CHARLIE AND JOE at the Farm

Way back in the days when I was farming, Charlie, Joe and I usually worked together. There would be times when we would plow and plant, then later we would harvest our crops. They always worked hard and I didn’t have to prod them to keep up with me.

Another thing that helped us get along was we were fed real good and what an appetite they would work up. We always took Sunday off but seldom went to church it was partly because we had to walk everywhere we went.

Joe and Charlie were different in many ways. Joe was laid back and never got excited while Charlie was energetic, and wanted to do everything on the run. Still we got along just fine and since I didn’t have many friends I counted them as my best buddies.

Working on that farm was a daily grind and was quite taxing for everything had to be done in a hurry for you could lose a crop if you didn’t keep up but old Charlie and Joe was always ready. I don’t recall that either one missed a day’s work because of sickness, they were really dependable.

The time came when I left the farm and I don’t know if Joe and Charlie missed me or not but I missed them.

Charlie seemed to think he should have been a race horse instead of pulling a wagon and I don’t think Joe realized that he was a mule.

Different as they were they worked together without strife and that is what it is all about anyhow - - Just getting along.

Photo courtesy Photo Bucket

This post has been entered in “Changing the World One Word at a Time”

The word for this entry is FARM. Please visit and check out the other great posts at: http://peterpollock.com/2011/05/farm-blog-carnival/

I’M ONLY HUMAN AFTER ALL!

“To err is human; to forgive, divine.”

Alexander Pope an English poet born on May 21st 1688 and died May 30th 1744 said those often quoted words.

He might have also said “to excuse err is to remove all responsibility” regardless of the offense whether great or small.

The law is suppose to have garnered great wisdom in dealing with deliberate offences but we find there are great disparities in rendering judgment.

Weldon Angelos, a 28 year old music executive and father of two young children was convicted of selling small amounts of marijuana three times for a few hundred dollars each time. He was sentenced to 55 years in prison while in the same courtroom on the same day; another defendant was convicted of bludgeoning an elderly woman to death with a log. He was sentenced to 25 years.

There are times when a judge is forced to levy heavy sentences for what could be called trivial offences and almost ignore crimes of a more violent nature.

To err is human, but it is also human to obey and thus need no divine forgiveness.

If there was only one person in the world it would be unnecessary to follow rules of conduct but the minute there are two or more people on earth then protection is needed and comes in the form of laws or rules.

The Ten Commandments cover virtually all of the human conduct needed to have a functioning society and when examining them you see that there are none of the commandments that a human can’t easily obey if they choose to do so.

Perhaps Mr. Pope would have been better served if he had said “To err is a willful violation of what is known to be unprofitable for society.”

Notwithstanding there are careless moments when an unintentional erroneous act may happen. It certainly should be the exception and not the rule.

When we have to excuse the way we conduct ourselves, we need to return to the book of life for instructions in righteousness.

The promulgation of human weakness has become an opiate that society has been hooked on and spirituality is a victim of this practice. In some cases the asking and receiving forgiveness lifestyle has replaced living uprightly before the Lord and whose motto is “I’m only human after all.”

Is it time to stop excusing ourselves and start living up to our potential?

GETTING BY

Growing up I experienced both good times and not so good times.

I have actually been hungry not by choice but because the cupboard was bare. That was trip I don’t wish to make again either on purpose or due to food not being available or for whatever the cause. Even when we lived where the bed bugs bit - - we got by.

So many stories that could be told but the outcome in every case was; we got by.

Jesus had a word for we get by’ers and that was Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

But there is a problem most of us face and that is “We want it all.” We never stop wanting more and when we get more we still want more. I guess you could say “that is the nature of the beast.”

Our standard of living is a hard taskmaster and difficult to control. We may face a problem and that is it (our lifestyle) may demand more of us than we are able to provide.

The day of only the dad being the breadwinner is a thing of the past. There are a few exceptions but in the main this is true. We burden ourselves down with so much debt that if anything goes wrong like losing one of the two household earnings we are in big trouble.

We overspend and buy things we can’t afford then expect GOD to supply our need. One thing we should remember is “Need” is what GOD says it is and not what we say it is. Somehow we think “want” is the same thing as “need.”

If you stick with “need” and forget “want” you will stay out of trouble for you are working GOD’S plan for you. In any case the “I’ll get by attitude“ can take a lot of worry off of you if you believe it.
There is an old song that carries that sentiment and has a bonding theme within it.

I'll get by as long as I have you
Though there be rain and darkness too
I'll not complain I'll see it through
Poverty, may come to me, it's true
But what care I Say, I'll get by As long as I have you.
But what care I Say, I'll get by As long as I have you.

As long as you have the Lord, you will get by.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1gMZZgx4SU&feature=related

YE OLE SPINDTHRIFTERS

As we take a tour of the nation’s capital let us stop at the white house where your life is being planned out for you.

There it is formulated what you are suppose to think and how you must feel about people and their lifestyles.

They further decide what you can and cannot say.

Moving down the street we come to the congress where the profligates hold session. Some use a more slangy term when speaking of them which is the “Spendthrifters.”

They practice the old “Take it away and give it away,” philosophy.  They abhor someone calling what they do socialism and deny it with every breath.

These wonderful folks are called by some a term they don’t like, but tolerate which is liberal. 

Personally I prefer to call them the profligating spendthrifters for there is nothing liberal about their redistributing the wealth plan.

Their program reminds me of the patient who is at the edge of death and the doctor tells him don’t worry it will soon be over.

So also for those who worry about America’s debt don’t worry it will soon be over. 

As we approach the point of no return I recall my beginning being born at the start of the depression where we nearly starved to death and thanks to the profligating spendthrifters it is very possible I may face the same thing in my end.

RUNNING THE RACE

 1 Corinthians 9:24 Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!

During the Memorial Day weekend there are several races to be run. The INDY 500, the NASCAR 600 and various other kinds of races such as running to benefit someone or some political incursion into our life.

The Christian life is portrayed as a race that must be run and it is a race where everybody is able to be the winner.

The competition is with ourselves and not with other contestants. There is a training manual that sets out a daily routine to maximize your potential.

One of the things that is not allowed is being overweight.    

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

Just as some runners can carry some extra weight and still out distance other runners so also can some Christians allow some weights in their life and out service other Christians.

This is not the issue for you do not measure yourself by others but by your potential. There is more to the above scripture than a casual reading can be seen.

Like it or not there is a crowd watching. Within the crowd are supporters and critics here on earth where our race is run. The only way to address the detractors is to run according to the rules. This may not shut them up but it will cause them to admit I find no fault in him.

During the preparation period you must strip yourself of the weights that will slow you down. At times they may be legitimate things, lawful things but not expedient things.

Paul speaks of these things in 1 Corinthians 10:23 You say, "I am allowed to do anything"--but not everything is good for you. You say, "I am allowed to do anything"--but not everything is beneficial.

Weights are the things that will keep you in the slow lane when you should be in the fast lane. As you look around you may see other Christians who carry extra weight and outrun you.  This can cause you some consternation but they are falling far below their abilities, and are not winning their particular race.

The “sin that besets you.” Sin will cause you to fall on your face and the crowd will see it. You may not be disqualified but you will be far behind where you should be and will never be able to catch up.

What to do?  As the song says “pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again.”

Restarts can be painful but they get you going again so you can finish the race.

1 Corinthians 9:25 Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run."  

There are three things to beware of; sins, weights, and people who will slow you down. Some may be good intentioned but must be avoided.

Galatians 5:7 You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth?

At times it may be a friend instead of a foe.

As you watch the races this weekend be reminded of what is required of you, as you run your race.

Run well, receive your prize.

 

THE PROPHET

Today most people know the difference between the simple gift of prophecy and the office of the prophet.

 The verbalizing of prophesy is primarily for giving you a lift in the time of stress. When a prophet speaks he is speaking the words of GOD for GOD to the people.  

I dare say there are very few of these around today.  Now of course we are blessed with thousands of self anointed claimers to be prophets but GOD expects us to know the difference.

One of the ways to tell is - - if they say that they are a prophet then scratch them off your list for they are as phony as tofu baloney.  

One of the scriptural ways to test a prophet is to examine if his prophecies come true.  But first ask your self if it is needed, does it make sense, is it accompanied by an atmosphere of peace akin to the 23 Psalm valley of death experience?

There are people who predict what will happen this year with a high success rate but that doesn’t make them a prophet.  There have been many who claim to speak for GOD and brought forth their predictions.  

Most noticeable was Charles Russell of Jehovah Witness fame.  He predicted the end of the world and gave dates more than once. There have been many down through ages who have done the same thing the latest being Harold Camping who has failed the test miserably but still continues to set new dates.

It is kinda like if you didn’t like the first date I gave you then here is another for you (sucker).  As to who is, he an 89-year-old former civil engineer, who speaks to his followers via the Family Radio Network, a religious broadcasting organisation funded entirely by donations from listeners.  Such is their generosity (assets total $120m) that his network now owns 66 stations in the US alone.

Within Christianity there are many things that sell and capture people’s fancy; prosperity, accepting the person regardless of their lifestyle, end time predictions and so on.

While I believe there is a prophetic ministry I do not need anything but the Bible to show me everything I need to know from getting right with GOD, how to live and what happens after I die. The rapture will come suddenly without prior notice of a date and hour.

2 peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

I think that is plain and there is no mention of someone giving prior notice of when it will happen.   (some notes on Charles Russell)  http://www.cephasministry.com/jw_facts.html

GOT TO DO BETTER THAN THAT

Isaiah 29:13 The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.

There is an expression that embodies the scripture above called, “Lip service.” 

 When people pay lip service to something, they express their respect, but they don't act on their words, so the respect is hollow and empty.

 What stands out in this verse is; “Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.”

 You can attend a church service and do all the stuff you have been taught either by others example or told what to do, like raise your hands, clap your hands and all the rest.  You can do all this because it is expected of you and still not even come close to true worship out of the depths of your heart.

 This is not good for GOD gets an attitude when this occurs that isn’t good.

 
Worship is not something you turn on when the song service begins.  It is something that should be alive within at all times and just flows out naturally when you arrive at church.  If there is a goal to be desired above all else it is to be real; a natural believer that has no pretence in their character

John 1:47 When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false."

 I love the words to the old song; is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid?

That is a question that deserves an answer. Or are you still struggling and holding back some things? Well there is good news, you can let those things go and be rid of them. 

You have longed for sweet peace, And for faith to increase,
And have earnestly, fervently prayed; But you cannot have rest,
Or be perfectly blest, Until all on the altar is laid.

Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid? Your heart does the Spirit control?
You can only be blest, And have peace and sweet rest,
As you yield Him your body and soul.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OkWm2KR-_w&feature=related

THE LAST TRAIN FROM HILL STATION

My grandfather’s house was about a mile from a railroad station that was named Hill Station.

The train had been stopping there for 100 years and since people didn’t go to town very often they would ride it to town and back or have all kinds of things shipped there. With the advent of the automobile the need for train service diminished to the point they were losing too much money on that line so they set a time to shut it down.

When the day came when they were going to make the last run me and a cousin got tickets for that last trip. It was exciting for we became a part of the history of the railroad. The press was there and since we were the only passengers our pictures were put in the paper.

There was an auto ferry that connected the East Bay with San Francisco and they ran about every 15 minutes transporting both autos and passengers. The time came when the ferry made their last trip. I took the family and we rode it on the final day it ran. The new bridges across the bay finally put them out of business.

There was a time when the last bullet was fired in WW2, and it was the end of a terrible war that cost million of human lives.

Each New Year’s Day is the beginning and the end of a calendar year and brings us closer to the end of the age we live in. The last day, last hour, last moment of time for this world as we know it will come and there will be a new heavens and new earth appearing for the old will be gone.

There will be the time when the last person will be saved and there will be no more. Think about it, the last one, no more will anyone pray the sinner’s prayer and receive Christ as savior. Who will it be? Who will be the last one to enter and arrive inside the gate?

Many will say I intended to get saved but just never got around to it.

Matthew 13:42 And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

When the news paper’s article concerning the last trip of the Hill Station train came out there were many who said, “If I had known that was the last trip I would have rode it too,” but it was too late for the last train had already run.

So also when the last one is saved there will be no more opportunity for Christ has came and taken all who were ready. He won’t come again for anymore.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ocxj5l1_ETs&feature=related

WHAT A DAY THIS HAS BEEN

First-hand reports are the most accurate accounts of any event, and this is the on the scene report of what I saw and experience first hand.


Actually, it started about three years ago when a man named Jesus came along and said “Come follow me.” It wasn’t what he said, but how he said it that started me down a road I didn’t know existed. During those three years, there were high and lows. We thought it was over when Jesus was brutally slain by the local governing bodies.

Admittedly, I was in a state of shock for the next few days as I wasn’t prepared for his death or his funeral. I returned several times a day to his burial place, just sitting there confused, not knowing what to do.

I thought we had it all: a leader who spoke what we considered to be the words of GOD. He was a man who did miracles right before our eyes and who told us of future glory, but now, seemingly, all was gone. The things he said kept coming back to me and I rehearsed them over and over. The arguments kept coming up. “How could I have been so mistaken,” only to be replaced by, “I know what I know, and I still believe the things He said.”

In the midst of my distraught state, word to me came that He had came back to life and was gone, but nobody knew where. Rumors were running rampant! One scarcely knew what to believe, that is, until Jesus appeared to us. He explained what had happened and what was going to happen, not the least of which was that He was going back to heaven and would return one day for us.

Just prior to his departure He said these words: “… and now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

We waited as he said, and then it happened:

Acts 2:1-4 On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

Something came upon me and in me, and I was possessed by His Spirit. The glory of GOD completely engulfed me. From my innermost being flowed a language I knew not, and it is resident within me even today as I write. This was a new beginning for us all. Formerly, we had been led by Jesus but now we were to be led by the indwelling Spirit within us for He had taken up residence within each of us.

So the adventure begins, where He will lead us remains to be seen, but the one thing I know is; it is well with my soul.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYP--c2LTfg

Love Has No Other Desire But to Fulfill Itself.

The wedding vows are promises made by the bride and groom to each other during a wedding ceremony such as;

Let’s think of the future, Forget the past
You're not my first love, But you're my last
Take the love that I bring, Then I’ll have everything
As long as I have you and you have me

The marriage vows are solemn promises made before GOD and to each other. The purpose being: to establish the commitment, of total dedication, of themselves to one another.

Sometimes the words “forsaking all others” are included in the ceremony.

Marriage could be greatly improved if all the vows were lived up to. The messing with others is a betrayal that is inerasable. It can be repented of, but the memory of it cannot die. It can be forgiven, and loving care can ease the pain of it, but the betrayed will take that memory to the grave.

Jesus said; Love one another even as I have loved you.

Jesus sure said a mouthful when he said that. Yet, He knew that we who are, “In Christ” do have within us a capacity to love - - that goes beyond our wildest imagination.

Wisdom speaks and says; self discovery in Christ is the challenge and is the power to experience success in this life.

"Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving,
To rest at the noon hour and meditate on love's ecstasy and joy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude, and then sleep with a prayer
For the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips."

CMON DREAM A LITTLE

The ultra liberal MSNBC TV reports;

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu bluntly told President Barack Obama on Friday that his vision of how to achieve Middle East peace was unrealistic, exposing a deep divide that could doom any U.S. Bid to revive peace talks.

This seems to be number one on Obama’s unrealistic Hit (miss) parade this week. The thinking behind this was “If I can pull this off I will be a shoo-in for another term in office.”

His mistake in doing this was he thought he was dealing with the unthinking American public instead of people who see through his smoke job and unrealistic evaluation of the problem.

He can get away with forcing his agenda upon people of the U.S.A but these Jewish people are not impressed by his pipe dreams.

Granted he has a dream but the dreams he has only impress his own entourage and those who are beholden to him.

Let’s all roll our eyes into the back of our head and say “Hail to the chief,” ‘lead on mighty leader for you alone can dream our future.’

How about a little nostalgia!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_070zWcEuk

WHY

Psalms 2:1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

Some 3000 years ago King David wrote these words for all around him in the land of Israel were heathen people who worshiped false gods threaten to extinguish the Israelites from the face of the earth.

Coming forward a thousand years the same thing was happening again and the prophet uttered these words again. In Acts 4:24 Lord thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that is in them and Act 4:25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said; why did the heathen rage and the people imagine vain things?

Again today the land of Israel (Palestine) is on the verge of being reduced to rubble and the people destroyed or dispersed we ask: Why do the heathen rage and imagine a vain thing?

There are many answers to this question but two stand out.

One is because the same spirit of evil is still at war with GOD. It started in heaven and continues here on earth.

Two the Jews rejected the prince of peace and they cried; “Let his blood be upon us.”

This prayer is being answered today.

It is said that Diogenes Spent His Days Walking the Streets of Athens, With a Lighted Lantern -- Looking for an Honest Man!

In Washington he would find the same difficulty. In Athens he never found one and alas the same might be said for our nation’s capital.

You do not have to be a seer to know this country is being judged for its unrighteousness and is doomed without a dramatic change that the people do not have the stomach for.

We are like Samson of old, our hair has been cut and the philistines are upon us. Our attitude is one like Samson had; Judges 16:20 then she (Delilah) cried out, "Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!"

When he woke up, he thought, "I will do as before and shake myself free."

Samson didn't realize the LORD had left him. The one whom he trusted was the one who sold him out.

The ones who have sold this nation out will soon cry out; Wake up America the philistines are upon you and when we wake we will find the Lord has left us because while we have slept while our strength was removed and our enemies have taken us captive.

This country needs to see itself like unto the seven churches in Asia where GOD spelled out their future in

Revelation chapters 2 and 3 especially the Church of Sardis.

I know thy works, that thou hast a name that tho livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

There are a few who are trying to save what is left of this country and they need to be upheld in prayer, but the battle will be long and we can only hope there will be enough righteous people to avoid the coming destruction of America.

IS GOD AS DUMB AS SOME THINK HE IS?

This thought occurred to me the other day and I tried to reason it through without offending God!

This is difficult to do because of all his Omni attributes which are Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresence.

He not only knows what I am going to say before I say it but knows what I am going to think before I think it. This makes it very complicated to con GOD in any way.

Even knowing this it is easy to make some common mistakes such as; God thinks I’m cute and I can get away with violating his word. I must often think, He is a doleful old fool and he likes me to do that. I shudder to think I have done something I knew or suspected was wrong and since judgment didn't fall immediately I thought that it must be OK.

Any time I go against God’s word or his nature I am averring that I am one day willing to stand before Him in all His holiness. At that time I will need to explain why I thought I could get away with my disobedience. The few times I been drawn into GODS presence, open faced, I have found myself to be mute before Him and exceedingly aware that I am nothing.

Because of some modern theology perhaps I have become numb to the awesomeness of my GOD. Perhaps I should have accepted a systematic theology, which is a study of the whole and of its parts. Possibly I have been duped into accepting Selective Theology which is to pick out the parts which best fits my desired ends and ignore the rest. Like it or not the gospel is about GOD as he relates to man not about man as he relates to GOD.

How dumb do I think GOD is?

All I have to do is to check my actions for my answer. Not my words for they are a product of a partly renewed mind at best.

Who are the most pathetic people on earth? They are those who are self deceived persons that think they can fool GOD.  It is so difficult to recover from this condition because they have willed themselves to be this way.

Those who follow Selective Theology will find they will allow themselves to do almost anything they want to, for Sin is of no consequence. It would better to follow no theology than to follow selective theology. Another new theology is the Theology of Inability. I am unable to obey GOD therefore I am not responsible for my actions. Not only has the fool said in his heart there is no God he has also said if I don't believe I have to obey God’s word then I am excluded from obeying it.

How dumb is GOD?

The truth is He is NOT dumb at all!  God is incapable of any form of ignorance and will not put up with foolishness.  Let’s face it - - the creator of all things is far above and far wiser than anything he has ever created.

Be not deceived GOD is not mocked whatsoever you are sowing, that shall you also reap and it will be a bountiful harvest.

Trouble With Dreams

This is the life that I must lead now,

Crossing fingers and wiping brow

Trouble with dreams is you can't pretend,

Something with no beginning has an end.

This verse of the song tells of a person who is unsure of himself and in other verses he is trying to enlist someone to reinforce his fantasy.

A great deal of study has taken place trying to understand the how and why of dreams. It seems the brain never stops working, controlling the necessary bodily functions and the subconscious mind.

When we sleep another function of the mind takes place and that is called dreams. Dreams are unlimited, from being creative to nightmarish experiences.

The jury is still out on what dreams are all about but there are more than ample theories concerning them. In the Old Testament dreams and visions were an acceptable method of GOD revealing his will to men.

Http://www.christiandreamer.com/bible.htm

In the New Testament we find that visions are still mentioned but there is more emphasis on the gifts of the spirit, being led by the spirit, being coupled with study of the scriptures. One of the key differences between the Old and New covenant is the relationship of the HOLY SPIRIT and man.

Whereas in the Old Covenant, The Holy Spirit was on the believer, and was manifested for a special event. In the new Covenant, He is IN the believer continuously all the time.

Who can say that GOD cannot speak through a dream but my confidence level is low in that area. I feel GOD speaking by the word of knowledge, word of wisdom, prophesy, discerning of spirits and the other gifts and that is where I am comfortable.

Martin Luther King’s speech “I have a dream” has echoed through the years meaning he had hope for the future and every one has their own dream for the future.

Many dreams will never be realized but yet this hope will drive men to be as much as they can achieve.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQknwdSTOhA&feature=related

THEORETICALLY SPEAKING

Theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, a man many declare to be intellectually superior to most men has simply stated there is no heaven.

He further stated he has found no rationale for GOD in the cosmos. He makes statements like “Science predicts that many different kinds of universe will be spontaneously created out of nothing. It is a matter of chance which one we are in.”

This reminds me of the “room full of monkeys who are all given typewriters and if given enough time they will create all of the great literary works that have been written story.”

The interaction of GOD and creation simply stated without what is termed scientific proof which in itself is at best an evolution of theory without proof gives man cause for erroneous reflection.

In all probability Hawking’s theory will pass and be replaced by another which will also fail in answering the question of creation.

Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin, the first man in space was misquoted by Nikita Khrushchev “I don’t see GOD up here,” but he never said that. In fact Gagarin had his elder daughter Elena baptized shortly before his space flight.

Hawking has been blessed with an analytic mind and a deformed body who as a baby, wasn’t expected to live very long. When his body didn’t match up with the mind it became a lifelong quest to answer why.

The separation of GOD from creation allows him to deny GOD’S handiwork without denying the existence of a supernatural being.

He would be better served if he followed the scriptural advice found in Proverbs 3:5 Trust the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.

Everybody wishes to make sense of their existence, and while we might not like the shape of our nose or becoming bald or some other thing about ourselves, it can help us to understand a person whose body doesn’t allow full expression of themselves.

While science demands answers of proof, it alas must settle for theories that are influenced by personal limitations.

In the laboratory of truth the gospel has been tested and found to be beyond question.

For the hungry heart has found that being transformed from spiritual death unto spiritual life most scientific in practice for it always produces the same result.

That result is the new creation man. 2 Corinthians 5:17

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEwDe7IySSg&feature=related

ROOT HOG OR DIE

As a kid I used to hear the expression ”It’s either root hog or die” upon hearing that I knew things were not so good. It has been many years since I have heard someone repeat that adage, and really mean it.

When my dad was around, and my mom and brother were living with him, things were almost good, nothing like they are today, but so much better than most other people.

I remember visiting my uncle and his wife Cynthia once and it was time for supper. Finally my aunt Cynthia decided she would fix supper, and I was watching her start to cook. She opened a can of tomatoes and emptied them in a pot, and then poured some milk in the pot also. After cooking it for awhile she crumbled seven or eight crackers (all she had) into the pot, and I remember saying to my uncle that I liked the crackers separately. He then told me crumbling the crackers into the soup would make it go farther.

The six of us enjoyed our supper, at least what there was of it. If my dad knew there was no food in the house he would have brought some with us or went to the store, but there was only one store for miles, and it was closed that time of night.

'Root-Hog-Or-Die' Days; During the Great Depression of the 1930s, times were hard back then.

People sometimes referred to those years as the "root-hog-or-die" days, meaning that if you didn't keep grubbing you were a goner.  Lots of folks were "hollerin’ and hongry," and longing for a little gravy on their grits. A black preacher on the Sea Islands prayed, "Hear us, Oh Lord, we're down here gnawin' on dry bones!" And on New Year's Eve, Florida Latins intoned, "Go bad year, so we can see if the coming one is better!"

Another view of welfare while recognizing the need, some feared it could become a generational life style;

Many of those in positions of power embraced a philosophy captured in the old expression "root, hog, or die," meaning that individuals should work hard to provide for themselves and their families or face the harsh consequences of failure. Proponents of such a laissez-faire philosophy feared that guarantees of governmental or private poor relief would remove incentives to labor, causing workers to become unproductive and lazy.

During those days in the south there were; the white people, the black people and, the white trash people.

While we were poor, we considered ourselves white, and not white trash. In fact if anyone alluded that we were trash, the fight was on with fists swinging. If it should continue the shot guns were loaded, and then taken to a higher level. Usually a change of mind happened, and things settled down.

Though we were poor and with few assets the one thing root hog days couldn’t take from us was pride.

Root hoggin days were not the most pleasant days of my life but it produced in me the desire to be productive, and doing whatever it took (that was legal) to be successful.

A verse in Roman 13:8 admonishes everyone to “Owe no man anything, but to love one another.

The first part of that scripture I have always practiced and I’m working hard on the second.

BELIEVE THAT I RECEIVE?

Mark 11:23 "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

Matthew 17:20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.

Matthew 21:21 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done.

Anyone who has read these scriptures has been challenged to try to make them work in their life.

If nothing happens we assume the attitude that we just don’t have the right kind of faith or not enough faith and we feel inferior.

The thought comes to mind, “How come I can't get it to work?”

I said it and thought I was believing that I was receiving, but I got nothing.

Well let me say I’m glad I’m the only one this has happened to because it would be sad if there was a bunch of us.

While trying to figure out the “How come” of this matter many things came to mind.  The number one thing was maybe GOD doesn’t want to do what I asked.

James 4:3 And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong--you want only what will give you pleasure.

Thinking back the times I have ever asked there has been some ulterior motive, even when it was for the benefit of others. This was difficult to accept until I realized there was a sense of pride and a puffing up that was accompanying some answers to prayer.

Seems my humility was out of order in such a case and pride became the order of the day. There is an exception, and that is when one intercedes on the behalf of others, when GOD lays the spirit of intercession on you.

It is then you learn the value of your prayer language for it bypasses the mind and is a product of the spirit. Even in this kind of praying the same thing can happen where humility is lost and pride prevails.

There can be no intercessory prayer where GOD is not the author of it. You can certainly pray out of concern but the ole standing in the gap is the calling of GOD for HIS purpose and in HIS time.

Wrong wants and wrong desires equal unanswered prayer. If I accept that then it will save me from praying about most of the things I pray for because I am self centered. Again I say I glad I’m the only like that for that would sad if there were a lot of us.

Dr. Ken Stewart challenged we students at Rhema with Psalms 37:4-5 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:

Dr Stewart’s emphasis was on “Give you the desires of your heart and that the things we desire must be desires HE gives us and not a product of greed and lust that we can so easily fall victim to. Prayer that emanates from the desires the Lord has placed within our hearts will fall in the category of “You can have what you say” anything else will be an exercise of futility and discouragement.

When one knows that what they desire comes from GOD then one can believe that they receive and will have what they say.

COME OUT

As news breaks stating that the Old Line Churches are ordaining those with perverted sense of righteousness into the clergy,  I am reminded of the scriptures;

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.


Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

We have heard these words preached before and it has been applied to different avenues of life, marriage, work, fellowship and other pursuits. There is certainly reason for consideration of each of these things for within them lies a danger even within the CHURCH,

As many old line churches are unable to maintain mandatory standards demanded by GOD due to a lack of personal spirituality, the spirit of the anti-Christ is prevailing in those congregations.

As these denominations ordain those with a perverted sense of righteousness to become their leaders one is reminded of the scripture of

Matthew 15:13-14 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

The scriptures plainly speak of two types of those in the church, the one with right standing before GOD and those who are unrighteous.

The time is here when the righteous must separate themselves from those whom GOD calls unrighteous. Jesus said; Matthew 10:34-36 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household."

These harsh words are not without cause but emphasize the need for separation from those who accept unrighteousness as righteousness.

There are no mitigating circumstances that modify the serpent’s deceptions.  What will the end of this be?

While there will a time of separation of those who are designated as sheep and goats, there are those who will be totally surprise by the judgment that falls upon them.

On judgment day many will say to me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

The lawlessness spoken of here is the deliberate violation of the plain word of GOD. The arguments of today that have success will fade away in the light of GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS.

ECCL.11:3 Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there will it lie.

I WANT TO SEE

Our dog Lukey wants to know and see everything. He has his nose into everything I do. I don’t blame him because this is the way the world works.

If an accident happens people’s curiosity gets the better of them and they want to see and know what happened. I recall traveling with my parents across the country and all along the road would be outrageous signs claiming ridiculous things like “See the two headed calf or see the half man and half snake.”

Rarely would my dad stop because he knew better. The exception would be if we needed gas or to eat for these hucksters would locate near a restaurant or gas station. I would just die for I wanted to see the attraction as advertised. I did get to see the two headed calf, it was a stuffed calf skin with an extra head sewn on it. What a let down but I was sure that the next one would be real.

While somewhat wiser I still have to deal with the remnant of my old curiosity and the Internet is a danger zone.

Back in the fifties when Billy Graham was getting started he came to the Bay area and most of the churches would cooperate hoping to get some of the new converts from the crusade into their church. I had a friend that wanted me to join the choir with him. There were several hundred that sang in the meetings but I simply said no because I couldn’t sing well enough and couldn’t read the music. My friend kept after me and I refused until he said if we sing in the choir we can see everything because we'll be right behind the pulpit. My strong desire to SEE overpowered my lack of confidence in my musical ability and we signed up for the choir.

Cliff Barrows was the director and he quickly positioned us as to alto, bass and so forth. Everyone had their music and I had mine. I could read the words but I couldn’t read the tenor part and began to feel out of place. Of course my friend felt very confident for he had played in the Marine Corp band and could read all the musical parts. He assured me he could in the next few minutes teach me the part we were to sing. Suffice it to say I struggled through the singing part but I added to the body count even if I didn’t help much with the singing.

Just like my friend had said we could see very well and that was great. We were informed that no one could leave after the choir was in place and to go to the bathroom before taking our seats. It was about a four hour stint and that was interesting for some.

My curiosity has taken me to many places of interest and many places I would rather not have been.

I suspect that curiosity is one of the last things to go as we grow older because we want to know and if unrestrained it becomes one of our weaknesses.

SWEET AND SOUR SAUCE:

This sauce seems like a contradiction in flavor but when used properly it produces culinary masterpiece.

The recipe for making it is very simple and can be made with what most good cooks have on hand. The blend of ingredients produces a tartness that adds a spice to life that is most pleasurable.

In life we will experience both the sour and the sweet, and in the wrong proportions it will produce a bitterness that is hard to get rid of. If we can control the mixture the effect will not be as bitter as it could be.

Quinine, made from the cinchona bark is very bitter and if you only evaluated it based on taste, you would do anything to avoid it. But if you had malaria and took it in proper doses it would help you get over this sickness.

In the same way most bitter things have an antidote, and as the song says “a little bit of sugar helps the medicine go down.”

We do not live in a utopian existence and have to face the bitter by its self at times. How we react to this bitterness controls the level of disparagement and the length of the experience.

We the people possess the ability to rebound, to recover, to restore our selves our norm. Be positive in negative situations.

Oh LORD be good to me today!!

PAY DAY

About every one I have ever known has looked forward to payday. If it is a child getting an allowance, or hard earned wages from a paper route, pay day is exciting.

There was a time when I had an after school job cleaning school rooms. Pay day was every thirty days and they held back the first month’s wages. That meant that I had to work sixty days before I got my first pay. For a kid it seemed like forever. Even getting paid once a month after that was a long time, but it was nice when I finally received my check.

People on some kind of government subsistence get excited around the first of the month.

In an area where my roofing shop was located there were dope dealers who would show up at the first of the month, and escort some of their welfare customers to a check cashing place. Their customers had a credit account with the dope dealers, and this was the method the dealers used in order to get paid.

After I married, there was a time when I got paid on Friday, and we shopped for food on Saturday for the week. At one time I had a job with a company whose checks would often bounce. This created much trouble for me, so much that I finally had to quit and work elsewhere - - where pay day was more secure.

Most Christians believe they are going to heaven, and they expect to get a reward when they get there. After all heaven wouldn't be heaven without lots of goodies. But, and it seems there is always a “but” attached to every good deal.

Let us keep in mind: Revelations.22: “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be.”

This should cause us to be more diligent in our service for the Lord.  Remember A WORD TO THE WISE SHOULD BE SUFFICENT. . .   Pay Day is Coming!!

WHAT’S IN YOUR GARDEN?

It’s the time of the year to prepare your garden spot, of course there are always some energetic people who are always the first to get their garden in. Already there are weeds that have sprung up and it will be a battle of the wills until the reaping season is over, for some seed take time to emerge.

While I was preparing my spot for planting I looked at the soil and there were no weeds evident but I know there are seeds hidden away just waiting for the right stimulus to cause them to spring forth. A little water, some sunshine and nutrients will equal some weeds causing me grief throughout the summer.

Psalms139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

The song writer wrote a song based upon these verses; Search me oh GOD and know my heart today, try me oh Savior, know my thoughts I pray. See if there be some wicked way in me, cleanse me from every sin and set me free.

Like the hidden seeds in my garden there were hidden seeds within Adam and Eve that were activated by doubt and brought forth the fruit of sin. Cain had a hidden seed of murder that came to life when stimulated by jealousy.

What on earth did GOD have in mind when he created man with the capacity to sin if HE didn’t want them to sin? The answer to that question will have to wait until we are face to face with our savior but HE wanted to make a creature like unto HIMSELF who had the power of free choice. In any case there are these seeds within us which when they receive the right stimulus will spring up and produce fruit.

The one thing GOD did for us was to give us control over which seeds were activated. One helpful thing came out of the sin of Adam was the knowledge of good and evil or saying it another way the difference between right and wrong. It is inherently within us, all good and all evil are seeds waiting to be watered and fertilized and as Satan put ideas into Eve’s head so also each one is receiving similar ideas today.

We wonder why some of our spiritual leaders fall? Perhaps it was because when these seeds started to sprout they added fertilizer instead of weed killer to them.

There is such a thing as pre emergent herbicide that controls weeds. This is a statement from a supplier of on such product; "Contrary to popular belief, pre-emergent weed killers don't destroy weeds and their seeds. They simply stop them from growing.  Some seeds are known to last fifty years, so if the herbicide isn't applied each year, the weed will grow."

So the sum of the whole matter is; everyone must deal with the problem of weed control in their life. You can use pre-emergent (read your bible, attend church, pray) and weed on a daily basis. If this isn't done you can expect that fruit will be just around the corner and sooner or later you will turn that corner and partake of the bitter fruit even as Eve did.

WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST?

Matthew 22:42 What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?" They said to Him, "The son of David."

This question still echoes in the quietness of our minds, when what we see before us in this world doesn’t make any sense at all.

The Bible has its explanation of who Christ is, but is often rejected by those who are deaf to the voice of GOD and their eyes being blind to what may be termed “real realty.”

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

His life, death, resurrection all were both a testimony and a visual example of GOD being in human form walking among us.

John 1:11-12 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Paul the Apostle explains further; Ephesians 3: 9-11; was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It is easy to overlook this very most important fact that GOD has a purpose in everything HE does, and that purpose is on going today. We are in the middle of a great happening as GOD’S purpose is being acted out.

The fact that we are confused by the how and why of what is going on shouldn't surprise us for we are finite within in the midst of an infinite plan.

What do I think of Christ?  He is the GOD and Savior of the world but more importantly HE is my Savior.

All men must walk their lonesome valley and make their decision as to what they think of Christ. Some will falter while others will persevere and press on.

John 6:66-68 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?  Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
 The question, “Will you go away?” requires an answer from everyone.

TIME FOR A LITTLE ACKNOWLEDGMENT

A little instruction is essential for proper conduct in all endeavors. When it comes to living the Christian life it is no exception. The question is can you follow the rules or will you ignore what is plain and understood.

GOD laid it out for Solomon;

1 Chronicles 28:9 And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the LORD sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.

I think it safe to say what GOD told Solomon can apply to us all.

Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

Have you ever thought; maybe I won't acknowledge HIM in this way and then proceeded to sin?

Good old fashioned sinning comes in two packages, one is something you do once either on purpose or inadvertently; the other is where it becomes your life style or living in sin.

It isn't limited to shack-ups but includes all of the things you might do on a continuing basis. This type of sinning creates its own comfort zone and seems so natural but yet, it is unacceptable to GOD.

Crying out yes; but I’m only human will only bring the reminder; yes you are human, but not only human, you are also spiritual and don’t you forget that.

The way you live is your ways, and the world judges the Christian faith by our ways.

Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

These straight paths will still the adversary’s voice of condemnation.

Philemon 1:6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Perhaps we haven’t discovered every good thing in us in Christ and that is the reason we have trouble acknowledging Him in all our ways.

Paul said; being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. What ever the case may be, let the words of the song “Higher ground,” be our theme.

"I’m pressing on the upward way, New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound, “Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYCkqCG933M&feature=related

ACCUSTOMED TO YOUR FACE

In “My fair lady” the song “Accustomed to his face” has the lines “Are second nature to me now, like breathing out and breathing in.

When your baby is first born you look adoringly at every bit of them. Then as time goes by you don’t have the same urge to focus on them for you are so familiar with them. They grow up and only when they are not there, do you miss them.

One custom that every mom and/or dad should do is to take their children’s face in your hands and look into their eyes for a few seconds, this moment of bonding will last for a lifetime.

Being accustom to a person at times can cause a relationship to become “a run of the mill” relational but with a faded intimacy. This is not to say that there is anything wrong with being comfortable with one another; in other words; be able to ”let your hair down.” Doing marriage people do things they wouldn’t have done before the wedding day.

As I was thinking (musing) about some of the previous posts I wrote concerning the indwelling Holy Spirit, I began to wonder if I had become to accustom to the presence of Him to the point of taking His presence for granted?

Was being too accustomed to His presence lessened His impact on His indwelling in me. There is a difference in being comfortable with someone and an acceptance with indifference of their personage.

I recalled the time when I was first born again, when His Spirit only was convicting me of my sin and then the difference when He came in to stay, how real His presence was. It is a realty I can’t afford to lose and so I must not let my lethargic nature dull my spiritual sense of his presence.

Ephesians.4:30 And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

Charles Finney; You see why so many persons often pray for the influences of the Holy Spirit and yet do not receive his influences. It may be and doubtless often is because they have grieved him entirely away.

Your entire spiritual life depends upon the ministry of the Holy Spirit’s interaction within you and if He is prevented by your rejecting His leading then there is little more He can do but withdraw until you as Finney says; “Let us see wherein we have been and are grieving the Holy Spirit.

And now let us all go down upon our knees, and confess our infinite guilt, in having, in so many ways and for so long a time, grieved the Holy Spirit”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0I9iEUfRvI

VOLUNTEER FOR JESUS

It was about 10 o'clock in the morning and I was thinking about lunch time. What should I fix?

I had some left over tri-tip roast which was very tender and tasty but we had that yesterday. I had all the ingredients for making a stew so that was it. As I put everything in the pot and got it roiling, the smell began to fill the room and it took me back to the fifties when my church conducted a Rescue Mission service once each month.

It was a men’s mission so it was mostly men that went and testified and preached. As soon as you entered the door you could smell the odor of the evening meal which was always a kind of soup/stew and a couple slices of bread.

It was a mixed bag of people who were there, some were just traveling through, some were regulars and some considered the mission their church home. While there were a few that were just above the bum level others were truly born again and loved GOD.

In our church you either volunteered or the pastor would volunteer you. My Pastor decided to volunteer me, and for the next ten years I never missed a service. The Pastor of the mission was a tough guy that kept control for the men who were sometimes a bit unruly and would have to be put out of the service.

I truly respected this pastor as much as any I ever met for he was totally committed to his calling. He would drive his van around town and collect the food for the men. There was one man who gave constantly to feed the men at the mission and his name was Ronnie Svenhard the owner of Svenhard’s Swedish Bakery. His tasty pastries were a delight for breakfast and the men enjoyed them very much.

The services were interesting, in as much as you got to pray with men who you wouldn't associate with normally. We would put our arms around these guys and pray, not knowing if they had lice or some other problem.

The church was allotted one hour for the service and sometimes the one who was preaching would get wound up and would ignore the time. This would cause a problem for the men felt they were being taken advantage of. They were hungry and would become verbal and noisy, because they wanted to eat, as some hadn't eaten all day.

The memory still lingers of the old mission days and the aroma of the soup which fed many a man.
http://www.hymns.me.uk/old-hymns/as-a-volunteer-hymn.htm

To Serve or Not to Serve

Blessings for those who serve and not so blessed for those who fail to serve their God!

Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Deuteronomy 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, 13 To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good!

Deuteronomy 11:13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, 14 That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. 15 And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full.

Deuteronomy 13:1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, 2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; 3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

While I seek for my truth under the New Covenant we can learn much from the Old Covenant because many of the truths therein are carried over into the New. The loving and serving GOD with everything that is within us hasn't changed at all. All of your innate capacity is to be used in the context of serving and loving GOD. To love and serve is mandated for you as a born again one and any departure from that is not allowed.

Matthew 4:10 "Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the Scriptures say, 'You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.”

If you think about it, what was happening was Satan was trying to get Jesus to change his relationship with the Father. The same thing is occurring to we who are in the family of GOD for Satan is trying to interfere with your loving GOD and serving GOD.

Due to culture people express their love for the departed in different ways. Some will put flowers on the grave while others will put food on it, but we show our love for GOD by our obedience.

(John 14;15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.) and we serve HIM by our ministry to others (Matt.25:40 And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'). Phil. 2:13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

 Eccl.9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

Sounds like a do it now proposition. The conclusion of the whole matter is we are to love and serve GOD with all of our strength and our ability for the LORD GOD proveth you.

Matt 25:23 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; (to love and serve) I will put you in charge of many things.

Come and share your master's happiness! When someone asks you what are you doing? Be pleased to say; I am a loving and a serving follower of the LORD.

COUNTING THE COST

When shopping, I oft times see something I want. I may not need it but “I want it.” I get in the “got to have it” mode and all reason seeks to leave me at that point. The last thing I wish to do is to “count the cost.”

Luke 14:27-30 "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be My disciple. "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? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.

I may be overcome by the urge to have the item and while the desire overcomes me and I pay the cost I wasn’t willing to count.

In 2 Samuel 11 the story of David and Bathsheba is told and the thing David didn’t do was count the cost, and what followed was adultery and murder. The interesting thing is this was from a man after GOD’S own heart.

Acts 13:22 God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.  (And I might add David did some things GOD didn’t want him to do).

When GOD forgives, it may be easy to forget the consequence of the forgiven act and if it wasn’t for the scripture we might sluff it off.  (Galatians 6:7 Don't be misled--you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.)

Don’t you just hate it when every act has a consequence? Every action has a price that someone must pay? Does it seem unreasonable to count the cost?

Much of the pain within families is caused by a member not taking into consideration what effect their act will have on the rest of the family.   Romans 14:7 For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone.

The result of saying things, doing things will live on in our memories for life. There are things when I inadvertently think about cause me to feel some of the unpleasantness all over again.

The advice of the old carpenter will serve us well; measure twice and cut once. The main reason for counting the cost is to be sure you are willing to pay the price.

Before you ask, how much that doggie in the window is, (the one with the wiggly tail) be sure you count the cost of dog food and the vet bills.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jitS-sqMXCA

MY SUGAR DADDY

As a boy since there was no TV and I went to the movies a lot. Sometimes there would be an older man with a younger woman hanging on to him. She would be dressed in furs and jewels and she called him her “Sugar daddy.”

All she had to do was ask and she would receive. There could be a circumstance where she might go to far and her conduct wouldn't be kosher and the request would be denied, but for the most part she would prevail.

Her standing with Sugar Daddy gave her certain rights and the promises he made was her guarantee she could ask and receive. All was required of her was to provide certain services and believe ole sugar would give it up and she would get it.

Today there are many websites that advertise for both men and women to sign up to meet sugar daddies or sugar mommies for the same type of relationship as in the pictures I saw as a boy. These websites are little more than pimping services where the participants prostitute themselves because of greed.

Some preaching and teaching I have heard leads me to believe that we are getting close to thinking that GOD is our Sugar Daddy.  However God is not into playing games!

The approach used, is to build a case against GOD whereby HE must fulfill our request or violate HIS written word.  It is as if the way to get GOD to service their greed is build a case against HIM where HE must obey their slightest whim. They play the old GAME: ask and I must receive or else.

People who prostitute themselves to lust and greed readily latch on to this kind of thinking for it gives them (in their mind) a power and control over GOD. No matter how proficient they have become in framing their message it reeks with an inordinate desire to acquire or possess more than one needs or deserves, especially with respect to material wealth.

The same scriptures that was designed to cause Christians be in awe of our creator can be twisted to bring us to the point of thinking like Satan did when he decided to ascend and become the highest and rule over GOD.

The Miranda rights state something to the effect anything you say can be used against you and this is the tactic utilized when GOD’S word is used to try to force HIM to answer their requests. Trying to brainwash your mind with scripture can convince your mind of what it wants to believe, but true faith is not of the mind but of the spirit.

Only one who has experienced the difference can understand this. This convoluted form of teaching goes over the line and doesn’t allow GOD to be GOD but demotes HIM to become “OUR SUGAR DADDY!”

This post has been entered in “Changing the World One Word at a Time” Please visit at: http://peterpollock.com/2011/05/games-blog-carnival/  

CAUSE AND EFFECT

Cause and effect seems to fit the category of a law. When something happens it causes something else to occur.

It has been further described as action demands reaction. While it doesn’t have to be something negative we usually think in those terms.

We see tragedies such as tornados and the effect on people’s lives and try to seek remedies in some way.

The greatest cause and effect event happened in the Garden of Eden when man first sinned and all the pain and suffering was the effect of that act.

On the surface what Adam did seems like such a small thing, yet the act of disobeying a simple command of GOD brought all the destruction we endure today. While GOD’S word doesn’t mean much to many people today, He takes a different view of it.

We tolerate simple defiance of GOD’S commands to us and go on our merry way thinking little of our insolence but does GOD have a different view of it? I think so for it is a thin strand of grace and mercy that protects us from destruction.

The song; “the land of might have been” by Ivor Novello

Somewhere there's another land
Different from this world below,
Far more mercifully planned
Than the cruel place we know.

We never got a chance to experience the original land because of “cause and effect” but now we do have a chance to enter the land of “will be.”

John 14:2-3 There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

2 Peter 1:10 We are admonished; So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things and you will never fall away.

This is a cause and effect I can live with, still the question remains for some;

Days may pass and years may pass
And seas may lie between--
But will you ever find that lovely
Land of might-have-been?

JUST AVERAGE

When you read the scriptures and see all of the great things that were done by Jesus and some of his followers, it makes you to want to do great things also.

The problem is; some of us have to do the mundane stuff, like oil the wheels so the ones who are special can do their thing.

I have found it a little demeaning when the Lord put Martha down for not sitting along side Mary and listening to what Jesus was saying.
Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)

Now that could have been interpreted as saying, “Don’t fix us some food we’ll just go hungry, and we don’t need a place to sleep, we will just sit and talk about good things. - - You don’t need to bother about this kind of stuff for it is not spiritual enough, be more like Mary and just kick back.

Martha has been damned by a million sermons for being concerned about the physical needs of her guest.

Some would say, and it’s probably so, that anytime Jesus was teaching you should have been listening. On the other hand Martha was obligated to provide hospitality for her guest;

Romans 12:13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

1 Timothy 3:2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,


Titus 1:8 Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, and who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined

1 Peter 4:9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.


3 John 1:8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.

Romans 16:23 Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings.

Unfortunately Martha was just average, she didn’t have the liberty of sitting at Jesus feet, she had work to do.

Some in criticizing Martha said; she didn’t have to go to all that trouble because Jesus would have done his thing and fed everybody.

That would be just like he did in Luke 6:1 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels.

Was that a miracle or what?

I have a good idea; let’s take all of the Martha’s of the church and run them off so we will only have Mary’s in the church.

We recently went to a restaurant and the host was friendly, took us to a seat gave us a menu and disappeared. Then the waitress for the next 45 minutes served us. The cook prepared our food, and we ate and enjoyed our meal. The waitress took our money and returned with our change. If the host was Mary and the cook and waitress were Martha, which was the most needful Mary or Martha?

Poor old Martha was only average and she was merely good for the donkey work. She was too concerned about whether people were able to eat and slept. She got slammed for trying to be hospitable and not wanting to do all the work by herself.

We sometime forget that Jesus was human and Mary knew how to be the center of attention by sitting at the feet of Jesus which may have turned Jesus on. If Mary was a pretty young thing hanging on and around Jesus I suspect he being a normal 100% man as some claim, he must have enjoying this attention.

Now for those who say he was filled with the Holy Ghost and couldn’t do that, I remind them of the preachers who are also filled with the Holy Ghost that do enjoy such a scenario.

The moral is; when the Mary’s give the Martha’s the necessary help that is needed it will be amazing how much more spiritual the Martha’s will become.