on the housetop not go down to take out the things that are in the house: and let him that is in the field not return back to take his cloak. But woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath: for then shall be great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." Matthew 24:17-24
Wow! Sounds like things are really going to get difficult, don't it. We really can't imagine the real content of what Jesus is saying.
However, to earnest spirit-filled believers in these scriptures who are actually looking for the return of Christ, these prohetic words raise important questions. Does this awful period of trail predicted by Christ, lie between us and the end of this present age? In other words, does the church have to go through the Great Tribulation? This has been a question since the very beginning of the Church and if so, this becomes a major problem of Christian faith. In our day, when the authority of the Bible is disputed and many deny the infallibility of Scripture, some feel there is little profit in debating eschatology. They say why improve the building if the foundation is not sure? The question of whether the church will go through the tribulation is not as trivial and academic a question as some would make it. It is rather an issue with great practical and doctrinal implications. While it is not as far-reaching in Biblical interpretation as the doctrines of the inspiration of Scripture, the deity of Christ, the substitutionary atonement,or the premillennial interpretation as a whole, one's understanding of the tribulation is an essential factor in any detailed program of the future. It's not only in principle of interpretation, but also greater understanding of Doctrines.
The interpretation of the Scriptures relative to the coming tribulation is important to believing Christians. The revelation concerning the tribulation is found in many passages in the Old and New Testaments and includes a major part of the Book of Revelation. Until, we understand the nature of the tribulation, we will never understand the Rapture and we will never be able to discuss out intelligent exegesis. This is where most confusion in the whole prophetic future comes from, therefore the base question of whether the church goes through the tribulation is a major factor in the interpretaion of the tribulation itself. The study of the tribulation also is a major theological issue and one issue is do we interpret scripture by the literal method, or by nonliteral, spiritualizing method?
Another issue or major factor is the seperation of divine programs for Israel and the church and then there's the larger issue of amillennialism versus premillennialism. As you can see, this is a bigger issue than most think. It's deeper than any of us can imagine as we look into these aspects of eschatology.
Finally for this writting, let's consider this: The nature of the tribulation is one of practical importance. If the church is destined to endure the persecutions of the tribulation, it is futile to proclaim the coming of the Lord as an imminent hope.

The Rapture Question continued #2

2008-05-27T07:22:00.000-07:00

Let me start today with a, "you need to go back and read my last blog" in order to keep this all in concert. You see if you just read parts of this, you will be just as confused as are most people and especially those who don't have that blessed hope that we enjoy.

More questions are being asked today more than ever before concerning the return of the Lord. The second coming has always been prominent in fundamentalist literature and preaching and even now a surprising revival of interest on the part of modern liberals. It is a subject in which we all want an answer and many want that answer without placing themselves on the side of doctrinal and scriptural positions. Now ask yourself this question right now. "Do I really believe with my whole heart, soul and mind that Jesus is really coming back to take me home to be with Him? If so, when ? What are the signs of His coming? The biggest question comes now. "A R E Y O U R E A D Y"? If you had to answer any of the above with question, perhaps you need to reconsider what it takes to be ready. Now I know that sounds like judgement, but I promise you it's not. You see, if your relationship with Jesus is just between you and Jesus and Jesus is the one that is coming back for you, then, you best make sure of that relationship.

The Rapture question, while neglected by modern liberals, is one of the main areas in dispute in conservative eschatology. Scripture prophetically tell us that one day the church (those who have accepted what Jesus did on the cross for payment of their sins, have confessed with their mouths and believe in their heart that Jesus raised from the dead and is now interceding for them to the Heavenly Father) will be raptured or "caught up" to heaven at the coming of the Lord for them. The word "Rapture" is from "rapere" , a Latin word that means caught up as mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we 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.
This is a literal, future event, which is the most important aspect of the hope of the church. The doctrine is a part of the larger truth of a literal second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. It involves the accuracy and authority of Scriptures. It is impossible to discuss the questions pertinent to the time of the Rapture without assuming the authority of Scripture as it is to solve a problem in mathematics without accepting normal meaning for numbers.
Now you have to ask yourself another question right now. Do I really believe the Scriptures are totally Truth or do I lean toward not totally Truth? It's essential for you to know how and what you believe about the Scriptures. The Apostle Paul writing to Timothy, says that evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived but we must always remember what we have been taught from childhood that the Holy Scriptures gives us wisdom enough to learn what they say about our being saved through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Then Paul says this " All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, (meaning that God HIMSELF, authored ALL Scripture) and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, (WHY) that the man (or woman) of God (one who knows Christ as Lord and Savior) may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

OK, we will continue with the Rapture Question #3 in our next blogging session. It is very important that you ask yourself these question first in order to get the REAL ANSWER. God bless and see you in the next blogg.

The Rapture Question:

2008-05-22T05:57:00.000-07:00

2 Peter: 3:4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I do not want you to be ignorant,brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, 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 we 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.

Peter gave us some clear concise information concerning the return of Christ. He said that one of the very first signs of Christ return will be when people who "do their own thing" begin to question and even insult those who do believe by asking them to "prove it" that Jesus is coming back. Some two thousand years ago, Jesus died on the cross, was buried and rose on the third day and some 40 days later ascended into heaven where He says He is preparing a place for His children. Now those scoffers are saying, "Come on now, you know better, He's not coming back". Look at our forefather's, they too thought He was coming back and they have died and are gone back to dusk just like Jesus did"

So the question comes back to you now. What about the "Rapture Question"?
Is it true or are we just eternal optimist? Do you want to know what to believe and why you believe it? Visit this blog for the next few weeks and I'm going to discuss the question of the Rapture. Without the Rapture and without Christ return for His children we are a people lost and doomed and without hope.

To All you Bethanne bloggers

2008-05-19T11:56:00.000-07:00

Well, I was fortunate enough to go home and see Beth and the boys last weekend. Yes her computer died and someone at her church is trying to resurrect it, but by now it stinketh I'm sure. Beth, Steve and boys are doing fine and I know she wants to get back to her blogging ASAP. I talk to her about twice a week so if you have a message you want to pass on, just let me know.
Stay tuned for the Rapture Question is coming next. Do you know what Scripture says about the Rapture? Are you ready? Better hurry!

Enough is Enough is Enough

2008-05-15T09:37:00.000-07:00

OK, we could keep this up forever. The more I learn about the JW's, the more questions I think of. So here is what I'm going to do. I going to list some more issues which a Christian should confront a JW with and this will be my last blog on JW's. This means you will have to do your own study about the answers to their never ending contradictions.

JW's believe that man's destiny is life on earth, not in Heaven. Only 144,000 of JW's are in heaven and that number was reached in 1935. Now you only have earth to look forward to. They mainly use the old testament to a form of Judaism.
Your reply is Heb.3:1; John 14:2-3; John 17:20,24; Psalms 37:9,11,29; John10:16 and Rev.7:9

They believe that there is no conscious existence after death-- man's thoughts have perished so they point out using Psalm 146:3-4. Ecclesiastes 9:5, Ezekiel 18:4 and Luke 16:22-28 as a rebuttal.

They believe that death brings annihilation---total nonexistence. They use Ecclesiastes 9:5 for their belief. Rev. 6:9-11; Phil 1:23-24 ; Luke 16 22:23 for rebuttal

JW's believe that they alone, out of all the religions in the world, are God's chosen people and that He named them Jehovah Witnesses and they use Isaiah 43:10 NWT. It says, "You are my witnesses, " is the utterance of Jehovah.
Matt. 7:21-23 proves that it's not what's in a name that counts.

Daniel 10:13,21; 12:1, JW's are taught that Jesus Christ was a mere angel, who was born as a human, died as a sacrifice for sins, and was raised up as an angel once again. They refer to him as "Jesus Christ, whom we understand from the scriptures to be Michael the archangel. study Hebrews 1; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1; John 20:28; Colossians 1:15; Rev. 1:7-8; Rev. 3:14

Well, there's other issues, that you will have to find on your own. I'm tired of JW's right now. I'm glad I studied about them and now I feel I can witness to them in a meaningful way. Now I don't have to send them on their way, just because they are wrong. Now I can show them the real TRUTH. I think my next mission is to talk about ; the Rapture Question. I really need to hear from you if you want to discuss this or not. Awaiting your reply or show of interest.

J W's love to tell you about this one!

2008-05-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

Psalms 37:9,11,29 For evildoers themselves will be cut off, But those hoping in Jehovah are the ones that will possess the earth....But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth.....The righteous themselves will possess the earth, And they will reside forever upon it. (NWT)

Psalms 37:9,11,29 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth.....But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.....The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell in it forever. (NKJ)

JW's commonly turn to these verses in their door-to-door preaching to introduce listeners to the hope of life in an earthly paradise, rather than going to heaven. According to the Watchtower Society, the opportunity to go to heaven ended in the year 1935. Instead, Witnesses look forward to surviving the destruction of the rest of mankind at Armageddon and living forever on earth.
When read in context, however, the verses quoted from Psalms 37 paint a different picture. The psalm is not foretelling a future time when God will remove the wicked and turn control of the earth over to good people, Rather, the psalmist was inspired to tell his fellow Israelites what they could expect to see in their own lifetime----good men would prosper under God's blessing, while wicked men would fare badly. For example, in verse 25, David writes, " A young man I used to be, I have also grown old, And yet I have not seen anyone righteous left entirely, Nor his offspring looking for bread"(NWT) He is speaking of events during his own lifetime. And in verse 37, he adds, "Watch the blameless one and keep the upright one in sight, for the future of that man will be peaceful." Again, the context concerns the immediate benefits of good conduct. The psalms contains no indication that it should be taken as a prophetic statement about the end of the world. Other verses used by JW's to teach an earthly hope, instead of heaven, include Psalm 115:16, John 10:16 and Revelation 7:9
Question: If this relates to end times, then why does the Psalmist tell us to keep our eyes on the blameless one if it is not talking about the then and there and not some prophetic time in the future? Scripture is taken out of context and thereby anyone can say whatever they want it to say, but don't forget what our previous question was about. Don't say something the Spirit didn't tell you to say. The Spirit will not lie.

Next question to ask the JW:
Psalm 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."

JW's calling at a home may invite you to get your Bible and open it to Psalm 110:1. They they will ask you to read the verse. You read that "the LORD said unto my Lord" and immediately you get confused. That's what they really want you to do. Then the JW will open their NWT and read the same verse: "The utterance of Jehovah to my Lord is...." They go on to argue (1) that the NWT is a superior Bible to use, because it does not have the Lord talking to himself; and
(2) that the Lord Jesus must be a mere created being, since Jehovah God is addressing a person distinct from himself.
To answer the first argument, it is only necessary to look at the text more closely. It does not say that "the Lord" was talking to "the Lord" Most translations render the Hebrew tetragrammaton YHWH as "the LORD" (all capital letters), who is talking to the psalmist's "Lord" (both capital and small letters), the Messiah. If confusion results on the part of the JW, it is not a problem withe the translation, but with a lack of biblical education on the part of the reader. Knowledgeable Christians wh read this verse will grasp that God the Father is speaking to the Son.
The second argument---that Jesus cannot be God because "the LORD" spoke to him-- is also a faulty one. The New Testament records many conversations between Jesus and the Father, but this does not disprove the deity of Christ. The Bible reveals that the Father is God (John 6:27) and that the Son is God (Isa.9:6, John 20:28) yet there is only one God (1 Cor. 8:4) This is a hard saying yet God's ways and thoughts are much higher than ours therefore we may never, this side of heaven, understand it.
Now invite the JW to look in his NWT bible and turn to Genesis 18 and 19. Here it says that "Jehovah appeared to him" (him being Abraham) as "three men" or angels 18:1-2. Abraham addressed the three as "Jehovah" 18:3 Two of them left Abraham and went toward the city of Sodom, but Abraham continued to address the remaining individual as "Jehovah" 18:22, 19:1
When the other two reached Sodom and spoke with Abra hams relative Lot, he addressed the two of them as "Jehovah" (19:18). And, when the city of Sodom was destroyed, the NWT says at Genesis 19:24: "Then Jehovah made it rain sulphur and fire from Jehovah, from the heavens......So unless the JW want to claim that there is more than one Jehovah, they will have to admit that god can be in more than one place at the same time, and that he can hold simultaneous conversations with different people in different places. This should make it easier for them to grasp that the Father can talk to the Son, without calling into question the deity of Christ.

See ya later with more.

I know I'm slow, but I'm old, OK!

2008-05-14T06:12:00.000-07:00

Well, I do want to continue the question and answer session on "how to witness to the JW's. So here is another issue that you can address with them. I will continue to share these with you until, I can't think of any more. I also want to get started on the "Rapture" soon. Someone ask me personally if I would do the same thing with "Mormons" that I have with JW's and I can probably do that also. So here we go.

Deuteronomy 18:20-22
"However, the prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded him to speak or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. And in case you should say in your heart: "How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken? when the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak. With presumptuousness the prophet spoke it. You must not get frightened at him." (NWT)

The Watchtower organization identifies itself as "The Prophet", saying
"This Prophet" was not a man, but was a body of men and women. It was the small group of footstep followers of Jesus Christ, known at that time as International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah's Christian witnesses. They are still proclaiming a warning....The added claim is made that: "Unless we are in touch with this channel of communication that God is using, we will not progress along the road of life, no matter how much Bible reading we do.
OK, the question here is, "Is it true that they are God's channel of communication, or is it a false prophet, fitting the description of Deuteronomy 18:20-22? The test is simple. Step #1 We already know the organization "spoke in the name of Jehovah", so we go to step #2 Have the prophesies actually occurred or come true? Let's consider the facts and you determine what the answer is.
Throughout half of its hundred-year history, the Watchtower Society taught the belief of its founder and first president, Charles Taze Russell, that the Great Pyramid of Egypt was "inspired" of God-----Just like the Bible. The Society's publications translated inches of pyramid measurements into calendar years, in attempts to foretell future events. Thus, they predicted that the Battle of Armageddon will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth's present rulership". Did that really happen? NOPE.
Still determined to act as a prophet, the Watchtower Society went on to predict an earthly resurrection for the year 1925. They are to be resurrected as perfect men and constitute the princes or rulers in the earth, according to his promise..therefore we may connfidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old. Did this really happen?
NOPE!
More resently, the organization misled millions into believeing that "the end" would come in 1975. Did that really happen? NOPE!
They will try to cover all these false prophesises up by saying they all were mistakes and that the organization has learned from these mistakes and no longer makes prophetic statements about when the end will come. Here comes another question then.
Ask the JW to take out a copy of his latest "Awake" magazine, there is a statement of purpose telling why AWAKE ! is published. Ask the JW to read it. Here is what it says; "Most importantly, this magazine builds confidence in the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure New Order before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away." Another prophecy!
The facts are inescapable: The Watchtower Society spoke as a prophet in the name of God, and what was prophesied did not come true. Read Matt. 7:15 and 24:24

Next issue to address with JW's will come just as soon as I get the time. We will discuss: Earthly paradise vs. heaven
Let me hear from you if this is helping firm your belief and if it helps you witness to the witnesses.

Continued Questions for JW's

2008-05-09T05:12:00.000-07:00

Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, "I AM Who I AM" And He said, "Say this to the people of Israel, "I AM has sent Me to you." RSV

Christians universally recognize that Jesus Christ was claiming to be the Deity when he referred to himself as the "I AM". John 8:57-58 "The Jews then said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.
Even Jesus enemies recognized what he was saying. the next verse tells us that, when they heard this, 'they took up stones to throw at him. The Jews viewed Jesus claim to be teh I AM as blasphemy, a crime for which they wanted to stone him to death.
JW's, however, teach that Jesus Christ is really just Michael the archangel and that Christ never claimed to be God. So, to make Scripture agree with their doctrine, they change the reading of both verses in their Bible. The Watchtower Society's translation says, "this is what you are to say to the sons of Israel, 'I shall prove to be has sent me to you' Exod. 3:14 NWT and "Most truly I say to you, Before Abraham came into existence, I have been" John 8:58 NWT. So, in the JW Bible, Jesus words appear to have no connection with Exodus 3:14
You don't have to be a Greek or Hebrew scholar to prove that the Watchtower Society has twisted these verses. JW's own study Bibles prove that Jesus was claiming to be the I AM. Their 1984 large-print NWT of the Holy Scriptures with References has a footnote on Exodus 3:14, admitting that the Hebrew would be rendered into Greek as "Ego eimi" " I AM". And their 1985 Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures reveals that Jesus words at John 8:58 are the same: "ego eimi" (footnote), "I AM" (interlinear text)

NEXT Question:

Exodus 3:15 Then God said once more to Moses: "this is what you are to say to the sons of Israel, "Jehovah the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. "this is my name to time indefinite, and this is the memorial of me to generation after generation." NWT

JW's use this verse to argue that they are the only true worshippers of God, because they are the only ones who still call God by his name----Jehovah. The above verse, they insist, is God's command to call him by that sacred name "to time indefinite" or forever. Int he eyes of the JW's, Christians who pray to "God" or to "the Lord" are actually praying to the false god, Satan; the true God, Jehovah, does not hear prayers unless they are addressed to him by name. Therefore, JW's always use the name Jehovah in their prayers. In factl, they often repeat the name many times during a single prayer, as if God might forget that he is the one being addressed, or as if the Witness might forget to which God he was praying.
Although their own publications admit that "Jehovah" is an Anglicized misrendering and not the correct pronunciation of the original Hebrew Tetragrammation YHWH, they insist upon using that pronunciation only, rather than the more correct name Yahweh. JW's never pray to "Yahweh".
A comparison of Exodus 3:15 with verse 14 shows that the name Yahweh, or Jehovah, has meaning: God is the self-existing Eternal One. He is much more than a name and knowing him involves much more than using a name. Jesus showed that more than just a name is involved, when he said, "On that day many of you will say to me, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? And then will I declare to them'"I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers' Matt. 7:22-23 RSV.
Question: Ask a Jehovah's Witness to examine with you the prayers of Jesus Christ. Point out that Jesus never started out his prayers by saying "Jehovah God" as JW's do. Rather, Jesus began his prayers by saying "Father" Matt. 11;25, 26:39-42; Mark 14:36; Luke 10:21, 22: 42; 23:34; John 11:41, 12: 27-28, 17:1-26 and when teaching his disciples how to pray, Jesus instructed them to address "Our Father" Matt. 6:9 Luke 11:2 Christians, then, are to have an intimate relationship with God as his children who call out to him "Abba! Father!" Romans 8:15, Gal. 4:6
And, as to the importance of names, the Holy Spirit inspired Peter to stress the name of Jesus Christ by saying, "There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" Acts 4:10-12 RSV Moreover, Jesus is the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father Phil 2:9-11 RSV
Finally read Psalms 83:18 and Isaiah 43:10

That's all for today. I going home to see my daughters Beth and Lisa and my grandchildren Brandon, Anna, Zachery, Lake and Kaden. Again, my prayer is that God will give you wisdom and boldness to be the real Witness of Jehovah, our Savior who is Jesus Christ.

Continued Questions for JW's

2008-05-07T13:20:00.000-07:00

Genesis 40:20-22 And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants....But he hanged the chief baker. KJV

The Watchtower organization has prohibited birthday celebrations among its adherents, using Genesis 40:20-22 as a key part of the "scriptural basis" for this ruling. Their thought is that the word birthday appears in the Bible only in reference to Pharaoh of Egypt and King Herod of Galilee. (Matt. 14:6 and Mark 6:21) Both of them were pagans, and both men had someone put to death in connection with the celebration. Since no men of faith are recorded in the Bible as having celebrated their birthdays, but only wicked men---so the Watchtower reasoning goes--- JW's of today must not be allowed to celebrate birthdays either.
It is worth noting that, as with other teachings, it is not left up to the individual Witness to read the Bible and come up with this conclusion. Rather, the sect's secretive governing body has promulgated this official interpretaion and uses it's disciplinary procedures to enforce the policy on all Witnesses. It is noted that a 70 year old in Massachusetts decided to send his non-JW son a birthday card. His wife reported him and he went to trial and everybody now shuns him. Even though they couldn't show him scripture that said this was non-biblical.
Question: Where in the Bible does it say that God prohibits having Birthday parties, celebrating birthdays or sending Birthday cards? They will likely take you to these particular scriptures. In refuting the Watchtower's so-called scriptural basis for banning birthday celebrations, you can point out that Pharaoh and King Herod were arbitrary rulers and violent men; such monarchs were accustomed to executing people on all sorts of occassions, not just on their birthdays. Moreover, a person sending a birthday card, or a parent providing a cake with candles at a children's birthday party, can hardly be accussed of following the pattern of those murderous men. Although the actual word birthday appears only in connection with Pharaoh and Herod in most translations, the Bible does contain references to such celebrations in Godly familes;
In Job 1:4, it says of the patriarch Job's family, "And his sons went and held a banquet at the house of each one on his own day; and they sent and invited their three sisters to eat and drink with them" NWT, That" his own day" refers to each one's birthday becomes clear when we read further. "It was after this that Job opened his mouth and began to clal down evil upon his day. Job now answered and said; "Let the day perish on which I came to be born."" Job 3:1-3 The living bible uses the term birthday when referring to "his own day".
Even the Watchtower Society's own translation reveals that the birth of John the Baptist was celebrated, when it records this angelic announcement: "And you will have joy and great gladness, and many will rejoice over his birth." Luke 1:14 NWT
If the birth of John the Baptist was an occassion for rejoicing and if faithful Job's children celebrated their birthdays, the fact that Pharaoh and Herod also celebrated theirs cannot logically be used as a basis for banning birthday parties among Bible believers today.

I will continue to post questions as I continue. I have already decided where I going next with this post. I hope it will be intriguing and also interesting and also a teaching tool. Have you ever thougth about the "Rapture". What does that really mean? What are we as Christians suppose to think and know about the Rapture? When will the Rapture occur? Will we be a part of the Tribulation?
Many questions that Christians have today revolve around the elusive thought of "Rapture" Stay tuned in the coming days or weeks depending on how long it takes me to finish my thought on Witnessing to JW's

Questions to ask a JW

2008-05-05T10:11:00.000-07:00

Genesis 1:1-2
1. NKJ: (New King James) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

NWT (New World Translation) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth proved to be formless and waste and there was darkness upon the surface of the watery deep; and God's active force was moving to and fro over the surface of the waters.

Most Bible translations state "the Spirit of God" was moving over the surface of the waters, but the Watchtower organization, in an attempt to disprove Christian doctrine, teaches their followers that the term "Holy Spirit" is not a person but only an impersonal force at God's disposal. So in the NWT, the writers wrote it in such a way as to disprove Christian belief. It is contrary to most translations used within the Christian Church today.

Since they believe that the "Holy Spirit" is not a person, but only an active force then this brings up a good question to the JW. In your opinion, can a force bear witness, can a force speak, can a force hear or can a force experience hurt or pain?
Even in their own NWT Bible, for example reveals that the Spirit speaks-Acts 13:2,
It bears witness-John 15:26, says whatever He hears--John 16:13, Feels hurt , Isa. 63:10, and so forth. Other scripture to refer to is Acts 5:3-4, Romans 8:26-27,
1 Cor. 6:19

Genesis 9:4

2. NKJ (New King James) "But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.

NWT (New World Translation) Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is its blood.

This is the first of several scripture verses that JW's use to argue in support of the Watchtower Society's ban on blood transfusions. The organization teaches that blood transfusion is the same as eating blood, because it resembles intravenous feeding. The Society accordingly prohibits blood transfusions for it's followers. A Witness who accepts a transfusion can expect to be summoned before a judicial committee to be put on trial behind closed doors for violation of "God's law." The punishment, if found guilty, is "disfellowshiping", whereby the individual is shunned by family and friends who are forbidden even to greet the offender. JW's fells strongly about this issue. The will die rather than accept a transfusion to replace blood lost in an operation or accident. And they follow this same course with respect to their minor children. Most Witnesses carry a signed card in their wallet or purse, stating their refusal to accept blood and instructing emergency medical personnel not to administer a trasfusion if the Witness is found unconscious. The card is a legal document, singed by the JW and countersigned by two others. They recognize that they are unique among religious people in their stand on blood transfusions, although it does not occur to them that this very fact shows that the doctrine does not really derive from the Bible. No one else who attempts to follow the Bible as a fuide in life has come up with a ban on transfusions and even the Watchtower organization did not promulgate the doctrine until 1944. Most JW's areunaware that their leaders have had a hsitory of introducing other medical prohibitions and then later changing their mind. In 1967, for example, they prohibited organ transplants. Followers were expected to choose blindness rather than accept a cornea transplant, or to die rather than submit to a kidney transplant. But then, in 1980, the leaders reversed the teaching and allowed transplants once again. Between 1931 and 1952, JW's refuse vaccinations for themselves and their children only because the Society said it was wrong, but no longer since 1952. Even though, JW's will attempt to quote Scripture to suppor their position on blood transfusions, the real reason for their stand is blind obedience to the Watchtower Society. If the organization lifted it prohibition tomorrow, JW's would freely change their way of thinking.

Question: Who is greater, the speaker or the one spoken of in the Bible? Their reply would have to be the later. IF so, then why is it that they change readily when man makes up the rules knowing that God's Word remains the same, yesterday, today and forever. Refer them to the Watchtower dated 11/15/67 pp 702-704 and the Awake dated 6/8/68, p.21 and the Watchtower 3/15/80, p.31. These show the written changes that were made using what man says but obviously, God's Word remained the same. Either it was wrong and remained wrong or it was misinformation simulated by man.

OK, there's many more questions and I will post them later as I get time. I certainly hope this helps as you serve our Savior. Remember, everyone is called to evangelize our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and yes even to the ends of the earth.

THE REST FROM YESTERDAY

2008-04-30T11:31:00.000-07:00

The remainder of those things that JW's believe.

10. Heaven: Only 144,000 individuals go to heaven. This "little flock" began with the twelve apostles, and the number wa filled by the year 1935. Approximately 9,000 elderly JW's are the only remaining ones on earth today who will go to heaven, with the rest of the Jehovah's Witnesses hoping to live on earth forever.
11. Hell: Following the lead of its founder, Charles T. Russell, the Watchtower Society still teaches that hades is merely the grave, that the fire of Gehenna instantly disintegrates its victims into nothingness, and that there is no conscious existence for the dead until the time of their bodily resurrection.
12. Holidays: Celebration of any "worldly holiday" is strickly forbidden for JW's. This prohibition applies to U.S. presidents birthdays, Valentines's Dady, Memorial day, Christmas, Easter, New Years Day, Thanksgiving, Good Friday and so on, even Mother's day and Father's day! Even if a "pagan origin" cannot be researched as the basis for banning a particular observance, the simple fact that"worldly people" celebrate it is sufficient reason for the JW's not to celebrate it.
13. Holy Spirit: The HOly Spirit is neither God nor a person, according to Watchtower teaching. "It" is simply an impersonal "active force" that God uses in doing his will.
14. Hope: JW's believe that God stopped calling Christians to a heavenly hope back in the year 1935. Since then, he has been offering people the opportunity to live forever on earth. ("Millions now living will never die" is a familiar JW's slogan) God will destroy everyone else on the planet, leaving only JW's, and he will rstore a Garden-of-Eden paradise for them worldwide.
15. Jesus Christ: In Watchtower theology, Jesus Christ is a mere angel--the first one that God created when he started creating angels. Witnesses identify Christ as Michael the archangel, although they call Jesus "the Son of God"--because "the first spirit person God made was like a firstborn son to him" . They also call him "a god", and translate John 1:1 accordingly in their Bible.
16: Organization: Witnesses believe that God set up the Watchtower organization as his channel of communication to gather together those of mankind who will be saved. as the visble agency of the kingdom of God on earth, this organization exercises full governmental authority over believers--it promulgates laws, puts violators on trial, operates Kingdom schools, and so on--parallel to the secular government. If there is a conflict between the two, the organization is to be obeyed, rather than the secular rulers. (In the Witnesses minds, they are obeying God rather than men, Acts 5:29)
17. Resurrection: Concerning Christ, JW's believe that he became nonexistent when he died and that he was raised three days later as a "spirit" --an angel. They deny his bodily resurrection. Going along with their teaching that Christ returned invisibly in 1914, Witnesses believe that he raised dead Christians to spirit life shortly thereafter, and that the rest of the human dead will be raised bodily during the thousand year reign of God's kingdom.
18: Salvation: Although giving lip service to salvation through faith in Christ, Witnesses actually believe that salvation is impossible apart from full obedience to the Watchtower Society and vigorous participation in its prescribed works program. Even Individual JW's who are not sufficiently zealour for the organization may not survive Armageddon, and those who do make their way into the earthly paradise must maintain good works throughout Christ's thousand year reign before they can be sealed for life.

OK, my next blog will include some of those questions that need to be ask. I hope this is being helpful, if it is, tell me, I would like to know if you are really reading this and if it helps. If it doesn't help, then I need to move on to something that does.

What J W believes

2008-04-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

Ok, I think I need to explain what JW's believe before I give you the questions to ask. If you know what they believe, you may think of questions to ask that I can't think of. So here in a nutshell is what I have learned that JW's believe.

1.Armageddon: God will soon wage war against mankind, destroying everyone on earth except Jehovah's Witnesses. The churches of Christendom, they say, will be the first to be destroyed.

2.Birthdays: Celebrating a birthday in any manner is strickly forbidden. Even sending a birthday card can bring swift action against the offender by an official "judicial committee". The punishment is "disfellowshiping".

3. Blood Transfusions: In actual practice, JW's view accepting a blood transfusion as a sin more serious than theft or adultery. Thieves and adulterers are more quickly forgiven by Watchtower judicial committees than individuals found guilty of taking blood. A Witness must refuse blood in all circumstances, even when this is certain to result in death. The organization also requires adults to refuse transfusions for their minor children.

4. Christianity: Except for a few scattered individuals who kept the faith, true Christianity vanished fromthe face of the earth shortly after the death of the twelve apostles according to Jehovah's Witnesses. It was not restored until Charles Taze Russell set up the Watchtower Organization in the late 1870's. When Christ returned invisibly in 1914, he found Russell's group doing the work of the "faithful and wise servant" Matt. 24"25 and appointed them over all his belongings. All other churches and professed Christians are actually tools of the devil.

5. Christ's Return: The Lord returned invisibly in the year 1914 and has been present ever since, ruling as King on earth thorugh the Watchtower Society. References to the second "coming" are rendered as "presence" in the Jehovah's Witness Bible. The generation of people who witnessed Christ's invisible return in 1914 will not pass away before Armageddon comes. (See Matt. 24:34

6. Chronology: Jehovah's Witnesses believe that God has a precise timetable for all past and future events, tied together by simple mathmatical formulae and revealed to mankind through the watchtower Society. The seven "days" of the Genesis creation account were each seven thousand years long, for a total "week" of forty-nine thousand years. God created Adam in the year 4026 B,C.. His creation of Eve a short time later marked the end of the Sixth Creative Day and the beginning of the Seventh. therefore, we are now approximately 6,000 years into that 7,000 year period--- which means that Armageddon will soon put an end to 6,000 years of human toil, making way for a Sabbath-like though-year reign of Christ. On the basis of this chronology, the JW organization has promulgated a nuber of specific end-times prophecies.

7. Cross: According to Jehovah's Witnesses, the cross is a pagan religious symbol adopted by the church when Satan, the devil, took control of ecclesiastical authority. It had nothing to do with Christ's death, since JW's maintain that he was nailed to a straight upright pole without a crossbeam. Witnesses abhor the cross, and new convertss are expected to destroy any crosses they may have, rather than simply dispose of them.

8. Deity: The Father alone is God, and true worshipers must call him by the name Jehovah. Witnesses are taught that Jesus Christ was merely a manifestation of Michael the archangel in human form---not God, but a mere created being. The Holy Spirit is presented as neither God nor a person but, rather, as an "active force".

9. disfellowshiping: This is the punishment for any infraction of Watchtower organizational regulations. It consists of a public decree, announced to the audience at a Kingdom Hall meeting and prohibiting all association or fellowship with the offender. Other Witnesses are forbidden even to say "Hello" if they encounter the offender on the street. The only exceptions are that family members may conduct "necessary business" with a disfellowshiped person, and elders may speak to him if he approaches them repentantly to seek reinstatement.

OK, this is half of their major beliefs that I know of. Because it is so long, I will give you the other half tomorrow or when I can get a chance to write them down. When we get to know their beliefs, I will give you some questions and some scripture that they use and scripture you can use to combat their unbelief.

What to do if they come a knocken

2008-04-29T08:33:00.000-07:00

This is mostly in Beth's response to my last Blog. What she said was, I ask questions and they left and didn't come back. Obviously, that certainly solved the problem of them coming, "knocken on your door" but it didn't solve their problem.
Now keep in mind, that I was convicted about not knowing enough to even ask the questions. Beth is right in her response that rather than saying "I'm right, your wrong," "Jesus is God, no matter what you say", "I'm saved, your going to Hell"
It is much better to ask questions rather than having a scriptural "shoot out". When then happens, the wounded and bleeding JW runs back to his or her elder for protection and comfort. They patch him or her up by explaining away damaging verses and warn them not to listen to "argumentative" householders again in their door to door preaching. So they don't come back. You see the JW is taught that the human mind can only absorb a little information at a time and therefore, JW plan at least a six month study with people they are trying to convert. They don't try to bombard us with an "Adam to Amageddon" sermon on the first visit. Perhaps we could learn from this process and learn to ask questions that causes the JW to have to contemplate his or her answer. Remember, you are trying to teach a JW to "unlearn false Watchtower doctrines and relearn Biblical Truths." and they can just digest so much at a time. Jesus said in John 16:12 "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now." All of us are in this same position, we can just gather in so much information and be able to understand it. How many times as you read scripture, do you find Jesus asking questions to his disciples, to the people that were hearing him? We can tell them that they have been deceived, the Watchtower organization is a false prophet, you need to get saved, but until the Spirit of God convicts and convinces, they will just be offended by our words and they will conclude what they have been told, We are the deceived and we are the ones going to hell. Empathy is so very important when reaching out to these misled individuals. How would you want others to speak to you, if you were the one who was misled.

I will give you questions to ask in my next blog. I have to go to a meeting right now, but hopefully I will do this today.

Jehovah's Witnesses Is a Cult that's accursed

2008-04-25T06:03:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm sure that each person who reads this blog will be able to relate to having two people come to your front door trying to peddle their false doctrine and give you information that is nothing more than idiotic propaganda. They always come at the worst possible times. They can flip through their bibles with amazing speed, quoting chapter and verse to "prove" that Jesus Christ is just an angel, that he died on an upright stake instead of on an old cruel cross, that accepting blood transfusion is as sinful as adultery, and the the Watchtower Society in Brooklyn, New York, is God's modern-day "prophet", his "channel of communication."
I would like to know how you respond to these intrusive knocks at your door?
Do you drive them from your doorstep with a harsh rebuke? Do you run them off as you shout, "Deceivers and Liars"? As they leave, do you condem them to hell?
Do you have apathy rather than anger by saying, "I'm sorry, I'm not interested" or I'm sorry, I'm busy? Perhaps, you respond by saying, "no thanks, I'm a Methodist, or Baptist. If you use the term, "I'm sorry, but" soso soso soso soso soso, they will politely respond by saying "I'm sorry too"! Then they will tell you to have a nice day and move on to your neighbors house.
How do you really handle this. You know they are persistant and will continue to come back and back and back. Do you know the reason they keep coming back? For one thing, they believe that you will be destroyed in the imminent Battle of Armageddon unless you come to Jehovah's organization for salvation. They think they are trying to save your life. But even more than that, they beleive that they will not survive Armageddon unless they engage in this door-to-door preaching work under the direction of God's organization.
Most Jehovah's Witnesses are, in all sincerity, doing their best to serve God. They are like the unbelieving Jews of whom Paul wrote, "...they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and goiing about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." Rom. 10:2-3 They really are victims of victims---blind followers or blind leaders. They need to escape from the salvation-through works treadmill that makes them obedient servants of a multibillion-dollar religious empire. They need liberation from the oppressive yoke that wieghs them down on their shoulders; yet they have been led to believe that it is the very carrying of that yoke that will save them--and that anyone who seeks to dissuade them is a deceiver sent by Satan.
How will you handle this knock that will come to your door at some time or other?
I suggest you find out what they believe, then I recommend that you get more familiar with what you believe and be prepared. I thought I was, but I was not.
I have since decided I wanted to know more about what this "cult" believes and how I can bring glory and honor to Christ by sharing the "true gospel" with them.
How will you hanlde your next knock at your door?

Don't you just love your Bible

2008-04-24T08:57:00.000-07:00

Today in my quiet time, I just come to the conclusion that I just love my Bible. The only Book that God ever wrote and It speaks to me as if God is right there speaking the Truths that His book contains. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 says; "For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. This is the way I feel. I hear it, I read it and I know that it is God who is speaking and God cannot lie, therefore it is Truth and that Truth effects the way I act, speak and relate to others. Thank God for the Bible, God's Holy Word. It is a light unto my path, lamp unto my feet, I hide His Words in my heart so that I will not want to sin against Him. Do you love God's Word? Does His Word speak to your heart?Does His Word change your life? Let me know what you think about the Word of God.