There are many “If” prophecies in GODS word such as:
"IF you come back, you rebellious people, I will forgive you for being unfaithful.
Here we are! We have come to you because you are the LORD our God.”
Throughout the scriptures we see this scenario played out many times due to the unfaithfulness of Israel. The pattern goes like this; Israel sins, GOD warns, punishes, Israel repents and GOD forgives.
God’s blessings were contingent upon the nation honoring and serving HIM.
Well guess what? The same things apply today.
You often hear people say; “GOD Bless America”. This was one of George W. Bush’s final words to many speeches. I must admit I liked to hear him say that but every time I thought, based on what, the multiplicity of religions that reject HIM? Perhaps God Bless America for all the illicit sexual acts and preferences? Or the abuse of wives and children? Or theft in every area of life? Or the maiming and murder of masses and the raping of women, and children by the thousands?
There is still a remnant who worships GOD in spirit and truth but the mass of America is heading in the wrong direction.
As Satan’s foothold grows, the Christian influence lessens and GOD has less reason to bless this country.
The answer to this situation is the same today as it was in the past, and that is a genuine turning from our rebellious ways and once again to serve the living GOD.
It is easy to point out the sins of the unsaved and say, “They are the problem,” but GOD usually starts with those who profess to be his children.
The time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God's household. If judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God's Good News?
There are some scriptures that never fail to get my attention and this is one of them. I’m thinking about changing my usual style of reciting the failures of others, and envisioning what a great church it would be if they would only repent and straighten up; and deal more with my weaknesses and not worry about the rest.
There are many “If” prophecies but there are also many other prophetic words that have little to do with our conduct. People sing all kinds of “sweet songs” Sweet, sweet spirit, Sweet Adeline and such but nobody; I mean nobody sings Sweet Gehenna (the lake of fire).
The time is coming when GOD will exercise judgment and all evil will be drastically dealt with there. Until then my profession is; “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmqRbG1brZ4
Monday, August 30, 2010
PAIN!
I was thinking about pain this morning, in a real way.
Pain is something that is universal and is common to the whole human race with the exception of a few people.
The reason this came to mind was my shoulder was hurting so bad I could scarcely move my arm. It has been a problem for some time now but the pain level (1-10) skipped up about four numbers to about eight.
We have many earthquakes here in California and they are measured on the Richter scale which starts at one and goes to ten. It increases in intensity ten times with each digit increase. Like two is ten times the intensity of one, and three is ten times the intensity of two, and a whole lot of shaking is going on as the numbers climb.
My shoulder was hurting awfully badly and I thought the one to ten pain measurements must be like the Richter scale increasing ten times with each digit increase.
I reckon pain is a blessing at times for how else would we know something is wrong. I was raised at a time when pain was used to educate me to stop doing what I was doing and not to do it again, sometimes it worked and sometimes not.
If I was lucky if my mother was the instructor instead of my dad for his technique was more forceful and easier to remember.
Several years ago, my wife Hazel had an attack of appendicitis, she usually resisted going to the doctor but in this case she was out to the car and yelling for me to come on. As it happened it was very serious because the appendicitis had ruptured and required a great deal of care. It took about 12 days before they could release her, and then more time before she was well.
I have a love, hate relationship with my pain where would I be without it. It is too bad that the inventor of pain couldn’t have figured out a different way to accomplish the same thing, but what you got is what you have.
Don’t you just hate it when the specialist doctor tells you this can’t be repaired you will have to make the best of it, especially when there isn’t any best.
Oh well, life goes on and the alternative at this point doesn’t seem to be the option I’m interested in. At least I don’t have any friends like old Job to encourage me. How about a sad song?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3VnJrNcE1c
Pain is something that is universal and is common to the whole human race with the exception of a few people.
The reason this came to mind was my shoulder was hurting so bad I could scarcely move my arm. It has been a problem for some time now but the pain level (1-10) skipped up about four numbers to about eight.
We have many earthquakes here in California and they are measured on the Richter scale which starts at one and goes to ten. It increases in intensity ten times with each digit increase. Like two is ten times the intensity of one, and three is ten times the intensity of two, and a whole lot of shaking is going on as the numbers climb.
My shoulder was hurting awfully badly and I thought the one to ten pain measurements must be like the Richter scale increasing ten times with each digit increase.
I reckon pain is a blessing at times for how else would we know something is wrong. I was raised at a time when pain was used to educate me to stop doing what I was doing and not to do it again, sometimes it worked and sometimes not.
If I was lucky if my mother was the instructor instead of my dad for his technique was more forceful and easier to remember.
Several years ago, my wife Hazel had an attack of appendicitis, she usually resisted going to the doctor but in this case she was out to the car and yelling for me to come on. As it happened it was very serious because the appendicitis had ruptured and required a great deal of care. It took about 12 days before they could release her, and then more time before she was well.
I have a love, hate relationship with my pain where would I be without it. It is too bad that the inventor of pain couldn’t have figured out a different way to accomplish the same thing, but what you got is what you have.
Don’t you just hate it when the specialist doctor tells you this can’t be repaired you will have to make the best of it, especially when there isn’t any best.
Oh well, life goes on and the alternative at this point doesn’t seem to be the option I’m interested in. At least I don’t have any friends like old Job to encourage me. How about a sad song?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3VnJrNcE1c
Sunday, August 29, 2010
HOLLYWOOD
You must admit, “Hollywood” which stands for the film industry, is bold as a lion.
They champion and pioneer unpopular causes and stay with them until they win.
They promoted women smoking cigarettes especially in the early thirties, and they glorified cigarettes until they had won the nation over.
They preached intolerance about anyone who believed in holding up a moral standard, and they have won that battle; for immorality is preferred over a moral standard in films.
They presented women as being independent, and they produced them providing food, money and lodging for men who didn’t wish to work among other things.
They established the norm for behavior; where it is expected if someone buys you dinner and a drink you’re obligated to have intimacy with them afterward for that is how it is portrayed in the movies.
Their latest and greatest victory is advocating the normalcy of homosexuality.
The movies are controlled by those who are practicing homosexuals they write, produce, finance, act, direct and everything else necessary to produce a movie.
Now as to language it is mandatory for most films to contain coarse and offensive language. It is so very effective to use GOD’S name in vain, the more the better, as Hollywood believes it reinforces the characters impact on the audience.
Hollywood fears nothing. There is nothing they are not willing to champion except one.
The one thing Hollywood trembles at the very thought of doing and that is; using the name of the Muslin god in vain. They fear to use it as a swear word.
There isn’t enough money to get them to do it, for they stand in awe of those words. Why is that the case? It is because they know if they did that, it would cause chaos and destruction in the industry. Not many are willing to lose their lives in order to use that dialogue.
To all those bold and fearless movie producers, might I challenge you to show your metal by defaming the Muslim god as you do JEHOVAH GOD ALMIGHTY and JESUS CHRIST?
The using of GOD’S name in vain will only stop when Christians take the same attitude as the Muslims do about their god.
They champion and pioneer unpopular causes and stay with them until they win.
They promoted women smoking cigarettes especially in the early thirties, and they glorified cigarettes until they had won the nation over.
They preached intolerance about anyone who believed in holding up a moral standard, and they have won that battle; for immorality is preferred over a moral standard in films.
They presented women as being independent, and they produced them providing food, money and lodging for men who didn’t wish to work among other things.
They established the norm for behavior; where it is expected if someone buys you dinner and a drink you’re obligated to have intimacy with them afterward for that is how it is portrayed in the movies.
Their latest and greatest victory is advocating the normalcy of homosexuality.
The movies are controlled by those who are practicing homosexuals they write, produce, finance, act, direct and everything else necessary to produce a movie.
Now as to language it is mandatory for most films to contain coarse and offensive language. It is so very effective to use GOD’S name in vain, the more the better, as Hollywood believes it reinforces the characters impact on the audience.
Hollywood fears nothing. There is nothing they are not willing to champion except one.
The one thing Hollywood trembles at the very thought of doing and that is; using the name of the Muslin god in vain. They fear to use it as a swear word.
There isn’t enough money to get them to do it, for they stand in awe of those words. Why is that the case? It is because they know if they did that, it would cause chaos and destruction in the industry. Not many are willing to lose their lives in order to use that dialogue.
To all those bold and fearless movie producers, might I challenge you to show your metal by defaming the Muslim god as you do JEHOVAH GOD ALMIGHTY and JESUS CHRIST?
The using of GOD’S name in vain will only stop when Christians take the same attitude as the Muslims do about their god.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
THE CLOCK IS TICKING
International Standard Version (©2008)
No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation he will also provide a way out; so that you may be able to endure it (resist it)
A few years after I was married I had started a business that was doing pretty good and in the back of my mind there were some things I thought I needed.
One of the things on that list was a grandfather’s clock. This may be because my grandfather had a regulator clock that tick and tocked as well as gonged. I researched the different brands and models and finally decided on two of three models that I could be satisfied with.
A young man worked for me and as it happened, his father had a store that sold the brands I wanted, and so off I went to look at several models. I read the brochures and just about wore the finishes off of them from just looking. I went back a couple more times and finally, I decided this is the one. It was taller than me, wide and deep, the weights were heavy and the chains were strong. Yes, this was it, and the price was around $1600.00, but I could have it for about $1200.00.
I had the money, but I just couldn’t bring myself to part with all that money. I had wanted that clock very badly but when it was within my grasp, its importance waned and my desire for it disappeared. I have never wanted a grandfather’s clock since that time.
I was tempted but found a way out.
Then there was another, “Got to have it, thing which was also a clock. This was a Coo Coo clock of all things. I sent off for a beautiful German clock that had some action figures on it and coo cooed every fifteen minutes day and night. Soon it went from cute to silly. After a couple of days of listening to that stupid bird, I packed it back up and sent it back to its maker. I haven't wanted another Coo Coo clock since that time.
I was tempted and bought it but repented and returned it.
Everyone has such a list, call it a wish list or whatever but many of the things on the “Got to have list,” serve no necessary purpose in your life.
People who are driven by wants instead of needs are easy targets for buying stuff they will never use or need. I have a lot of things that are still in the box, and I will probably die of old age before I try to use them.
I was tempted, and bought anyway, and now I am stuck with them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzydyvHuZl0
No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation he will also provide a way out; so that you may be able to endure it (resist it)
A few years after I was married I had started a business that was doing pretty good and in the back of my mind there were some things I thought I needed.
One of the things on that list was a grandfather’s clock. This may be because my grandfather had a regulator clock that tick and tocked as well as gonged. I researched the different brands and models and finally decided on two of three models that I could be satisfied with.
A young man worked for me and as it happened, his father had a store that sold the brands I wanted, and so off I went to look at several models. I read the brochures and just about wore the finishes off of them from just looking. I went back a couple more times and finally, I decided this is the one. It was taller than me, wide and deep, the weights were heavy and the chains were strong. Yes, this was it, and the price was around $1600.00, but I could have it for about $1200.00.
I had the money, but I just couldn’t bring myself to part with all that money. I had wanted that clock very badly but when it was within my grasp, its importance waned and my desire for it disappeared. I have never wanted a grandfather’s clock since that time.
I was tempted but found a way out.
Then there was another, “Got to have it, thing which was also a clock. This was a Coo Coo clock of all things. I sent off for a beautiful German clock that had some action figures on it and coo cooed every fifteen minutes day and night. Soon it went from cute to silly. After a couple of days of listening to that stupid bird, I packed it back up and sent it back to its maker. I haven't wanted another Coo Coo clock since that time.
I was tempted and bought it but repented and returned it.
Everyone has such a list, call it a wish list or whatever but many of the things on the “Got to have list,” serve no necessary purpose in your life.
People who are driven by wants instead of needs are easy targets for buying stuff they will never use or need. I have a lot of things that are still in the box, and I will probably die of old age before I try to use them.
I was tempted, and bought anyway, and now I am stuck with them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzydyvHuZl0
Bill the Rancher
A rancher I knew, who was broke in the depression, but with extra hard work, some 15 years later, he owned several 1000 acre ranches with barns, out buildings and homes on them.
As was his custom, he went to one of the ranches to check on his cattle and upon arriving he found a couple had moved in to the house. He asked what they were doing there and they answered we are broke and need a place to live. His first impulse was to kick them out but decided to help them. He told the man he could use him temporarily and he gave him a job. After a short time they were gone and I wondered why they left, but Bill the ranch owner was a tight lipped guy and he didn’t say why.
Finally I couldn’t resist any longer and asked what happened, he told me that few days ago he went to the ranch, and was unloading his horse from the trailer, when the woman who was under thirty came over and said; I need some clothes and described what she wanted. The cost would be about $600 dollars for her outfit and before he had time to say anything she also said; that she would be very appreciative, and he could come over anytime he wanted, and she would show him how much she liked him.
Even though he was country he wasn’t stupid and a couple days later he sent them on their way without the new wardrobe.
Being young I asked him why? He said; if I went down and spent that much money on clothes for my wife, she would look better than the girl would.
He was tempted and rejected her most generous offer.
He would have had to live with the knowledge of his sin for the rest of his life. There would have been other complications, for she would have had many more needs.
So many things that slip in unawares onto our want list, can lead to sinning against both GOD and ourselves. All sin is also a sin against ourselves.
While repentance and forgiveness’ can settle the account with GOD we have to live with the consequence of our sin for the rest of our lives. There are some sins that can't be undone not the least of which are adultery and fornication. Make sure there is nothing on your want list that can hurt the one who loves you for wounds never heal, they only just scar over.
Remember; No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation he will also provide a way out; so that you may be able to endure it (resist it)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLD2J1hVsI8&feature=related
As was his custom, he went to one of the ranches to check on his cattle and upon arriving he found a couple had moved in to the house. He asked what they were doing there and they answered we are broke and need a place to live. His first impulse was to kick them out but decided to help them. He told the man he could use him temporarily and he gave him a job. After a short time they were gone and I wondered why they left, but Bill the ranch owner was a tight lipped guy and he didn’t say why.
Finally I couldn’t resist any longer and asked what happened, he told me that few days ago he went to the ranch, and was unloading his horse from the trailer, when the woman who was under thirty came over and said; I need some clothes and described what she wanted. The cost would be about $600 dollars for her outfit and before he had time to say anything she also said; that she would be very appreciative, and he could come over anytime he wanted, and she would show him how much she liked him.
Even though he was country he wasn’t stupid and a couple days later he sent them on their way without the new wardrobe.
Being young I asked him why? He said; if I went down and spent that much money on clothes for my wife, she would look better than the girl would.
He was tempted and rejected her most generous offer.
He would have had to live with the knowledge of his sin for the rest of his life. There would have been other complications, for she would have had many more needs.
So many things that slip in unawares onto our want list, can lead to sinning against both GOD and ourselves. All sin is also a sin against ourselves.
While repentance and forgiveness’ can settle the account with GOD we have to live with the consequence of our sin for the rest of our lives. There are some sins that can't be undone not the least of which are adultery and fornication. Make sure there is nothing on your want list that can hurt the one who loves you for wounds never heal, they only just scar over.
Remember; No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation he will also provide a way out; so that you may be able to endure it (resist it)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLD2J1hVsI8&feature=related
Friday, August 27, 2010
THE MISSING LINK
The words; “Do you take this woman for your lawful wedded wife”?
(Even though I was numbed out,) I remember being asked those words when I made a lifetime commitment to my wife. Several factors went in to this decision to marry, not the least of them was, “I loved her and still do”.
Since I was a Christian, GOD was part of the equation, I had prayed about getting married to Hazel in fact we prayed together about it (this is hard to do when you have already made up your mind,) for we didn’t want to make a mistake that we would have to either correct or endure.
Money wasn’t an issue for if I had waited until I could have afforded to marry, I would have been too old to enjoy it.
Call it luck, being smart, choosing well or whatever, we gave some serious consideration to the things we could control. Talk about stress, it felt like the accelerator was stuck and couldn’t slow down.
We set a date, but for some reason it kept moving up, instead of waiting years it became months. Finally there I stood and heard those words; do you…. And I blurted a quick yes, I do.
And then waited…… and waited for what seemed like a very long time until she gave her answer (it wasn’t a marriage until my chosen said,) I do. When I heard those words … I went numb again until I was invited to kiss my wife. In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, I went from being a single man to being a husband that has been happily ever after.
I suppose she had to learn to love me for the long haul for even after all her effort to smooth me out I still have some rough edges.
Not everyone has had as easy time of it, as we have had.
Some have endured really hard times, making mistakes that wouldn’t happen if it was to do over, and just circumstances beyond your control such as sicknesses, accidents and deaths, but so many have been able to do well with a second start.
Second starts are the opportunity to pick up and go on as if it was the first time.
GOD ordained marriage so it must be good. How good depends upon those who participate in it. Every marriage could be improved upon, especially in the early years when adjustments are being made.
The missing link in too many marriages is leaving out GOD who is available for the asking.
There are many substitutes for marriage of which I don’t approve, only because I have experienced the fullness of what marriage is all about and there is no viable substitute for it.
Be honest, be kind and say often; I love you from the heart.
http://www.vidilife.com/video_play_1121703_Van_Morrison_Have_I_told_you_lately_that_I_love_yo.htm
Lyrics
Have I told you lately that I love you
Have I told you there's no one above you
Fill my heart with gladness
Take away my sadness
Ease my troubles, that's what you do
Oh the morning sun in all its glory
Greets the day with hope and comfort too
And you fill my life with laughter
You can make it better
Ease my troubles that's what you do
There's a love that's divine
And it's yours and it's mine
Like the sun at the end of the day
We should give thanks and pray to the One
Have I told you lately that I love you
Have I told you there's no one above you
Fill my heart with gladness
Take away my sadness
Ease my troubles, that's what you do
There's a love that's divine
And it's yours and it's mine
And it shines like the sun
At the end of the day we will give thanks
And pray to the One
Have I told you lately that I love you
Have I told you there's no one above you
Fill my heart with gladness
Take away my sadness
Ease my troubles, that's what you do
Take away my sadness
Fill my life with gladness
Ease my troubles that's what you do
Fill my life with gladness
Take away my sadness
Ease my troubles that's what you do
(Even though I was numbed out,) I remember being asked those words when I made a lifetime commitment to my wife. Several factors went in to this decision to marry, not the least of them was, “I loved her and still do”.
Since I was a Christian, GOD was part of the equation, I had prayed about getting married to Hazel in fact we prayed together about it (this is hard to do when you have already made up your mind,) for we didn’t want to make a mistake that we would have to either correct or endure.
Money wasn’t an issue for if I had waited until I could have afforded to marry, I would have been too old to enjoy it.
Call it luck, being smart, choosing well or whatever, we gave some serious consideration to the things we could control. Talk about stress, it felt like the accelerator was stuck and couldn’t slow down.
We set a date, but for some reason it kept moving up, instead of waiting years it became months. Finally there I stood and heard those words; do you…. And I blurted a quick yes, I do.
And then waited…… and waited for what seemed like a very long time until she gave her answer (it wasn’t a marriage until my chosen said,) I do. When I heard those words … I went numb again until I was invited to kiss my wife. In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, I went from being a single man to being a husband that has been happily ever after.
I suppose she had to learn to love me for the long haul for even after all her effort to smooth me out I still have some rough edges.
Not everyone has had as easy time of it, as we have had.
Some have endured really hard times, making mistakes that wouldn’t happen if it was to do over, and just circumstances beyond your control such as sicknesses, accidents and deaths, but so many have been able to do well with a second start.
Second starts are the opportunity to pick up and go on as if it was the first time.
GOD ordained marriage so it must be good. How good depends upon those who participate in it. Every marriage could be improved upon, especially in the early years when adjustments are being made.
The missing link in too many marriages is leaving out GOD who is available for the asking.
There are many substitutes for marriage of which I don’t approve, only because I have experienced the fullness of what marriage is all about and there is no viable substitute for it.
Be honest, be kind and say often; I love you from the heart.
http://www.vidilife.com/video_play_1121703_Van_Morrison_Have_I_told_you_lately_that_I_love_yo.htm
Lyrics
Have I told you lately that I love you
Have I told you there's no one above you
Fill my heart with gladness
Take away my sadness
Ease my troubles, that's what you do
Oh the morning sun in all its glory
Greets the day with hope and comfort too
And you fill my life with laughter
You can make it better
Ease my troubles that's what you do
There's a love that's divine
And it's yours and it's mine
Like the sun at the end of the day
We should give thanks and pray to the One
Have I told you lately that I love you
Have I told you there's no one above you
Fill my heart with gladness
Take away my sadness
Ease my troubles, that's what you do
There's a love that's divine
And it's yours and it's mine
And it shines like the sun
At the end of the day we will give thanks
And pray to the One
Have I told you lately that I love you
Have I told you there's no one above you
Fill my heart with gladness
Take away my sadness
Ease my troubles, that's what you do
Take away my sadness
Fill my life with gladness
Ease my troubles that's what you do
Fill my life with gladness
Take away my sadness
Ease my troubles that's what you do
Thursday, August 26, 2010
JOHN AND I Part 2
My last visit with John was challenging to say the least, especially the discussion about the book he wrote. I couldn’t believe we discussed the first few lines for over two hours. Soon after this meeting, I decided I must return and visit him another time and here I am at his front door again.
A young woman answered my knock and invited me in since she recognized me from my last visit. Shortly John came and greeted me and I was surprised that he embraced me and kissed me on the cheek. After exchanging niceties, I asked if we could discuss his book further, to which he agreed.
We started at; “In Him was life,” and went from there. John said; Jesus was not only the author and finisher of the Christian faith but by believing and accepting him as Savior something strange and marvelous would occur.
This got my attention quickly and I wanted him to continue. He said; it was through Jesus that I could receive eternal life, and all of the mystery of my existence would be unveiled, the darkness within would be expelled, and light would flood my being.
I was in awe of such a concept, and determined to find out more about that at a later time, but for now something else had my attention.
John had written “There was a man named John sent from GOD.” My first question was “Is that man you?” His answer was no, this was another John. This John was a cousin of Jesus, and he lived in the desert and was called by GOD to come and preach righteousness and repentance to the sinners and baptize them for forgiveness of sins.
While he ministered one day, Jesus came to be baptized by him. GOD had revealed to John that there was one who would come and would be the savior of the world, but it was only when Jesus came and was baptized that John truly understood who the savior was. As Jesus came up out of the water the HOLY SPIRIT came upon HIM and GOD spoke with a voice from heaven, “This is my beloved son, hear ye him.”
The next day John saw Jesus and loudly declared, “Behold the lamb of GOD which takes away the sin of the world.” The Jews understood about the lamb and the sin offering, but didn’t put together the fact that Jesus was literally going to be slain as a lamb for all sin.
Even though John was filled with the HOLY SPIRIT, he was amazed at what had happened and later after thinking about it for some time; he sent to Jesus and asked: did what I think happen really happen? Jesus assured him that he was truly the Son of GOD, the Savior. John declared that his ministry would decrease while Jesus’ would increase, which was fulfilled a short time later when he, John the Baptist was beheaded.
Though I was excited, my time was up and I had to go but I set a time when I would be coming back for I had to learn more about this story.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW7UgzFG4v4&feature=related
A young woman answered my knock and invited me in since she recognized me from my last visit. Shortly John came and greeted me and I was surprised that he embraced me and kissed me on the cheek. After exchanging niceties, I asked if we could discuss his book further, to which he agreed.
We started at; “In Him was life,” and went from there. John said; Jesus was not only the author and finisher of the Christian faith but by believing and accepting him as Savior something strange and marvelous would occur.
This got my attention quickly and I wanted him to continue. He said; it was through Jesus that I could receive eternal life, and all of the mystery of my existence would be unveiled, the darkness within would be expelled, and light would flood my being.
I was in awe of such a concept, and determined to find out more about that at a later time, but for now something else had my attention.
John had written “There was a man named John sent from GOD.” My first question was “Is that man you?” His answer was no, this was another John. This John was a cousin of Jesus, and he lived in the desert and was called by GOD to come and preach righteousness and repentance to the sinners and baptize them for forgiveness of sins.
While he ministered one day, Jesus came to be baptized by him. GOD had revealed to John that there was one who would come and would be the savior of the world, but it was only when Jesus came and was baptized that John truly understood who the savior was. As Jesus came up out of the water the HOLY SPIRIT came upon HIM and GOD spoke with a voice from heaven, “This is my beloved son, hear ye him.”
The next day John saw Jesus and loudly declared, “Behold the lamb of GOD which takes away the sin of the world.” The Jews understood about the lamb and the sin offering, but didn’t put together the fact that Jesus was literally going to be slain as a lamb for all sin.
Even though John was filled with the HOLY SPIRIT, he was amazed at what had happened and later after thinking about it for some time; he sent to Jesus and asked: did what I think happen really happen? Jesus assured him that he was truly the Son of GOD, the Savior. John declared that his ministry would decrease while Jesus’ would increase, which was fulfilled a short time later when he, John the Baptist was beheaded.
Though I was excited, my time was up and I had to go but I set a time when I would be coming back for I had to learn more about this story.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW7UgzFG4v4&feature=related
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
MY PRIESTHOOD
1Peter 2:9 But you are a special people, a holy nation, priests and kings, a people given up completely to God, so that you may make clear the virtues of him who took you out of the dark into the light of heaven.
If I sit, hardly aware of the priesthood conferred on me by Christ, and don’t fully understand it; I am unable to exercise my position properly. This ought not to be for the scripture is plain and makes sense and needs no other sense to explain it.
In most religions there is some form of priesthood where some persons have been elevated above the rest. The difference in Christianity is that all who have been blood washed are a priest unto GOD to forward the graces and virtues of HIM.
The one way to the kingdom of GOD is being challenged by self proclaimed liberal theologists which would be better served by being called theorists for they espouse theories based on presumption.
They say the task of the enlighten one is to separate a believer from the literal meanings of Jesus’ words and substitute humanist alternatives or in other words “another gospel” that is little more than a clone, something that looks similar but is not the real thing.
The words of Jesus are not subject to interpretation, for interpretation leads giving a different meaning to the obvious and to that which the Spirit of GOD can and will validate in each person’s life when activated by faith.
Many are trapped by the philosophies of the last two hundred years. The age of enlightenment is a prime example of this tower of Babel in wolf’s clothing. For example;
Kant asks if a religious synod or presbytery should be entitled to “commit itself by oath to a certain unalterable set of doctrines.” He answers that a contract like this prevents “All further enlightenment of mankind forever. It is impossible and immoral that the people of one generation could restrict the thoughts of the next generation.” He tries to use religion as his proof example that Christianity should be judged by each generation and remade to suit the reasoning of the present morality.
Kant errors by thinking Christianity is a church organization, when in fact it is a living spiritual organism that can’t be altered or changed by theorists. Even if the whole followed these errorists, Jesus’ words stand, unchanged, for they are the words of life, the beginning and the end. Any attempt to change or add to his words, only leaves the perpetrator in confused bondage.
Romans 12:1 beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
To the born again ones He says you are an ordained priest to offer up unto GOD sacrifices of worship and praise which is your reasonable service. This is the (only) way walk ye in it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JK_6osCH74&feature=related
If I sit, hardly aware of the priesthood conferred on me by Christ, and don’t fully understand it; I am unable to exercise my position properly. This ought not to be for the scripture is plain and makes sense and needs no other sense to explain it.
In most religions there is some form of priesthood where some persons have been elevated above the rest. The difference in Christianity is that all who have been blood washed are a priest unto GOD to forward the graces and virtues of HIM.
The one way to the kingdom of GOD is being challenged by self proclaimed liberal theologists which would be better served by being called theorists for they espouse theories based on presumption.
They say the task of the enlighten one is to separate a believer from the literal meanings of Jesus’ words and substitute humanist alternatives or in other words “another gospel” that is little more than a clone, something that looks similar but is not the real thing.
The words of Jesus are not subject to interpretation, for interpretation leads giving a different meaning to the obvious and to that which the Spirit of GOD can and will validate in each person’s life when activated by faith.
Many are trapped by the philosophies of the last two hundred years. The age of enlightenment is a prime example of this tower of Babel in wolf’s clothing. For example;
Kant asks if a religious synod or presbytery should be entitled to “commit itself by oath to a certain unalterable set of doctrines.” He answers that a contract like this prevents “All further enlightenment of mankind forever. It is impossible and immoral that the people of one generation could restrict the thoughts of the next generation.” He tries to use religion as his proof example that Christianity should be judged by each generation and remade to suit the reasoning of the present morality.
Kant errors by thinking Christianity is a church organization, when in fact it is a living spiritual organism that can’t be altered or changed by theorists. Even if the whole followed these errorists, Jesus’ words stand, unchanged, for they are the words of life, the beginning and the end. Any attempt to change or add to his words, only leaves the perpetrator in confused bondage.
Romans 12:1 beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
To the born again ones He says you are an ordained priest to offer up unto GOD sacrifices of worship and praise which is your reasonable service. This is the (only) way walk ye in it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JK_6osCH74&feature=related
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
SURELY
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
In psalms 23 David has found something to be positive about. In some of his writings he finds something to complain about, but not here.
This psalm is a reflection of his life’s experiences. The heart of the true shepherd is revealed as opposed to the shepherd in name only; the hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep, so when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away.
In the back of David’s mind was his responsibility as a good shepherd when he was a lad who tended his sheep. He stated that he as a shepherd defended the sheep, and killed both a lion and a bear that was attacking the sheep. He led his sheep into good pasture and flowing streams so they were refreshed and were comforted by his presence.
David was thankful for the shepherd’s two tools, the rod and staff. The rod has been characterized as a weapon of defense and the staff as a control devise, used when the sheep were out of bounds.
At the anointing of Aaron the first priest, the oil was poured upon his head and flowed down over his whole being, signifying he was wholly anointed.
David’s anointing was total, his cup was full and running over.
His attitude toward his sheep was one of goodness and mercy, and he shepherded them to the sheepfold safely. With this background he penned the twenty third Psalm.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
By faith the Christian’s expectation should be; surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
It is so important for you to include yourself in this Psalm. You are one of these who are kept safe in the sheepfold.
Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh7oMGew4rE&feature=related
In psalms 23 David has found something to be positive about. In some of his writings he finds something to complain about, but not here.
This psalm is a reflection of his life’s experiences. The heart of the true shepherd is revealed as opposed to the shepherd in name only; the hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep, so when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away.
In the back of David’s mind was his responsibility as a good shepherd when he was a lad who tended his sheep. He stated that he as a shepherd defended the sheep, and killed both a lion and a bear that was attacking the sheep. He led his sheep into good pasture and flowing streams so they were refreshed and were comforted by his presence.
David was thankful for the shepherd’s two tools, the rod and staff. The rod has been characterized as a weapon of defense and the staff as a control devise, used when the sheep were out of bounds.
At the anointing of Aaron the first priest, the oil was poured upon his head and flowed down over his whole being, signifying he was wholly anointed.
David’s anointing was total, his cup was full and running over.
His attitude toward his sheep was one of goodness and mercy, and he shepherded them to the sheepfold safely. With this background he penned the twenty third Psalm.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
By faith the Christian’s expectation should be; surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
It is so important for you to include yourself in this Psalm. You are one of these who are kept safe in the sheepfold.
Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh7oMGew4rE&feature=related
Monday, August 23, 2010
SPIRITUAL PARKINSON’S
By Definition; Parkinson's disease is a debilitating, progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement. It develops gradually, often starting with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. While tremor may be the most well-known sign of Parkinson's disease, the disorder also commonly causes a slowing or freezing of movement.
The nature of Parkinson action is so gradual it is hardly noticeable, growing until it affects the entire being. That which I have called Spiritual Parkinson’s works along the same line. A malady that is so subtle that it is almost unnoticeable until the person is consumed by it.
Spiritual Parkinson’s attacks the faith of the Christian. The signs are similar to the physical disease which is;
Tremors; the Christian fears every report, economic, health, security; any little issue causes them to seek a hiding place other than Christ.
Bradykinesia; slowed motion, unable to get started, almost in a frozen state. The command; “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might,” is ignored as is, “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Rigid muscles; when someone approaches you stiffen up afraid they will require you to do something. There is a withholding of any expression that could lead to further interaction such as friendship. This also affects the relationship with GOD. “A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.”
Loss of automatic movements; a loss of the things the normal Christian would do; such as praying, worshipping, Bible reading, and love for the brethren. These are signs that should be heeded for these are things that can still be corrected before the paralysis sets in and after that, recovery is questionable.
Speech changes: this is one of the first noticeable changes in the believer, how they speak to others. Words they normally wouldn't use, unkind, harsh, vulgar, coarse, even to using curse words in the presence of friends.
Dementia; your view of Christ and his church are distorted. Spiritual values are diminished. Prayer and worship are not essential part of your life.
Who or what can separate us from the love of Christ….. What is the answer?
Answer: SPIRITUAL PARKINSON’S DISEASE.
A normal response to this disease is “why me?” the answer is found in Ephesians 6:12 For, our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
Be strong in faith and in the power of his might, and be healed of Spiritual Parkinson’s Disease.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x2IpLSfqp8&feature=related
Enjoy the above song by clicking on the site.
The nature of Parkinson action is so gradual it is hardly noticeable, growing until it affects the entire being. That which I have called Spiritual Parkinson’s works along the same line. A malady that is so subtle that it is almost unnoticeable until the person is consumed by it.
Spiritual Parkinson’s attacks the faith of the Christian. The signs are similar to the physical disease which is;
Tremors; the Christian fears every report, economic, health, security; any little issue causes them to seek a hiding place other than Christ.
Bradykinesia; slowed motion, unable to get started, almost in a frozen state. The command; “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might,” is ignored as is, “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Rigid muscles; when someone approaches you stiffen up afraid they will require you to do something. There is a withholding of any expression that could lead to further interaction such as friendship. This also affects the relationship with GOD. “A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.”
Loss of automatic movements; a loss of the things the normal Christian would do; such as praying, worshipping, Bible reading, and love for the brethren. These are signs that should be heeded for these are things that can still be corrected before the paralysis sets in and after that, recovery is questionable.
Speech changes: this is one of the first noticeable changes in the believer, how they speak to others. Words they normally wouldn't use, unkind, harsh, vulgar, coarse, even to using curse words in the presence of friends.
Dementia; your view of Christ and his church are distorted. Spiritual values are diminished. Prayer and worship are not essential part of your life.
Who or what can separate us from the love of Christ….. What is the answer?
Answer: SPIRITUAL PARKINSON’S DISEASE.
A normal response to this disease is “why me?” the answer is found in Ephesians 6:12 For, our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
Be strong in faith and in the power of his might, and be healed of Spiritual Parkinson’s Disease.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x2IpLSfqp8&feature=related
Enjoy the above song by clicking on the site.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
JOHN AND I
It had been several years since I had seen my friend John, the final time I heard from him he had been sent to prison on an island called Patmos.
We grew up together and were very close up until he became religious and started following this religious zealot. Every time I saw him after that he would start babbling about his new belief and that was the last thing I wanted to hear, so for me it was hello and goodbye almost in the same breath.
I didn’t know what happened to him it was almost like he was a whole different person. I had heard this zealot John had been following had been killed, people everywhere was talking about him making outrageous claims about him.
One would say this and another would say something else, but whatever it meant nothing to me. Sometime later I met John again and he invited over to where he was staying. For a few minutes we reminisced about our childhood and some of the old folks we knew. I then made the mistake of asking what he had been doing for the last several years. I knew I had made a mistake as soon as I said it for he lit into a long monologue about his religious experiences. Some of it was entertaining but pretty far fetched.
I had heard the story about this Jesus turning water into wine but didn’t believe it, but the way John told it, made it more believable. Anyway I told him, some folks say it wasn’t wine but only grape juice. He looked askance at me and gruffly said; I know the difference between grape juice and wine, I was there and I guess I ought to know.
He said he had written a book. I asked what kind of book he said; it was about his experiences and the teachings of Jesus.
I must say this perked up my attention for the conversation had become one sided and my focus had waned. I naively asked if I could see it, and he said it would be alright for it would be some time before we ate.
I began to read and after reading a few words I stopped. It didn’t make any sense to me.
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
I wondered what in the world was he talking about. I sat there staring at those words and I was strangely moved by them, even though I didn’t have a clue as to what they meant.
Sometime later after we had supped, John asked me; what do you think? I had been hoping he wouldn’t ask me that. I timidly said; well it is interesting and you sure have a way with words. As he pressed me further I confessed, I didn’t have a clue as to what it meant, and he said; “I thought so, how far did you get?”
I told him, “About two sentences.” He laughed and said; “That’s about what I expected, would like me to tell you about it?”
I was trapped, what could I say. Putting on my best face I said; “Yes, I sure would,” thinking all the time how can I get out of here without offending my friend.
He began by explaining that everything that we are in contact with save GOD has had a beginning, and he quoted genesis 1:1 in the beginning GOD created…. And he said anything prior to the beginning, pertains to eternity. So the words “in the beginning the Word already existed,” means he belongs to eternity or is eternal in nature. Before there was anything, he existed in eternal form.
The next phrase explains He was with GOD and the Word as being GOD;
The same GOD who was the creator of all things; the one who created the beginning and the things following the beginning. “Whoa,” I said, “I have to think about this for that is deep.” He knew he had me and he wouldn’t let me off the hook as my eyes longingly looked at the door.
I was feeling tremendous pressure for some reason because to become religious was the last thing I wanted to do. With the Jewish leaders I pretended to be one of them, but this was something different and I didn’t think the same ploy would work here.
I decided to ask, “What is this Word stuff? It doesn’t make sense to me.”
John said,”I figured as much.” He then gave me a history lesson from the creation to Moses and then to Christ and how and why the sacrifices were made; and how the death of Christ was the last sacrifice to be made.
I felt like an idiot, I was hearing what he was saying but the meanings had escaped me.
Then he started talking about a word is a method of communication it paints word pictures of reality, of real things. It is then the responsibility of the hearer to relate it to a mental picture of what the words mean to you hoping that both see the same thing. The word cow to a Texan might cause him to envision a Hereford beef or a longhorn while to an East Indian it might conjure up the image of a Brahma bull with horns and hump. In other words it is important be on the same page.
The Word was made (embodied) flesh for sacrificial reasons but also for revealing GOD to people on a human level. When we pray to GOD and say; Lord you don’t know… GOD can say; “Been there and done that, for I suffered in the flesh.” He knows and understands our, sufferings, temptations, trials, needs and hardships. For all these things he has mercy and grace for those willing to receive it.
John then said; “When I walked with Jesus I was walking and talking with GOD; his thoughts, his words, his actions and his demeanor was GOD hindered only by the infirmity of the flesh, and the recipients of his message.
Then abruptly John excused himself and said he had things to do. I told him that I would like to continue this discussion. He replied I was welcome to come by and read more of his book at anytime for we had only partly discussed a few words.
He continued to say, “Come back again, and we will discuss my book further.”
We grew up together and were very close up until he became religious and started following this religious zealot. Every time I saw him after that he would start babbling about his new belief and that was the last thing I wanted to hear, so for me it was hello and goodbye almost in the same breath.
I didn’t know what happened to him it was almost like he was a whole different person. I had heard this zealot John had been following had been killed, people everywhere was talking about him making outrageous claims about him.
One would say this and another would say something else, but whatever it meant nothing to me. Sometime later I met John again and he invited over to where he was staying. For a few minutes we reminisced about our childhood and some of the old folks we knew. I then made the mistake of asking what he had been doing for the last several years. I knew I had made a mistake as soon as I said it for he lit into a long monologue about his religious experiences. Some of it was entertaining but pretty far fetched.
I had heard the story about this Jesus turning water into wine but didn’t believe it, but the way John told it, made it more believable. Anyway I told him, some folks say it wasn’t wine but only grape juice. He looked askance at me and gruffly said; I know the difference between grape juice and wine, I was there and I guess I ought to know.
He said he had written a book. I asked what kind of book he said; it was about his experiences and the teachings of Jesus.
I must say this perked up my attention for the conversation had become one sided and my focus had waned. I naively asked if I could see it, and he said it would be alright for it would be some time before we ate.
I began to read and after reading a few words I stopped. It didn’t make any sense to me.
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
I wondered what in the world was he talking about. I sat there staring at those words and I was strangely moved by them, even though I didn’t have a clue as to what they meant.
Sometime later after we had supped, John asked me; what do you think? I had been hoping he wouldn’t ask me that. I timidly said; well it is interesting and you sure have a way with words. As he pressed me further I confessed, I didn’t have a clue as to what it meant, and he said; “I thought so, how far did you get?”
I told him, “About two sentences.” He laughed and said; “That’s about what I expected, would like me to tell you about it?”
I was trapped, what could I say. Putting on my best face I said; “Yes, I sure would,” thinking all the time how can I get out of here without offending my friend.
He began by explaining that everything that we are in contact with save GOD has had a beginning, and he quoted genesis 1:1 in the beginning GOD created…. And he said anything prior to the beginning, pertains to eternity. So the words “in the beginning the Word already existed,” means he belongs to eternity or is eternal in nature. Before there was anything, he existed in eternal form.
The next phrase explains He was with GOD and the Word as being GOD;
The same GOD who was the creator of all things; the one who created the beginning and the things following the beginning. “Whoa,” I said, “I have to think about this for that is deep.” He knew he had me and he wouldn’t let me off the hook as my eyes longingly looked at the door.
I was feeling tremendous pressure for some reason because to become religious was the last thing I wanted to do. With the Jewish leaders I pretended to be one of them, but this was something different and I didn’t think the same ploy would work here.
I decided to ask, “What is this Word stuff? It doesn’t make sense to me.”
John said,”I figured as much.” He then gave me a history lesson from the creation to Moses and then to Christ and how and why the sacrifices were made; and how the death of Christ was the last sacrifice to be made.
I felt like an idiot, I was hearing what he was saying but the meanings had escaped me.
Then he started talking about a word is a method of communication it paints word pictures of reality, of real things. It is then the responsibility of the hearer to relate it to a mental picture of what the words mean to you hoping that both see the same thing. The word cow to a Texan might cause him to envision a Hereford beef or a longhorn while to an East Indian it might conjure up the image of a Brahma bull with horns and hump. In other words it is important be on the same page.
The Word was made (embodied) flesh for sacrificial reasons but also for revealing GOD to people on a human level. When we pray to GOD and say; Lord you don’t know… GOD can say; “Been there and done that, for I suffered in the flesh.” He knows and understands our, sufferings, temptations, trials, needs and hardships. For all these things he has mercy and grace for those willing to receive it.
John then said; “When I walked with Jesus I was walking and talking with GOD; his thoughts, his words, his actions and his demeanor was GOD hindered only by the infirmity of the flesh, and the recipients of his message.
Then abruptly John excused himself and said he had things to do. I told him that I would like to continue this discussion. He replied I was welcome to come by and read more of his book at anytime for we had only partly discussed a few words.
He continued to say, “Come back again, and we will discuss my book further.”
Saturday, August 21, 2010
WHO, ME?
American Standard Version Hebrews 12:1
Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset (attacks you from every side) us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Oft times when reading this verse of scripture I focus on the first section: the cloud of witnesses. It has been suggested that these witnesses are the angels of GOD. Another thought is they are the saints who have died in the faith and are viewing the Christian community on earth.
Whatever the situation is there is somebody watching us, and because of this we are admonished to strip ourselves of two things. The first is characterized as weights.
We could copy baby Snooks of radio fame who always answered, “Why,” every time she was told to do something. “Go to bed; why? Drink your milk; why? “
When the scripture says to do, or not do something the only response that is acceptable is obedience.
The weight is that thing that keeps you from doing the perfect will of GOD. Weights seem to be custom made for each Individual, what affects one might have no effect on another.
Weights include; the love of money, a roving eye, an occasional untruth, or any thing that slows you down in your walk of righteousness.
Sin or perhaps sins would be more appropriate since one who allows sin in his life probably has problems with several things. Sin is the violation of the known will of GOD. Sin disrupts your fellowship with GOD.
You might say “I want to sin!” Of course you do otherwise you wouldn’t do it. The issue isn’t the want to, it is the counting the cost that matters.
The analogy of the race depicts how necessary it is to eliminate anything that would impede your running. The Christian life is likened unto a race. It isn’t a quick dash, and it is more than a marathon. It is a continual running until you join the cloud of witnesses.
With determination, set your goal for the long haul with no detours.
Run ye well, faithful one.
Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1FQqSGxBso&feature=related
Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset (attacks you from every side) us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Oft times when reading this verse of scripture I focus on the first section: the cloud of witnesses. It has been suggested that these witnesses are the angels of GOD. Another thought is they are the saints who have died in the faith and are viewing the Christian community on earth.
Whatever the situation is there is somebody watching us, and because of this we are admonished to strip ourselves of two things. The first is characterized as weights.
We could copy baby Snooks of radio fame who always answered, “Why,” every time she was told to do something. “Go to bed; why? Drink your milk; why? “
When the scripture says to do, or not do something the only response that is acceptable is obedience.
The weight is that thing that keeps you from doing the perfect will of GOD. Weights seem to be custom made for each Individual, what affects one might have no effect on another.
Weights include; the love of money, a roving eye, an occasional untruth, or any thing that slows you down in your walk of righteousness.
Sin or perhaps sins would be more appropriate since one who allows sin in his life probably has problems with several things. Sin is the violation of the known will of GOD. Sin disrupts your fellowship with GOD.
You might say “I want to sin!” Of course you do otherwise you wouldn’t do it. The issue isn’t the want to, it is the counting the cost that matters.
The analogy of the race depicts how necessary it is to eliminate anything that would impede your running. The Christian life is likened unto a race. It isn’t a quick dash, and it is more than a marathon. It is a continual running until you join the cloud of witnesses.
With determination, set your goal for the long haul with no detours.
Run ye well, faithful one.
Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1FQqSGxBso&feature=related
Friday, August 20, 2010
WHEN THE WORLD CHANGED
There is a marker in history that only says; a day of infamy.
It was all that and much more. Dec.7, 1941 was the day when the whole world changed. The unthinkable happened. Our military was attacked and WAR began.
For the next few months survival was the key word. We were saved by the great distance, the broad Pacific Ocean which served as a great moat around our castle.
Every thing changed in a moment, new jobs, new inventions, families were changed. Women found that they could do more than house work and raise kids. Everything pointed toward the “War effort.
The war was made up of millions of events of every nature, it changed the family unit and the effects are still being experienced where God’s will is being ignored as if it were an option.
I relate just one of the events (of the millions) that occurred during the conflict.
One of my uncles who qualified as poor, by poor people’s standards, managed to get a ticket from Tennessee to California to get a job in the shipyard. This meant he had to leave his wife there until he could send for her. This meant she had to move back home to her family until then. My Uncle immediately got a job and started to make good money with all the overtime he wanted.
Month after month passed and his wife began to wonder when he was going to send for her. She kept writing asking for the reason why she couldn’t join him. He kept putting her off until she gave finally him an ultimatum either send for her or else.
Whereupon he sent money for her ticket and she arrived safely. As a normal woman she wanted to know “how come, and why.” And what was the reason it took so long for him to send for her. Little by little the truth came out for she had no intention of stopping until she knew it all.
Since I know those who are reading this can fill in the details and don’t need to know the rest, I could just stop here but just in case, and for the benefit of one person who might get it wrong I continue.
As it turned out there was a young, fresh, woman who attracted my uncle and with the time of separation and the massive temptation they became involved. It was surprise, surprise to the young girl who was told “By the way I have a wife who is arriving soon.” It seemed that uncle had forgot about that until his memory returned. Just to cut this short, as it happened his wife was pregnant and close to birthing and wouldn’t you know it the girlfriend was also pregnant.
Leaving out the scathing details, he worked things out with his wife. The girlfriend had her child and married a guy that was crazy for her regardless of the former events. What happened next will have to wait for another time.
P.S. I saw the girl friends child and she was the spitting image of another girl of his by his wife.
It was all that and much more. Dec.7, 1941 was the day when the whole world changed. The unthinkable happened. Our military was attacked and WAR began.
For the next few months survival was the key word. We were saved by the great distance, the broad Pacific Ocean which served as a great moat around our castle.
Every thing changed in a moment, new jobs, new inventions, families were changed. Women found that they could do more than house work and raise kids. Everything pointed toward the “War effort.
The war was made up of millions of events of every nature, it changed the family unit and the effects are still being experienced where God’s will is being ignored as if it were an option.
I relate just one of the events (of the millions) that occurred during the conflict.
One of my uncles who qualified as poor, by poor people’s standards, managed to get a ticket from Tennessee to California to get a job in the shipyard. This meant he had to leave his wife there until he could send for her. This meant she had to move back home to her family until then. My Uncle immediately got a job and started to make good money with all the overtime he wanted.
Month after month passed and his wife began to wonder when he was going to send for her. She kept writing asking for the reason why she couldn’t join him. He kept putting her off until she gave finally him an ultimatum either send for her or else.
Whereupon he sent money for her ticket and she arrived safely. As a normal woman she wanted to know “how come, and why.” And what was the reason it took so long for him to send for her. Little by little the truth came out for she had no intention of stopping until she knew it all.
Since I know those who are reading this can fill in the details and don’t need to know the rest, I could just stop here but just in case, and for the benefit of one person who might get it wrong I continue.
As it turned out there was a young, fresh, woman who attracted my uncle and with the time of separation and the massive temptation they became involved. It was surprise, surprise to the young girl who was told “By the way I have a wife who is arriving soon.” It seemed that uncle had forgot about that until his memory returned. Just to cut this short, as it happened his wife was pregnant and close to birthing and wouldn’t you know it the girlfriend was also pregnant.
Leaving out the scathing details, he worked things out with his wife. The girlfriend had her child and married a guy that was crazy for her regardless of the former events. What happened next will have to wait for another time.
P.S. I saw the girl friends child and she was the spitting image of another girl of his by his wife.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS
I don’t know about you but I talk to myself quite a bit. In part it is because I’m the only one that is interested in what I have to say. Besides that I am a ready listener and agree with myself most of the time.
I was having one of these conversations with myself about taking a shower, after long deliberations it was decided that I should. I removed my clothes down to my socks and then this called for another discussion.
Should I take my socks off or leave them on and wash them at the same time I showered?
I couldn’t believe how many pros and cons there were concerning this. If I showered with them on I could save time and possibly some soap. But then I would have to wear them dry. On the other side I should take them off and wash them separately and not have to deal with the drying process on my feet.
This type of moronic thinking can be used when making decisions about spiritual things. When the scripture says “This is the way walk ye in it!” it is clear as to what it says, but oft times we may look for another way that is just as good. We think, if GOD had done it this way, it would have been so much better. Therefore I believe it will be okay if I would fudge a little bit on this.
While it seems a little dogmatic to me maybe it would make more sense if - - Surely this scripture can’t apply to this situation even though it seems to. I believe it will be okay to cheat a little because GOD wants me to succeed.
Romans 1:21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.
Foolish thinking leads to foolish conclusions and results in foolish decisions and actions. As a man thinks in his heart so is he. Thinking in the heart is self talk; it can damage an individual beyond repair.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
An unsound mind does not come from GOD but rather is a product of external forces, stress and satanic input. Let our inward thinking and self talk lead us to looking beyond the thought of the moment and evaluating and judging the results of that thought. Any thought acted upon will have consequences.
Ecclesiastes.12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Each action of man is preceded by self talk and can produce interesting results. An interesting climax can be seen in the following URL.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr8CPA2YaCI
I was having one of these conversations with myself about taking a shower, after long deliberations it was decided that I should. I removed my clothes down to my socks and then this called for another discussion.
Should I take my socks off or leave them on and wash them at the same time I showered?
I couldn’t believe how many pros and cons there were concerning this. If I showered with them on I could save time and possibly some soap. But then I would have to wear them dry. On the other side I should take them off and wash them separately and not have to deal with the drying process on my feet.
This type of moronic thinking can be used when making decisions about spiritual things. When the scripture says “This is the way walk ye in it!” it is clear as to what it says, but oft times we may look for another way that is just as good. We think, if GOD had done it this way, it would have been so much better. Therefore I believe it will be okay if I would fudge a little bit on this.
While it seems a little dogmatic to me maybe it would make more sense if - - Surely this scripture can’t apply to this situation even though it seems to. I believe it will be okay to cheat a little because GOD wants me to succeed.
Romans 1:21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.
Foolish thinking leads to foolish conclusions and results in foolish decisions and actions. As a man thinks in his heart so is he. Thinking in the heart is self talk; it can damage an individual beyond repair.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
An unsound mind does not come from GOD but rather is a product of external forces, stress and satanic input. Let our inward thinking and self talk lead us to looking beyond the thought of the moment and evaluating and judging the results of that thought. Any thought acted upon will have consequences.
Ecclesiastes.12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Each action of man is preceded by self talk and can produce interesting results. An interesting climax can be seen in the following URL.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr8CPA2YaCI
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
SONNY (I CAN’T BELIEVE HIM) BULLION
Since I was in short supply of friends when I lived in Tennessee, I had a third cousin named Sonny. When I came to town, I would hang out with him. To say he was a little strange would be an over exaggeration. Sonny not only would do some crazy things, he could see nothing wrong with them. More than once when I realized what he had in mind I would make a hasty retreat.
Sonny joined the army and was wounded in boot camp when a guy went nuts and threw a hand grenade near him. After being mustered out for being unfit due to the injury suffered by the grenade, Sonny now had money in his pocket which was unusual for him.
He bought a car and drove it so reckless that the chief of police who was a friend of his mother told her if Sonny didn’t get rid of that car he would put him in jail. His mother Josephine, somehow got his keys and sold the car for about half of what Sonny paid for it. He took the money after some protesting about the sale and it wasn’t long before long it was the same old Sonny, broke as usual.
We had a great deal of tolerance for one another in those days. Crazy or not, we allowed people to be who they were. Sonny was in a different category even the most liberal and forgiving were confused by him, he could have been called Mr. Illogical. I think when GOD saw Sonny HE decided that one of him was more than this world needed.
One fourth of July he went down to the bus station and it just occurred to him to throw a large firecracker over a bus. Talk about bad luck the police captain was standing on the other side and the firecracker knocked his cap off. This got Sonny a free ride to the jail house and it took a lot of pleading by his mother to get him out a few days later.
His mother was a single woman, and it seems she was very friendly with several of the city officials. I think she considered it part of the cost of doing business. I didn’t want to know any more about that so I avoided that issue at all times.
All this was occurring in Columbia Tennessee, and soon I was to return to California. Before I left, Sonny's mother had a boyfriend that came up from Alabama every week or so and would spend the night. On this occasion Mr. Green’s car was parked in front of the house and Sonny took a gallon of dark black paint and with a paint brush he painted Green’s car, windows and all.
Josephine finally married Green and moved to Alabama, and since Sonny was now grown he had to fend for himself, up unto then he lived off his mother who ran a grocery store where she had to watch the till at all times.
As for me I was as the scripture says; “we are in the world but not of the world” I was in the mix but was not of the mix. I stayed clear of “Sonny’s Follies”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrOcB32BQmM
Sonny joined the army and was wounded in boot camp when a guy went nuts and threw a hand grenade near him. After being mustered out for being unfit due to the injury suffered by the grenade, Sonny now had money in his pocket which was unusual for him.
He bought a car and drove it so reckless that the chief of police who was a friend of his mother told her if Sonny didn’t get rid of that car he would put him in jail. His mother Josephine, somehow got his keys and sold the car for about half of what Sonny paid for it. He took the money after some protesting about the sale and it wasn’t long before long it was the same old Sonny, broke as usual.
We had a great deal of tolerance for one another in those days. Crazy or not, we allowed people to be who they were. Sonny was in a different category even the most liberal and forgiving were confused by him, he could have been called Mr. Illogical. I think when GOD saw Sonny HE decided that one of him was more than this world needed.
One fourth of July he went down to the bus station and it just occurred to him to throw a large firecracker over a bus. Talk about bad luck the police captain was standing on the other side and the firecracker knocked his cap off. This got Sonny a free ride to the jail house and it took a lot of pleading by his mother to get him out a few days later.
His mother was a single woman, and it seems she was very friendly with several of the city officials. I think she considered it part of the cost of doing business. I didn’t want to know any more about that so I avoided that issue at all times.
All this was occurring in Columbia Tennessee, and soon I was to return to California. Before I left, Sonny's mother had a boyfriend that came up from Alabama every week or so and would spend the night. On this occasion Mr. Green’s car was parked in front of the house and Sonny took a gallon of dark black paint and with a paint brush he painted Green’s car, windows and all.
Josephine finally married Green and moved to Alabama, and since Sonny was now grown he had to fend for himself, up unto then he lived off his mother who ran a grocery store where she had to watch the till at all times.
As for me I was as the scripture says; “we are in the world but not of the world” I was in the mix but was not of the mix. I stayed clear of “Sonny’s Follies”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrOcB32BQmM
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
MY FIRST WEDDING
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| Courtesy photobucket.com |
I remember the first wedding I was in. I wasn't the one getting married, it was my Aunt Minnie. This happened when my parents and I were living in North Carolina. My aunt Minnie was visiting from Tennessee, and planned to stay for the summer.
There was a young man in town who was quite outgoing, and who knew everyone in the town we lived in. He had several part time jobs as well as a full time job. He had a strange way of getting hired. It seemed like he would just hire himself. If he wanted to work somewhere, he would just go in and start working. He always ended up getting hired.
He worked at the cotton mill for his regular job, but also worked part time at the Soda fountain, Movie Theater, and the Mortuary. He also had a great garden with plenty of vegetables.
When Earnest met Minnie Hazel (my aunt) he decided to marry her. There were plenty of girls in Cliffside he knew, but she was the one that he wanted. For Minnie it was because of boredom that motivated her to go on a date with Earnest, but with him it was love. They saw each other quite often for it seemed that every time she stepped out of the house, there he was.
When things were getting too serious on his side, she decided to return to her home in Tennessee, thinking that was the end of that.
It wasn't long before Earnest traveled to her home in Tennessee, and was ready for the wedding, which she had no intention of being a part of. As was his usual style he just moved into my grandfather’s home, and followed him around calling him Poppa.
This seemed strange to my grandpa for he didn't really know him. It was the custom of our people to extend hospitality to others, and Ernest took advantage of it. After some time my aunt decided that the only way to stop Earnest from aggravating her was to marry him, and the wedding was to be that day.
My dad and mom and I were visiting grandpa at this time and it was decided that we would take them to the justice of the peace for the wedding. My dad had a 1934 Chevrolet coupe with a rumble seat. Earnest and Minnie and I got in the rumble seat with my dad and mom in front. I loved to ride in the rumble seat so this was a treat for me although it was crowded.
A few minutes later we were in front of the JP' house, and my dad blew his horn to let him know we were there. The JP came out before we could get of the car and said; “What can I do for you?” My dad said; “these guys want to get married,” and as we started to get out of the rumble seat the JP said; “Just stay where you are, and I'll do it right here.”
The ceremony took place with us sitting in the back seat with me sitting in the middle. As a rule I was always talking, not saying much but talking. When the JP started the wedding I didn't make a sound, he was asking things like. “Do you?” He also told them to say. “Yes.”
I made sure I didn't say anything because I was sitting in the middle and I was afraid that if I did - - I might be married, and I wasn't ready for that.
It was only about an hour from the time she said yes until she was married, that didn’t give much time to back out. Anyhow it worked out for they were together for many years until her demise.
That was the first time I was in a wedding party and it wasn't for another 15 years, until the wedding was my own.
This post is shared at: “Tell Me a True Story” http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/
Monday, August 16, 2010
GONNA LET YO LIGHT SHINE?
New Living Translation (©2007)
As they approached, Jesus said, "Now here is a genuine son of Israel -- a man of complete integrity." (Without guile).
English Revised Version
”Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.”
Matthew Henry quote: “Sin is the cause of our misery; but the true believer's transgressions of the Divine law are all forgiven, being covered with the atonement. Christ bare the sins of the believer, therefore they are not imputed to him. The righteousness of Christ has been reckoned to us, and we being made the righteousness of God in Him. Our iniquity is not imputed, God having laid upon Jesus the iniquity of us all, and made Him to be a sin-offering for us. Not to impute sin, is God's act, for he is the Judge. It is God that justifies. Notice the character of him whose sins are pardoned; he is sincere, and seeks sanctification by the power of the Holy Ghost. He does not profess to repent, with an intention to indulge in sin, because the Lord is ready to forgive. He will not abuse the doctrine of free grace. And to the man whose iniquity is forgiven, all manner of blessings are promised,”
There is nothing you can do to improve GOD’S salvation; it is full, meaning it is all encompassing, meeting all of GOD’S requirements. It is free, it costs you nothing. Your service, tithing, praying, and praising, none of these things can improve GOD’S salvation. The only thing man had to do with salvation was when Christ became the God/man, (the hypostatic union.) Jesus was born, created a man who was sinless and remained sinless through out his tenure on earth.
The goal for every Christian, (as difficult as it may be,) is to be that man or woman who is guileless in GOD’S sight. This means to have no ulterior motive in our service for GOD.
I have seen men (with guile) for their own benefit, take advantage of people who are being moved upon by the Holy Spirit. They care not that GOD sees and knows what is in their heart.
Each day we face issues that will surely test our resolve, but if each morning we put on the armor of guilelessness, the darts of adversity will fall short of their objective.
What could be better than for Jesus to say about you than; behold here is my child in which there is no guile.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqOuj54qpgo
As they approached, Jesus said, "Now here is a genuine son of Israel -- a man of complete integrity." (Without guile).
English Revised Version
”Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.”
Matthew Henry quote: “Sin is the cause of our misery; but the true believer's transgressions of the Divine law are all forgiven, being covered with the atonement. Christ bare the sins of the believer, therefore they are not imputed to him. The righteousness of Christ has been reckoned to us, and we being made the righteousness of God in Him. Our iniquity is not imputed, God having laid upon Jesus the iniquity of us all, and made Him to be a sin-offering for us. Not to impute sin, is God's act, for he is the Judge. It is God that justifies. Notice the character of him whose sins are pardoned; he is sincere, and seeks sanctification by the power of the Holy Ghost. He does not profess to repent, with an intention to indulge in sin, because the Lord is ready to forgive. He will not abuse the doctrine of free grace. And to the man whose iniquity is forgiven, all manner of blessings are promised,”
There is nothing you can do to improve GOD’S salvation; it is full, meaning it is all encompassing, meeting all of GOD’S requirements. It is free, it costs you nothing. Your service, tithing, praying, and praising, none of these things can improve GOD’S salvation. The only thing man had to do with salvation was when Christ became the God/man, (the hypostatic union.) Jesus was born, created a man who was sinless and remained sinless through out his tenure on earth.
The goal for every Christian, (as difficult as it may be,) is to be that man or woman who is guileless in GOD’S sight. This means to have no ulterior motive in our service for GOD.
I have seen men (with guile) for their own benefit, take advantage of people who are being moved upon by the Holy Spirit. They care not that GOD sees and knows what is in their heart.
Each day we face issues that will surely test our resolve, but if each morning we put on the armor of guilelessness, the darts of adversity will fall short of their objective.
What could be better than for Jesus to say about you than; behold here is my child in which there is no guile.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqOuj54qpgo
Sunday, August 15, 2010
BLUE BERRY HILL
Girls go through several stages and some sub-stages while growing up. They go from the darling stage, where they walk in forgiveness, to the rebellious stage. They start, low level and accelerate until they have reached the perfected rebellion stage. After a time, rebellion wears thin and it becomes necessary to move on to the next stage and that is, “The blame game.”
Here they find targets galore. Of course the parents hold the number one position but siblings and friends are not neglected in this pursuit.
After this stage there are many ways to go but one of the most popular is the, “Get even,” for all the wrong I have been recipient of. It’s time to do the opposite of what they have been instructed to do or not do.
Well lordly, lordly here comes the average boy friend that is able and willing to help out, especially in the area of chastity. He is the expert instructor and the girl is so grateful. She has reached the, “Give and take stage.”
What she is about to find out is; she does the giving and he does the taking. Shortly, his conquest loses it shine, and being afflicted with the Blueberry Hill syndrome, he must move on to help some other damsel in distress.
Though our damsel has entered the bitterness stage, it is alleviated by boyfriend number 2 and the process is repeated until she has the blinders removed and she realizes that there is only one stage left, and that is the real world. This is where she has to put behind her the stages of growing up and shed that old skin for a new skin of maturity and get ready for real life.
Can she skip some of these forgoing unnecessary steps? Absolutely, but then she would have to be “Smarter” than the average girl.
Well what about the boys?
Boys are experts and their modus operandi is to forget the past, forgive themselves and move on to Blueberry Hill where they find their next thrill.
Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRgFbSc-nI4
Here they find targets galore. Of course the parents hold the number one position but siblings and friends are not neglected in this pursuit.
After this stage there are many ways to go but one of the most popular is the, “Get even,” for all the wrong I have been recipient of. It’s time to do the opposite of what they have been instructed to do or not do.
Well lordly, lordly here comes the average boy friend that is able and willing to help out, especially in the area of chastity. He is the expert instructor and the girl is so grateful. She has reached the, “Give and take stage.”
What she is about to find out is; she does the giving and he does the taking. Shortly, his conquest loses it shine, and being afflicted with the Blueberry Hill syndrome, he must move on to help some other damsel in distress.
Though our damsel has entered the bitterness stage, it is alleviated by boyfriend number 2 and the process is repeated until she has the blinders removed and she realizes that there is only one stage left, and that is the real world. This is where she has to put behind her the stages of growing up and shed that old skin for a new skin of maturity and get ready for real life.
Can she skip some of these forgoing unnecessary steps? Absolutely, but then she would have to be “Smarter” than the average girl.
Well what about the boys?
Boys are experts and their modus operandi is to forget the past, forgive themselves and move on to Blueberry Hill where they find their next thrill.
Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRgFbSc-nI4
Saturday, August 14, 2010
DE-IGNORANT ME - - Please
Paul the apostle wrote to the Corinthians, who were the most well educated people in the world at the time of his writing. Corinth was notorious for sexual perversion, fornication and adultery and all this was considered an act of worship.
In I Corinthians 5, Paul addresses the Corinthanizing of the church where sexual sins were going on without being condemned. Further there were doctrinal questions being asked of Paul resulting in his letter being sent to explain and correct doctrinal errors. When we get to chapter 12 and 14 he goes into detail about spiritual gifts and their use.
1Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I don't want you to be ignorant.
Here in Corinth where the intellect is revered, Paul declares they are unlearned in the things of the Spirit and proceeds to explain the gifts individually.
There are nine specific gifts listed I Corinthians 12; each with their purpose for the edification of the body of Christ.
A note by Scofield on the gifts says in part; the gifts are diverse but ALL are equally honorable because they are bestowed by the same Spirit, administered under the same Lord, and energized by the same God.
These are gifts from the Holy Spirit are to the church through individuals in the body.
Scofield again; There is no room for self-choosing, but to each believer is given a spiritual enablement and capacity for specific service. No believer is destitute of such gifts. Everyone is included, no one is left out and it is the responsibility of each man to find his ministry gift and seek a place for it to be used by the Holy Spirit.
See this excellent study site: http://biblos.com/ search these scriptures, (1Corinthians_12:7) (Romans 12).
There may be unbelieving believers that deny the gifts by saying they have passed away, as if they rode off into the sunset after having locked up all the bad guys. But Paul never foresaw this in his revelation from GOD. While some may grant that there is the possibility that the Holy Spirit might exercise a gift should he want to, but it isn’t very likely. I fear that God has written these unbelieving believers, off like a bad debt.
Others have given worth and value to certain gifts saying this is better than this other one, and we like this one best and we will use this one but not this one.
The one gift most select to having the least value in their sight, is tongues, with or without the interpretation.
This gift is below their dignity, its use offends their sensitivities, they see it as untrustworthy because they can’t judge the message from God since it is a spiritual language they can’t understand.
These and other ministry gifts are from God, they are his gifts and I believe God is appalled at anyone who demotes and demeans His personal gifts to the church. What gift do I possess? How and where do I use it?
That is a question that must be answered by you and the Holy Spirit. May I suggest that it is good to get better acquainted with The Holy Spirit!
There is no greater blessing than when you realize that you have been made worthy enough to partner with God for his work, enabled with his gift.
Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqkvIhs7Ijg
In I Corinthians 5, Paul addresses the Corinthanizing of the church where sexual sins were going on without being condemned. Further there were doctrinal questions being asked of Paul resulting in his letter being sent to explain and correct doctrinal errors. When we get to chapter 12 and 14 he goes into detail about spiritual gifts and their use.
1Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I don't want you to be ignorant.
Here in Corinth where the intellect is revered, Paul declares they are unlearned in the things of the Spirit and proceeds to explain the gifts individually.
There are nine specific gifts listed I Corinthians 12; each with their purpose for the edification of the body of Christ.
A note by Scofield on the gifts says in part; the gifts are diverse but ALL are equally honorable because they are bestowed by the same Spirit, administered under the same Lord, and energized by the same God.
These are gifts from the Holy Spirit are to the church through individuals in the body.
Scofield again; There is no room for self-choosing, but to each believer is given a spiritual enablement and capacity for specific service. No believer is destitute of such gifts. Everyone is included, no one is left out and it is the responsibility of each man to find his ministry gift and seek a place for it to be used by the Holy Spirit.
See this excellent study site: http://biblos.com/ search these scriptures, (1Corinthians_12:7) (Romans 12).
There may be unbelieving believers that deny the gifts by saying they have passed away, as if they rode off into the sunset after having locked up all the bad guys. But Paul never foresaw this in his revelation from GOD. While some may grant that there is the possibility that the Holy Spirit might exercise a gift should he want to, but it isn’t very likely. I fear that God has written these unbelieving believers, off like a bad debt.
Others have given worth and value to certain gifts saying this is better than this other one, and we like this one best and we will use this one but not this one.
The one gift most select to having the least value in their sight, is tongues, with or without the interpretation.
This gift is below their dignity, its use offends their sensitivities, they see it as untrustworthy because they can’t judge the message from God since it is a spiritual language they can’t understand.
These and other ministry gifts are from God, they are his gifts and I believe God is appalled at anyone who demotes and demeans His personal gifts to the church. What gift do I possess? How and where do I use it?
That is a question that must be answered by you and the Holy Spirit. May I suggest that it is good to get better acquainted with The Holy Spirit!
There is no greater blessing than when you realize that you have been made worthy enough to partner with God for his work, enabled with his gift.
Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqkvIhs7Ijg
Friday, August 13, 2010
THE MYSTERY
I love mystery stories, especially detective stories the, who-dun-it type. As a kid, one of my favorite radio programs was “I Love a Mystery.” It included enough of the macabre in it to cause me to pull the covers over my head. The covers were a precursor to the Star Trek deflector shields. While some may pooh- pooh the protection the covers provided, all I can say is; I made it through every attack of the nether world without any harm.
There are several references the word mystery in the Bible, and when Jesus made a reference to it he said; in effect there are mysteries hidden in his words (parables) for us to understand.
It was a great mystery to the Jewish Christians that the Gentiles were included in the sacrifice of Christ. It was only after Peter and Paul had convinced them that God had accepted Gentiles that the Jewish Christians relented. The thing that was the clincher was the Holy Spirit fell upon the house of Cornelius while Peter was preaching Christ to them. The same thing happened when Paul preached to the Gentiles.
Paul spent a lot of his ministry explaining the scriptural basis for the Holy Spirit phenomena. Paul further dealt with the problem of spiritual gifts. Even today this remains a mystery to a greater part of the church.
1 Corinthians 2:9-12 by the Spirit of GOD we know the things freely given to us.
Paul first addresses the issue of ignorance; “I would not have you ignorant concerning spiritual gifts brethren.” While going through the list of gifts in both 1 Corinthians and Romans the one gift that gets the most criticism is the gift tongues.
Whether you ridicule tongues, make fun of it, or hate it to the point of damning it, you cannot not deny that the Holy Scripture declares it in no uncertain terms, - - to be a GIFT of GOD. The baptism in the HOLY SPIRIT is the most dynamic experience subsequent to salvation a person can ever receive and if the person cooperates with the HOLY SPIRIT it will be their introduction into the use of the gift of tongues.
Admittedly there is a proper use, and a proper time for tongues. I will only address one aspect of this GOD given gift and that is tongues used as a prayer to GOD.
The scripture encourages us to pray with our understanding; to think about needs, and at the conclusion pray for the answer. It also tells to pray with our spirit (praying in tongues).
I Corinthians 14:2 when you speak (exercise the gift of tongues) in a tongue you are speaking to GOD. You are as far as the world is concerned speaking mysteries or that which cannot be understood by man.
This is an offence to some, for he cannot practice his gift of criticism, for without understanding the content he must settle for his disdain of the gift that denies his criticism of the content of tongues.
This gift bypasses the mind of the speaker and originates from his spirit. The intellect plays no part, for then it would be profaned by the imperfect thinking process. It comes from the spirit where all is open and nothing is hid from GOD.
The cry of the spirit is unfeigned and regardless of the souls condition the communication of tongues pleads your case for mercy and help. In the same vein the gift can and is used as praise emanating from the spirit of man.
One of the most fruitful realities of speaking in tongues is. “It edifies the one speaking,” and one of the effective use of tongues is, when I pray with the spirit (in tongues) I am praying out of my spirit and do not know what I am praying for. (It is a mystery.) In some cases it will reflect on current situations but my understanding is uninformed.
Speaking in tongues is varied and has many uses, the one thing you must do and that is to trust the gift, for it is an exercise of faith in the GOD who gives the gift.
This gift from GOD is given as a ministry aid, for edification, for communication to GOD, for building up the body of Christ. The gift of tongues is often used in conjunction with the gift of interpretation, and as a witness to the unsaved. All it requires is a believer that is open to receiving and exercising this “gift” of GOD.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK7sLwU15RQ
There are several references the word mystery in the Bible, and when Jesus made a reference to it he said; in effect there are mysteries hidden in his words (parables) for us to understand.
It was a great mystery to the Jewish Christians that the Gentiles were included in the sacrifice of Christ. It was only after Peter and Paul had convinced them that God had accepted Gentiles that the Jewish Christians relented. The thing that was the clincher was the Holy Spirit fell upon the house of Cornelius while Peter was preaching Christ to them. The same thing happened when Paul preached to the Gentiles.
Paul spent a lot of his ministry explaining the scriptural basis for the Holy Spirit phenomena. Paul further dealt with the problem of spiritual gifts. Even today this remains a mystery to a greater part of the church.
1 Corinthians 2:9-12 by the Spirit of GOD we know the things freely given to us.
Paul first addresses the issue of ignorance; “I would not have you ignorant concerning spiritual gifts brethren.” While going through the list of gifts in both 1 Corinthians and Romans the one gift that gets the most criticism is the gift tongues.
Whether you ridicule tongues, make fun of it, or hate it to the point of damning it, you cannot not deny that the Holy Scripture declares it in no uncertain terms, - - to be a GIFT of GOD. The baptism in the HOLY SPIRIT is the most dynamic experience subsequent to salvation a person can ever receive and if the person cooperates with the HOLY SPIRIT it will be their introduction into the use of the gift of tongues.
Admittedly there is a proper use, and a proper time for tongues. I will only address one aspect of this GOD given gift and that is tongues used as a prayer to GOD.
The scripture encourages us to pray with our understanding; to think about needs, and at the conclusion pray for the answer. It also tells to pray with our spirit (praying in tongues).
I Corinthians 14:2 when you speak (exercise the gift of tongues) in a tongue you are speaking to GOD. You are as far as the world is concerned speaking mysteries or that which cannot be understood by man.
This is an offence to some, for he cannot practice his gift of criticism, for without understanding the content he must settle for his disdain of the gift that denies his criticism of the content of tongues.
This gift bypasses the mind of the speaker and originates from his spirit. The intellect plays no part, for then it would be profaned by the imperfect thinking process. It comes from the spirit where all is open and nothing is hid from GOD.
The cry of the spirit is unfeigned and regardless of the souls condition the communication of tongues pleads your case for mercy and help. In the same vein the gift can and is used as praise emanating from the spirit of man.
One of the most fruitful realities of speaking in tongues is. “It edifies the one speaking,” and one of the effective use of tongues is, when I pray with the spirit (in tongues) I am praying out of my spirit and do not know what I am praying for. (It is a mystery.) In some cases it will reflect on current situations but my understanding is uninformed.
Speaking in tongues is varied and has many uses, the one thing you must do and that is to trust the gift, for it is an exercise of faith in the GOD who gives the gift.
This gift from GOD is given as a ministry aid, for edification, for communication to GOD, for building up the body of Christ. The gift of tongues is often used in conjunction with the gift of interpretation, and as a witness to the unsaved. All it requires is a believer that is open to receiving and exercising this “gift” of GOD.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK7sLwU15RQ
Thursday, August 12, 2010
ARROGANCE
J. William Fulbright on the arrogance of power in 1968; says - - -
"Power tends to confuse itself with virtue and a great nation is particularly susceptible to the idea that its power is a sign of God's favor, conferring upon it a special responsibility for other nations - to make them richer and happier and wiser, to remake them, that is, in its own shining image. Power confuses itself with virtue and tends also to take itself for omnipotence. Once imbued with the idea of a mission, a great nation easily assumes that it has the means as well as the duty to do God's work."
Anytime arrogant power is in play the peoples rights are not enforceable, and are ignored. Today we are at war with two nations, and are paying for it with money and lives. We have coerced other nations to join us in these costly ventures. We are well on our way to alienate what few friends our nation has. The act of arrogance is the child of an arrogant mentality.
Everyone alive has the potential of manifesting this flaw in the personality.
One can only assume with good reason that Lucifer gave birth to this anti-GOD spirit, and it was part and parcel of his rebellion in heaven. Inflated with his own position and power he became the soul of arrogance and so remains until today and beyond.
The refining process of the believer is for the benefit of the believer.
“The circumcision of the heart is, a right state of soul: ‘a mind and spirit renewed after the image that created it,’ is one of those important truths that can be ‘spiritually discerned”. Wesley.
This speaks of a cutting away of fleshly (carnal) parts and thus purifying the soul.
Arrogance in the church produces elitisms that in turn produce a caste system where there are different levels of beings.
In the early church all things were in common; but now in some cases, vestment separates the body into classes of Christians far removed from the early distinctions of apostle, prophet and so forth. It is the responsibility of each Christian to deny the spirit of arrogance to be manifested in their lives for it profits not the kingdom of GOD.
Suppose GOD was arrogant toward you when you went to the throne of grace, how would you feel? This of course this is unthinkable for ours is a loving GOD at all times.
We are made in HIS image and one of the weights and sins we must set aside for all time, is the spirit of arrogance.
"Power tends to confuse itself with virtue and a great nation is particularly susceptible to the idea that its power is a sign of God's favor, conferring upon it a special responsibility for other nations - to make them richer and happier and wiser, to remake them, that is, in its own shining image. Power confuses itself with virtue and tends also to take itself for omnipotence. Once imbued with the idea of a mission, a great nation easily assumes that it has the means as well as the duty to do God's work."
Anytime arrogant power is in play the peoples rights are not enforceable, and are ignored. Today we are at war with two nations, and are paying for it with money and lives. We have coerced other nations to join us in these costly ventures. We are well on our way to alienate what few friends our nation has. The act of arrogance is the child of an arrogant mentality.
Everyone alive has the potential of manifesting this flaw in the personality.
One can only assume with good reason that Lucifer gave birth to this anti-GOD spirit, and it was part and parcel of his rebellion in heaven. Inflated with his own position and power he became the soul of arrogance and so remains until today and beyond.
The refining process of the believer is for the benefit of the believer.
“The circumcision of the heart is, a right state of soul: ‘a mind and spirit renewed after the image that created it,’ is one of those important truths that can be ‘spiritually discerned”. Wesley.
This speaks of a cutting away of fleshly (carnal) parts and thus purifying the soul.
Arrogance in the church produces elitisms that in turn produce a caste system where there are different levels of beings.
In the early church all things were in common; but now in some cases, vestment separates the body into classes of Christians far removed from the early distinctions of apostle, prophet and so forth. It is the responsibility of each Christian to deny the spirit of arrogance to be manifested in their lives for it profits not the kingdom of GOD.
Suppose GOD was arrogant toward you when you went to the throne of grace, how would you feel? This of course this is unthinkable for ours is a loving GOD at all times.
We are made in HIS image and one of the weights and sins we must set aside for all time, is the spirit of arrogance.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
HUBRIS, TO BE OR NOT
“Seest thou how God with his lightning smites always the bigger animals, and will not suffer them to wax insolent, while those of a lesser bulk chafe him not? How likewise his bolts fall ever on the highest houses and the tallest trees? So plainly does He love to bring down everything that exalts itself? Thus oft times a mighty host is discomfited by a few men, when God in his jealousy sends fear or storm from heaven, and they perish in a way unworthy of them. For God allows no one to have high thoughts but Him self”
(Quote from Herodotus)
Hubris Definition - - Means extreme haughtiness or arrogance. Hubris often indicates being out of touch with reality and overestimating one's own competence or capabilities, especially for people in positions of power.
The word hubris is being used more often describing people in power such as politicians like Charles Rangel of New York.
Hubris is an unwarranted attitude that has no place within the Christian community, but does it exist? Are there those in the church who qualify as being “stuck up?”
Paul seemed to think it to be so, and wrote in Romans 12:3 “Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.”
Honest evaluation doesn’t diminish you in any way; it only changes an exaggeration of a dishonest opinion of yourself.
1 Corinthians 4:7 “What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?”
Unquestionably there are those who have been given talent superior to others and have maximized it, and have a right to the success it brings to them but it stops there. You must not invoke the “Zero sum law,” which causes someone to be diminished to the extent of another’s gain.
Like winning at poker; what you win causes the other to lose the same amount or when you get uppity then it demeans another to the extent of your uppity-ness.
If you look to GOD for reward and pleasure, his approval will be sufficient for your self esteem, and you will not need to diminish others.
No matter how you homogenize it, egotism and Christianity doesn’t mix and pride always goes before the fall.
(Quote from Herodotus)
Hubris Definition - - Means extreme haughtiness or arrogance. Hubris often indicates being out of touch with reality and overestimating one's own competence or capabilities, especially for people in positions of power.
The word hubris is being used more often describing people in power such as politicians like Charles Rangel of New York.
Hubris is an unwarranted attitude that has no place within the Christian community, but does it exist? Are there those in the church who qualify as being “stuck up?”
Paul seemed to think it to be so, and wrote in Romans 12:3 “Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.”
Honest evaluation doesn’t diminish you in any way; it only changes an exaggeration of a dishonest opinion of yourself.
1 Corinthians 4:7 “What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?”
Unquestionably there are those who have been given talent superior to others and have maximized it, and have a right to the success it brings to them but it stops there. You must not invoke the “Zero sum law,” which causes someone to be diminished to the extent of another’s gain.
Like winning at poker; what you win causes the other to lose the same amount or when you get uppity then it demeans another to the extent of your uppity-ness.
If you look to GOD for reward and pleasure, his approval will be sufficient for your self esteem, and you will not need to diminish others.
No matter how you homogenize it, egotism and Christianity doesn’t mix and pride always goes before the fall.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
ALL IN THE FAMILY
In the mid thirties to the forties I often entered into radio-land where I would spend time listened to my favorite programs. After school I would gather up my brother, and run home just in time to hear “Jack Armstrong the all American boy.” Then until four thirty I enjoyed the fantasy world via the radio.
When my dad came home he would listen to the news programs until about six o’clock, and I would wait until seven when the popular stars; Jack Benny, Red Skeleton along with others would make me laugh and the mystery programs would cause me to pull the covers over my head.
I knew the weekly schedule of all the shows and which were the best nights.
While sitting one evening I heard King Edward III speak. He said he was abdicating the throne and would marry twice divorced Bessie Wallis Warfield.
For about six years they had been having an affair, at the same time she was also having an affair with another man which Edward found out about after he abdicated.
They were married and quickly ran through his fortune. His brother George V1 became king and his daughter Elizabeth in 1952 became queen. When Edward said he was quitting his job as king so I can marry the woman I love, I didn’t understand what a big deal that was; nevertheless it has remained in my memory since 1936.
It seems Prince Charles did a similar thing with a married woman while married to Princess Diana.
When love (AKA lust) kicks in all sanity goes out the window whether king or peasant, the affair of the heart is a mighty force to be reckoned with.
A neighbor woman about age 60 was telling me about her husband who was divorcing her for his secretary. I asked her if the woman was much younger than her, and she said, no she is quite a bit older. I thought that is a twist on a getting dumped story. Usually the new woman is years younger than the wife.
Secret affairs cause people to do strange things. David, the king of Israel had an illicit affair with Bathsheba and when she was found to be pregnant, he had her husband murdered. Uriah was a loyal and honorable man, but he was killed for his wife.
The whole series of events boggles my mind that GOD would have the genealogical line of Jesus to come through David and Bathsheba.
All I can say is “Go figure”. Perhaps exercising control over those things that have a strong attraction to us might help.
Jeremiah 17:9 the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it?
After his affair was made known, David thought it was time to repent and ask for forgiveness from GOD.
This only happened after Nathan the prophet exposed David and told him how dastardly his deed was.
David prayed to the Lord saying, “Create in me a clean heart.”
If he had prayed this way prior to the Bathsheba incident it may never have happened.
Where women and men are gathered, temptation shows up. It often is another case of how Satan has taken desire and perverted it from joining A man and a woman in a lifelong relationship to a series of illicit affairs which is only a lust reliever.
He who finds a wife finds a good thing; he who has an affair is disgusting in GODS sight.
It takes two to tango, and it is time to get the tango-ing out of the church.
Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv47YD7g-0o
When my dad came home he would listen to the news programs until about six o’clock, and I would wait until seven when the popular stars; Jack Benny, Red Skeleton along with others would make me laugh and the mystery programs would cause me to pull the covers over my head.
I knew the weekly schedule of all the shows and which were the best nights.
While sitting one evening I heard King Edward III speak. He said he was abdicating the throne and would marry twice divorced Bessie Wallis Warfield.
For about six years they had been having an affair, at the same time she was also having an affair with another man which Edward found out about after he abdicated.
They were married and quickly ran through his fortune. His brother George V1 became king and his daughter Elizabeth in 1952 became queen. When Edward said he was quitting his job as king so I can marry the woman I love, I didn’t understand what a big deal that was; nevertheless it has remained in my memory since 1936.
It seems Prince Charles did a similar thing with a married woman while married to Princess Diana.
When love (AKA lust) kicks in all sanity goes out the window whether king or peasant, the affair of the heart is a mighty force to be reckoned with.
A neighbor woman about age 60 was telling me about her husband who was divorcing her for his secretary. I asked her if the woman was much younger than her, and she said, no she is quite a bit older. I thought that is a twist on a getting dumped story. Usually the new woman is years younger than the wife.
Secret affairs cause people to do strange things. David, the king of Israel had an illicit affair with Bathsheba and when she was found to be pregnant, he had her husband murdered. Uriah was a loyal and honorable man, but he was killed for his wife.
The whole series of events boggles my mind that GOD would have the genealogical line of Jesus to come through David and Bathsheba.
All I can say is “Go figure”. Perhaps exercising control over those things that have a strong attraction to us might help.
Jeremiah 17:9 the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it?
After his affair was made known, David thought it was time to repent and ask for forgiveness from GOD.
This only happened after Nathan the prophet exposed David and told him how dastardly his deed was.
David prayed to the Lord saying, “Create in me a clean heart.”
If he had prayed this way prior to the Bathsheba incident it may never have happened.
Where women and men are gathered, temptation shows up. It often is another case of how Satan has taken desire and perverted it from joining A man and a woman in a lifelong relationship to a series of illicit affairs which is only a lust reliever.
He who finds a wife finds a good thing; he who has an affair is disgusting in GODS sight.
It takes two to tango, and it is time to get the tango-ing out of the church.
Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv47YD7g-0o
Monday, August 9, 2010
TROUBLE IN RIVER CITY
Let me tell you a story of an incident that happened when I was still a young Christian; we had a close knit group in the church I attended. The people in this story are dead and gone so it cannot reflect back on them.
Let me preface by saying that when you are born again it is a rebirth of the spirit, the body is the same unless a healing or a miracle also takes place. The soul is in the same condition as before except for the impact of the knowledge of the new birth makes on it. James calls it saving your soul; your mind, will, and emotions. Most everyone who has been saved for awhile has seen many evidences of a soul that needs saving. This is acted out in human experience and can cause great damage to the cause of Christ.
I had been elected to the deacon board even though I really wasn’t qualified, but because there were just a few men available, and some refused to serve again; so now I was a deacon!
There were many of us who were close, going out to dinner, evenings spent together and the like. There was one couple; Perry and Mabel McDaniel that were good friends to us. Mabel was several years older than Perry and they were not always kind to each other, saying little digs in front of other people. In spite of that they were part of our social group.
There was a single lady, Lorene page who was about age thirty, and who had been our church secretary for several years. She became friendlier with Perry and he would confide in her, his home problems. And again no one paid any attention to this because we were a close knit church group.
Perry drove a delivery truck around town for a living, until one day he announced he was going to take a line job driving from Portland Oregon, to Oakland. About this time Lorene announced she could no longer keep the church books for she was moving. If anyone hasn’t figured out where she was moving then I will tell you, “Portland, Oregon”.
Then one day Perry wanted to meet with the church board and a time was set. I and the othere really weren’t prepared for what happened next. Perry confessed that he and Mabel were not married, and they had only “lived together” for over twenty years.
This was a shock back in the fifties. I and others thought well, we need to straighten this out, we could have a wedding ceremony, and that would fix everything. Whereupon Perry announced that he and Mabel were separating, but he would still support her.
Perry and Lorene had planned this all out, and played it out accordingly. Lorene would become indignant and defended their actions by saying Perry had every right to leave Mabel and marry her, because he and Mabel had never married.
Time passed and we heard that he and Lorene had gotten married and they now were the parents of a child. Mabel continued to attend our church but she died a few years later.
Every day a similar situation occurs in the Christian church somewhere, doing despite to the cause of Christ. The people involved move on and leave the local body to bear the brunt of their despicable deed.
James 1:21:
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
http://www.miraclepower.org/Evangelistbrevet/Articles%20English/the_word_of_God.htm
The above hyperlink to a good article I ran across.
Let me preface by saying that when you are born again it is a rebirth of the spirit, the body is the same unless a healing or a miracle also takes place. The soul is in the same condition as before except for the impact of the knowledge of the new birth makes on it. James calls it saving your soul; your mind, will, and emotions. Most everyone who has been saved for awhile has seen many evidences of a soul that needs saving. This is acted out in human experience and can cause great damage to the cause of Christ.
I had been elected to the deacon board even though I really wasn’t qualified, but because there were just a few men available, and some refused to serve again; so now I was a deacon!
There were many of us who were close, going out to dinner, evenings spent together and the like. There was one couple; Perry and Mabel McDaniel that were good friends to us. Mabel was several years older than Perry and they were not always kind to each other, saying little digs in front of other people. In spite of that they were part of our social group.
There was a single lady, Lorene page who was about age thirty, and who had been our church secretary for several years. She became friendlier with Perry and he would confide in her, his home problems. And again no one paid any attention to this because we were a close knit church group.
Perry drove a delivery truck around town for a living, until one day he announced he was going to take a line job driving from Portland Oregon, to Oakland. About this time Lorene announced she could no longer keep the church books for she was moving. If anyone hasn’t figured out where she was moving then I will tell you, “Portland, Oregon”.
Then one day Perry wanted to meet with the church board and a time was set. I and the othere really weren’t prepared for what happened next. Perry confessed that he and Mabel were not married, and they had only “lived together” for over twenty years.
This was a shock back in the fifties. I and others thought well, we need to straighten this out, we could have a wedding ceremony, and that would fix everything. Whereupon Perry announced that he and Mabel were separating, but he would still support her.
Perry and Lorene had planned this all out, and played it out accordingly. Lorene would become indignant and defended their actions by saying Perry had every right to leave Mabel and marry her, because he and Mabel had never married.
Time passed and we heard that he and Lorene had gotten married and they now were the parents of a child. Mabel continued to attend our church but she died a few years later.
Every day a similar situation occurs in the Christian church somewhere, doing despite to the cause of Christ. The people involved move on and leave the local body to bear the brunt of their despicable deed.
James 1:21:
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
http://www.miraclepower.org/Evangelistbrevet/Articles%20English/the_word_of_God.htm
The above hyperlink to a good article I ran across.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
THE GAME GOES ON
A strange phenomena in life is when it’s over it ain’t over. What I mean is something is hopeless and it continues on. An example of this is when a team scores so many points in the beginning of the game it would take the other team a dozen games to score as many.
No matter how far they are behind the game goes on. When the outcome is obvious, people lose interest, and leave the stadium to the extent that the players are about the only ones left toward the end of the game.
In today’s world there are many struggles going on, the outcome is not in doubt yet the struggle goes on.
The framers of the constitution never dreamed of the issues faced in this country today. The church is threatened as never before and is addicted to laxity. There are people who avow they will exterminate every Christian and the church yawns and says Ho-hum.
What happens when Islam is in charge? Ask the recent CHRISTIAN MEDICAL MISSION people in Afghanistan. Oh, I forgot the Islamic believers murdered them so they won’t be able to tell you. Anyone who preaches the gospel of Christ is seen as an infidel and worthy to be killed. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100807/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan
There are so called Christian groups in America that have a convoluted sense of fairness and as a result of fear of being seen as biased, are supporting the expansion of Islam.
From the New York Times: “But they have not gone unanswered. In each community, interfaith groups led by Protestant ministers, Catholic priests, Rabbis and Clergy members of other faiths have defended the (building of) mosques. Often, they have been slower to organize than the mosque opponents, but their numbers have usually been larger.”
I may be wrong but I don’t think anyone who can’t live uprightly for Christ will be willing to die for his cause.
In some African nations today there is a separation of the sheep and the goats going on, where Christians are called upon to recant or die. Not an easy choice unless the commitment is real and nonnegotiable. The church is suffering from malaise that has all but paralyzed it.
The enemies of Christ are scoring all the points and the game is over, yet it still goes on.
From the New York Times: “Feeding the resistance (to Islam) is a growing cottage industry of authors and bloggers — some of them former Muslims, who are invited to speak at rallies, sell their books and testify in churches. Their message is that Islam is inherently violent and incompatible with America, and; Islam is invading, (all countries) and that civilization is being undermined by Muslims.”
Fragmentation of the church at one time was needful in order to keep one group from dominating and controlling the church as prior to the reformation. Currently it is a weakness for it doesn’t provide a strong front to stand against the present adversaries.
No matter how far they are behind the game goes on. When the outcome is obvious, people lose interest, and leave the stadium to the extent that the players are about the only ones left toward the end of the game.
In today’s world there are many struggles going on, the outcome is not in doubt yet the struggle goes on.
The framers of the constitution never dreamed of the issues faced in this country today. The church is threatened as never before and is addicted to laxity. There are people who avow they will exterminate every Christian and the church yawns and says Ho-hum.
What happens when Islam is in charge? Ask the recent CHRISTIAN MEDICAL MISSION people in Afghanistan. Oh, I forgot the Islamic believers murdered them so they won’t be able to tell you. Anyone who preaches the gospel of Christ is seen as an infidel and worthy to be killed. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100807/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan
There are so called Christian groups in America that have a convoluted sense of fairness and as a result of fear of being seen as biased, are supporting the expansion of Islam.
From the New York Times: “But they have not gone unanswered. In each community, interfaith groups led by Protestant ministers, Catholic priests, Rabbis and Clergy members of other faiths have defended the (building of) mosques. Often, they have been slower to organize than the mosque opponents, but their numbers have usually been larger.”
I may be wrong but I don’t think anyone who can’t live uprightly for Christ will be willing to die for his cause.
In some African nations today there is a separation of the sheep and the goats going on, where Christians are called upon to recant or die. Not an easy choice unless the commitment is real and nonnegotiable. The church is suffering from malaise that has all but paralyzed it.
The enemies of Christ are scoring all the points and the game is over, yet it still goes on.
From the New York Times: “Feeding the resistance (to Islam) is a growing cottage industry of authors and bloggers — some of them former Muslims, who are invited to speak at rallies, sell their books and testify in churches. Their message is that Islam is inherently violent and incompatible with America, and; Islam is invading, (all countries) and that civilization is being undermined by Muslims.”
Fragmentation of the church at one time was needful in order to keep one group from dominating and controlling the church as prior to the reformation. Currently it is a weakness for it doesn’t provide a strong front to stand against the present adversaries.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
GLEANINGS 4
We have used Bob as our example, and have watched as he struggled to rid himself of the old Bob, every vestige of him and his influence, weaknesses, and his un-renewed mind.
In order for Satan to keep us under his influence he must exploit any area that is not fully committed to Christ.
Satan knew the old Bob very well, his past, his friends and how he was likely to respond to different types of stimulus. He hopes by using the same lures and temptations, Bob will still be under his control and Bob is ticked off about that.
Bob’s help comes from the scripture, and he does as advised; “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
It does not say to resist the temptation it says; resist the devil. It doesn’t say argue with him or to ignore him by saying no to the temptation, it says to give him no place in your mind.
Some things require you to put some distance between you and it. I can’t resist Cheetos if they are in arms reach by my TV chair. I must leave them at the store to be safe. Some things you must walk away from. Lay aside every weight and sin, don't fight it, just lay it aside and walk away.
Bob found out that when he got saved he was forgiven and reconciled to GOD, and there is nothing he can do to improve on that, for GOD has done it all. He learned that the old Bob is dead and only the residue of him is left.
In theological terms; when Christ died the old Bob died, when Christ was buried the old Bob was buried, when Christ was raised from the dead, the new Bob was raised from the dead, and when Christ was seated in heaven he was seated in heaven.
Bob now knew that his struggle was not to get right, but to be the man he now is. There is no enmity between him and GOD for that issue is done with. Bob and GOD are in a lasting friendship.
Paul in the book of Romans 6: explains who we are in Christ; “Reckon your self dead unto sin but alive unto Christ.” and having been set free from sin you have become servants of righteousness.
The realization of this can add to “Having peace with GOD” another important step of “Having the peace of GOD. This occurs when the war within our souls is conquered.
Bob realized there was GODS way and Satan’s way, and Satan’s way was a perversion of GOD’S way. GOD’S way was to work and provide for your self. Satan’s way is to rob, cheat and steal. GOD’S way is to speak the truth with wisdom, Satan’s way is to lie and deceive. GOD’S way is to have a wife to enjoy, Satan’s way is to seduce and demean every woman alive.
I found an excellent article on the wiles of the devil. They said it far better than I could.
http://www.bible.ca/ef/expository-ephesians-6-11.htm
Paul liked to say finally my brethren; and so I’ll say, finally my brethren use all your energies to discover who you are in Christ. You might say “I already know that.” Perhaps it would be well to look again just to make sure you haven’t missed anything and when you look up, you can say;
I will give thanks to You O Lord, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eawq31sifYI&feature=related
In order for Satan to keep us under his influence he must exploit any area that is not fully committed to Christ.
Satan knew the old Bob very well, his past, his friends and how he was likely to respond to different types of stimulus. He hopes by using the same lures and temptations, Bob will still be under his control and Bob is ticked off about that.
Bob’s help comes from the scripture, and he does as advised; “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
It does not say to resist the temptation it says; resist the devil. It doesn’t say argue with him or to ignore him by saying no to the temptation, it says to give him no place in your mind.
Some things require you to put some distance between you and it. I can’t resist Cheetos if they are in arms reach by my TV chair. I must leave them at the store to be safe. Some things you must walk away from. Lay aside every weight and sin, don't fight it, just lay it aside and walk away.
Bob found out that when he got saved he was forgiven and reconciled to GOD, and there is nothing he can do to improve on that, for GOD has done it all. He learned that the old Bob is dead and only the residue of him is left.
In theological terms; when Christ died the old Bob died, when Christ was buried the old Bob was buried, when Christ was raised from the dead, the new Bob was raised from the dead, and when Christ was seated in heaven he was seated in heaven.
Bob now knew that his struggle was not to get right, but to be the man he now is. There is no enmity between him and GOD for that issue is done with. Bob and GOD are in a lasting friendship.
Paul in the book of Romans 6: explains who we are in Christ; “Reckon your self dead unto sin but alive unto Christ.” and having been set free from sin you have become servants of righteousness.
The realization of this can add to “Having peace with GOD” another important step of “Having the peace of GOD. This occurs when the war within our souls is conquered.
Bob realized there was GODS way and Satan’s way, and Satan’s way was a perversion of GOD’S way. GOD’S way was to work and provide for your self. Satan’s way is to rob, cheat and steal. GOD’S way is to speak the truth with wisdom, Satan’s way is to lie and deceive. GOD’S way is to have a wife to enjoy, Satan’s way is to seduce and demean every woman alive.
I found an excellent article on the wiles of the devil. They said it far better than I could.
http://www.bible.ca/ef/expository-ephesians-6-11.htm
Paul liked to say finally my brethren; and so I’ll say, finally my brethren use all your energies to discover who you are in Christ. You might say “I already know that.” Perhaps it would be well to look again just to make sure you haven’t missed anything and when you look up, you can say;
I will give thanks to You O Lord, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eawq31sifYI&feature=related
Friday, August 6, 2010
GLEANINGS 3
In GLEANINGS 2 we introduced big bad Bob and his conversion that had turned him into the newly created, born again Bob.
Now for the paradox, Bob is new in his spirit, a new creation, but there still remains a residue of the old Bob within the soul (mind, will and emotions.) This is compounded by the memories lodged in the mind and the habit patterns in the subconscious.
Since birth we have developed these operational patterns, we do things the same way, this makes our life simpler and more functional. This will continue until something intervenes and causes us to want to change to a different method of doing things.
Everyone knows about Bob’s ribald past and some of his actions bordered on debauchery without remorse, this means he has a lot of work to do in order to mirror his soul and spirit. So how does he get beyond his past and live the “New man life”?
A good place to start is by getting motivated. The new Bob must ask himself this question; what happens if I don’t become transformed by the renewing of my mind, and if I don’t present my body as a living sacrifice for GOD’S service, and don’t become willing and obedient so as to eat of the fat of the land? If Bob doesn’t realize it is only by the grace and mercy of GOD, he can present his body, and that his mind can be transformed.
If he decides to keep part of the old Bob around he will be hanging on by a thread of grace and mercy and he will be doing despite to the grace and mercy of GOD.
One of the key ingredients of change is recognizing value. We become more educated because we see value in it. When old Bob sees the value in mind renewal by the Word and the help of the HOLY SPIRIT, he will have motivation for proceeding with it.
The test;
Bob sees a shapely young lady walking down the street (most men will look) and think; well what he thinks depends on how far his mind has been renewed. I can guess what the Old Bob would think, but if he has allowed the washing by the Word and the SPRIT OF GOD to wash out the programming of the old Bob, he will keep his lust in subjection to righteousness. In doing this he doesn’t mean he isn’t still a passionate man capable of desire but that he has a higher calling and he keeps his desire out of the dust, so to speak.
The only thing that can renew the mind is the Word of GOD, for it is SPIRIT filled information that your spirit can agree with. As soon as the word is applied and the issues of the carnal mind (old Bob) is dealt with, the enemy of your soul will come to void the effect of the word. This must be dealt with by resisting the counter attack by using the Jesus method; “Get thee behind me Satan.”
Everyone lusts after something and Satan comes with the very thing you desire, presents it to you and you are tempted. Even though you have dealt with that issue, your emotions are stimulated and the message to the Mind is “Don’t you remember how good this is?” This information is sent to the Will and the emotions will press the Will to agree to act contrary to the minds new standard. This cannot happen if the Word is sown on good ground and planted deep in that good ground.
Mark 4:5 "Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil."
Mark 4:6 "And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away."
Note the words; because it had no depth of soil. When the Word is only partly received or shallow planted, Satan’s heat will sere it and you return back to the way you were. You will be subject to temptations you thought you were beyond.
The way to deal with this is to move to where the soil will allow better cultivation. This seed (the Word) needs to be planted below where the sun effects are and the roots go deep. Well Bob is on his way and doing good, how are you making it?
Just in case you could use a little more help I will conclude with the next blog.
Now for the paradox, Bob is new in his spirit, a new creation, but there still remains a residue of the old Bob within the soul (mind, will and emotions.) This is compounded by the memories lodged in the mind and the habit patterns in the subconscious.
Since birth we have developed these operational patterns, we do things the same way, this makes our life simpler and more functional. This will continue until something intervenes and causes us to want to change to a different method of doing things.
Everyone knows about Bob’s ribald past and some of his actions bordered on debauchery without remorse, this means he has a lot of work to do in order to mirror his soul and spirit. So how does he get beyond his past and live the “New man life”?
A good place to start is by getting motivated. The new Bob must ask himself this question; what happens if I don’t become transformed by the renewing of my mind, and if I don’t present my body as a living sacrifice for GOD’S service, and don’t become willing and obedient so as to eat of the fat of the land? If Bob doesn’t realize it is only by the grace and mercy of GOD, he can present his body, and that his mind can be transformed.
If he decides to keep part of the old Bob around he will be hanging on by a thread of grace and mercy and he will be doing despite to the grace and mercy of GOD.
One of the key ingredients of change is recognizing value. We become more educated because we see value in it. When old Bob sees the value in mind renewal by the Word and the help of the HOLY SPIRIT, he will have motivation for proceeding with it.
The test;
Bob sees a shapely young lady walking down the street (most men will look) and think; well what he thinks depends on how far his mind has been renewed. I can guess what the Old Bob would think, but if he has allowed the washing by the Word and the SPRIT OF GOD to wash out the programming of the old Bob, he will keep his lust in subjection to righteousness. In doing this he doesn’t mean he isn’t still a passionate man capable of desire but that he has a higher calling and he keeps his desire out of the dust, so to speak.
The only thing that can renew the mind is the Word of GOD, for it is SPIRIT filled information that your spirit can agree with. As soon as the word is applied and the issues of the carnal mind (old Bob) is dealt with, the enemy of your soul will come to void the effect of the word. This must be dealt with by resisting the counter attack by using the Jesus method; “Get thee behind me Satan.”
Everyone lusts after something and Satan comes with the very thing you desire, presents it to you and you are tempted. Even though you have dealt with that issue, your emotions are stimulated and the message to the Mind is “Don’t you remember how good this is?” This information is sent to the Will and the emotions will press the Will to agree to act contrary to the minds new standard. This cannot happen if the Word is sown on good ground and planted deep in that good ground.
Mark 4:5 "Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil."
Mark 4:6 "And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away."
Note the words; because it had no depth of soil. When the Word is only partly received or shallow planted, Satan’s heat will sere it and you return back to the way you were. You will be subject to temptations you thought you were beyond.
The way to deal with this is to move to where the soil will allow better cultivation. This seed (the Word) needs to be planted below where the sun effects are and the roots go deep. Well Bob is on his way and doing good, how are you making it?
Just in case you could use a little more help I will conclude with the next blog.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
GLEANINGS 2
In Gleanings part one, I talked about your Position (Standing) and your Condition (State) in GOD’S sight, and how your Position was secured by Christ’s work for you. He did what you could not do for yourself which is the reconciling of yourself to GOD.
Once that is a reality the next step is to bring your Condition up to the level of your position. Another way of saying that is; “Once saved, you need to get your act together.”
Paul the Apostle recognized this fact and addressed it as an important issue that is common to us all. The separation of Position and Condition was an essential part of salvation. If our Position (Standing) before GOD depended upon our Condition (Conduct) then it would have been based upon our (self) righteousness instead of Christ’s sacrifice. Because of the infirmity (weakness) of flesh we couldn’t meet GOD’S requirement for forgiveness and no one would be saved.
Paul knows in order to help the church measure up to GOD’S standard he would have to break it down to layman’s language. He explains that man is a three part being, spirit, soul and body, and then he goes further to say: present the use of your body for the service of the LORD. That excludes many things like; honky tonking, stealing, gluttony and the rest of the “List of lust."
After dealing with the body Paul immediately turns to the complex soul.
Compositionally the soul is mind, will and emotions. Some have used the description: thinker, decider and feeler, however when you view the soul you must deal with the component parts separately.
Romans 12:1-2 deals directly with the soul and gives instructions as what to do, and then explains the result of doing it. These words, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind,” are just what a Christian needs to know. It is a “how to” achieve a needful result.
Think with me; big bad Bob goes to church and is convicted of his sins; he goes to the altar and gets saved. He is now position-ally right with GOD. He is still big bad Bob conditionally. Soulically he has a lot of work to do. How he feels (his emotions) about things must change and come into harmony with his present state. His decisions need to be made in light of GOD’S word. His mind now must be transformed to reflect a born again one’s standing and his attitude toward himself as a child of GOD must be one of acceptance, ole Bob doesn't live here anymore, in fact he doesn't exist anymore, he is forever gone. Since he is gone, the mind needs to change in order to accommodate the new BOB.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYkNtE3l1gc&feature=related
(THIS WILL CONTINUE)
Once that is a reality the next step is to bring your Condition up to the level of your position. Another way of saying that is; “Once saved, you need to get your act together.”
Paul the Apostle recognized this fact and addressed it as an important issue that is common to us all. The separation of Position and Condition was an essential part of salvation. If our Position (Standing) before GOD depended upon our Condition (Conduct) then it would have been based upon our (self) righteousness instead of Christ’s sacrifice. Because of the infirmity (weakness) of flesh we couldn’t meet GOD’S requirement for forgiveness and no one would be saved.
Paul knows in order to help the church measure up to GOD’S standard he would have to break it down to layman’s language. He explains that man is a three part being, spirit, soul and body, and then he goes further to say: present the use of your body for the service of the LORD. That excludes many things like; honky tonking, stealing, gluttony and the rest of the “List of lust."
After dealing with the body Paul immediately turns to the complex soul.
Compositionally the soul is mind, will and emotions. Some have used the description: thinker, decider and feeler, however when you view the soul you must deal with the component parts separately.
Romans 12:1-2 deals directly with the soul and gives instructions as what to do, and then explains the result of doing it. These words, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind,” are just what a Christian needs to know. It is a “how to” achieve a needful result.
Think with me; big bad Bob goes to church and is convicted of his sins; he goes to the altar and gets saved. He is now position-ally right with GOD. He is still big bad Bob conditionally. Soulically he has a lot of work to do. How he feels (his emotions) about things must change and come into harmony with his present state. His decisions need to be made in light of GOD’S word. His mind now must be transformed to reflect a born again one’s standing and his attitude toward himself as a child of GOD must be one of acceptance, ole Bob doesn't live here anymore, in fact he doesn't exist anymore, he is forever gone. Since he is gone, the mind needs to change in order to accommodate the new BOB.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYkNtE3l1gc&feature=related
(THIS WILL CONTINUE)
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
GLEANINGS I
In grade school I always feared the day when report cards were sent out because I knew it wasn’t going to be good. Some of my class-mates (mostly girls) were distraught if the got an A- or an unthinkable B+.
I hoped against hope I would somehow get a C and my most serious praying was spent on rebuking the Fs. At that age I began to realize there were some differences in the ability of kids. And it became more evident the same applies to adults.
This seems to be the case in the spiritual world also; some are able to excel beyond others. This happens even when we all have drunk from the same fountain.
John 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."
Well I bet you are on your way to heaven, how are you doing? I like many kids used “The wall” to keep a record of my growth, and I could fudge a little by standing on my toes. No matter how I cheated I was still the same size. I was what I was.
At times I wish I could check my spiritual growth, maybe check the web site in heaven that kept all the records and take a peek at my progress report or lack thereof.
Since I don’t have the password I can’t do that so I must use another method to ascertain my state.
The two measurements used by theology is Standing and State or as some use Position and Condition. Our Standing or Position before GOD is secured by Christ’s death, burial and resurrection and our believing in HIM. Our State or Condition is a result of obedience to GOD’S words, and being led by the HOLY SPIRIT in paths of righteousness.
Often I think my position is in great shape for that is accomplished by Christ’s work, but, there is that awful but. But my condition could use a lot of work.
We are warned about using unsound methods of evaluation as to our soul’s condition. (Two different translations of the same verse)
Oh, don't worry; we wouldn't dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!
We wouldn't put ourselves in the same class with, or compare ourselves to those who are bold enough to make their own recommendations. Certainly, when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves to themselves, they show how foolish they are.
You can’t risk measuring yourself by others. They may be much more spiritual than you and you will become discouraged. Or measure by those who are careless; that may lead you to think you are far superior to them.
The only safe way to be sure your condition is excelling is to be led by your “Holy Spirit filled spirit” for it will always lead you in paths of righteousness.
The Spirit will quicken you as to what path you must to take. This takes your spiritual life to a higher level. The HOLY SPIRIT is waiting to lead you into this truth.
Can you be so bold as to view yourself as the dwelling place of the HOLY SPIRIT? While this is GOD’S truth, let it become your on going, reality.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBp5ggh3w2Q&feature=related
(To be continued)
I hoped against hope I would somehow get a C and my most serious praying was spent on rebuking the Fs. At that age I began to realize there were some differences in the ability of kids. And it became more evident the same applies to adults.
This seems to be the case in the spiritual world also; some are able to excel beyond others. This happens even when we all have drunk from the same fountain.
John 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."
Well I bet you are on your way to heaven, how are you doing? I like many kids used “The wall” to keep a record of my growth, and I could fudge a little by standing on my toes. No matter how I cheated I was still the same size. I was what I was.
At times I wish I could check my spiritual growth, maybe check the web site in heaven that kept all the records and take a peek at my progress report or lack thereof.
Since I don’t have the password I can’t do that so I must use another method to ascertain my state.
The two measurements used by theology is Standing and State or as some use Position and Condition. Our Standing or Position before GOD is secured by Christ’s death, burial and resurrection and our believing in HIM. Our State or Condition is a result of obedience to GOD’S words, and being led by the HOLY SPIRIT in paths of righteousness.
Often I think my position is in great shape for that is accomplished by Christ’s work, but, there is that awful but. But my condition could use a lot of work.
We are warned about using unsound methods of evaluation as to our soul’s condition. (Two different translations of the same verse)
Oh, don't worry; we wouldn't dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!
We wouldn't put ourselves in the same class with, or compare ourselves to those who are bold enough to make their own recommendations. Certainly, when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves to themselves, they show how foolish they are.
You can’t risk measuring yourself by others. They may be much more spiritual than you and you will become discouraged. Or measure by those who are careless; that may lead you to think you are far superior to them.
The only safe way to be sure your condition is excelling is to be led by your “Holy Spirit filled spirit” for it will always lead you in paths of righteousness.
The Spirit will quicken you as to what path you must to take. This takes your spiritual life to a higher level. The HOLY SPIRIT is waiting to lead you into this truth.
Can you be so bold as to view yourself as the dwelling place of the HOLY SPIRIT? While this is GOD’S truth, let it become your on going, reality.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBp5ggh3w2Q&feature=related
(To be continued)
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
THE AGER
If we should personify the aging process it would take on a different concept. The personification of it would allow us to refer to It, as Him.
We could then say; He is slowing me down or He isn’t doing right by me. I wish He would slow down, for I am getting old too fast!
He is part of the conception process. As the egg is fertilized and the birth process begins so also the Ager’s work has began. For the first nine months His work is quite noticeable as the child develops and grows. Month after month His work (the aging process) proceeds. So long as no one interferes the Ager will complete the first phase of His work; (the child will be born) and the next phase will begin.
The Ager is passive as he continues His day to day work; the only thing he fears is death. If during these early months someone decides to not allow the birth of the child, and deny Him the right to bring his charge to fruition, then His life also will be ended.
The Ager has done nothing wrong he is just a victim of anomalism. He has no defenses, He hopes for mercy, where there is no mercy. As he witnesses the destruction of the child, his own existence fades away, and He ceases to be.
His last cry is WHY? Why should I have to die for I am innocent? I am guiltless and yet my existence has been erased as the last drop of blood has flowed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMCR4p5mSjQ&feature=related
We could then say; He is slowing me down or He isn’t doing right by me. I wish He would slow down, for I am getting old too fast!
He is part of the conception process. As the egg is fertilized and the birth process begins so also the Ager’s work has began. For the first nine months His work is quite noticeable as the child develops and grows. Month after month His work (the aging process) proceeds. So long as no one interferes the Ager will complete the first phase of His work; (the child will be born) and the next phase will begin.
The Ager is passive as he continues His day to day work; the only thing he fears is death. If during these early months someone decides to not allow the birth of the child, and deny Him the right to bring his charge to fruition, then His life also will be ended.
The Ager has done nothing wrong he is just a victim of anomalism. He has no defenses, He hopes for mercy, where there is no mercy. As he witnesses the destruction of the child, his own existence fades away, and He ceases to be.
His last cry is WHY? Why should I have to die for I am innocent? I am guiltless and yet my existence has been erased as the last drop of blood has flowed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMCR4p5mSjQ&feature=related
Monday, August 2, 2010
UNDERESTIMATING
For many years, I as a contractor was called upon to give estimates for work to be done. The estimates were for jobs as small as a garage, to large complexes, both residential and commercial projects. The estimates would lead to contracts in many cases.
It was fairly simple when the work was controlled by my contract because I had the all the contingencies covered, but at times things were more complex and the contracts were many pages which made me nervous for they were in lawyer speak.
If I over estimated, the worse that could happen was I lost the job. If I under estimated the job, all the happy faces left the building and only Mr. Frown remained.
Within the Christian realm there is the warning of underestimating the cost of serving Christ. Jesus was stressing the reality of being a Christian, and what was required of anyone who wanted to follow him. The words in Luke are hard to bear, but bear them we must.
Luke 14:25 “Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them,
Luke 14:26 If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.
Luke 14:27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
Luke 14:28 For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?
Luke 14:29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him,
Luke 14:30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'
Because we serve a loving GOD full of mercy and grace, we can underestimate our responsibility to HIM, for we are not of this world and we are expected to live like it.
In many cases the large crowds who were just following along with Jesus, turned away when he began to speak to them about the cost. They were mostly interested in the freebies and not their service to GOD.
It is easy to get into the promise mode and neglect the service mode.
Two things Jesus emphasized were commitment and adherence to him and his agenda. There is no room for negotiation, no contingencies, no special treatment, and no rebates.
If we underestimate the terrors of being lost in hell and underestimate the joys of heaven we may be careless in our dedication to Christ. While He spoke lovingly, He spoke the truth in love when He said; “If anyone would be my disciple he must follow Me.” There are no side trips available on our own.
It is good, on occasion to remind ourselves that we are servants as well as brothers to the LORD, and to act accordingly.
Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLJ7Hkx6YwM&feature=related
It was fairly simple when the work was controlled by my contract because I had the all the contingencies covered, but at times things were more complex and the contracts were many pages which made me nervous for they were in lawyer speak.
If I over estimated, the worse that could happen was I lost the job. If I under estimated the job, all the happy faces left the building and only Mr. Frown remained.
Within the Christian realm there is the warning of underestimating the cost of serving Christ. Jesus was stressing the reality of being a Christian, and what was required of anyone who wanted to follow him. The words in Luke are hard to bear, but bear them we must.
Luke 14:25 “Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them,
Luke 14:26 If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.
Luke 14:27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
Luke 14:28 For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?
Luke 14:29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him,
Luke 14:30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'
Because we serve a loving GOD full of mercy and grace, we can underestimate our responsibility to HIM, for we are not of this world and we are expected to live like it.
In many cases the large crowds who were just following along with Jesus, turned away when he began to speak to them about the cost. They were mostly interested in the freebies and not their service to GOD.
It is easy to get into the promise mode and neglect the service mode.
Two things Jesus emphasized were commitment and adherence to him and his agenda. There is no room for negotiation, no contingencies, no special treatment, and no rebates.
If we underestimate the terrors of being lost in hell and underestimate the joys of heaven we may be careless in our dedication to Christ. While He spoke lovingly, He spoke the truth in love when He said; “If anyone would be my disciple he must follow Me.” There are no side trips available on our own.
It is good, on occasion to remind ourselves that we are servants as well as brothers to the LORD, and to act accordingly.
Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLJ7Hkx6YwM&feature=related
Sunday, August 1, 2010
AUGUST AND THE DOG
I must say that I have struggled and hesitated to relate this story and am going to preface with the warning and let you decide as to the truth or fiction of it.
There was this man named August. His papa and mama named their kids after the months of the year. They did this so they could remember when they were born. I thought this was a little strange but I figured whatever works. There was June, July pronounced Julie, May, April, September called Ember and August.
August lived on the edge of town, not really a city family nor altogether country either, I guess they were tweeners.
August wasn’t working full time and had some time on his hands. Once a month the auction people held a hog auction and August decided to go. While chatting with some friends he saw a man holding a sign saying “free dog.” That immediately got his attention because the dog was a fine looking animal. August asked his friends if they knew any thing about this man and the dog whereupon they said, “No, just go over and ask him about the dog.”
August ambled over to where the man was and after awhile he said, “Howdy“ and man said howdy back, and they just stood there without saying anything else.
After a few minutes August asked. “Is that dog any good?” The man said. “Well he is friendly and well behaved, so far he hadn’t bit anyone.”
Everything was quite for awhile and then August asked, “Is he a pure bred hound?” and the man said I think so, but I ain’t for sure.
Now this conversation was getting longer and longer and information was coming very slowly.
August said, “How come you want to git rid if him?” and the man answered saying; “I just thought it was a good idea.” August replied; “The hog sale is a starting and I should get in there and see what hogs are going for, but if you are going to be here later, we’ll talk some more.”
As August started to walk away the man said. “If you decide to take him, he will be free, and I will also give you fifty dollars to take him.” August said, “I’m interested and we’ll talk later.” and the man said, “Okay, but I can’t guarantee he’ll still be here.”
As August walked away there were a myriad of thoughts going through his mind, all the “What ifs” and how comes? It don’t make sense, but the fifty dollars seemed to over-rule all the questionings.
When the hog sale was about over August began to look for the dog and the man, and to his surprise he and the dog were still there. August said. “Do you have the fifty dollars?” and the man said, “Yes I do.” August told him, I guess I want him, whereupon the man pulled out the money giving it to August, as he handed him the rope that was around the dog’s neck.
August hollered as the man left and asked what the dog’s name was. The man shouted back and said,” FATE” and was gone.
August looked at the dog and felt the fifty dollars in his pocket and thought he had made a pretty good deal. He told FATE to get into the truck, and the dog jumped in and sat up looking out the windshield like he was interested in every thing that passed by.
When August got home he decided not to tell his wife about the fifty dollars for she didn’t need to know about it. His wife took one look at the dog, and went into the house mumbling under her breathe saying; we don’t have enough to feed ourselves much less a dog.
August fixed the dog a place to sleep and told him that he had to stay out there, whereupon the dog looked at him and then the box August had fixed and proceeded to run into the house. August followed close upon his heels and tried to catch Fate for he didn’t dare let his wife see him in the house.
Finally Fate went under the bed and wouldn’t come out. August went and got some dog food and showed it to Fate but to no avail. He kept coaxing him when - - - Now here is where the story becomes unbelievable and you might want to stop here and not read any further because what happens next is a bit strange to say the least.
For those whose curiosity has got the best of you we continue on.
August pushed the dog food further under the bed and Fate said, “Get that stuff out of here, I don’t eat dog food.”
I won’t attempt to tell you how that affected August for he was beside himself for awhile. When he calmed down he hesitatingly asked, “What did you say?”
Fate answered and said, “Get that stuff out of here for it isn’t fit for a dog,” and under the bed he stayed.
August asked, ‘What do you usually eat?” and the dog answered and said, “Usually I have some good grade hamburger and a glass of milk. On some occasions I will have a steak with mushrooms.”
August dragged Fate out from under the bed by the ears and put a rope around his neck and off they went to find the man that had give the dog to August.
After a long and trying time he found the man and tried to give the money and the dog back to him. The man said, “No a bargain is a bargain, and any way he knows where you live, and he would keep going back to your house.” The man turned and walked away and August watched him until he vanished out of sight. There was nothing to do but go home.
August settled down and started to talk to Fate like he was a human being, trying to make some sense out of all this.
One day he got up the nerve to ask him how this all came about and Fate said;
“It is like this, I was supposed to be a charismatic preacher and like a lot of charismatic preachers I was all mixed up. My mother was due and I was waiting to face the world when the flip flop occurred. As I started to take the breath of life I ended up in a litter of pups being birthed. A twist of fate occurred and I ended up as a dog.
The man who came and picked me out of the litter was a good ole boy but he was a Baptist and he couldn’t take a dog who - - - Well you know what charismatic do; it was just too much for him.
He tried to give me away, but had no takers, and that is the reason he offered the fifty dollars to anyone who would take me.
My desire to preach was so strong in that I went to several preachers and got the same response, ‘If I let you preach here, people would say I have let the church go to the dogs.’
Of course that was after they had composed themselves; for to have a talking dog saying he was a preacher was shocking. Usually the first words out of their mouth was, “Shades of Balaam’s donkey!”
I tried to do some preaching to some Pentecostal people thinking surely they can look beyond the obvious, but every time I would start they would gather around me, and try to cast the demon out of me.
That brought my preaching career to an end. So then I wondered what is next for me.”
FATE told August, “I'm not sure how long you can control your wife for she doesn’t seem to like me, and when you tell her she must prepare a nice meal for me - - - Well I just don’t know.
Here, I find myself in a quandary; I don’t fit in with the dogs because I can’t stand all that yipping. I don’t fit in with people because they don’t accept me as an equal, and I’m am tired of them saying you ain’t nothing but a - - -.
I could start a church but how many of you people would come and hear me preach every Sunday? - - - that is what I thought.
And so I started my singing career. August said he just couldn’t hang any longer. So I am enjoying my success out on my own.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEgXifAdk7Y&feature=related
This is a true story, or at least it is a story, you will have to admit that!
There was this man named August. His papa and mama named their kids after the months of the year. They did this so they could remember when they were born. I thought this was a little strange but I figured whatever works. There was June, July pronounced Julie, May, April, September called Ember and August.
August lived on the edge of town, not really a city family nor altogether country either, I guess they were tweeners.
August wasn’t working full time and had some time on his hands. Once a month the auction people held a hog auction and August decided to go. While chatting with some friends he saw a man holding a sign saying “free dog.” That immediately got his attention because the dog was a fine looking animal. August asked his friends if they knew any thing about this man and the dog whereupon they said, “No, just go over and ask him about the dog.”
August ambled over to where the man was and after awhile he said, “Howdy“ and man said howdy back, and they just stood there without saying anything else.
After a few minutes August asked. “Is that dog any good?” The man said. “Well he is friendly and well behaved, so far he hadn’t bit anyone.”
Everything was quite for awhile and then August asked, “Is he a pure bred hound?” and the man said I think so, but I ain’t for sure.
Now this conversation was getting longer and longer and information was coming very slowly.
August said, “How come you want to git rid if him?” and the man answered saying; “I just thought it was a good idea.” August replied; “The hog sale is a starting and I should get in there and see what hogs are going for, but if you are going to be here later, we’ll talk some more.”
As August started to walk away the man said. “If you decide to take him, he will be free, and I will also give you fifty dollars to take him.” August said, “I’m interested and we’ll talk later.” and the man said, “Okay, but I can’t guarantee he’ll still be here.”
As August walked away there were a myriad of thoughts going through his mind, all the “What ifs” and how comes? It don’t make sense, but the fifty dollars seemed to over-rule all the questionings.
When the hog sale was about over August began to look for the dog and the man, and to his surprise he and the dog were still there. August said. “Do you have the fifty dollars?” and the man said, “Yes I do.” August told him, I guess I want him, whereupon the man pulled out the money giving it to August, as he handed him the rope that was around the dog’s neck.
August hollered as the man left and asked what the dog’s name was. The man shouted back and said,” FATE” and was gone.
August looked at the dog and felt the fifty dollars in his pocket and thought he had made a pretty good deal. He told FATE to get into the truck, and the dog jumped in and sat up looking out the windshield like he was interested in every thing that passed by.
When August got home he decided not to tell his wife about the fifty dollars for she didn’t need to know about it. His wife took one look at the dog, and went into the house mumbling under her breathe saying; we don’t have enough to feed ourselves much less a dog.
August fixed the dog a place to sleep and told him that he had to stay out there, whereupon the dog looked at him and then the box August had fixed and proceeded to run into the house. August followed close upon his heels and tried to catch Fate for he didn’t dare let his wife see him in the house.
Finally Fate went under the bed and wouldn’t come out. August went and got some dog food and showed it to Fate but to no avail. He kept coaxing him when - - - Now here is where the story becomes unbelievable and you might want to stop here and not read any further because what happens next is a bit strange to say the least.
For those whose curiosity has got the best of you we continue on.
August pushed the dog food further under the bed and Fate said, “Get that stuff out of here, I don’t eat dog food.”
I won’t attempt to tell you how that affected August for he was beside himself for awhile. When he calmed down he hesitatingly asked, “What did you say?”
Fate answered and said, “Get that stuff out of here for it isn’t fit for a dog,” and under the bed he stayed.
August asked, ‘What do you usually eat?” and the dog answered and said, “Usually I have some good grade hamburger and a glass of milk. On some occasions I will have a steak with mushrooms.”
August dragged Fate out from under the bed by the ears and put a rope around his neck and off they went to find the man that had give the dog to August.
After a long and trying time he found the man and tried to give the money and the dog back to him. The man said, “No a bargain is a bargain, and any way he knows where you live, and he would keep going back to your house.” The man turned and walked away and August watched him until he vanished out of sight. There was nothing to do but go home.
August settled down and started to talk to Fate like he was a human being, trying to make some sense out of all this.
One day he got up the nerve to ask him how this all came about and Fate said;
“It is like this, I was supposed to be a charismatic preacher and like a lot of charismatic preachers I was all mixed up. My mother was due and I was waiting to face the world when the flip flop occurred. As I started to take the breath of life I ended up in a litter of pups being birthed. A twist of fate occurred and I ended up as a dog.
The man who came and picked me out of the litter was a good ole boy but he was a Baptist and he couldn’t take a dog who - - - Well you know what charismatic do; it was just too much for him.
He tried to give me away, but had no takers, and that is the reason he offered the fifty dollars to anyone who would take me.
My desire to preach was so strong in that I went to several preachers and got the same response, ‘If I let you preach here, people would say I have let the church go to the dogs.’
Of course that was after they had composed themselves; for to have a talking dog saying he was a preacher was shocking. Usually the first words out of their mouth was, “Shades of Balaam’s donkey!”
I tried to do some preaching to some Pentecostal people thinking surely they can look beyond the obvious, but every time I would start they would gather around me, and try to cast the demon out of me.
That brought my preaching career to an end. So then I wondered what is next for me.”
FATE told August, “I'm not sure how long you can control your wife for she doesn’t seem to like me, and when you tell her she must prepare a nice meal for me - - - Well I just don’t know.
Here, I find myself in a quandary; I don’t fit in with the dogs because I can’t stand all that yipping. I don’t fit in with people because they don’t accept me as an equal, and I’m am tired of them saying you ain’t nothing but a - - -.
I could start a church but how many of you people would come and hear me preach every Sunday? - - - that is what I thought.
And so I started my singing career. August said he just couldn’t hang any longer. So I am enjoying my success out on my own.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEgXifAdk7Y&feature=related
This is a true story, or at least it is a story, you will have to admit that!
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