For the Heart that’s breaking….

Well, it doesn’t take a whole lot of wisdom to realize men and women will fail us. As things work in the world, it is usually when we most need them to be there for us. Regardless of what this mixed up culture wants you to believe, the world is full of self centered, self proclaiming and self deifying people. The culture is stuck in a circular breathing pattern that will eventually suffocate society as we know it. We as a people are so caught up in the mindset of self gratification – at all cost, that we don’t have an inkling of an idea of proper social grace or a genuine sense of community. We can’t get past ourselves or get over ourselves long enough to see the person standing right next to us, let alone our spouses and children.

All of this self indulgence in what I want has created several generations of socially, emotionally and Spiritually lost people. The damage to our soul is so deep that we no longer believe there is a soul to connect to anything beyond the personal experience of our existence. We have elevated man to the heights of deity, there is no other higher power – we are it! So relationships, emotional and spiritual needs are relative to the thought process and circumstances of the moment. The alcohol abuse, drug abuse, sex abuse, child abuse, and a whole host of abuses that we don’t even want to get our minds around are not the symptoms.  It is the results of power hungry people, shoving the people’s rights in our faces until we have become bloated on the sins of the intellectual elite, its all about me and what I can get or take.

The world is FULL of hurting and dying people! The mass media has so seared our senses with these haunting images, talking heads and opinion writers that we gaze at the spectacle with indifference. The sin of it all has mutated our judgment to the point that we have begun to believe the lies, and embellish them with every conceivable vice imaginable to man and non man. Yes, I said it. The demons delight in this world spinning out of control. No longer do the Godly have enough influence in the culture to have a positive impact on its direction. Correction is no longer an option; plead with as many as we can on the way out…  God has turned us over as a nation and a world to the lusts and desires of our own hearts.

However; for that Heart that is breaking, there is still HOPE. Yes, General, in this case HOPE is a method. The intellectual elite have deduced Faith to “comfort for those with an intellectual deficit”. However; the time is fast approaching when those that still believe in the Creator and His True Headship to this world will be revealed from the Spiritual world to the physical world of this Day. For the broken hearted there is Comfort. To the broken hearted there can be peace, and love that filters through every tissue in your body to the very core of your soul. HE IS REAL! God loves every human that ever walked this earth, past – present – and future. This world didn’t happen by chance, it was created by a being that wanted fellowship, companionship, and unconditional love. God created the heavens and the earth for His and our pleasure. Man walked with God in the cool of the evening, living in freedom and peace with only one rule to obey, only one in all creation.

Through the manipulation of a fallen angel, man was deceived and convinced to sin against God, disregarding the one rule that God put before us. This decisive and disobedient act, cause God pain, and forced Him to exercise Judgment and Punitive Action against man. The events from then leading to this present day are the consequences of that action some 7000 years ago. However; don’t be disheartened, God through His Great Love for us provided a way. He created in His Son, a perfect unblemished sacrifice to pay the penalty of our sin. Jesus Christ through His total Obedience to His Father came to the earth to teach us how to live a life that would be right with God. He taught us what attitudes we should have upon taking up our Spiritual Cross and following Christ’s footsteps. At just 33 years of age, He was sold for 30 pieces of silver to a corrupt government at that time by a betraying “friend” – and He was crucified as a completely innocent man. Guilty of NO law, no offense, of no sin – totally and completely blameless. HE Died for you and HE Died for me… Paying a price for prison ransom that we on our own are incapable of paying… Broken hearted, here is your Joy, here is your Peace, and here is your redemption, to be ushered in to an Unconditional Love that starts at the foot of that old Cross.

Jesus Christ is the True and Only son of the True and Living God, and Christ left us with a very important message… There are not many ways to Heaven… There are NO prophets that can pave your way to the afterlife. Jesus Christ said “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; NO MAN cometh unto the Father, but by ME”… The apostle of Jesus Christ, Paul wrote that “there are none righteous, no, not one”. He also wrote that “all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God”. These two statements qualify the human, for standing before God on our own we all fall short, and are without excuse. Paul also tells us that “the wages of sin is death”, death, separation from God and our loved ones, banished to Hell, a very real, a very painful and a very dark place.

To the broken hearted; I bring you a message of Great Joy… In the Gospel of John, he very eloquently offers us this message. “For God so Loved this world, that He gave His only begotten SON. That whoever believes in Him, Shall NOT Perish, but will have ever lasting life.” For God sent not His Son, into this world to Condemn it, but that through Him and His work on the Cross, this world might be saved! Might you be saved today? Might you see the error of this world and the path that we are on? If you simply acknowledge Him for Who He Is by the Power God gave to Him to be – Lord over all. Upon accepting His gift of Salvation through His redemptive work on the Cross bowing the knee and heart and declaring Him as your own.  You too can have the Joy of knowing Christ will carry your name to the Father.  He will wrap you in His righteousness until that day in which all in Christ will be transformed just as He did.  He put an end to death upon raising up from the depths of that grave.  We shall then cast off these wicked fleshly bodies and forever more walk in the new glorified body with Christ. Yes broken hearted there is One that will Love you unconditionally, that will walk with you your remaining days on this earth, offering comfort, strength and a real relationship. He will never walk away, and He will teach your heart to Truly Love!

I) God Spoke To Joshua

The Expository Book Study of Joshua

Joshua 1 Verses 1 through 9                    I) God Spoke To Joshua
Week #1 26 May 2010                              Week 22 of Teaching Ministry

1Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, 2Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. 3Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. 4From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. 5There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. 6Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. 7Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest. 8This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 9Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

What an awesome experience it must have been for Joshua. God, The Great I Am, had spoke to Moses in the past, but now here He is speaking to Joshua! This was God’s new man for the job of delivering His people safely home into the “Promised Land”. The Generation of doubters and malfeasants had now passed, God’s people purged of those involved in the heathen acts of idolatry. It was now time for God’s people to move, and take what He had given them through the Promises spoken to Moses. Joshua himself had come of Spiritual Age, to lead in such a way that would be pleasing to God. An inheritance was about to be passed on, and claimed!

In his opening paragraph of his Commentary on the book of Joshua, Harold A. Ironside stated that “the book of Joshua is distinctly the book of the inheritance”. He went on to say that “Joshua links very intimately with the Epistle to the Ephesians in the New Testament”. We will further investigate that comparison further on down the road.

Let’s step back for a second…

Can anyone tell me the meaning of the name Joshua?

(Jehovah the Savior / or / Jehovah our Salvation /or/ “Yahweh Saves”)

1) As we open this Book of Joshua, we see the Divinely appointed Leader of God. His mission, to Lead or Pilot God’s chosen people out of the wilderness. His name, Joshua, the model or “old testament type of Jesus”, that God wanted to fill His purpose. Moses led the people to the very outermost boundaries of the Promised Land, but it was Joshua that took up where Moses left off.

2) Before we enter the study of Joshua, we must first understand the impact of these two people on us today. Thirty-six times in the Old Testament Moses is called “servant of the LORD.” He was servant in the sense of being totally loyal and obedient (with but one exception, Num. 20:10-13) to God’s commands. But the title was an honorable one; a “servant of the LORD” was a privileged person who could look to the Lord for protection, and who on occasion had a direct hearing of a divine message. GOD – Literally spoke to Moses.

 

3) Now, while the Relationship Moses had with God was not the same as the physical sight & manifested contact that the 1st Adam had with God in the garden, it was indeed none the less a relationship. Moses loved God, feared God and honored God. God also Loved Moses, once again calling him “My Servant”.

4) The scriptures tell us that God commanded Moses to climb Mount Nebo, where He (God) showed Moses the Land to which He promised His people.

5) We are told that Moses died there on that mount and that GOD buried him. God buried His servant; God loved this man, and in spite of his failure with the water at Meribah (Num. 20:10-13) – GOD Buried Moses. A symbol to us today of the importance of our faithfulness, the importance of obedience and the importance of devotion. That even though we travel in this flesh – GOD Loves us, He provides to us Mercy and Grace to cover our failures in His Son’s redemptive work at the Cross.

6) God said to Joshua, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel… Verses two & three obviously call Joshua into action, to get up and move out in military terms. Commanding him to get his troops formed up and all their belongings and head over the Jordon. However; if read too quickly and mechanically you may miss an important statement implying Authority, Ownership and Validation of Genesis 1. “Unto the land which I DO GIVE to them”. This statement implies that I YOUR GOD, have the Authority to carry out this transaction. That I YOUR GOD have current deed and title to this land and all that is. And finally, it validates the creation story by the previous statements. GOD gave this land to the nation of Israel. To that point, every place that the sole of their foot shall tread upon was theirs. Then at the end of verse three, He – Almighty God verifies and secures the promise He made to Moses. He spoke these words to Joshua, how reassuring it must have been for Joshua. I wonder if he (Joshua) contemplated the magnitude of the event at that time, or if he just stood in awe? God has fulfilled His Promise, sealed by His Word – the Truth of Life.

Manifested before their eyes, the Land they had dreamed of for many years. In verses 3 and 4, God lays out the real estate, giving Joshua the boundaries and borders of this new promise land.

7) In verse 5 God tells Joshua that “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee”. God was saying to Joshua that NO Man from these other areas will stand in their way. That victory or conquest would be certain and somewhat easy if they keep their focus on God. When we go with God, He assumes all the risk, He shoulders the responsibility of Success, His Promises and Word are at stake. Once again, all He asks or commands is our Fear, Respect, Reverence, Praise and Obedience. He told Joshua, that just as He was with Moses, He would be with him, that God would not fail him, nor forsake Him.

a. Faith requires a level of submission that does not come easy. For wrapped in our faith, we must embolden our Trust in the unseen, unheard being of GOD. 1st – Trusting His written word to be True and Valid, literally breathed by our Heavenly Fathers own words to the humans holding the pen.

b. Faith requires a spiritually healthy level of Fear, Respect and Reverence for the Creator, while in awe of His power and wisdom revealed to us in all His creation.

c. Faith requires a level of reliance upon establishing and proving our Trust, we must move to rely on His ability to provide victories in the battles that we face every day.

d. Then our Faith should produce a heart of Thanksgiving, Praise and Obedience to the Father. That Obedience produces the Joy in our Father that He Blesses us then with Victories to vast to mention.

8) Verse 6 is awesome for those that love to study the Bible, because the King James version or interpretation of the original Hebrew text is quite intriguing. God told Joshua to be “strong and of good courage” which must have been so encouraging to Joshua. The God of the Universe was showing him, you have all this as your inheritance, this land my people will divide amongst themselves. Then the neat part, look at the tense in “which I sware unto their fathers to give them”. The King James says “sware” current tense that God sees time all in the same frame, which in itself is so deep we could park there for a night or two.

BUT, I would rather believe that GOD made his promise at that moment in time while speaking with Joshua. At that point in eternity present GOD made His promise known and concrete to the fathers of Israel. For their Faith had sealed their salvation in Christ’s Blood yet to be spilt. It is so wonderful, so delightful to study this concept in the light of the knowledge that God has given us through His word. The fathers of Israel heard God’s promise to deliver, the promise land. His promise of the Messiah yet to appear in eternity future was already known to God – as we have been told so many times, in God’s time and will.

To all those men that stood in Faith and Service to and with GOD. That at that very moment He rewarded their faith and obedience with the Promised Land. Verse six gives us a glimpse of the immensity and timeless state of Eternity from God’s perspective. All the while showing us the reward of Faithful Service, and Obedient Living… Praise God.

9) Verse seven we see God’s conditions of Israel’s acceptance of the Promised Land. God is saying here that total victory depended on FIRM and CONSTANT Obedience by Joshua and the people, to all the Laws of God. ***(For in God’s Economy of Time – Christ’s work on the cross had already been completed – Faith would save these people for the Spotless Permanent Lamb had already been slain in Eternity Future. Remember, from God’s perspective reality is Timeless)*** Notice that once again, God refers to Moses MY Servant, and the Laws that Moses delivered unto the people of Israel. One thing to remember here – Joshua and the people were to stand strong in GOD’s strength, God’s Power through His Word. He set the tone, and exhorted them that it would take a greater strength of character to obey His Word faithfully, than it would be to win battles on the battlefield.

10) GOD Cannot Fail! His Word is the Only Truth! Verse eight informed Joshua that the law shall not depart from his mouth or his mind / memory. That Joshua and the people are to Meditate on it Day and Night!!!

They were to learn the Law so that it would become 2nd nature to them. It would be only then that they would become prosperous and have success in their battles and endeavors. This too is a model for today. For it is only when we read God’s Word, hide it in our hearts, and live in it each day that we can fully understand and successfully live our lives in Christ. As I am teaching our teens every week for the last nine weeks – YIELD and SURRENDER! Read and Learn His Word.

11) Our final verse for tonight’s Study, verse nine, God questions Joshua. “Haven’t I commanded you?” “Have I not encouraged you and instructed you to be Strong and of Good Courage?” “Have I not said to thee, Be NOT Afraid, and don’t be dismayed?” He said again, Joshua – “I AM THE LORD thy GOD, and I am with you where ever you go.”

I don’t have time to unpack all of this tonight, but these words of encouragement and command to Joshua also apply to our lives here today in June of 2010. He is our God, and He does go with us – we must have Faith and must not Fear the world. We must stand in courage and be strong to the end – in His Strength. God does not condone any actions we take on our own apart from Him. He doesn’t understand when we choose our own way over His. He does not accept any service where we seek our own reward. He is God, and He carries His own reward, we must learn!!!! This is not for the faint at heart, for as we learn our Responsibility and Accountability increase. Hence the “fear and trembling”, for when we truly understand the magnitude of the responsibility we have for the Truth we hide in our heart – it is indeed humbling. We are first responsible to God for the knowledge He allows us to have. We then have a responsibility to our Christian Brothers and Sisters, and we have a responsibility to those around us that do not know Christ.

We must learn and understand that it is not brainless to blindly follow the will of God when our intellect cannot discern His way. He is God. Not too long ago I heard Alistair Begg make statement concerning a quote that he had heard. “You know you have heard it said that God Said It, I Believe It, and that Settles It For Me! Well folks, I must tell you tonight, that I must disagree! For I believe God Said It and that Settles It period, I don’t care if you agree!” We as a corporate church in this world and this country have lost our direction of UP!!! God is to be revered, He is to be feared, He is to be Loved!!! He is God and I am not, therefore as His Creation He is my Father, and I will obey out of Fear and Love for the Father. Praising Him all the time for giving me Christ, who painfully and bloodily paid the price for my sin. He said it – that settles it. I am lost without Him, and with Him and In Him I am His joint heir in the Fathers Gifts and Blessings. When God Speaks – WE SHOULD LISTEN!!! Praise God, Amen.

Keep Going!

If You Love Jesus Christ

KEEP GOING!

Walk In The Spirit, Not The Flesh!

Be Busy About His Work...

His Return Is Drawing Near - Be Ready!

A Heart Of Thanks For The Many Blessings

Good Morning Dear Ones,

Your humbled servant has been in Church Leadership off and on for the last 12 years. The Lord has provided many blessings over the years, and had opened the eyes of this man many times to error in my walk and methods. He, Christ gets all the Glory and all the Praise for any and all blessings received through this ministry.

This past week, a dear brother in Christ accompanied this ole' soul to Parkside Church in Chagrin Falls, Ohio for a Pastor's Conference. Oh my goodness, what a blessing this event was. God's Spirit was with this event, the Preaching and Teaching was absolutely wonderful. The Basics Conference took us back to the basics of Christianity. The underpinning of our Faith - Jesus Christ Taught, Lived and Shared.

This week's posting is simply to Thank the Lord for the opportunity, and the folks at Parkside Church for their sacrifice and efforts in making this Pastor's Conference a wonderful success. God and His Son Jesus Christ were surely Exhalted, Praised and Glorified by 1,300+ men.

Praise God from whom All Blessings Flow!

RC

A Mother's Day Tribute...

A Mother's Day Tribute to the Women in My Life!

Slices from the manuscript... The book that can't seem to find it's way to completion

My Grand-mother Hall taught me boldness, she was a tiny lady physically, but she was a giant spiritually. She would share the gospel on the street with anyone willing to listen; in the 1960’s you could do that without being sent to the funny farm.

Grandmother Hall could not have survived in this politically correct world we live in today. She and my Grand-dad taught me to pray, the secret and love of hiding His word in my heart. How I loved to hear her sing, she exemplified the Joy of Christ in the heart of a Christian. It didn’t matter if we were pulling weeds in the garden, washing dishes, cleaning the house or cooking dinner, she was always singing with that sweet elderly vibrato. It was awesome, what I wouldn’t do to hear those songs again.

She loved to smile, share and serve – and probably one of the most humble people I have ever known. Grandmother Hall had a large spirit; she exemplified the clay pot, overflowing with the Holy Spirit. She loved her family and prayed for each one by name every day. Oh, how I miss the power and strength that those prayers provided us. We as a family were better, and we experienced God’s blessings deeper and were more fulfilled because of her faithful and unending prayers. When I think of prayer warriors, Grandmother Hall is right at the top of the list. She was a tiny but yet strong women on her knees before her Lord.

Grand-ma Tormey was my personal prayer warrior, because she prayed me through to salvation. God blessed that devotion and prayer by allowing her to see her grandson come to the saving knowledge of Christ in her church one Sunday night. She prayed me through, while I know I was in all my grandparents daily prayers, it was grandma Tormey that held my hand through church services to keep me from doodling. She would kindly and gently encourage me to listen, and pay attention to what was being said. She and Grand-dad sat behind me as I prayed the sinner’s prayer, and my eyes were opened. The night I accepted Christ, she called me into her room at bedtime. She had tears in her eyes, and said “boy – I’ve been praying for this for many years, praise the Lord one has come home, now let’s pray for the rest.”

Grand-ma served faithfully in the church as head of the Woman’s Prayer Group. They raised money to provide Bibles for folks and sent all kinds of care packages to the missionaries supported by their church.

One Thanksgiving we were having a nice meal at Grand-ma and Grand-dad Tormey’s house. All the aunts, uncles and cousins were present. The guys were out on the back porch swinging on the swing and sitting around just talking and having a good time. The weather was kind of damp and drizzly and a tad bit chilly. We were all sort of talking, and I don’t know when the stranger actually appeared, but there was a genuine hard luck hobo staring us in the face standing at the top of the steps. My dad (former Marine and Police Chief) was getting ready to escort him out and Grand-ma stopped him. She said just wait a minute, I’ll be right out. She then went inside and prepared this humble older gentleman a plate fit for a king. Brought it out onto the porch and had one of us kids get up out of the lawn chair we were in so that he could set down and have his Thanksgiving dinner.

The power of that one little kind deed left a lasting impression on quite a few of us that day. She exercised her faith and obedience to Christ in front of the whole family – what a powerful testimony that was.

Mother, oh Mother – I love you so much, you have become a sweet spot in my heart. I have watched your tender heart grow, and love to watch you with your great-grand babies. You have become a bit of a confidant for me, which has been kind of neat itself. Your lessons of the early year have stuck with me, and I do remember the heart aches, the tears and the frustration. Most of all I remember you exercising commitment, and faith and trying to get us to church on Sundays.

When I think of all the times you sacrificed for us kids to the point of missing meals while we ate; my eyes well up in tears. You were always there for me, and I was too proud to see it – or want it. I know the reasons for your former tough shell; no one can say that shell was un-warranted. God has helped you overcome, and your heart has become so tender and I see a twinkle in your eye that I don’t remember ever seeing before. I live to see you smile, to have your hand touch my cheek with tenderness and occasionally a warm embrace that only a loving Mother knows.

I have heard it said; that next to the Lord, a Mother knows her son’s heart best. I hope you see His heart in mine Mother, and if you do – look a little harder and you will see your “Daddy’s” heart too. He helped mold me into the man I have become, while he walked the earth, as well as now living in his memory. I loved him so, so much, and I miss him beyond words, but I know he is with his Savior, and the physical pain is gone. I am spiritually proud to be Robert Tormey and John Hall’s grandson, I humbly stand on their shoulders, and I take their torch and carry it boldly to run my race. I pray that I can only run the race as hard, as long and as spiritually centered as they did.

On a slightly lighter note, please forgive the little guilt trip I tried to force on you those many years ago concerning our home in the country when it was time to move. I now know and understand that too was God’s will in as He provided the catalyst to start things in motion to meet my wife and eventually my Boss and my Pastor, His ways are not always understood.

Mother, I truly thank you for your undying love and all the forgiveness that you have exercised over the years. Thank you for the endless prayers wishes and hopes. I don’t know that I can live up to them all, but you must know if I can – I will! Your labors of love do not go unnoticed, and if I miss one or two, I pray that Christ will give you reward with extra hugs when that time comes for you to see Him.

My little Sister Vickie, when she was still in diapers I fathered over her like she was my own. There is seven years difference between us, and she lets me know that once in awhile just to keep me humble. She was the apple of her daddy’s eye and her big brother’s too.

She has had to make quite a few adjustments in her life time. She was going through a rough marriage situation quite a few years back. The choice she was making didn’t sit well with me, and I made the mistake of complaining about it to my Grand-dad Hall, which I wrote about earlier. He used that situation to teach me in very real terms what Christ meant when he commanded us to love our neighbors, our brothers and yes our sisters unconditionally.

She is married to fine gentlemen that has built his own business, they live in the mountains of central PA; they are doing well and I am equally as proud of her and her husband. She has two boys and two girls. As Grand-dad Tormey called her – “the lemon squeezer”, a term of endearment, of fondness and love that only we will probably ever understand. She is still her oldest brother’s precious baby sister. Love yah Bink!

My Sister in Laws Kate and Patti are a blessing from the Lord, both hold a special place in my heart.

My Brother David, Colonel in the USMC married a wonderful girl, Kate, after he graduated from VMI back in the early 80’s. Kate is the perfect Officer’s Wife; she is loving, supportive, protective and is just a real sweetheart. Kate and David have a great son, John Tyler. He is a great kid, talented and intellectual he plays guitar. Kate has always show love, respect and honor for her family and I have both love and respect for her.

My Brother Chris, has brought Patti into our lives, she is a sweet heart, a real keep Chris! Patti is one of those girls that you just love her from the first time you meet her. She is so kind, supportive and helpful with our parents. She brings organization, laughter and balance to Brother Chris; of course, he still lives in the macho error, so he would not admit that to anyone. Patti has adopted Chris’ grand kids as her own, which is wonderful to watch. Chris has one Son, Chris Allen, who has blessed Chris with two grand children. Patti has been a wonderful influence on Chris’ life, and to watch Chris with his grand-babies is a wonderful tender site.

My Daughter Renea’, I stand amazed before Almighty God at the power of Love for a child. This girl from the day she took her first breath has held her Daddy’s heart in her hand. I have been her champion since the very first day. She was supposed to be my first boy, but God had other plans. I was an active duty Marine at the time she was born, being an NCO living off base I had to get up every morning at O-Dark Thirty. Renea’ made very sure that I went in Red Eyed… Yes, our dear sweet new baby was a tad bit colicky. Thru her life she has provided plenty of drama and excitement, none of which I would trade for a split second.

She fell in Love with a young man, and married him; I proudly call him my 3rd son. Shawn is a good God fearing man, and far enough right of center that we have plenty to talk about when he is around. He and Renea’ then blessed us with wonderful Red Head Grand Children, beautiful kids… My Renea’ has a true Mother’s heart, she loves and adores her children, and she sacrifices for them and nurtures them. While I would love to see her put more trust in God, her worrying about the children is stress she need not carry. She still is Daddy’s little girl, and I am very proud of her and where she is at in life. Renea’ has a heart for children, they have served in the Church in the Awana program, but sick children have pulled them away from that full time service this past year.

My Son’s both blessed me with Daughter in Laws Betsy and Michaela.

My oldest Son Joshua married Betsy; she is a sweet, beautiful blonde who is aspiring to be a nurse. Betsy and Josh have given us two beautiful grand kids, a little girl and a little boy. They are precious, and it is fun watching my Son develop parenting skills, I think they are finding that books and advice do not always address the reality of the “strong willed child”. Betsy keeps a very clean house, and she is a working mom out of the home as well as going to school full time. She and her husband get their kids to Church nearly every Sunday. For now, that’s all a Father can ask, Spiritual maturity will come, so I am a very happy Father looking over these two. Betsy and Josh are a lot alike, which is fun to watch sometimes, they would be great in a children’s ministry in church. Hopefully they will figure that out.

My youngest Son John married Michaela, when I first met Mikey (Mike ee) I fell in love with her heart. She has such great capacity to love, and she showed so much love for my Son. With some on / off time prior to getting married, I think she lost some confidence, but that will come with time. She is a sweet heart, and they are newlyweds, so things will fall into place and she will make him a good wife. They too are in Church nearly every Sunday, which with time God’s word will saturate their hearts and He will begin to become more important in their lives. Mikey is a phlebotomist, and she has a real heart for people, a tender heart at that. It is my prayer that God will grab her heart and use her in ministry somewhere; she truly has the heart for it.


These women have all had an impact or influence in my life. I thank my Dear Lord for each and every one of them. It is my sincere prayer that He will Bless those that call Him LORD, and that He will call unto Himself those that don't yet know Him as Lord.

God Bless and Happy Mother's Day Ladies,

My Prayer This Evening...

Dear Precious Lord,

...grant me the wisdom & heart needed to exercise meekness in the face of those that would persecute for defending the Faith.   Father, Please forgive those brothers and sisters in Christ's Name, that bear little or no fruit of the Spirit that they claim lives within them...   Then Father, Teach me to yield and surrender to YOU only, while giving me strength to show no compromise to the world.  Teach me Father to stand with a humbled heart in YOUR service, and let me claim the desire to say "here am I Lord, send / use me".  I Love You Dear Lord Jesus, and I pray to the Father tonight in your Precious Name...

Amen.

Words to Encourage?

I have been told that I am too “black & white”… I have been told that I am too old fashion… I have even been told that I have it all wrong; God wouldn’t destroy a world full of people that are basically good…

What? This world has morally digressed through history, because we learn nothing from our mistakes… We just find ways to more creatively window dress that which is wrong, immoral and yes evil. Satan is alive and well, deceiving all that harkens to the call for fleshly pleasures.

The word of encouragement for my friends and brothers and sisters in Christ is… Let not your hearts be troubled, Christ will arrive soon, He carries with Him eternal peace for those that “know Him as Lord”. But be not fooled world, our brief exit from your lives will set into motion a series of events that will bring with it His Great Judgment that will soon follow.

The Words of Encouragement this morning… There is still time to willingly bend your knee, bow your head and heart and name Jesus Christ as your Savior, Lord and King… For when He comes back and touches foot on this earth again, it will be to bring Judgment and Restore Order. At which time it will be too late to willingly acknowledge Him, you will then be forced to bend that knee and bow that head and see Him as King and Judge.

It’s not too late – yet…

Amazing Grace... Do You Live It?

Ephesians 1 Verses 4, 5 & 6

4 - According as HE hath chosen us in HIM before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before HIM in love:

5 - Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of HIS will,

6 - To the praise of the glory of HIS grace, wherein HE hath made us accepted in the beloved.

In verse 4 Paul clearly states that HE (God) hath Chosen us – before the foundation of the world, that through HIM (Christ) we should be HOLY and without blame before HIM (God). Think about this for a second, let me make just this small leap… Paul is showing us the mind and heart of a Father that wants to adopt wayward children.

Verse 5 then states that GOD has predestined us for the adoption through His Son Jesus Christ, according to the GOOD PLEASURE of HIS Will. God knew us and wanted us before we knew Him, furthermore; His Son had already accepted the way of payment for the adoption before the world had form.

In verse 6 we see that His plan was to point out to us and all creation the absolute amazing Glory of His GRACE. That wrapped in the midst of that Amazing Grace, He (GOD) finds us accepted and loved… Accepted and Loved…

We abide in and enjoy the Amazing Grace of God, to both His delight and ours. Yet we sometimes forget that Amazing Grace when dealing with our Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Worse yet, we sometimes forget that Amazing Grace when we deal with the world outside the four walls or our church.

HE Loved Us First, HE showed Mercy by not sending us to the damnation we rightfully deserved. He sent HIS Son to us, to show us a perfect example of LOVE, SERVICE and SACRIFICE. Then in the perfection of His timing He had His Son pay the price for us to open the age of Grace.

He Loved us first, and then taught us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. He told us to remember that we are not our own, that we were paid with a price. That as we lived the lives that He so Graciously gave us, that we should remember we are not of this world – we are now of His world. He told us that we should not participate in the things of this world, but, provide flavor to the world to attract the world to HIM. His Grace abounds, He fills our very souls with Grace through His Holy Spirit. We need only to remember that fact and then act on it every day.

So this week, show some of that Amazing Grace to the people you come in contact with. Walk in the Grace of God, and let His Dear Son shine through your eyes, through your words and through your actions and interactions with the people HE puts on your path… Love them before they know you, show them HIS Grace, seasoning the moment with His flavor, so that when you part company – they think about what or who they just encountered. Our testimony should be silently pointing all the time to His Amazing Grace. Then, when HE chooses to open the door of opportunity, we should be prepared and ready to point to His Amazing Son, our precious Jesus, sharing the Grace of God.

By the way, the next time we sing “Amazing Grace” let the Holy Spirit sing it out in our Hearts and Glorify God – that’s what we are here for. Sing it in Praises to Almighty God and His Wonderful Amazing Grace.

JOY & PEACE?

Philippians 4: Verses 4 through 9

(King James Version)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 

9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Those THINGS, which we have Learned!

Those THINGS, which we have Received!

Those THINGS, which we have Heard!

DO THEM - PRACTICE THEM!

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

We allow our Christian lives to become Frail and Infirmed Spiritually, because we choose to follow our own desires and not that of Christ. Paul nailed it solid when he wrote to the Church in Philippi, he knew where Christian Joy flows from. He spoke the TRUTH when he stated that “the peace of God ~ shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ”.

God’s peace and God’s joy can ONLY FLOW from the inside out! Those things that you have learned Spiritually, those things that you have received Spiritually, and those Truths that you have heard – DO. Paul coached us here, he is basically saying, come on folks, take these Spiritual blessings and DO God’s will with them. Practice what you SAY you believe. Share that which you have an abundance of – CHRIST!

As a Church - do we both collectively and individually Speak Jesus? Teach Jesus? Live Jesus? Share Jesus?

If we don’t – if our practice is not consistent – neither will our Joy or our Peace! Oh, we can put on a good front for Sunday Mornings – but it is not sustainable! For without total and complete surrender to Christ’s Lordship, we can’t live in His will and know His Joy!

In verse 5, Paul said “Let your moderation be known unto all men”. The New King James interpretation of verse 5 says “Let your gentleness be known to all men”. That gentleness can only flow from the Spirit from within. That Spirit from within can only flow to the outside when we yield to HIM. Upon yielding to Him, we are to share with all men, how can it be known if it is not shared or spoken?

Then – finally Verse 8, where in our life times we have heard so many messages launch from. TRUTH, HONESTY, JUST, PURETY, LOVELY & GOOD REPORT, THINGS OF VIRTUE – THESE THINGS WE MUST THINK ON.

In Matthew 5 – Christ taught us what Christian Attitudes should be. In Galatians 5, Paul warned us of the unclean heart, and then showed us what the Fruit of the Spirit should be. Here in Philippians 4, Paul tells us what the results of walking in the Spirit should manifest in us; and how we should discipline our minds and hearts to seek Spiritual Joy and Peace in our lives.

I know we can all quote John 14:6; Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

I am sure we can also quote Romans 10:17; So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

Now we must take the quotes we hold in our hearts and live them every day, practice them every day and share them whenever Christ opens the door!

If you want to fill your heart with Joy, if you want to know the Peace of God, then practice what you have been taught. Paul said Faith comes through hearing the word of God. Christ said He is the only way to God. So then; for our neighbors and coworkers to come to Faith in Christ for salvation. They must hear the word of God, they must see Christ in you, recognize their loss and inability to get to God on their own and turn to Jesus. They must SEE and HEAR Jesus in You, and that can’t happen until you yield to Christ, only then can you claim His Joy and Peace.

A wonderful Christian Saint and Scholar that I loved and admired once told me, “Christianity is not a feeling that we hold inside, it’s a way of life and the only reality for those that believe". He also said, "Christ isn’t just a man to study – He is The Truth and Factual center of all that is!” My goodness Grand-Dad how the Church has changed! We hear and speak our Blessed Jesus on Sunday, and wing it with the world all the rest of the week. Is it any wonder that God has turned us to our own hearts desires and lusts of the flesh?

The Elect Sharing The Joy of Their Salvation

Colossians 3:9 ….…seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor un-circumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 12Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful….… We, the true believers in Christ, have been chosen by God… HE Loved us first, enough to part company with HIS son at the point of agony while Christ held the Sin of the World on His shoulders on that old Cross. That moment of separation from HIS Father, was dreadful and agonizing for this dear precious LAMB. God through His Son’s finished work, allowed Mercy to flow freely through this old world, so that no man would have to bear the pain of Hell. Christ paved the way for Grace to fall upon mankind, opening the door to Salvation through accepting His Blood Sacrifice in our stead. As we looked at in depth last week, on Resurrection Morning, we were brought to remembrance of the accusations, cruel treatment and abuse and the final act of crucifixion. He bore it all, so that we who believe would abound in the Joy of the knowledge of His FINISHED work on that cross. That through the Comforter that He then sent to us, that we would abide in Him, as though He were still with us physically. As Dear Brother Dunkel and I recently discussed – “It’s ALL About the Relationship”. He is with us folks, it’s about we start letting people know it! Show the JOY of Christ to the World, Share the Gospel of Christ with someone this week. It’s the week after Easter, let’s not get back into the old routines – Let’s remember everyday – HE CHOSE US, let us now Choose to share the JOY of HIS GOSPEL with a neighbor or co-worker this week. Let the world see your Relationship with the Prince of Peace… Dear folks, put on the full armor of God, for His return draws near – we want to be busy in HIS work.

He Is Risen

He Is Risen

Matthew 28

1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door,[a] and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. 5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come; see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”

Three little words HE IS RISEN, hold the Power of God, and the hope of man. HE the True and Only Begotten SON of the Living God. IS – both past and present tense. RISEN, through the very power and will of God, this perfect lamb was raised from the Dead, the first fruits of that which is yet to come.

Here these words – HE IS RISEN and know beyond the shadow of a doubt that if you KNOW CHRIST, you too will be raised up. Praise God – both the Cross and the tomb are now empty, we serve a Risen Savior – that should put a smile on your face this Morning and Joy in your heart…

How Do You Treat Your Friend Jesus?

John 15 (New King James)

Verse 13: Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

Friend – The Web Dictionary Defines Friend this way:

1. A person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard.

2. A person who is on good terms with another; a person who is not hostile.

NOT HOSTILE – Hmm; we’ll come back to that…

Christ referred to His disciples on a few occasions as “friends”. They were an interesting lot, with the diverse makeup in both personality and profession; much like our Churches we sit in today.

He spent His entire ministry teaching how the Old Testament Law was a product of Love and Submission to the Father in this New Kingdom – The New Church. He gave us Spiritual outlines through the Beatitudes. He taught us how to pray. He showed us that while we dare not judge the heart of a man, we can watch for the fruit of the Spirit that lives within him.

He showed us the Love of a friend, when He sorrowed over his ill friend, and then briefly grieved for his dear friend Lazarus. In that was also a lesson, that while grieving is natural to the flesh, we should not be consumed by it – for those departed in Christ we will see shortly.

There are many, many lessons that Christ teaches us in the Gospel’s, the most important was His ultimate sacrifice for His friends. He paid the ultimate and final price needed to satisfy God’s demand for a Blood Sacrifice, to redeem the sinful lost. He took the sin debt of the entire world, opening the door for God’s Mercy – sparing those that would accept His payment from His Eternal Judgment. Intertwined with that Mercy was the Gift of God’s Grace and His Son’s Righteousness that we believers are now wrapped in. Because He calls us Friends, we stand joint Aires with Christ before the Throne of Almighty God, and Christ intercedes in communication to Father on our behalf.

Oh, and I didn’t forget about the Dictionary definition of “a person that is not hostile”. In James 4:4 the scripture boldly states “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with GOD? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of GOD”! An enemy would indicate a reality of hostility towards God if we hold the world too close to the breast. While we may convince ourselves that this is not the case from our perspective – in the end, it’s God’s point of view that will matter. Are you holding the line? How is your Spiritual Armor holding up? If you are a Friend of Christ, the Holy Spirit will keep you Patched up. If the battle gets tuff, take it to Lord in prayer… 

We are His, we were bought with a price, there are NO EXCUSES for not living a life pleasing to the Father thru the Son Jesus Christ... NO Exuses to betray our Friend in sin.

Does the World Know You?

This is a followup to last weeks message.....

1 John 3 (New King James)

Verse 1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. My Grandfather would say, LISTEN, do you understand this LOVE that the Father has bestowed on US? Do you realize what it cost HIM to save our miserable sinful souls? In understanding this manner of love, and our original sinful condition, you then see how amazing that it is that we should be called children of GOD! Unable to stand justified on our own before the Almighty and all Holy God, we stand as kin to Christ before the Father justified in His Beloved Son! But, don’t miss the second part of verse one. Therefore the world does NOT KNOW US, because it did NOT KNOW HIM! We are to love our neighbor (those of the world), care for them, help them and witness to them, just as Christ did and as He taught us to do. However; until the Lord thru His Spirit calls them, our ways will be foreign to those that do not believe. More important, their ways – should be foreign to us. By drawing ourselves closer to HIM, we will no longer be native to this world, no longer a true native of the U.S. For our true residence is now in Heaven with God’s Saints. The first part of verse 2 says: Beloved, now we are children of God… Yes sir, we ARE the children of God, let us show this community, our work places and neighborhoods that we are HIS Children, His People – set aside, justified and righteous thru His Son, Seeking HIS favor; not the worlds…

How Do They Know The Difference… (A Do-over of an old message)

How Do They Know The Difference… Are you making a difference in this world as a Christian? Does the world see a difference in your life, from the one they live? The Bible Teaches us that GOD IS HOLY, (Leviticus 11:45 For I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy) we are to Stride with Him to be Holy seeking Righteousness. God's power is beyond our comprehension, He knows every hair on my head, every cell in my body. While we may not be capable of comprehending the total awesomeness and Power of God, we should be humbled and fearful in the knowledge of Him that we do have. We are to share His Gospel Message, His Love, and His Compassion with all that we meet. God loved us enough to give the Best that He had to offer – Christ our Blessed Savior and Lord! Do they (the world) see the difference that HIS sacrifice has made in you? Do you show charity to those less fortunate? Do you share His Spiritual Blessings with those seeking? Do you build your brothers and sisters up in the spirit every week here at Church. Have you traced The hand of God lately, or just been frustrated with the choices you have made on your own? Do you share the Blessings God has bestowed upon you over the past week? OR - Do you dabble in the worlds offerings that appeal to your senses? Forgetting through the week that we are only passing through this world and we are not to grow roots. Must I remind you that the world is watching, they are waiting to see what it will take to entice you to leave the path that God has placed you on. How do they know the difference? Dare I say - By every word you speak, by every step you take, by watching how you react when you stumble – oh yes they are watching. Will you Honor God, and walk the straight and narrow? Or will you take the easy way, yielding to the lusts of the flesh and the path of least resistance. When we make the wrong choice – they are watching, and we are marginalizing the testimony and impact of this Church. SO - When you stumble, will you grumble, cuss & curse His name, or will you give Him praise and thank Him for another growing opportunity? THE Truth - will stand the test of time... Will you stand for the Truth at the time the test comes? That my dear loved ones will Truly be the difference! **(PRAYERFULLY)** Praise His Holy Name – “Dear Father, may we live humbled lives before you, and we pray Father that this Church is living the Difference for You! Dear Lord Jesus, we watch and wait for your return – and pray that You will find us busy about Your work when You get here. Teach our hearts through a spiritual mind today, this very day Father give us a double portion of your Spirit to honor and praise YOU with. We pray in Your Strong Son’s Name – In Jesus Name Amen…

Doing It Right… What’s in Your Heart? (1st Post of 2 this Weekend)

Doing It Right… What’s in Your Heart? 

Taking offense and then action to the sins of others is a serious and Righteous matter, but, it opens the door of opportunity for examination of the sin in your life. Isn’t it often amusing the things people decide to hold the line on for others, but won’t address the sin issues in their own heart? Matthew 7:3-5; …and why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite, First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 

A Righteous Life – Seeking after the Face of God is not just the things we see on the outside. The things most Christians pay attention to are vocabulary, smoking, drinking, carousing and adultery – you know “the big sins”. However in God’s eyes, there is a constant, Sin is Sin, and all is unacceptable and ugly from His perspective. SO – today Christians attempt to abstain from all the biggies, but on the inside they fight other battles. 

Bitterness, Cynicism, Contempt, Rebellion, Sarcasm, Discord, Strife, Antagonist, Selfishness, Pride, Self Righteous, Demeaning and Un-Forgiving are other Sins of the heart that do not align with the Christian Attitudes that Christ spoke of in Matthew 5. Nor are they a product of the Fruit of the Spirit that Paul wrote about in the letter to Galatia. 

We are glad to take His name, but we won’t spare the energy or time that it takes to get to “KNOW HIM”, so that we can be more like Him. Friends, if you haven’t surrendered your heart completely to Christ, YOU are still in control. If you harbor those ugly things in your heart – you are quenching the very Spirit of God that will give you freedom over them. Demanding obedience without balancing it with Love and Compassion will breed contempt and despair. 

We must read our Bibles, Pray for the Holy Spirit to Minister to our hearts and then surrender it all to Christ. His Spirit will fill our surrendered hearts, then obedience will occur as Fruit of that Spirit and His Love will cushion the trials and temptations that test us and purge and purify our hearts. Humility will fill the crevices of pride, and the Joy of Christ will emanate from the Spirit from within. Christ and crotchety don’t really go together, I don’t remember Christ every being that way in my Bible studies, do you?

Psalm 23 - A Psalm of David (I learned these Truths as a Boy)

Psalm 23 - A Psalm of David 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. The Lord is my Shepherd – meaning I willfully submit myself to HIS Leadership, and will not look for any other to take HIS place. I will offer no other person or possession the opportunity to consume my loyalty or love, which will always belong to Christ.  

2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. Thru my yielding to His Authority, and His will, He provides the human comforts I need to survive. He provides my rest, my comfort, and cool refreshment in the time of need. He leads me by the Still and Comforting power of His Spirit  

3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness, For His name’s sake. Our precious Father provides restoration for us in the midst of our sheep like behavior of getting lost and wondering off the path, entertaining things that do not fulfill the Spirit within us. Thru providing restoration when we stray from Him, His Spirit within us leads us in the paths of Righteousness, coaching and urging us to seek His Righteousness for we are called HIS People, His name’s sake. 

 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. We walk in this condemned, damned to eternal death flesh, walking in the shadow of that death every day of our life, yet while wrapped in Christ’s justification and righteousness we need not fear that evil. For God has sent His Son to pay the price for our redemption, and Christ sent the Holy Spirit to walk with us, so God is literally with us in Spirit. Therefore; His Word and His Spirit (rod & staff) offer comfort and counsel to us, just as the Shepherds crook or staff is a comfortable sight to the sheep as the shepherd keeps the dogs and wolves at bay. Matthew Henry said that “the Gospel is the rod of Christ’s strength; and there is enough in that to comfort the saints when they come to die, and underneath them are the everlasting arms of God”. 

 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. He, God has provided for me all things pertaining to this life and the one after in spite of my enemies and those that hate the Holiness and Righteousness of GOD! You Father have anointed me with your spirit, pulled me from my wickedness and provided for me to overflowing. I abound in YOUR Mercy, I abound in Your Grace, and I bask in Your Joy to overflowing. Amen. 

 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD, Forever. Thru Conviction! Thru Dedication! Thru Determination! Thru Devotion to HIM, HE will Bless, and HE will provide the very FAITH that we need to CONTINUE, His Mercy, Grace and Goodness will be a part of us and follow us thru our days on this planet, until He calls us home or comes to take us up. Oh yes, and on that Blessed Day, He will take us to be with Him, forever and ever! No man, no beast, no serpent, no power on earth and no power in Heaven can pluck us from the hand of God. We are the Bride of His Son, and our Relationship has been established thru Promise and Proclamation of Almighty GOD – Forever more Amen.

The Power In God's Church... (Not To Be Ashamed)

Romans Chapter 1: Verse 16 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes… For I am NOT ashamed of the gospel of Christ!!! Not ashamed!!! If God is the same today as HE was the day HE created Adam, the same as HE was the day He required of Abraham to kill and sacrifice his son Isaac… WHY do we look at Him differently today? GOD is HOLY, does the Church today even take time to grasp that concept? His POWER is Awesome and Wondrous, yet the Corporate Church has held HIM at arm’s length; denying the Author and Power of the Church His rightful place, in the process marginalizing the Church in the local communities. NOT Ashamed? Do we speak Christ as we gather each Sunday morning? Or is the only Christ speech we hear that of the Pastor and our Sunday School Teachers? As Christians, we are to be a lump of moldable clay, and Christ is to be the Potter. Do our conversations here in Church, at home, at work and in our neighborhoods reflect the marks of the Potters hand? Can those around us see the smooth finger and hand markings of the Potter in our lives? Our lives should point constantly to Christ, unafraid of the whispers and snickers of those around us. So really, are we unashamed? To offer anything less than our all to Him, is to sin, another doctrine of the Church that is quickly being squeezed out. A radio Pastor, Alistair Begg whom I am growing to love more each day, once said to his congregation “loved ones, as long as sin in our minds remains simply a nuisance, or an inconvenience, or an embarrassment; then we will never ever deal with it, and we will never make any progress”. As long as we visit the same old haunts of our past, talk the same way, keep the same habits, and visit the same entertainment that we did prior to accepting Christ – we will never grow, and sanctification will be stifled at best. We can’t serve two Masters, so who will win out? To not be ashamed as a Church, we first must not be ashamed as individuals. We must approach God on HIS turf, humbling ourselves, poor in Spirit and acknowledging HIS Holiness and Righteousness. WE MUST Seek HIS face while flat on our faces before Him. We pray each Sunday to be a Beacon in the Community for Christ, it’s time that we start showing Him we are serious. To be a Godly Loving Church we must grow to the next level of Glory. We must allow God to be GOD in this Church, yielding to His Holiness, before we can ever truly be a Loving Church. For in understanding all of His Power, all of His Glory, all of His Holiness – we can begin to understand what it meant for Him to send His Son for us. Then in turn, through grasping the magnitude of that transaction and the impact it had on the TWO OF THEM, we can understand the depth of GOD’s love for us. And we will understand the depth of our shame – in being ashamed of Christ. It is my prayer, that God will fan the spiritual embers in our Churches, to set a fire blazing for HIM. That He will begin a huge Spiritual awakening in us as such has never been seen in this generation. Then it is my prayer that we are not only a Beacon for Christ but we become the Harbor to which many lost souls seek salvation and refuge. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes… Let us know the POWER of GOD, which is our salvation through His Son’s Shed Blood. It’s more than just believing folks, it is following Him in sacrifice, and seeking purity in our souls through HIS POWER & STRENGTH. Living in this world – yet not being a part of it – and not being ashamed!

The Era Of Collapsing Churches

There is a pervading movement in churches that intentionally undermines fundamental Bibliology. Many churches in this current environment of religious correctness are being seduced to dilute the fundamentals of God's Word. This is obvious because it is nearly impossible to distinguish between the religious world and many professing Christians. The result has been an aggressive move to erode differences between fundamentalist and religionist and nurture a compatibility that is inconsistent with the biblical mandate for separation. Fundamental Bibliology is not rooted merely in a denominational clan or creed. It is realized exclusively in the Word of God rightly divided. The exclusive use of God's Word has been reduced to inclusiveness alongside the use of entertainment, contemporary worship for the sake of induced emotionalism and toleration for worldly acceptance. The sustaining of such churches (small & large) will inevitably collapse in coming years to entrenched religious licentiousness. For the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, concerned Christians and churches must be bold in their prejudice against religionist who intentionally exercise a misrepresentation and/or ill-interpretation of the Holy Scriptures. Our chief asset is the Word of God rightly divided. This alone is what keeps a division between the ecumenical religionist and the Christ minded, Bible loving, holy living Believers. Amen. Dr. Arthur Belanger

A Quote From Pastor Alistair Begg

To Christians - "loved ones, as long as sin in our minds remains simply a nuisance, or an inconvenience, or an embarrassment; then we will never ever deal with it, and we will never make any progress". Alistair Begg; 02/22/2010

Side-lined?

Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. We are no longer to embark on sin, no longer are we to give in to the old wants and desires… Yes we will continue to be tempted, but if we are alive unto GOD through HIS Son, we have the POWER in us to make better, wiser and more righteous decisions. Sometimes, we Christians like the status quo, just let me sit here in my happy little pew, and don't bother me. As our spiritual muscle begins to become apathetic, we design excuses in our mind to keep us on the sidelines. Until, we have deceived ourselves into believing God is OK with our level of Christian service and stewardship of the blessings and gifts He has given us. Paul told us in Romans 6:11 that we are to reckon ourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God through His Son. How can we say we are following that direction / commandment if we aren't interested in staying in the race? There must be sacrifice, of our will, of our time, of our energy, of our blessings, we must put Christ first, and then others then what is ever left over, we get to consume. As a Nation, as a Generation and as a Corporate Church many of us have lost sight of our 1st Love in Jesus the Christ and LIVING Son of God... Get off the sidelines, check back into the race and run to win, no matter what the cost! After all, God gave the very best He had, He put His very own Son on that old Cross to pay the Supreme Sacrifice and payment for us. He set the pace, and leads by example. Now get in the race to WIN!

Lord, please help me teach!

Lord, please help me teach the children and young people that YOU have entrusted to me. Help me show them that they can’t get to heaven holding onto someone else’s shirt tail! Romans: 6:23; for the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. John 14:6; Jesus said* to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. How many times have you sat in Church and the message the Pastor brings just seems to hammer your toes. Your heart fills with conviction; you are convinced you need to make a change. Now God says we are to deal with your own heart, but you know there are those around that didn’t share the same conviction. It’s innocent enough; you just gaze over the congregation as they are getting up to walk out and silently ask in your head, “hey brother did you get as much out of that message as I just did today”? I am a fortunate man; my adult children come to Church unsolicited just about every Sunday. I walk out of Church each week spiritually proud that my kids were all there. However; I worry about them and most of the youth of this age, then on the way home my heart gets tugged at. Do you think these folks got as much out of that message as I did? Did Christ prick their conscience to the point that they felt uncomfortable, or decided this was an aspect of their walk they needed to have the Lord fix? I really don’t think so. You see, it is this humble layman’s opinion that many of today’s professing young Christians don’t reflect the change. They still participate in the same activities their unsaved friends do. I constantly watch to see if they are keeping good Christian friends to hold their feet to the fire, but sadly more times than not, this is not the case. Oh they keep from cussing in our presence but I know that at times, causes them to stretch their vocabulary abilities when frustrated. They are caught up in pursuing the American Dream, and don’t have time for God outside of Sunday morning service. I mean come on Mr. Sunday School Teacher, this is America we are all Christian right? Yeah, sure; but tell me what that really means? You can’t tag along to heaven on the shirt tails of your Great Grand-parents, your Grand-parents or even your parents. Showing up for Sunday School and Morning service will not keep you from the gates of hell. In fact showing up for all the services each week brings you no promise of Heaven – none. Confession of your own sin, acceptance of His Mercy, His Salvation, His Grace and then HIS WAY! Why does the energy and enthusiasm of their youth sometimes blind teens and young people today of God’s commandments. Christ said “if you love me, you will keep my commandments”, why is that such a hard thing to grab in our youth? Christ said “I Am The Way”; Dad’s not the way, Mom’s not the way, you need to work your faith out on your own – THRU CHRIST! It’s not easy to hear, but our precious Heavenly Father is a jealous God, and He wants your love un-begrudgingly and unconditionally. While we can’t know the heart Christ told us we would know our true brothers and sister in Christ through watching them grow and bear fruit.

Galatians 5:22-24 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Satan is a tricky old devil; he knows how to keep the minds of uncommitted Christians tied up with activity, and all those wonderful toys that end up being idols we place before our commitment to Christ. When we do that not only is our view of God clouded, our fellowship in the Holy Spirit begins to suffer because we purge Him by filling our hearts with other things. So young people listen, focus narrowly on Jesus Christ, and live your Christian lives as He showed us and told us to. There is no other way to heaven. Dear Lord, help maturing Christians to remember to lift today’s youth up to You in prayer. Please Dear Father, help us come up along side of those that call you Father, let us offer them encouragement and support. Touch their hearts and tweak their conscience father and let them not be ashamed, in Christ’s name, Amen