Where Do You Stand?

Let me relate a few incidents in the Bible.

Joseph was a God fearing young man; while growing up, he was hated by his brothers. They even sold him into slavery. But, his God was favorable to him and he rose in the ranks and became in favor of his owner, Potiphar. Undoubtedly he was also favored by Potiphar's wife. She tried to get him compromise his faith and have an affair with her. He refused and eventually he was thrown in jail. Joseph did not forsake God, and God did not forsake Joseph! Joseph eventually became the second most powerful man in Egypt. (Genesis 39-41)

There were three Hebrew boys that were faithful to Jehovah God and worshiped Him each day and prayed three times a day on a regular basis. Their Babylonian name were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. King Nebuchadnezzar had a golden statue of enormous size and ordered all the kingdom, at a certain time and sound of a trumpet, to bow and worship the statue. Those that would not were to be cast into a fiery furnace. These three refused to bow before the idol, and Nebuchadnezzar was furious. He told the boys that if they would just act as if they were praying to the idol he would spare them. They even went as far as to tell the king that they didn't even have to think about their decision, they would not deny their God even in pretense, even if God did not spare them. God did not forsake them. (Daniel 3)

Daniel was a young, good looking man, and in good shape, when he was taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel and several others were singled out to serve the king, and although they were in prison, were given good accommodation's, meals from the king's table etc. They were encouraged to forget their religious beliefs. Daniel and others refused and fared better than all others. After Nebuchadnezzar died, Darius became king. Daniel found favor with Darius and became one of the governors of a section of the kingdom.

A decree went out from Darius that no one was to pray to any other god except him. This was to encourage Godly people to forsake their convictions that only God was God. Daniel kept his vigil and prayed three times a day to Jehovah God. For this act, he was cast into the lion's den. God delivered Daniel by closing the mouths of the lions. God did not forsake Daniel. (Daniel 6)

Throughout history, Satan has tried to get God's people to deny God and to worship him. I have read and heard of many in our generation being tortured and encouraged to deny Christ. Just a few examples: Hitler, Lenin, and Stalin.

Just recently I read an article that said President Obama stated that the progressives in society needs to 'help' those with deeply held religious beliefs overcome their convictions. To overcome our convictions, as Christians, would mean to deny Christ and His Word.

Matthew 10:33 "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." After the death and resurrection of Christ the disciples went out preaching and teaching the Word, their motto was we ought to obey God rather than man. There is a time coming when we are going to face this very thing.

WHERE DO YOU STAND?

There's Good News Ahead!!

Does the picture above offer a hope of living a positive life. There are many ways of being positive, sometime I make statement about how something will not work, my wife will say, "be positive". I reply. "I am positive, I'm positive it won't work". This is of course a sarcastic remark. The way things are going in our world and our country it would be obvious that we can be pretty positive that things are going to get worse.

Christians around the world are being persecuted, I heard a preacher say that every four to five minutes a Christian is put to death. Christians are being put in prison and tortured every day. We don't have to worry about that in America, or do we? It seems that everyday bring another assault on our rights as Christians. We don't have a right to pray in our schools, we don't have the right to bring a Bible into a school room, we can't pray or preach on a streets. Christian business can not refuse to bake a same-sex wedding cake. We are in jeopardy if we refuse to marry a same-sex couple, although we can refuse for others. If we quote the Bible for our beliefs, we are judging. We are being attacked from all sides. 

How can I say "There's Good News Ahead"? We are being attacked from all sides, but, the Bible has good news for those that are followers of God. In Matthew 5, Jesus is speaking to a crowd of people and gives us what we call the Beatitudes. He gives a list of things that we will receive a blessing for possessing, poor in Spirit, those that mourn, the meek, etc., one on the list that we might wonder about is "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which serve before you..". Did you get the words rejoice and be glad? Rejoice and be glad that we are persecuted? Yes, there is a reward that is not temporary, but everlasting!

Read what else He has to say: "If the world hate you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you." He goes on to say that if we were of this world they would love us, but since He called us out of the world they hate us, John 15. The Bible says in John 1, that He came into the world to bring light and the world knew Him not because they love darkness. This is the reason that they world is against the Christian and the Bible is because we shine the light on their sin.

Paul admonishes us to rejoice and again rejoice. We can do this because some day Jesus is coming to bring us unto Himself where we will be with Him for an eternity. He comes with His reward with Him. A few years ago, I had problems with my back, and I was in constant pain. Surgery was the only solution, and this was going to cause more pain. What a blessing when the pain went away. So it is with the pains we suffer for Christ, what a relief when Christ comes and relieves the pain for ever.

THERE IS GOOD NEWS AHEAD! JESUS IS COMING AGAIN FOR HIS REDEEMED! BE ONE OF THEM!

Even so Lord, come soon!

Thou Shalt Not Judge....

  To Judge or Not to Judge

     With the ruling of the Supreme Court ruling on the same sex marriages, we have been deluged with all kinds of comments. Some in favor, others against the ruling. Of course each of us are entitled to our opinions on this subject.

On my facebook page, I receive mostly those that are against the ruling, since I am a Bible believing Christian. As I read these posts, I am greatly amazed at the post in the comment section. Some agree whole heartily with the author, then there are those that disagree. I have no problem with a gentle discussion on the subject. I often add my thoughts concerning this ruling, in a non-hateful manner (hopefully). But, I read a lot of remarks that are very agitated and seemingly angry. The most aggravated posts quote the Bible stating that we should not judge, let man marry man or woman marry woman. It is not our place to judge.

What most people don't realize is, that they are actually judging me for judging others. Being a judge is what all of us do. How often have you heard someone say, "I am a good judge of character"? We look, feel, and smell fruit and veggies and judge the quality. We judge each other to determine if they are friendly or not. We judge whether or not it is safe to enter an activity. The list goes on and on, we can't make a decision about anything or anyone with out making a judgement.

The passage they are quoting is Matthew 7:1, which reads; "Judge not , that ye not judged". It never ceases to amaze me how people use the the Bible to reinforce their arguments without considering the context. 2 Timothy 2, Paul the Apostle exhorts Timothy, a young preacher, to "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Study to be diligent in showing ourselves to be approved of God, in order to no be ashamed as a worker of the Gospel of The Lord. In order to do this we need to correctly understand and teach the Word of God. In my younger days in the ministry, I was given some great advice. One of these was in studying the Word, there are several things we need to take into consideration; 1. Who is speaking, 2. to whom speaking to, 3. what did they say, and 4. why they said it. In other words know the context and we can correctly understand what is intended by verse or verses.

Matthew 7:1-5, is a part of Jesus' sermon on the mount; it begins with chapter five and ends with chapter 7. In this part of the sermon, Jesus is dealing primarily hypocrites. He is telling them that they are judging others while they are engaged in the same things. Don't be judging unless you are ready to be judged with the same judgement. He is not saying that we are not to judge at all, but to be discerning. We cannot bring a brother or sister to a saving knowledge of Christ unless we first discern or judge that they need it. I think that we are seeing the word "judge", we are thinking "condemnation", and I nor anyone other than God has the right to condemn.

Many refer to the woman brought before Jesus to be stoned for adultery, and when all dropped their rock and left, Jesus said that he did not condemn her but that she should go her way and sin no more. Jesus said that He did not come to condemn but those that refused to obey the commands of God was condemned already. He says in this chapter that not all that say Lord, Lord will enter into God's kingdom. He encourages us to beware of false prophets in sheep's clothing. How can we do this without judging? Paul, in 1 Corinthians reminds the church to judge the members actions. This is not to condemn but that they might be set back on course.

I say these things in because I love you and want God's blessing for your life. He says in several passages, in the New Testament, that He give them up to their reprobate minds and those that give their approval also. I am praying that God's people will quit supporting Satan's lie and seek God's face and turn from their wicked ways and then He will heal our nation, otherwise we will fall!

I would ask that if you agree or disagree with this blog, you would make a comment and share it on facebook, twitter, g+1, or by word of mouth. I really have a concern for America and my family!

Trans-Spiritual

I learned a new phrase just the other day. I received an email from Family Life. This is an organization that focuses on bringing Biblical stability to families. This particular email was written by Dennis Rainey.  He used a phrase that was new to me. The phrase is "trans-spiritual Christian". He states that a trans-spiritual Christian is one that has a spiritual identity or expression of faith that doesn't match that of one that God created for him.

I found this thought very interesting. He says that these Christians have changed their spiritual thoughts from Godly to worldly. They are confused as to who they are and what they believe etc. They want to blend into the world. Some of these are even referring to evangelical Christians as anti-this or anti-that. They refer to us, (I consider myself to be an evangelical Christian), as right-wing political fanatics.

Let me address the idea of an evangelical Christian. To be a Christian, is to be a follower of the Lord Jesus. One who reads the word and tries (notice I said tries) to follow Him. The word Christian was first introduced as a derogatory remark saying that these people were "little Christs". In my early years, a person that tried to live a clean Christian life were sometimes called "holy Joes". I count it a compliment if someone thinks my life mimics that of Jesus, although I am aware that I do not.

To be evangelical means to follow the command of Jesus, to go into all the world spreading the gospel, and teaching the truth of Jesus. If this makes me an object of ridicule then so be it.

To put the two definitions together, you have a follower of Christ that proclaims the word of God, no matter of the issue or popularity. This is what God has created the Christian to do. I say created the Christian because the Bible says that when we become a Christian we become a new creation. We are born anew in the Spirit. Contrary to the belief that we are all God's children, you are only His if you a:re born again and received His Spirit. "...If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he none of His" Romans 8:9

This brings me to the phrase of trans-spiritual Christian, if there is such a thing. When we review the idea of a trans-gender, we think of some one who is of one sex and changes to another. Through surgery, and medical pills, they become something different (so to speak). Can a Christian deny his new birth and relationship to Christ and become a true citizen of the world, or did they just allow Satan distort their views, or are they really Christian?

I am amazed at the number of people that call themselves Christians, and I am sure some are, that say that we are not to judge. These people condemn us for being judgmental while they are passing judgment on us. It may be just the fact that they simply do not know what the Bible says or do not care. Sometimes we simply want to believe that God does not really mean what He says, or we just don't care. I remember during a Bible study, that a young person said to me that they did not care what the Bible says, they were going to do what they wanted anyway. Another, after we read what the Bible had to say about a subject, said to me, "you believe what you want and I'll believe what I want."

Can you be a trans-spiritual? All I know is that the Bible speaks on these things. Romans 1:32 says that even those who approve of those who practice them are in danger of the judgment of God. That's God's judgment, not mine. There are those who just don't know any better and then there are those that don't care.

Remember Sodom and Gomorrah! America is headed down the same path! I ask all of you followers of Christ Jesus, PRAY FOR AMERICA

I say this with love because I love our country and what it was and can be!

Things are Not Always What They Seem...

I am sure that at some time or other, you have seen a mirage. Driving along a highway on a hot sunny day, you can look down the road and see water in front of you.  When you arrive at the spot of the water, it's not there; it has moved further down the road. The fact of the matter is that it never was there, it just seemed to be. Things are not always what they seem to be.

While playing outside one day, I saw a stick and I thought would make a great sword. I walked over to pick it up. To my surprise, it moved and slithered away. Things are not always what they seem.

My parents left me in the car after we got home, I was asleep in the back seat. When I awoke, the ugliest and most frighting thing I had ever seen was looking in the window at me. Needless to say I was scared pretty bad. It turned out to be my Uncle George with a nylon hose over his face. Things are not always what they seem.

When I was in junior high school, a group of us boys were walking down the street and noticed this girl in front of us. One of the guys whistled and she turned around, and she had a beard. (This was when the guys just began to have long hair). Things are not always what they seem to be.

With this theme in mind, think of the changes in the world. The news have made a big deal of the courage of Bruce Jenner and his gender change. With a few hormones and a lot of plastic surgery he, changed his appearance. What was a man now appears to be a woman. He wants to be thought of as a woman. Many do. But, I have talked to some medical people and they assure me that if he were to be in an accident, unreconizable, his DNA would determine that the body would be male. In this case, if it walks like a duck, sounds like a duck, and looks like a duck, its a duck in not a true statement! Things are not always what they seem to be!

As for the courage part, it takes more courage for a Christian to stand publicly for Jesus Christ. They get more ridicule and judgement that the transgender.

Please comment and share if you agree or not.

Father's Day

Father's day means different things to different people. Some, sad to say, do not have fond thoughts of their father's. I have known a few that were abusive, alcoholics, etc. spending their wages for booze rather than family needs.

Some of us were fortunate enough to have fathers that were loving and kind.

This is a picture of my father and mother. I was fortunate to have a Christian family, so my recollections are pleasant.

 No matter what your experience with your earthly father, I want you to know you can have a Father that loves you, with a love that is more than you have ever experienced.

Romans 8:15 "...The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. and by Him we cry Abba Father". To be adopted as a son to God the Father, with full legal standing.

Alan Jackson has a song that says "here comes a Baptist, here comes a Jew, there goes a Mormon, there goes a Muslim too...we're all God's children...".

The Bible says that in order to be the child of God, we must first receive Jesus Christ the Son of God. "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."

I am reminded of a story I heard some years ago. Many years ago two boys were playing in the country side and they had been there for most of the afternoon. One of the boys stated that he was thirsty and getting hungry, the other boy suggested they get a snack and a drink.

Walking together they came to the king's castle. As they approached, the first boy became concerned that his friend intended to go there and expressed his concern. The other assured him that he had been here before. Hesitantly the first walked with his friend. As they neared the castle they could see the guards standing by the door keeping out the unwanted and invited. They walked past as if the guards could not see them. So far so good, we can go to the kitchen and get a snack and drink and sneak out;

But, oh no, they were headed to the throne room. Now the first boy was sure they were in trouble. The guards looked big and fierce, but they seemed not to see them. What a wonder this was. As they entered in
the king looked up and smiled. The first boy said, "Hi daddy"

You to can have this kind of relationship when we walk into the throne room of God with Jesus Christ. There is no other name whereby we can be saved.

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Thank you for visiting my page, if you liked it would you please comment and share.

God of All

Have you heard or maybe have said yourself, "he's not my president", or something of this sort. I remember as a young junior boy, we had a Jewish Sunday School teacher. He told of his conversion experience, I have to confess I don't remember much of this story. I can't tell you how he came to know Jesus, but the following has remained with me for over sixty years.

He told us that when he found Jesus, he was so excited that he wanted his family to know Jesus as well. When he went to see his father and mother and related his experience, they became very angry. They tried very aggressively to change his mind about his decision to follow this man who claimed to be the Messiah!

They called him many names and a traitor to the Jewish faith. He was truly, in their eyes, am infidel. His father stood before him and his family and informed him that he was no longer his father, and he was no longer his son.

The worst part was when he told us that his family gathered all things pertaining to him, pictures, clothing, childhood toys, and any thing else that was in the home that belonged to him, put them in a casket. They took it to the cemetery and had his funeral. I remember the sadness he expressed as he told us that he went to his own funeral.

I tell you this story, because as much as the family denied him, he was still their son, brother, nephew, cousin etc., he still had their DNA.

Just as people may deny that God is not their god, it does not alter the fact that God is God of all and there is no other. God created all and all belong to Him. One day every knee will bow before Him and confess Him as God.

If My People...

I have, for some time now, been concerned about the condition of the United States of America. As I see it, we are on a steep down hill slope. We are very close to crashing into a spiritual down fall, and we are picking up speed each second.

I have heard many different solutions to our problem. I have heard that we need to elect new government leaders, implement better education, promote better tolerance towards others, the list goes on and on. But I have yet heard but a few that has the real answer.

2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."  You understand that the solution to the problem does not lie with the government, it lies with the people that are Christians. 

There are several things that this verse calls for us to consider:

1.    We have already mentioned this, but I would like to make a clarification here. There are a lot of          people that call themselves Christian, have not been born again. Some think that because mom and dad were Christian, they are also.  Some think because they are morally good they are Christian. Some think they are Christian because they go to Church regularly, the list goes on. A Christian is one that has accepted Christ as Lord, Savior and follows His teachings. There are more to be said about this subject, that will come in another time. The point being is that God is calling out to His people.

2.    We need to humble ourselves. It seems that in world, we have lost our humility. We are a proud people (here I am referring to God's people), we are a privileged people. God is our Father and He gives us what we want, we don't have to ask. Several years ago our granddaughter, in her preteens, brought a friend to our house and we heard her say (while helping herself and her friend to something in the kitchen) this is my nanny's house and she lets me anything I want. In our pride that's how we pray.

Pride also keeps us from falling on our knees or faces before the Lord in secret. We want to post our prayers on the internet in order that others may see how righteous we are. Think I am wrong, read Matthew 6:6. I realize there are time for public prayers such as in church, but not on the street corners or broadcast so others can see our goodness and say "how noble and good we are". God will reward us, we don't need the praise of others.  PRIDE

3.    We are to pray.  Often, I hear or read on facebook people tell others, "I am praying for you" or "I will pray".  I often wonder if they mean, "I am thinking of you". I don't want to be judging, but the Bible says you  shall know them by their fruits, and I wonder if we (I include myself in this group) really know how to pray. Our scripture say to pray and seek my face. This means to gain an audience with the Lord face to face. This is what we are to be about, standing before an awesome God seeking His favor. 

4.     We are to turn from our wicked ways! Now I have stopped preaching and started to meddle. We call ourselves Christian while we exercise an attitude of permissiveness. Everybody does it, so it must be ok, after all it is the twenty-first century, times have changed. We have no problems with children being aborted for the sake of convenience, to rid ourselves of a mistake. We no longer consider co-habitation a sin. Cheating on our spouse is norm, homosexual behavior is norm, etc. If you don't think so just watch an episode of TV's "Modern Family"!

Oh, but I am not guilty of these sins! That may be so, but what about the slightly off color jokes or remarks we make on facebook? What about some of the pictures that we post. It amazes me how some of the people will use off color language, and then in the next breath ask for prayers. It seem that we think that God is not listening or that He turns a deaf ear.  No! He say to turn from our wickedness no matter how trivial it may seem to us. This is a condition to Him hearing us.

Psalm 66:18 "If I regard iniquity (sin) in my heart, the Lord will not hear me".  Repent, Repent, again I say Repent.

It now the time for all God's people to come to the aide of their country!!!!!!!!!!

If you agree or don't, please leave a comment.

Happy Valentine's Day

I remember as a child in grade school, we had decorated boxes on our desks to receive valentines from the other kids.  Our parents bought us packet of card to write names of our classmate and drop them into the boxes.  We gave every child a card, boy or girl.  As we got older the Valentine became more sophisticated and personal.  But all of them asked one question, "Will you be my Valentine?"  Each was an expression of love.  

Aw, love, that is the subject.  The question has been asked, what is love.  I have heard many replies to this question.  Most referred to the affection of one gender toward the other.  (Let me digress here a little to say that the satisfying a sexual desire is not LOVE!).  The Bible talks of three kinds of love.

The first is the word "phileo", from which the word Philadelphia comes, and means a brotherly kind of love.  This would be the bond of close friendship.  When in college, I had a roommate that was especially close.  We would be together as often as possible.  If I needed any thing that he could help me with, he would.  I would do the same for him.  We had a close bond, not sexual, but close friends.  Another, close friend contacted me recently, after many long years.  He let me know that he has cancer.  I love those guys.  My heart rejoices when I hear from them, and my heart aches to know that one has cancer.  He lost his wife a year ago.  This is a love for our fellow man.  If we do not have this kind of love, we truly miss something.

The second word is "Eros", from which we get the word erotic.  This is the attraction of one gender to the other.  This is a physical love, and a love that is not to be abased.  This word was so perverted that it is not used in the New Testament.  This kind of love is reserved to a husband and wife.  This kind of love is forbidden outside of marriage.  

The third is the word "agape" which is a self-sacrificial love.  This is the kind of love God has for us, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..."  Some have rightly said that agape love is a God love.  Only God can give us this kind of love.  This is the ultimate love that God desire that each of us would have for Him.  Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love (agape) me?"  Peter answers, "Lord, you know I love (phileo) you."  This was asked three times.  Oh, how Jesus would have loved to receive the answer - I phileo you!  

This is the kind of love that compels us to tell others of Jesus.  In Revelation 2, the letter to Ephesus Jesus tell the church that they lost their first love.  They were doing good things, the church attendance was good, and it seemed that all was well, but they had lost their zeal for Jesus.  We need to regain the love for others about Jesus, but this will not happen unless we regain our agape love for Him.  It is our love for Jesus that drives us to obey His command to "Go and make disciples...."

This Valentine's day and every day, lets reclaim our first love!!!

New Year's Journey - What to Take

A New Year is dawning for each of us.  To some this doesn't seem to be a big deal.  Some it is a fresh beginning.  We may or may not look forward to a new year, but there it is looming right in front of us.  Many of us think of it as just another day; another year.  Others look forward with anticipation.  I, for one have always considered it a "same-oh, same-oh".  That is until recently as I began to reflect on the past few years and saw that each year brought changes to my life.

Each year was different than the last.  Last year there were those that are no longer in my life (that is on this earth).  I have been to more doctors, had more illnesses.  There is less hair on my head and those that are there are more gray.  My body does not react to what my brain tells it to do ( I can not do what I used to do and what I would like to do).  My brain does not function as it used to.  The political world is ever changing, some to the good and some to the worse.  I think, mostly to the worse, (but that is my opinion).  The morals are deteriorating before our eyes.  Each of the past years were different than the last, yes, it is a new journey.

I began to think of the new year as a journey I am to take.  What lay ahead of me I really have no idea.  I remember that when Joshua began to lead the  people of Israel after the death of Moses, God told him that the way ahead was where they had traveled before.  “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. ⁴ Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.”  It is certainly advisable to follow God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.  These are not something to take,They are to be followed. They are there all the time.  We just need to follow them.  God has a plan for your life, Jesus gives us the way to fulfill this plan and the Holy Spirit helps us to follow the plan.  If we follow them, the way will be better and more rewarding.

When we begin a trip that we have not traveled before, we want to know what to take.  I have a few thoughts along these lines.  They are as follows:

First, you need God's Word,(the Bible).  God's Word gives us a sense of direction. The Psalmist said that he would - hide the word of God in his heart in order that he would not sin against God.  He would make it a lamp unto his feet.  The Bible tells us that we can be cleansed of our unrighteousness by the washing of His Word.  The word of God helps us to have the right perspective on life.  Paul tells Timothy, For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths."  Jesus used the word of God to dispel Satan's temptations.  To be on the right path, we need to read the Bible and follow the truths.  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;"

Second, take along a prayer life.  Prayer is the most powerful weapon, beside the Bible, that we have available to us.  Prayer is the way we reach God Himself.  Jesus says that whatsoever we ask in His name, God will grant.  In prayer we ask the Holy Spirit to protect us from the wiles of Satan.  In prayer we give praise to the Father.  In prayer we intercede for the lost.  In prayer we intercede for the sick.  The Bible tells us that the prayer of a righteous person avails much.  A Christian needs to be in prayer constantly to stay in touch with God.  Paul tells us to pray unceasingly.

Third, I say to take along your church family.  It our church family that gives us support.  We can take our problems and prayer concerns to them.  God's word tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together.  If you don't belong to a Bible believing and Bible teaching church, find one and become involved.  It will bless greatly.

There are other things to take with you, but time does not allow.  I believe that if you take these you will find the others are already there.  Paul says that in you journey, press toward the high calling of God.  Holiness!!

Happy New Year and may God bless each and every one of you.

After Thoughts

It has been a while since the shootings, the media is still talking about it and so are others.  There has been numerous blogs and comments about the why.  A number of people have asked, "Where was God?"  Many have tried to answer that question.  I think the best answer I have heard is that He was at the same place He was when His child was killed.

There has been much speculation as to the remedy to these kinds of situations.  Some, maybe most, think that gun control is the answer.  Some think that armed guard are the answer.  There are other ideas out there I am sure, I just haven't heard all of them yet.  I don't have the answer, nor am I writing to give an answer.  I just want to make some observations.

I have lived in this world for a few years now, and have seen many changes.  Some were good and some were not so good.  I remember as a child, the churches in the communities had a better attendance than now.    Of course, they were not as full as the preacher would like for them to be, but there were more than now.  I remember that people, even those that did not claim to be "religious" had respect for the church and those that tried to live their lives according to the teachings.

I remember in School, we stood every morning and said the pledge to the Flag of the United States.  We, the students, stood at attention with our hand over our hearts.  Not a single one of us would talk or move about, we had respect for that flag.  Not because the flag was sacred, but that it stood for the country that we loved.  I don't ever remember knowing a person that did not respect our country.  Of course there were probably some, I just didn't know them.  Then there would be a prayer said by on of the students.  This was even said over the loud speakers where all could hear.  Also, I remember in school we had respect for our teachers.  I don't mean we liked all of them, but we had respect for them.  We were taught that by our parents.  I remember my dad saying that if we got into trouble in school we would be in trouble at home.  I know by experience that he meant it.  When I was in school, and a teacher called our parents, our parents did not take our side and chew out the teacher.  I think you can guess what would happen then.

I remember our home life.  I suppose mine was a normal on, and I realize that not all were this way.  We certainly were taught to respect our parents and all other adults.  We would say, yes sir, no sir etc.  We were taught not to interrupt someone when talking.  We took our hats off in the house, and especially at meals.  We were at home when we were supposed to be.  At home is where we learned good manners and to respect others.

In those years, I don't remember any mass shootings in schools, churches or other places like these.  We were not afraid to walk in the evenings after dark.  We were not afraid to sit in the car waiting on our parent while they shopped.  We didn't even roll up the windows in the summertime. There are many other things, but not enough time to mention them all.

These thing are not true today.  What happened?

I'm Baaaaack

Several years ago, my wife and I had a food booth at the Tri-State Fair in Amarillo, Texas.  Our main item was elephant ears, a yeast dough that was rolled or pressed out and deep fried and then powdered with powdered sugar.  We also had German sausage on a stick, sausage sandwiches, nachos, limeades, and soft drinks.  We did this for about 20+ years.  It was really a lot of fun until we got to old to keep up with all the long hours.  We would start about 9 am and close around 12 pm, then two hours to clean up.

The carnival was directly behind our booth.  ever so often I had (or took the time) to wander around the ground to check out our competition to see their products and prices.  Many time I would look at the exhibits and different show (free ones of course).  There was one particular attraction that really caught my attention, I would go to see it every chance I got (which was usually once a day).

This was a dunking booth where people would pay good money to throw balls at a target in order to dunk this clown in a tank of water.  Simple enough, huh.  There was one hitch, the clown was really irritating.  He would insult the clients, calling them names, telling them how ugly or fat they were, how lousy a thrower they were, on and on.  Nothing was off limits.  Some would just laugh at him, but a lot would get so angry, they would spend a great deal of money to dunk him.  Of course, they would be so angry, they could throw straight.  This was his objective.

When he took a break or left for the evening, I wondered if he had to have a escort from the premises or not.  He would climb back on his platform returning to work after the break or the next day.  After he got settled on the platform, in a high shrill, irritating voice shout "I'm Baaaaaack".  The games were on.

Well I hope I am no irritating when I say I'm baaaaack.  It has been a little over a year since my last blog.  I had someone ask why I wasn't writing anymore.  I wasn't sure that anyone was reading my blogs and this is hard work, trying to find new and interesting things to say.  This person assured me that he read them and even was now checking to see if I had written.

Well I am not an educated, nor smooth author.  I don't have many original thoughts (after all every thing I know I learned from someone else).  The Bible even says that there is nothing new under the sun.  I do try to write using my own interpretation in my own words.  Some may sound like the word of others, but some of us think the same thought. I am not sure how often I will write but will try at least once a month.  The key word is try.

So if you read my blog, I would really like for you to comment on it so I will know if anyone is reading.  You may or may not agree with me, I may even make some upset with me, but that is o.k., comment and let me know.

If you don't agree with me, you have the right to be wrong if you want.  (lol)

May you have a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year

Collateral Damage or What is the collateral for U.S. loans?

When I buy somethng on credit, I have to put up something for collateral.  This is the way the business world works.  Several years ago I could go to my bank and ask for a loan and I could get it on my word alone.  Oner day this all changed, I asked my banker for a small loan and he gave me an application to fill out.  I reminded him I had done busines for years without an application.  Times have changed, very few can borrow without some kind of collateral.

I began to wonder, with over 10 trillion dollars borrowed from other countries and world banks, what does our government use as collateral.  I searche the net and found several answers.  Most seem to think that we borrow with just our promise to pay.  I think this is naieve.

We are over $10 trillion dollars in debt and we think we can borrow on our word.  This is almost more than we can pay now.  I wonder how hard my banker would laugh if I would ask to borrow on my word if I owed him more that a million dollars.  He would think I was absurd.  There has to be something he could reposess to recover his money.  These countries and world bank are no different.  Want to know what we put up for collateral?  Just read the article below.  You won't have to read far to understand the situation our country is in!  Just click on the link.

http://www.klamathbucketbrigade.org/Whitsett_CollatralizingOurNationalDebt041709.htm
If you read the article, remember this is a US Senator.  Not someone who does not know what is going on.  He is not naieve!  Contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives and let them know how you feel about this.  Remind the represerntative that the word "representative" means they are to represent you and the people, not their own interest!!

Our American soil is at stake.  If our creditors were to call in our note, they would own a portion of our nation larger than the state of Texas.  How freightening!!

It's time to take our nation back!!!!!!!

Social Security

Aug. 14, 1935, President Roosevelt signed into law the Social Security Act.  This act was made to provide a retirement for those above the age of 65 yrs.  The first taxes collected for this law was Jan. 1937, that was 74 years ago.  The law said that the taxes were to be in an "Old Age Account" and to be invested in such investments that drew no less than 3% per annum.  This was the act of 1935.  If this was invested in such a fund and was placed in a trust, where is the money today.

Assuming that the fund were in a trust and kept up with the markets, there would be plenty to take care of the needs today.  That is if it were paid out as outlined.  But, there is no money in this account!  If there were President Obama could not threaten to hold the Social Security check if we couldn't borrow the money to do so.  Where is the trust fund designed to pay these funds?  They aren't there!  Why?  Because our government, that is supposed to look out for our interest, spent it for other things.  The government has been spending the money as it came in!

If the politicians had done the job they were elected to do, there would not be a shortage of funds. This money was spent on the stimulus, roads, EPA, defense, etc.  (This statement is taken from and article by Craig Steiner entitled "The Truth About Social Security")


There are other reasons that I see as a default to this system.  These are called entitlement programs, be paid out to those entitled.  Who is entitled, according the the original act, those who earned a wage, the poor, disabled etc. that were U.S. citizens.  It is hard to build a fund if it is spent on those that do not contribute.

The solution to the problem, is to elect officials from the President, congress etc that will own up to the problem and reform the system to do what it was designed to do.  It would do us well to examine the canidates and email, write or call and let them what we expect.

Blaming God for Mostly Man-Made Problems

I read the following article in a publication I receive.  I want to share it with you, I think this is a very important read!

   God is not doing very well these days.  Here are four reasons.  The first is that increasingly large numbers of men and women attend university, and Western universities have become essentially secular (and leftist) seminaries.  Just as the agenda of traditional Christian and Jewish seminaries is to produce religious Christians and religious Jews, the agenda of Western universities is to produce (left-wing) secularists.  The difference is that Christian and Jewish seminaries are honest about their agenda, while the universities still claim they have neither a secularist nor a political agenda.
   The more university education a person receives, the more he is likely to hold secular and left-wing views.  The secular left argues that this correlation is due to the fact that a college graduate knows more and thinks more clearly and therfore gravitates leftward and toward secularism.  But if you believe that the average college graduate is a clear and knowledgeable thinker as a result of his or her time at univesity, I have more than one bridge to sell you.
   A radio talk show host for 29 years, I long ago began asking callers who made foolish comments what graduate scool they had attended.  It takes higher education to learn to believe that America and Israel are villians, that men and women have essentially the same natures, that human nature is good, that ever larger governments create wealth, etc.
   A second reason God is not doing well among Westerners these days is that many members of the Jewish and Christian clergy decided that their primary role was not to advocate their religion's moral and religious standards, but rather (1) to make congregates comfortable ("Don't call me "Pastor" [or "Rabbi" or "Father"], call me Jerry) and (2) to promulgate the values they learned at their secular left-wing universities.
   A third reason God is not dong well is that most of the men and women who are products of this secular left-wing education (meaning a large majority of Westen men and women) are theologically, intellectually, and emotionally ill prepared to deal with all the unjust suffering in the world.  I will never forget a Swedish pastor's reaction to the 1994 capsizing of the Estonia, a ferry that sank in the Baltic between Estonia and Sweden, leaving 852 passengers and crew dead.  He said he could not believe in a God who allowed such injustice to take place.
   This pastor spoke for a vast numbers of modern Western men and women.  The existance of so much unjust suffering in the world has strongly contributed to their rejecting belief in God.  And undoubtedly, the devastation caused by the Japanese earthquake and tsunami has further reinforced many individuals' rejection of God.
   Of course, none of us has a fully coherent solution to the problem of theodicy.  But the problem is not exactly new - every great religion has dealt with it, and most of the brilliant minds in history retained their faith in God despite all the unjust suffering they saw.
   The difference today is that life has been so good for most Westerners that suffering is no longer regarded as part of life, but as an aberration that can be done away with.  Meanwhile, the liberal wings of Christianity and Judaism are too influenced by secularism to make an effective religious case for God, whom the religious left has largely rendered a celestial buddy.
   The fourth reason is Islamic violence and the tepid response to it by the liberal churches and synagogues.  It would seem pretty clear that a major, albeit almost never acknowledged, reason for the huge audiences for recent books advocating atheism has been the massive amount of evil in God's name committed by radical Muslims.  Nothing creates atheism as much as evil done in God's name.
   That is why the pathetically weak responses from within the mainstream- i.e., liberal - Christianity, and Judaism have only added to the contempt for God and religion shown by beheadings and suicide bombing in Allah's name.  The liberal christian and Jewish responses have been to attack fellow Christians and Jews who have focused on Isalamist terror.  Instead of drawing attention to the damage radical Islam does to the name of God, liberal Christians and Jews focus their anger on co-religionists who do speak out on this issue and label them "Islamophobes."
   That God is not doing well in the Western world may trouble God.  But it is we humans who should be most troubled.  the moral, intellectual, artistic, and demographic decline in Western Europe (people in secular countries don't even have the will to reproduce themselves) is only gaining momentum.  And the consequernces of that decline will be far more devastationg than all the earthquakes that may come our way.

                                                                              --Dennis Prager, Washington Times, Apr. 11, 2011, p. 32

Are there bad people?

A web site declared, "On this day, God wants you to know, there are no bad people, only people with bad ideas."

The general consensus is that all people are basically good.  Some just happened to receive some bad ideas.  Where these ideas come from, nobody seems to say.  Maybe it is the environment, or maybe it is the influence of others.  This has been debated for many years, and will probably will not be settled here.  I just want to throw in my two cents worth.

The most common thought on this, begins at birth.  After all are we not all born innocent?  We are always referring to children ages birth and up to 1 year as innocent babes.  How could they know anything bad.  Let me ask, When do babies begin to want thier own way before anything else.  At what age do they begin to want to doninate over things or others?  Did you or your spouse theach them to be bad?  My wife and I have raised four boys and one girl, we never had to teach them to behave badly.  We did have to teach them to share and not to treat others roughly and to have good manners.

The Bible has many things to say on this manner, some of which are as follows:

Gen. 6:5  "...Wickedness of man was great... the thought of his heart was only evil continually"  Notice that the heart was evil continually.
Psalm 51:5  "behold I was brought forth in inquity and in sin did my mother conceive me." 
Psalm 58:2  "The wicked are estranged from the womb, they go astray from birth speaking lies."  (from birth)
Romans 3:10  "None is righteous, no not one, no one understands, no one seeks God."  Not only are we not righteous, no one seeks God on
                     his own accord.

Then, if we are born bad or wicked, how can we do good things and receive salvation?  I personally know some good people that have no desire to know God.  These people learn good things, they don't come naturally!  Goodness has to be learned.

If left to our own thoughts we would be totally bad.  The reason that the tribulation period will be so wicked, is that the restrainer will be removed.  The only reason we do not oive in chaos now is ththat the Holy Spirit restrains evil from bcoming rampant.  I pary to God that you will not have to endure the tribulation.

Salvation and knowing God comes from the Grace of God!  The Spirit draws us to Him.  God comes looking for us, not us looking for God.  The Bible says in John 12:32 "But I, when I be lifted up will draw all men to myself."  Christ will draw all men, (not some or a selected few), to Himself.  The decision will be ours to make, He gives us that right.  He draws us to Himself through the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.

Romans 10:9  ⁹ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Verse 13 says that if you ask or call on Him you will be saved!!

Self esteem

Esteem - Respect and admire;  Admire - to look at with pleasure:  Using these two definitions, if we have self-esteem, we are to respect and look at ourselves with pleasure.  I realize that every person needs or ought to feel confident in their selves.  I am for encouraging each person, whether child or adult.  But, to what extent.  I know those that coach activities where no-one loses.  Everyone gets a trophy.  Schools that does not give failing grades, etc.

Is this really a good idea.  Let's teach that you don't really have to run the race well to be entitled to the prize!  Let's teach that you don't really have to work hard to succeed!  Let's teach that you deserve the best, even if you don't work for it!  This breeds a generation that wants a paycheck but doesn't want to have to earn it.

When I was growing up, my dad always encouraged me to do my best.  He never said I had to win, just do my best.  My dad impressed on me that not all are winners, but all are players.  I liked to play baseball, wasn't the best player on the team, but I gave it my best.  I wasn't on the all stars, but I gave it my best.  Dad said that it isn't whether you win or lose, its how you play the game. (Of course it feels better when you win).  Even if I lost, I could hold my head high, because I did my best!  That is self esteem!

I remember that he told me that when I hired out to another, I owed that person or company the best I had for the time I was at work.  In other words if I was on the job for eight hours, I owe it to my employers eight hours of my best work.  If I did not give them eight hours of my best, I was stealing from them.  If I could not give them my best then I should leave.  If I don't give my best, they had the right to let me go.  They don't owe me anything except my earned wages.

Self-esteem is important.  We are important to God, the Bible tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.  We are made in the image of God.  What a wonderful thought.  But, I agree with another author, . A healthy self-esteem needs to be realistic, thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought to think is just as self-defeating as a low self-esteem.  It can cause us to ignore our need of God. Those with a healthy and realistic self-esteem are those that believe they can do anything God ahas enabled them to do.
                                                         - Martin R Dehaan II -

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith ith virtue and knowledge.  2 Peter 1:5.  Know our limits and do them to the Glory of God.

WOW! 51 yrs to the same wonderful woman!!

The year was 1958, I noticed this cute girl in church.  My brother was going with her sister and he and her got this cute girl and I to double date.  That's when it happened.  I began to chase her, hoping she would catch me.  By the way, her name is Claudetta.

I was in college at the time, the weeks seemed to last a lifetime before I could get home to see her. We weren't going steady at the time so she was free to date anyone she wanted, I had no claim on her.  I remember one time calling her to let her know that I was home for the week-end and if she would like to go out with me.  I heard her shout to someone, "I can't go out with you, Aaron's home".  Music to my ears, maybe she was going to catch me yet.  We had a great time dating for awhile and I asked her to marry me.

July 16, 1960 we were united in marriage. Fifty-one years later, we are still married.  Being a minister, I have the opportunity to counsel young people before I preform a ceremony.  I often-times ask if they would like my secret of a long marriage.  Of course they would, I then look the guy right in the eye and say, "Shut up and do as you're told"  Of course, I am joking!  then I explain the reason marriages don't last this long in most cases.

The real secret is committment!  If we remember the words of most ceremonies, they begin with and announcement of uniting in the presence of God.  I believe that my marriage and all marriages should be founded on God's principle and with His blessing.  Then the officiating person (minioster, JP, etc.) will ask if we take each other to be our spouse.  This means do we, on our own accord purpose to be together as husband and wife, to which we said, "We do".

The most serious part is the vows we make to each other.  The vow is something like this, - - -

I take you to be my husband/wife to be my spouse.  To have and to hold, this means that we give ourselves to each other.  We no longer just consider ourselves as individuals but also have to consider the needs and want of the other.  To love and cherish, this is a serious statement.  Love is a word thrown around, sometimes carelessly.  We love so many things and then throw them away.  Love and cherish should denote our affection toward this other person above any-other being or thing.  We would give our lives for them.  Til death do us part, this is really the serious part.  This is the commitment that has kept us together for fifty-one years.  Divorce is not in our vocabulary.

Here, I can only speak for myself, but Claudetta has demonstrated to me, she feels the same.  There is nothing she can do to cause me to divorce her.  I want you to know, (I am sure this will be a surprise to those that know me) I can be hard to live with.  There have been many trying days for the both of us.  Sometimes we would feel like, what's the use.  But our love was commited!  sometimes fast, sometimes  There have been good times and bad times!  We laughed, we cried, we spoke softly and tenderly, we shouted and fought, but we were commited.

We have been blessed with six children (one girl died before her first birthday), fifteen grand children, and six great grandchildren.  It has been a great life, all in all.  It seems as though the years have flown by, (although it probably seems longer to Claudetta). 

Stay commited!  I would recommend it to everyone.

The further we get from the Cross, the further we get from the Cross

In the book of Matthew, Peter followed Jesus at a distance, after the arrest in the garden.  Notice, Peter has not abandoned the Lord.  He was just distancing himself.  Not the courageous Peter that claimed he would stay unto the death.  Peter was not denining Christ, he just wasn't confirming his relationship. 

Understand that Peter had been in the presense of the Lord for three years.  He had seen many of the miricles performed.  He saw Jesus still the waters.  He saw Him have power over the elements, demons, etc.  Peter knew above all others the power of Jesus, but yet here we see him following afar off.  Probably, he was afraid of public opinion, afraid of the ridicule of others.

Reminds me of a story I once heard of a young man that wanted to go to Oregon to be a lumberjack.  His mother tried to discourage him.  She told him that these men were rough and would make fun of him because of him being a christian.  The boy really had his heart on becoming a lumberjack.  He left one day to fulfill his dream.  It was several years later when he returned home to visit his folks, his mother asked how he faired being a christian in such an environment.  He responded, "They never found out.".  That was where Peter was, he didn't deny, just didn't tell.

He distanced himself.

A few verses later, we see him in a crowd around a campfire.  A young lady said that he was one of the followers of Jesus.  He denied saying, "no I'm not".  Again, another said he was, again he denied "NO I AM NOT".  The third time he began to curse saying he was not one of them!  That stopped the accusations.  If you want to convince people you are not a christian, just start cursing and using foul language.  That will do it.

This is a picture of where we are today.  Not only are we two thousand years away from the cross, where we have forgotten the significance of the cross, we are afar off spiritually.  We get further away by several ways.  Three of which are: 

1..  We quit praying.  When we don't have communication with someone we kind of lose connection.
2.   We quit attending church.  We no longer have the support of like minded brothers and sisters.
3.   We begin to act like the non-followers.  Our lives become worldly.
(This is not necessarily the order in which we wander away for the cross)

In short we become like the Israelites in the book of Judges,  We forget who God is and what He has done.  We begin to do that which is right in our own sight instead of what is right in the sight of God.  We have gotten away from the Cross.  The further we get spiritually, and distance, the further we get from the truth of the cross.

Casey Anthony

Let me start with a story.

The pastor of a local church went down town for some supplies one evening.  The only parking spot to be found was in front of the main street bar.  He drove around several times, but this was the only one available at the time.  There he parked his car and walked down the street for his supplies.  While he was in the store, all the other cars left.  This left his car all alone in front of the bar.

One of his ladies of the church drove by and noticed his car in front of the bar.  Of course, she couln't wait to get on the phone and let everyone know where their pastor was spending his evening.  She knew this is where he was because his car was all alone parked in front of the bar.  What other conclusion could there be!

The pastor heard the stories and tried to convince her of the circumstance, to no avail.  One night, late, he drove over to her house, parked his car in front of the house and went home.  He left the car there all night.

The above is a case of circumstanial evidence.  The twelve people on the jury for Casey Andrews undoubtly could not see the guilty verdict without reasonable doubt.  Therefore the voted Not Guilty. 

It is easy for us to sit in judgement of others for the way they see differently than us.  We need to remember that they saw and heard things we did not.  I am sure that in their minds, they saw her guilty, but had to follow the evidence presented and that did not prove without a reasonable doubt, her guilt.

I am not saying she is or she is not guilty!  Just saying the court did its job, now lets move on!