The Treasure Hunt

PART TWO OF MESSAGE

WOULD JESUS BE WELCOME IN YOUR CHURCH TODAY --- PART TWO

June 18, 8:36 a.m.

The Good Lord can be very succinct and yet wonderfully deep at the same time. Tell them, "I AM" sent you. What are your needs today? Do you think they are any different than what the children of Israel needed 5,000 years ago? They are not. Throughout mankind's brief history, all of us... i.e., the human-race have the same needs and wants; and the "I AM" of Moses's day is the same for us today and the title is still applicable... "I AM."
Are you lonely? (Lo I AM with you alway) Are you afraid? (Be not afraid I AM with you) Are you cold? (I AM is a pillar of fire by night) Are you hot? (I AM is a cloud cover by day) Has your friends forsaken you? (I AM is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother) Are you in need of salvation? (I AM the way, the truth, and the life) Do you have loved ones who have preceded you in death and you are concerned for them? (I AM the resurrection and the life) Do you hope for an eternal home in Heaven, yet have doubts? (And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I AM, there ye may be also) Are you thirsty? (I AM is a river of living water) Are you hungry? (I AM the bread of life)
In the interest of time, and because of my poor typing skills and speed, I have only posed ten questions that goes to the heart of the needs of mankind. You will notice that the great I AM is the answer to all of them. And you could pose ten times ten thousand questions and the I AM of the Christian's Bible would still be the answer.
Bear with me and soon I will explain why God making Moses understand with His two-word name (I AM) that He alone is all-sufficient and how that ties in with it being wrong to store up "nest eggs." But first, I want to talk to you about "manna."
You will need to read Exodus 16: 14-36 to understand about this food that God gave to His children. I just want to call your attention to one particular fact about it. The provision that God gave to them was for only one day at a time! Each day they were only allowed to gather enough food for that day, with the exception of the sixth day and they could gather two days worth of provisions because they could not gather on the day of rest. (sabbath)
Of course, even like today, when men and women are given clear instruction from the prophets by God Himself through His written word (Bible) there are those who refuse to listen and want to do it their way. Some of the people gathered more than what they needed for the one day only. Now I want you to read what God did to this provision that He had supplied when His children tried to store up more than they needed. Exodus 16:19-20: "And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning. Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them."
Those children who had tried to hoard what God provided and they took more than they needed, God caused it to rot and breed worms. Remember, God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever, and His principles do not change.
Look, I think it is fine if the lost world tries to build "nest eggs" for their future. It is because they do not have I AM to be their provision and inheritance. It is time for you to do some work on your own. Search the Scriptures and find even one example of anyone laying up future stores for their use, and check to see if God was pleased with them? I'll give you an example. Luke 12:16-21. Here is a story of a "rich fool," so we know he wasn't saved. His example is a bad one because he, not unlike many saved people, and churches, was trying to hoard his provisions that God had supplied. We, the saved, are told in thousands of illustrations and verses to live only one day at a time!
I want to tell you a story about a man I met. Before I do though I also want to say that even though I believe he was the closest person I ever met to fulfilling Matthew 6:11, that I am not endorsing his ministry. I loved their soul-winning zeal, but their stand on the Bible and some other areas was very weak.
His name is not a lightning-rod, like (for example) Peter Ruckman, but in independent fundamental circles you would not want to align yourself with him, else you might be anathema to some other believers. To be honest though, those who would dislike me for admiring certain practices by some Christian leaders, I wouldn't care for their support anyway.
I met Jack Wyrtzen (founder of Word of Life Fellowship) in the early '80's. I count it fortunate to have met him if for no other reason than one thing I learned about his ministry. It has to do with what I am writing about in dispensing with the false notion of laying up money for your future.
There were about a dozen men who were invited to sit at his table and eat dinner, and I felt fortunate to be one of them. We were at Schroon Lake, New York and our youth leader and myself had driven a group of teenagers from our church to see his ministry.
The conversation turned to finances, and this is what Dr. Wyrtzen said. He said that in order to keep their ministry operating they had to have about $30,000 each and every day. Then he said what I thought was the most remarkable thing. He said that from the day they opened, to that present time (though the amount varied as the ministry grew) that they never had more than one day operating expenses in their bank account. ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE!
Remember, the manna (God's provisions) never rots or stinks when it is consumed in the time-period that God allows... one... day... at... a... time! Later that evening, and here might be more fodder for anyone who doesn't already like me, there were three of us in a hot tub: Ted, (our youth director) Dr. Wyrtzen, and myself. And yes, our shirts were off and we had on swimming trunks, gasp!
I didn't want to let go of what I had heard him say and I asked him further about his finances as it related to his ministry. He said that when more money came in than they needed, they didn't waste it, they just spent it on missions or something else in the ministry. He said that it was almost a selfish reason on his part that he did this... he just loved to feel God's hand of provision upon him. WONDERFUL!
I loved that part of him and his work. However, I did not let that admiration for him affect my own beliefs and the next day I was priviledged to be able to debate with the gentlemen who was the featured speaker that weekend at Scroon Lake. He had not held up the A.V. as God's final authority and I vigorously defended my belief on the subject.
Have you ever really read... the Lord's prayer? More appropriately it is a "model prayer," and it is found in Matthew 6:9-13. It is really not a prayer that we are to necessarily pray... though I have many times read it verbatim and offered it as my own. In reality though it is a template, or a form and order that tells us how to approach God. Example: we are to begin by acknowledging His greatness and power, and majesty. "Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name." We can continue praying for His return and His kingdom to come, etc. etc. etc. I think of it like I did when I would prepare all of my messages. I might create a one-page outline for a 45 minute mesage and it would prompt me in all of the areas I wanted to talk about.
(Back in a few minutes, I have to tend to my dogs.)  

posted by Robin Johnson @ 8:32 AM

NEW MESSAGE --- "JESUS" (PART ONE)

WOULD JESUS BE WELCOME IN YOUR CHURCH TODAY? --- (PART ONE)

June 17, 7:49 a.m.

We just got home from being down at the Ohio River. My wife, our daughters, and ten of our 11 grandchildren (Jimmy stayed home to snooze) were there by 6:00 a.m. this morning. We all had gathered to see the Sun rise. What, as adults, we take for granted... hopefully having seen the Sun rise many times... is still something new and a marvel to children.
It was fun seeing them all knotted together and listening to their shrill cries... "Look, it's coming!" "There it is!" (etc.) But, most of all it was fun just being together. Of course Virgil and Stella went along and they had fun watching the ducks along the banks of the river. Just in case though you are a very lazy adult and you have never seen the Sun rise... I'll let you in on a secret: it doesn't come up all at once.
I have decided that I am going to write a full-length message, which I am calling, "Would Jesus Be Welcome In Your Church Today?" However, because that would mean a lot of writing on my part and a lot of reading on your part... I am going to write it in different parts... 1,2,3, etc. as many as it takes. So, if you come into this late... you will have to look in the archives to begin with today's post.

PART ONE: Have you ever considered how humanistic the average person is in their thought processes? (I mean even those who have been in church for years and are most probably born-again.) The problem I am writing about extends well beyond the Christian who sits in the pew, and this type of thinking permeates deacon boards, trustees, and in many cases extends to the pastors themselves.
A working definition for a humanist would be to assert man's capacity for fulfillment through reason and scientific method... rejecting religion. Now, I am not stating that a born-again pastor or leader actually rejects religion, and by "religion" I am using that term loosely to define a believer. However, read carefully the words of the Lord Jesus in Luke 6:46 "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" You must realize that it is grossly insufficient to only honor God with your lips, if He is truly your Lord then honor Him with your service... even if it goes against your church tradition or popular culture or thought. Remember, all of those things change... God does not.
I am confident that no saved person would on purpose cultivate thought processes that more closely align themselves with the world, than to the Lord. I think it creeps in slowly simply because it is everywhere around us. And the most damning of all of the humanistic types of teaching are found to be those that are given by people who are most probably saved themselves: and teaching that sounds both right and good... until it is compared to the light of the Bible and what Christ taught.
For example: I would like to dispose of one sacred cow in part one of my message. In this way it might give the reader an indication of what I am trying to expose. Which of course will be thoughts and practices which are held by large numbers of people within Christianity, yet, both the thoughts and practices are in violation of clear Bible truth.
Also, if I happen to name someone who is teaching wrong... and I can prove it from the Bible with many examples and verses, (in context) then you, dear reader, are going to have to make a conscious decision: will you continue with practices and thoughts that are wrong and learned in the world... or will you show the fortitude and courage to obey God and the truth that is revealed within His Holy Bible?
Dave Ramsey teaches certain things in his money management courses that are in clear violation of Bible principle. He is the first sacred cow I want to dispense with. I chose him first because for many saved people he is an idol to them. Now, don't get me wrong. He seems like a decent and most probably born-again child of God. I only say most probably because I can only be certain of my own salvation. Yet, he continually teaches one thing in particular that has no basis for being taught in a positive way within the Bible. In fact, what he teaches as good, has dozens of verses that teach the exact opposite.
Of course, what he does correctly is to encourage all people to get out of debt... that is good. Clearly the Bible teaches that no person should ever go into debt for anything... period! Now, how many of you has ever heard him say... and if you have ever heard him you would have heard this... for it is a mantra for him... "Build a nest egg." He wants you to have a minimum three months and hopefully a six month emergency fund of cash on hand. And of course... a nest egg that is many times larger than that for your retirement. Before I expose that teaching as clearly not from God... I want to ask you a question. Doesn't it sound like a reasonable and good thing to do? Therein lies the problem. Humanism and humanistic thinking many times sounds good, at least until you understand why God teaches against it.
Here is what you might try. As I try to expose many sacred cows rife in Christianity today, I will do it with Bible verses and Bible principles that support what I am writing about. Will you do the same thing? Search the Holy Scripture and try to find support for what you practice? Now here comes the hard part for you as a believer. If, after diligent search you find what Mr. Ramsey or anyone that you like is teaching is, in fact, error, who are you going to follow... God... or man?
While it is true that there are many things daily that believers do that might fall into a sort of "gray area." That is a place where freewill comes in and hopefully the Holy Ghost of God will direct you to make the right decision. However, in most instances the Bible teaches black or white and right and wrong. And, building that "nest egg" is clearly on the wrong side of Bible teaching. I am going to try and lay this out for everyone in a step-by-step way that will make it easy to understand why God teaches against this practice.
Did you ever wonder what God meant by telling Moses, "...I AM hath sent me unto you." (If I were preaching this rather than writing it I would read the verses, however, in a blog that would take far too much time to write. Therefore, if you are truly interested in learning truth: you will have to take the time and look up and read certain verses and sections for yourself. Read Exodus 3:1-14.)
First, He said, "I AM THAT I AM." Then, He simply called Himself by two-words and He asked to be revealed to the children of Israel by the title, "I AM." Isn't that strange?
(PART TWO --- NEXT BLOG)

posted by Robin Johnson @ 7:46 AM

DUTY

June 13, 2:01 p.m.

I was at work at 5:30 this morning and because of that it was very slow and I had time to think about what I wanted to write. I decided that I would say something about the importance of winning souls to God: you do know of course that the Great Commission is given to all who would follow Christ. Telling others how to be saved is your responsibility also: it is not reserved only for your pastor and the leaders of your church.
I believe the most common reason that people do not share their faith is that they are afraid they will not have all of the answers if someone asks something about the Bible. That's okay, just keep it simple and tell them of your own conversion experience, and if you don't have one... then you need to get saved (yourself) before telling others how to be saved.
The Apostle Paul, arguably the greatest Christian of the New Testament was very learned, yet, when telling others how to be saved he simply related what happened to him at his own conversion. So, if it was good enough for Paul to use to help lead a sinner home... then it ought to be good enough for you also.
You can start out slow with a handful of sound Gospel tracts and an experienced soul-winner with you, however, before long you ought to be able to freely and often tell others around you how to be saved. Since it is not God's will that any should perish... then that means there will be untold millions of souls in Hell that should not be there. Think about it. God wants no one to remain lost... yet millions do. And the honest truth is that there are many of those who are lost who have heard a clear presentation of the Gospel and have rejected Christ. Their blood will be upon their own heads. But, what about some of your friends, family members, neighbors, etc. who you see often and they have never heard a clear presentation of the Gospel. If they die without Christ, they will still be punished in Hell, but God, at the Judgment Seat of Christ will require their blood at your hands. (Read Ezekiel 33:1-9)
Can you imagine the scene at the White Throne Judgment of God as God punishes the lost of the world... and you see all kinds of people that you knew in this life being condemned to the Lake of Fire and you realize that had you only been a faithful witness for Jesus that they also could have been saved and experience Heaven with you.
On two separate occasions God records that there will be crying in Heaven. After each of the Judgments (Seat of Christ where believers are judged and White Throne where unbelievers are sentenced to eternity apart from God) there will be a lot of crying from those who have trusted Christ for their salvation.
Thankfully, God will wipe away all tears, but that does not alter the fact that many of the damned will be in Hell because followers of Christ will not witness their faith to the lost. And if you do not believe that what you have is worth telling others about... then please get saved! Because if you are saved then you will know that absolutely nothing else in the entire world is as important as seeing someone come to Christ and have their sins forgiven!

June 14, 3:47 p.m.

I thought I would comment about an insane or demon-possessed teenager recently arrested in Florida. Have you read about him? Apparently he has been going around certain neighborhoods in his community and catching, torturing, and killing cats.
I believe in our modern world that some people, even those who are saved and in fundamental churches want to dismiss far too quickly the idea of demon possession in people whose crimes are horrific.
A mother straps her two children in their car seats and drives her car into a lake: a father takes a baseball bat and kills his child before throwing his body from a bridge: a mother, one-by-one, chases down her five small children and systematically drowns them in a bathtub: a student padlocks the exit doors of his school, and then shoots and kills many of his classmates: a teenager captures, skins alive small animals before killing them: etc. etc. etc.
Demon possession is both real and a New Testament doctrine. Read the several different accounts of Christ casting demons out of what our modern world wants to call... sick, or deranged. In point of fact some people who commit terrible crimes might be sick and (or) deranged. However, the devil and his minions are not yet confined to Hell, therefore, to humans who open themselves up to these evil spirits... possession still takes place today.
If you doubt that possibility... then put very simply you do not believe the Bible. You are like the person whom one of my favorite preachers used to speak about. He said that the main difference between himself and some other "believers" was that he (Mel Efaw) believes in the whole Bible, whereas "they" believe in a Bible full of holes.
I hope everyone reading this has enough of a backbone that if the entire world scoffs at something found in the Bible that you would be unaffected by such thought. In other words, if all six + billion people on planet Earth thought there was something untrue in the Bible, I would never let it affect what I know to be true. I would just realize that I was the only right person (on that particular subject) in the world.
So, whether it be the Great Flood, Daniel in the lion's den, Jonah and the great fish, or the possibility of lost people being possessed by demons, don't let the unsaved world try to rob you of your faith by their simple reasoning.
Besides, let me ask all believers a few questions. First: is God a Spirit? The answer of course is yes. What is "possession" as it relates to God. The answer of course is to take control of someone.
So, Christians have no problem in believing that a "Spirit" (Holy Ghost) has entered their body and has taken control of them. Why then is it still hard to believe that many evil people who commit evil acts have been taken over and controlled (possessed) by the devil or one of his minions?
To date I have not heard, nor have I read a single story about the idiot in Florida they just arrested for torturing small animals. Other than I read the short story on AOL which stated he had been arrested. But I guarantee it will be found out that he has been playing around with Ouija boards, tarot cards, etc. etc. or other tools of the devil that lost people play with. In other words he opened himself up to the devil by the things he read, heard, saw, and the people he ran with.
It is exactly the same way people get born-again by God... except it is the other end of the spectrum. You hear about God, read about Him in the Bible, hang out with people who talk about Him, and you are opening yourself up to Him so that when you call on His name, he "possesses" (indwells) you with His Holy Spirit.
I've heard people make the declarative statement: "The Bible says it, I believe it, and that settles it." Though I like the sentiment... part of that phrase is wrong... it is the middle three words, the, "I believe it" part that is not relevant. Whether or not a person believes something is not what makes it true... it is correct whether or not you accept it to be true. In speaking of the Bible what follows is the correct phrase: "The Bible says it, and that settles it."

June 15, 4:41 p.m.

I want to write something about the 23 Psalm as it relates to help from the Lord. Admittedly, I can not say with 100% assurance that my illness and pain is from God, though I believe it is. At the very least, as an omnipotent God He has to be allowing it if not in fact causing it.
The purpose of course would be that He is chastening me. Chastening from the Lord can either be from omitted or committed sins that believers do. I am ashamed to say but His hand could be heavy upon me from either of those categories.
The Bible of course even gives a test (sort of) for believers. In that we all sin and if there is no chastening hand from God upon you because of the aforementioned sins... then are ye "bastards and not sons." (Hebrews 12:8) Keep in mind that your neighbors children might do all manner of wrong that offends you, however, you do not paddle them because they do not belong to you! That is why God chastens His children, but not the devil's children no matter how egregious their sins might be.
Psalm 23 is a wonderful Psalm as it helps us to see Jesus as our Shepherd and we as His sheep. I am going to record verse four and I am going to make bold print out of the last part of that verse as I want to call special attention to it: "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."
A shepherd's rod is used to discipline wayward sheep and it is also used to dispatch the enemies of the sheep, i.e., lion, bear, etc. The staff, with it's crook, is used to gently encircle the neck of a sheep going astray and lead them back into the fold. Now, here comes the great part: we are told in this verse that we are to take comfort in both the rod and the staff!
So, I am learning to give thanks for His rod of discipline even when the bleeding is most evident and the pain is enough that it takes my breath away. I give thanks because I recognize it as from God and His chastening hand means that I am His child. But I also have to admit that I long for the day when the rod will be put up and the staff revealed again... I am ready.

June 16, 12:09 p.m.

Just a few thoughts today about a ball game I watched at church last evening. It was a pick-up game with some older and a few younger men from the church, they meet on Monday evenings for a couple of hours. It looked like fun and it is a chance for some fellowship. My brother still has a very good shot, even as he had as a younger man and from 8-10 feet to the three-point line he drops in many of what he puts up: though at 54 it is much harder for him to get up-and-down the court.
For me though, the last time I played in an organized game was nearly 20 years ago and it was at another church I was a member of in Bardstown. I will try to give you some idea of my prowess on a basketball court by recounting one particular story that happened. Now, in the games of basketball or baseball I pretty much looked at either of them as a continuation of when I used to play football... which is of course a real sport.
If I was running from third base to home plate... if the catcher was silly enough to block the plate then he had better have a death-grip on the ball, because there was going to be a collision. I am telling you that to say that anyone who played basketball with me, and in a few minutes almost always allowed me a clear lane whenever I decided to drive to the basket... else there was going to be a collision. The problem was though that even for my inside game... and even with an open lane I mostly put the ball against the backboard too hard and I regularly missed. Now to the story about my outside game that epitomizes my athletic ability on the court... both inside and out.
In that particular church I coached our softball team and I played pick-up basketball in the gym. During one basketball game I walked the ball down and instead of passing when I reached the three-point line I arched a high beautiful shot that soared through the air and dropped through the hole... nothing but net. Several people in the bleachers cheered, and the pastor who was at the scorer table and was keeping score on the electronic scoreboard... with microphone in hand... broke into a spirited rendition of... "It Took a Miracle." That should give you some idea of just how good I was.
It is important also to know that I was better on offense than defense, so that should sum up my complete game. However, even though I quit playing a long time ago... and I'm sure that many I used to play with are happy to know that fact, last night still looked like fun.

posted by Robin Johnson @ 2:01 PM

More Thoughts

As with my other blogs, I will (as often as I write) add more to the bottom of this one until it grows to a suitable length.

June 7, 9:42 a.m.

I saw a bumper-sticker yesterday that gave me the thoughts for today's blog. This will have to do with what type of people you choose as your friends.
The bumper-sticker had a multi-colored Obama pictured on it with the word "change." First of all, it turns out to be more tragic than funny that people wanted "change"... (whatever that means) over any type of real substance. Now, of course, because of the folly of those voters... we and our children and grandchildren will pay for that bad choice.
I sped my car up so that I could see what type of people had voted for this man. Of course they were both young and the driver looked somewhat "normal." The passenger in the car was a female and she had a large hooped earring... through her nose! I thought how typical... we must now live our lives based on decisions made by the (mostly) unsaved, young, and dumb.
As I pondered the decisions of people like these, I wondered if we ever met would we have anything at all in common? This in turn caused me to consider the admonition from God: II Corinthians 6:14 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?"
More commonly this verse is applied as a warning against a believer marrying an unbeliever. However, it would also apply to a saved and unsaved person going into business together as well as developing a very close friendship between believing and unbelieving peoples. In fact, any yoke of any type that causes the saved and the unsaved to bond together in a close relationship would be wrong.
If you are saved, let me ask you a question. Do you feel best about yourself and your walk with God when you are around other saved people and each of you have common interests and common goals, or are you just as "happy" when you are around lost and worldly people?
Many "saved" people try to justify having close relationships to lost and sinning people by saying that Christ was a "friend to publicans and sinners." First of all: you're not Christ... and those lost and sinning people will, by their lifestyle, always try to bring you down to their level. Second of all: all... every single publican and sinner that Christ was around... forsook their sinning ways!!! Else, as with the rich young ruler, once they were made aware of their lost condition if they chose to remain in their sin... they were sent away from Christ.
The Lord did not befriend these people and they still remained in their sin. If, after meeting Him they chose to remain a sinner, they were sent away. So, are you doing the same thing? You befriend a lost and sinful person, but after witnessing to them... repeatedly... and they are not interested... do you separate from them? You should! It is fine to continue to lift them up in prayer and ask God for mercy to see them saved, but it is not okay to continue being a close friend to the lost of this world, that is if you are truly born-again. The word "church" means a called-out and separated group of people.
Let me ask you something else. What could you, a follower of Christ have in common with a person who is lost and in love with the world? Your tastes in music, clothes, entertainment, child-rearing, etc. etc. etc. would be the polar opposite of the lost world. And if it isn't... run... don't walk... to the nearest altar and ask God to save your soul.
If, after asking God to save you, there is not a sea-change in what you now believe, to what you formerly believed, then the Holy Spirit of God does not indwell you.
Now, I do not believe that a new convert will suddenly appear like an angel from God and will start doing all things right. I am saying though, that as a saved person reads their Bible and hears good and sound preaching, that remarkable changes will begin to take place. And those things (sinful habits) that used to bring pleasure, will now bring condemnation into the believers heart and they will want to run away from sinful things, and not toward them.
Let me ask you as a believer in Christ another question. Can you really call someone your friend, who openly mocks Christ, the One who died for your sins? Let me also ask you. Whose friendship do you value the most: your lost friend or the friendship of the Holy Ghost? Because trust me... you cannot have both. James 4:4 "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."
I will conclude this today with an admonition and a question from the Old Testament book of Amos. This will be something that you ought to ponder in your heart throughout the day. The proper answer to this question will cause you to forsake those lost people around you that you formerly referred to as "friends." Other then of course to be nice to them when you see them, and to be persistent in your witness to them and in prayer for their soul. Other than that, the lost are not to be your friends... under any circumstances. Amos 3:3 "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"

June 8, 4:39 p.m.

Today I will just be writing to vent a little. In my seemingly never ending series of seeing doctors the last in this group was ten days ago, another specialist. The blood-work done in her office was 12 days ago and the thoraoscopy performed at Jewish Hospital was ten days ago.
She assured me that she would have all of the results back within the week. However, I contacted them last Friday... no results back yet. I contacted them again today... still no results. This is not (yet) a third-world country and it's ridiculous that nearly two weeks has passed and I don't yet have the results back from the blood-work. And, Jewish is considered a major hospital and they don't yet have their results back either, and tomorrow will be 11 days and counting. Absolutely ridiculous!!!
In addition, I should not have to be the one contacting the doctor's office when they are late. I should have been getting calls from them explaining why it is taking so long. Don't you agree?

June 9, 5:40 p.m.

Today will be a mishmash of information. If this were a message being given at church it would be of the "shotgun" variety. First, in taking care of business... my doctor is apparently A.W.O.L. and not taking care of business. 13 days and counting!!!
If my dad were still alive he would be 89 years old today. It seems impossible to imagine that he has been gone 30 years. In just five more days my mother will have been gone for 23 years. Either number seems impossible to comprehend that (that) much time has passed.
I do not condone George Tiller being gunned down: having said that I also hated the fact that he butchered innocent and helpless babies by the tens of thousands. But, I saw on the news tonight that a very great thing has happened since Tiller's death. The murdering clinic that he owned has shut its doors... permanently!!! Thank God!
There will come a day of reckoning in America, and when that day comes the sanity of normal citizens will return. When that happens they will recognize what a bunch of hard-hearted and cruel people (certain) politicians, some doctors, and many feminists were. Then... at that time America, China, and other nations that murder their un-birthed offspring by the millions will be viewed as we see the Germans who tried to exterminate the Jewish population during WWII.
You tell me how it is any different to take an innocent Jewish child and throw them into a gas-chamber or take an innocent baby ready to be birthed and shove a razor sharp spike into the base of their skull and vacuum their brains out through this hollow tube: for that is exactly what is done during "late term abortions." Obama, his wife, Hillary Clinton, and many others in Washington are monsters with cruel and uncaring hearts. For every single one of them wants this type of America.
They want to pass out condoms in the government run school system, rather than teach abstinence and if the condom fails, they want your tax money to be used to kill the helpless and innocent child.
For my devotions now I am reading the book of Ezekiel. God, through His prophet tells the children of Israel all of the evil He is going to cause to happen to them as a nation. For example: read chapters 15-17 to have some idea of His wrath on disobedient people. In addition to husbands and children being killed by the sword and their wives being savaged by heathen men who ride in to conquer, God also says that He is going to burn their houses down. Do you want to know why He is going to burn their houses down? I mean, if the people sinned against Him it is easy to see why He is going to cause destruction to fall upon them... but their houses? He said it is because they used those houses to burn incense to their false gods. What about the thousands of "houses" in America that are being used to butcher children in?
There will come a day in America that another calamity will happen, and it will so exceed 9/11 that by comparison--- 9/11 will look like the first failed plot to bomb the World-Trade-Towers when Clinton was in office. When that happens there will be people looking to heaven and asking, "why?" Why? Why? Let me save you some time and give you the answer before you even ask.
When God allows a large city to disappear in seconds and untold millions will vaporize.... instantly. Don't look to God in wonder. It is your sin that caused it. You showed no heart and shed no tears for the millions of helpless children who died in the cruel hands of abortionists. God will not continue to look the other way as with your lips you honor Him, but by your deeds you serve the devil.

June 10, 9:33 a.m.

Have you ever paused to consider your life? You should. Don't be so busy or uncaring that you do not honestly reflect on who you are and what is your purpose for being here. Revelation 4:11 states the reason why God created everything and it is the only such explanation recorded in the Bible. However, knowing why God did something and understanding your part in it are not necessarily the same thing.
Looking back on my own life I feel like the village-idiot who was enamored by his own shadow. While, I suppose, it is okay to be fascinated by things of no importance, it causes time to be wasted and that is of utmost importance. Benjamin Franklin wrote: "Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of." My thought for today is that if life were played like a game of golf I would be requesting a mulligan... another chance to do it better.
What I write next is not to try and determine whether or not this person was saved, I only want to use her to illustrate a choice she made in her life which I admired. I will say that neither she, the Pope, nor any other person can follow the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, as it relates to salvation and be saved, for it is completely a works driven system. However, there will be countless "Catholics" who are members of such churches and in spite of their churches teachings, will have completely trusted Jesus as the author and finisher of their faith: thereby granting them the gift of eternal life and a home in Heaven.
Many years ago I read a story about Mother Teresa as she was boarding a plane. Someone asked her if she needed to stow away any luggage. Her answer was that the only things she "owned" on Earth were the clothes she was wearing and what was in the small bag she had in her hands. I always thought that would be a great way to live. To truly understand that a person's journey on Earth is very brief and this is only a temporary dwelling place.
So, if I were granted my mulligan one thing I would do differently is that I would have never bought a house, never filled out an application for a credit card or a loan of any type. Therefore I would not have become a slave to the "things I owned." Let me ask you a question. Are you a bond or indentured servant to your possessions... who owns who?
Your house has you in bondage for 30 years, your car for six, your credit cards for your entire lifetime... that is if you only make the minimum monthly payments. Friends, these are prison sentences which cause you to waste your life trying to pay for them. And while you are doing this, what really matters... children... family... friends... service to God... are all being lost or set aside.
I greatly struggled before signing the papers to buy a house. I kept quoting in my mind Matthew 8:20 "And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head."
I also knew that the "servant is not greater than his Master." I knew as well that when Jesus sent His disciples forth to preach the Gospel that He did not permit them more than the clothes on their back to take with them. He wanted them to understand that He was more than able to meet their daily needs... read Matthew 6:33.
So, if I were granted my "do over" I would have never been in bondage to the "things" that He already promised to provide us with as we sought to serve Him and those around us. There would have never been a credit card, house, loan, (of any type) or car payment to be indentured by. I would have had only those "things" that were needed and could be gotten by paying cash.
In that way there would have been more time for walks in the park with the family, more merry-go-rounds to enjoy, a few more gentle pushes on a swing-set... better service to God. Time... just more time to have done things better. And all of that is possible... as long as you are not wasting your life (time) having to work, only to be able to pay for "things."
Perhaps tomorrow I will write about what it really means to be rich, and how with only a little effort you can become wealthy... and it has nothing to do with money.
In finishing today I am going to ask a question. But, even though the question is specific, do not leave it that way. Broaden the question and make it inclusive of all aspects of your life. Then, if you begin to see yourself as trapped and in bondage to things that really do not matter... then begin to change your life, while you still have the precious "time" to do it. "Why do you own three pairs of shoes... when you only have one set of feet?"

June 11, 12:07 p.m.

Before I write about true wealth I would like to write a few words and say that the world is a little more of a sad place because of the home-going of Dr. Joe Boyd. He was one of the great preachers of modern times and a real gentleman. If you ever had the privilege of going soul-winning with him, or if you went anywhere to eat out as he was paying the bill he would say to the person receiving the money, "Make sure your last trip is up." And he would offer a kindly smile and point toward the heavens.
He was a great man of God and I count it an honor to have met and gone door-to-door with him as he preached the Gospel. Dr. Boyd took his last trip ten days ago on June 1 and it was in fact, "up." We weep whenever a man of God Like Dr. Boyd goes to Heaven, because we will miss him and his effort to see souls saved: however, God sees it differently as He welcomes His faithful children home. Psalm 116:15 "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."
You can always tell something unique about a man by what verse(s) they use in signing Bibles. As you read which ones he chose, then it is easier to understand a lifetime, nearly 70 years, of being in ministry to the Lord. Dr. Boyd used Romans 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Now I will try to explain how a person can become extremely wealthy, yet it has absolutely nothing to do with having money. If you read Forbe's list of the world's wealthiest, usually, and at this time also, the agnostic Bill gates leads the list with an estimated wealth of a little more than 55 billion dollars. (I will write and publish more in a few minutes, I have to walk Virgil.)
Keep in mind that in order to be truly wealthy your reach would never be able to exceed your grasp. Let's take a look at "the world's wealthiest man" (Bill Gates) and see if 55 billion dollars is enough to make him truly wealthy.
In today's market the estimated retail value of all real-estate in Manhattan is more than one-half trillion dollars. In other words, in order to purchase the real-estate (only) in Manhattan Bill Gates would have to have more than 10x what he has now... and that is just for one burrough in one city in one state in one country. So, it is easy to see that even with all of the money that Gates has control of, his reach could quite easily exceed his grasp.
Are you aware that there are many people in the world today with maybe zero dollars in the bank, and yet they are incredibly wealthy: for their grasp and reach are identical. Let me show you how that can be you.
Jesus is God Incarnate. So, of course He had control of all wealth in the world. So, in that sense He was wealthy. Yet, I want to show you that even as the "man, Christ Jesus..." he was also wealthy, yet He never owned a house or lands, never owned a chariot... or any other means of conveyance, never had more clothes or shoes than what He presently had on, and never even had a pocketbook or a bank account, and He carried no money on His person: yet even the "man" part of the God/man (Christ Jesus) was incredibly wealthy. What follows is the reason for that.
In Matthew 4:1-11 you will read of the temptation of Christ as offered by the devil. In verse eight the devil offers all of the kingdoms on Earth and all of the glory that is in them to Christ... that is if Christ will worship the devil instead of God. Of course, with Holy Scripture Christ rebukes the devil and he flees. But I also want you to notice something else about these passages. Both the "reach" and "grasp" of Christ were identical.
True wealth would be the ability to own or possess anything that your heart desired. So, unless there was nothing on Earth that you couldn't buy, (and as we saw with Bill Gates and Manhattan that is not possible) then only having money does not make you wealthy. Therefore, true wealth has nothing to do with money, because there would always be "things" you couldn't purchase. True wealth is to have no desire for any "things." Another way to say it is that I would not get up from my desk and walk the 12 (or so) feet to the couch to be given the finest set of clothes even if they were hand-stitched by the most talented tailor who ever lived.
True wealth is to be able to see all of the kingdoms of the world and all the glory they hold, and yet... desire none of it! An evangelist had gone to New York one time and he was shown the town by his friends. That night on his knees in prayer he thanked God for all of the beautiful things he had seen. Then he closed with, "But I thank you most of all dear God... that of everything I saw... I wanted none of it." That is true wealth.
The Bible is an amazing Book, in that it can many times teach us wonderful truths, even by what is not recorded. Let me explain. The men who were inspired by God to write the Holy Bible lived, preached, traveled and wrote the Bible in many well-known and historical places. The writers of the New Testament would have seen (firsthand) many of the man-made wonders of the ancient world: such as the Pyramids of Egypt, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Statue of Zeus, Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, (the place where Paul wrote to the Ephesians) Lighthouse of Alexandria, etc. etc. etc. Yet, not a single syllable is uttered about these magnificent structures they would have seen many times. The reason for this is that none of them had any interest in "things."
All of these men knew what it was to be truly wealthy, yet in material goods they had nothing. They could see all of the beautiful "things" the world had in it, and want none of it and would have no interest in recording any of the amazing sights they passed by daily. Their heart was set on things above, not on things on the Earth.
If you do decide to have this type of true wealth, there is also something else that goes with it. You have to make a conscious decision to not want things, however, it must not be because you could not attain them anyway. Otherwise, for you it is no more than the story of the fox and the "sour" grapes.
Make a decision to be genuinely happy for anyone who buys something new and shiny and takes pleasure in it. Be happy for them, but know in your heart that it is not for you. If you can do that, then you, my friend, are truly a wealthy person: your reach and grasp are now identical.
It's okay to have a car, you might need one for your job. But, does it have to be fancy... shiny... new... etc. The fancier and newer it is only leads to worry for you about scratches, dents, etc. Besides, it can be easy for such a car to become an idol to you. A couple of years ago I bought a new car, a cheaper one but still brand new. Do you know what I found out about myself. It is easy for such things to become an idol for me, something I care more about than I should. I was washing it often and worrying about a couple of dings I got on the door from a grocery cart. Then God sent me a blessing.
After a church service my pastor backed up with his truck and ran it into my side door. Big dent! I had it appraised and the insurance company wrote a check to have it fixed. I decided to keep the dent. It looks just fine on my car and it is good for me. I seldom waste my time or money on washing and vacuuming it anymore. If the grandchildren accidentally spill a drink on the seat or floor, that is okay... I can buy them another drink. Now whenever I see the nose-prints on the back glass from our dogs, Virgil and Stella, they only make me smile as I picture them getting excited over something they saw from the car window.
I remember some time ago reading about a sect of Amish, I believe they are called Beachy, who drives cars. One of their group bought a new car and immediately took a ball-peen hammer to it and made hundreds of dents throughout. He needed a vehicle for transportation, he did not need anything to turn into an expensive idol.
I do have some "things" that are treasures to me. However, it is not because of any monetary value they might have, i.e., rubber dinosaur, old coin, superman mug, cross necklace, scribbled drawings that say, "I luv you grandpa," etc. They are valuable only because of who it was that gave them to me, not valuable because they could be sold for money.
I am not there yet, but I long for the day when no "thing" on Earth has any hold on me. Besides all of that, large amounts of money is probably not good for anyone and God seems to disdain it for most of His servants. There is an old Irish saying, "If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people He gives it to." Keep in mind also that He chose the only disciple who was to betray Him (Judas) to be the one who carried the money for the group.
In conclusion: get off of the treadmill, drop out of the rat race, etc., set your mind on the things of God and strive to follow Colossians 3:2 "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

June 12, 10:50 a.m.

Just a quick thought for today. When does doing something that should be good, turn out bad? For example: adopting a poor child from a third-world country ought to be a good thing, shouldn't it? The honest truth is... not always: it depends on who is doing the adopting.
This morning I read where some judge has cleared the way for Madonna to adopt just such a child... and all I could think about was the soul of the poor baby. Not only has this sick and twisted entertainer proved herself to be just another "Hollywood whore," in a very long line of such people, she also practices a false religion (Kabballah) where there is no hope for salvation.
Almost all of these false cults have one common thread running through them. There is very little difference between them and all other liberal thinkers who believe their "god" to be a minimalist. In other words, it is impossible to "know Him." Of course, the Bible, God's Holy Word, teaches the exact opposite of this and that is why Christ came into the world and died and rose from the dead so that we could in fact... know God!!! The Apostle Paul stated in Philippians 3:10a "That I might know him, and the power of his resurrection..." That is the whole purpose of God becoming man in Christ Jesus, that our sins would be atoned for and we could have fellowship with and actually know the God of heaven and Earth!
I will finish this today with a famous quote that has a lot of truth in it: "Know God, know peace... no God, no peace."

posted by Robin Johnson @ 9:40 AM

SOME THOUGHTS

As with my other blogs, I will add to this one until it grows to a suitable length and then I will begin anew. You can always email me at clarkmatthews1@aol.com.

June 1, 3:51 p.m.

Every once in awhile I will try to post something that (hopefully) teaches you about yourself and if you are saved, your walk with God. Today, will be one of those posts.
Have you ever wondered how any born-again person knows when they are close to God? The answer might surprise you, because at first blush it will sound impossible. Yet, I will not only prove it with examples from the Bible, I think I can write it in such a way that it will become plausible to you as well. It has to do with some crooked sticks... bear with me.
More than 20 years ago I brought this same message in an evening service at HBC. Don't be alarmed though: you will be getting the Reader's Digest condensed version. Many years ago I was made to understand that my ability to ever do any serious preaching had probably been ruined because I got my start in junior church preaching to children. Because of that I find it impossible to make points without using props and breaking examples down so that even the youngest of those who were in attendance could grasp what was being taught. If that is the case... so be it. I like it when I can speak and what I say can be easily understood. Quite possibly it might only mean that I am a simpleton and therefore it would well-nigh be impossible for me to teach anything "deep." Again, I say... fine. Now, to the sticks. (You will have to imagine four sticks with each one being a little more twisted than the one beside it. Then, picture a plumb-line for our perfectly straight line.)
In our short story, God represents the perfectly straight plumb-line. And you, the reader must take your place as one of the bent sticks. If you picture yourself as the straightest of the four... then in your mind please think of three other people you believe to be saved who are just not
quite "as good as you are." If you think of yourself as the worst of the four, then please name three other people who just might be "a little better than you are." You get the picture... find your place in the group of four... then put names to those other sticks around you. Keep in mind that God is the plumb-line... please don't imagine yourself there." (LOL)
Now that's our props... time to get to the message. If you are a guy, have you ever watched a girl apply her makeup? (This is not a message on whether or not Godly women ought to wear makeup: On this issue I am in the camp of the old-time preacher B.R. Lakin. When asked whether or not saved women should wear makeup... He said, "If the barn needs paintin,' you paint it.")
Girls, am I correct that what follows is how you put on your makeup. You most probably own a mirror that is lighted, and in many cases one side of the glass will be magnified. In addition to this bright light and magnified glass... you will put your face within an inch of the glass as you carefully apply your facepaint. I have a question for you. Why do you do that. The answer is simple. The closer you can get to the mirror, the more easily you can see your flaws and imperfections... and because of that you apply the makeup in the areas that need it the most.
Let me ask another question. Have you ever seen any sane woman place a mirror on the other side of a large room and try to apply her makeup from the reflection that she can barely see? In my lifetime I have had the rare occasion to see someone who might think that is how they ought to do it... Tammy Faye comes to mind... but that is not typically how it is done.
II Corinthians 3:18a: But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord..." We, you and I, are made in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, in order to know if you are close to Him, you must behold Him... His image and likeness... and not compare yourself... one crooked stick... to some other saved person... again, just another crooked stick.
Here is the answer, and with the answer I will use men from the Bible to prove with their own experiences that what I now write is the only true-test to see if you are experiencing a close walk with God, or if you are among the foolish group who are only comparing themselves to other believers. II Corinthians 10:12 "For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." The answer is rather simple. When you honestly begin to see yourself as a terrible and crass sinner... worthy of the deepest Hell and no forgiveness from a Holy God... then it might be that you are beginning to see Him as He is.
Now, if you see yourself as a terrible sinner, and the honest truth is... you are. That doesn't count. But, if you are honestly trying to do everything you know that might please God, and yet the more you do, the worse you see yourself... it might be that you are no longer seeing your own reflection when you seek to see Him... it might be His image is beginning to reflect in you.
Now, let me prove that to you with Godly men from the Bible.
Job, if he were alive in his flesh today... he would probably be the Godliest man you would ever meet. Read the first 37 chapters of Job and see if Job does not stand head-and-shoulders above even all of the other Godly men of his day. Keep in mind though, Job, up to that point, was a crooked stick, comparing himself to other slightly more twisted sticks. Finally, God decides to reveal Himself to Job. (chapters 38-41) Read the first six verses of chapter 42. Keep in mind now that Job is seeing God in all of His Holiness. It is no longer a mere man standing before him. Job 42:5-6 "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." Job, one of the most Godly men who ever lived, said that he abhorred himself after glimpsing God. Why? The crooked stick saw just how crooked he really was, when compared to the plumb-line, and not other slightly more bent sticks than himself.
I could give you the same understanding with other great men of the Bible and their personal experiences with God, i.e., Moses, Daniel, Ezekiel, etc. If you ever become close enough to see God, with your spiritual eyes you will be undone... your own goodness will be as Isaiah stated, Isaiah 64:6a "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;" Look at what happened to the prophet Isaiah when he had a vision of God. Isaiah 6:5 "Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts." Are you beginning to understand? If you ever get close to God, you start seeing how really despicable you actually are.
(Many of the famous television preachers are laughable with their testimonies of loving and really "knowing" God. If they ever really saw God, even one time, they would give up their wealth and preach the Gospel to the poor. No more playing and living like the devil in the devil's playground, which is the world.)
The same thing happened to the "beloved disciple" John when he saw God in His glory on the island of Patmos. It is always exactly the same thing... view God... really try to get close enough to want to see His Holiness... and you will fall away with self-loathing.
I will only give you one more example. The apostle Paul. God used him to author nearly one-half of the New Testament. Read about Paul's life and see that from a youth he feared God and tried to keep all of the commandments. Yet, after actually seeing God, one time in a vision, Paul summed up his life, after he was saved, in only five blunt words. I Timothy 1:15 "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." (of whom I am chief!) Notice the word, "am." That word means that Paul is recognizing in the "present tense" the fact that he feels himself to be a vile sinner. Even though, most probably compared to you and I he would have lived his life like an angel of God.
Do you think you are close to God? How do you see yourself... a pretty good person... you try hard... you're nice to people... you attend church... you tithe... etc. etc. etc. to ad infinitum. No, the honest truth is that you might, just might, becoming close to God, if you do all of the above, and a thousand other good things to do, yet, at your best you know that you are a "worm" and not worthy of the mercies of a Holy God. Why? Because just maybe you caught a glimpse of Him and you saw yourself, really saw yourself---for the very first time.
One time I confronted an older woman from a Nazarene Church. She actually told me she thought she had reached "sinless perfection." I quoted a handful of verses to show her that she was a terrible sinner before God, and just by believing that, sinless perfection, she was calling God Himself a liar... which of course was another sin she could add to her growing list.
Without exception, and in both Testaments, under "Law" and "Grace," every single time anyone caught a glimpse of God, they fell away as dead men while recognizing their own sinful ways.
So by all means, do everything that you know the Bible teaches to be well-pleasing to God, and when you are done, forget thinking you have done well because of it. Remember the admonition, and the very words of God Himself, the Lord Jesus: Luke 17:10 "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."

June 2, 8:43 a.m.

As part of mine and my wife's devotions this morning I was reading from Amos chapter six. It begins with (verse one) "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion..." That verse seems to encompass the average life of 99.99 percent of everyone in America who professes to know and serve God.
In reality I am not even necessarily doubting the "know" part of professing believers. As long as they have placed their trust in the shed blood and the finished work of Jesus Christ (death, burial, and resurrection) then at least in that sense they do "know" Him and are saved. That is all very good. My questions would center around the second part of what professing believers say about knowing and "serving" God.
At least in America today (give Obama enough time and this will change) we still have freedom to worship and serve God. Here is my question to you who read this blog today. And my question is only for you if you are of the group who states that they do, in fact, know and serve God. What does your "service" consist of? An hour each week at some church? A couple of dollars in the offering plate? A few (brief) whispered prayers to God? (And those only if you or someone you love has a need or a want, otherwise... you pretty much ignore Him.) Occasionaly you might(?) tell someone about the love of God and their need to trust Christ... but you act as if you are embarrased to do it? Is what I just wrote about... your typical "service" to God?
"Woe to them that are at ease in Zion." Those who claim to know Christ (in America) had better wake up before God finally decides to punish this nation in a way that it will never recover from. At this point in time we have all of the sins in this country happening and people "winking" at them as if it is nothing to God... even though He has already pronounced those actions as sin against Him. The terrible sin of murdering our un-birthed babies... befriending nations (through the wicked United Nations) that God abhors because of their idolatry... homosexuals demanding a "right" to marry, a union that the Bible declares belongs only to a man and a woman... etc. etc. etc.
I think America, as a country, has not ceased to exist for only two reasons. We still are sending out about 90% of all missionaries worldwide, and at least till this backsliding people elected a closet Muslim, we were friends to Israel. Keep in mind that Obama's trip to the Middle East encompasses him visiting Muslim leaders and their countries, but he is not going to Israel. That is why I say that he is a "closet" Muslim and he is not even very deep in the closet.
It is important to also remember that it was many people who "professes" Christianity that went to the polls last November and voted for a man, who by his practices hates the God of the Christian's Bible. If you are one of those people I will give you a "thought for the day." Every few seconds today a small innocent baby will be put to death in an abortion clinic. You, by your vote, helped to keep that terrible travesty happening. At least pray today and confess your part and ask His forgiveness in all of the helpless little babies being killed today.
So, all believers have a choice. Remain "at ease" in your service to God and watch this country fall away and be relegated to the dustbin of history. Of course that means that your children and grandchildren will either be raised in an atheistic country, similar to Cuba, China, Russia, etc. Or they will be raised in a country with a heathen religion like the Muslim nations.
Doubt this verse and you have no hope or part in God's plan of salvation, and your soul will take part in the lake that burns with fire! Jesus, speaking of Himself said, ..."I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
Jesus, and only Jesus can save a soul, every other belief is a false belief and it leads to death and Hell. So, at least for a little while you have a choice. If you are saved then... wake up! Stop being at ease in Zion and believe that is somehow right or acceptable to God. And if you have been deceived and are lost... then trust the finished work of the Lord Jesus the Christ to the saving of your soul.

June 3, 4:57 a.m.

I saw part of a hysterically funny show last evening on ABC. What made it even funnier is that I think it was intended to be a serious show. It might have been called "Lucy's World?" I'm not sure, I only got to see the last twenty minutes or so. But I laughed and laughed... it was great entertainment.
This morning, before leaving for work, I will only have a few minutes to type and I will finish this blog later today when I get in. But I wanted to type a little this morning because one line was so funny that I couldn't wait to tell you about it.
Keep in mind that for a show of this type liberals always trot out a long line of Al Gore sycophants. I was sitting too far from the screen to catch the man's name who had the funniest line that I heard during the part of the show I watched. I only wish that I could have seen it all for I am certain there were a lot of lines just like this one throughout the entire broadcast. This particular liberal said, "We can't burn or drill our way out of the problems we are having... we just have to invent something."
I know it sounds ridiculous... but that is what he said. Remember though that liberals always say ridiculous things just like that and other liberals are afraid to challenge them on their nonsensical statements. First of all, the man is patently wrong. We can burn coal and we can dig oil and it will give immediate relief to the problems we are facing. It is just that the liberals have to stop interfering and allow drilling and digging in the places that we already know have huge reserves.
Liberals want us to believe that the quickest way to get us out of the problems we are facing is to not use technology which is already in place... drilling, digging, etc. but for them it is much quicker to invent something! Are they insane? The answer of course to that one is obvious... of course they are.
Keep in mind that they do not even know what they want to invent. And that is the hysterically funny part and what they are not being challenged on. Ask them what and they will tell you that they do not know... but there just has to be a better way than burning or drilling.
(I will add more when I get in from work... have a nice day.)
(2:54 p.m.) I just got in from work and I really only have a couple more points to make. First: a few years ago to prove liberal Democrats wrong a small oil company in the south did an experiment. They set up a rig in an area with known oil reserves, then they drew the crude oil out and sent it to a refinery. From there they put it on the open market for sale. The entire process from the ground to a car's gas tank was less than 90 days!
And secondly: wake up... we do not have to invent something. All of the infrastructure is in place today to be able to start drilling oil offshore and in Alaska and within six months we would start having enough gasoline on the market to start breaking our dependency on the Middle East. From that point and forward gasoline and diesel would drop to the point that all items being transported around the country which are for sale would see a huge drop off in cost. That friends is a fact. And once again the liberal Democrats would be proven wrong because we can burn and drill our way out of the mess we are in!
I also wanted to write something about the death of Dr. Tiller. I personally believe that he was a monster, but the only satisfaction I take in his death is the fact that he can no longer murder any more un-birthed babies.
I do have a question for any person out there who does not believe that George Tiller and others like him are monsters. If killing a helpless and innocent child by some of the cruelest ways possible (literally removing their limbs from their trunks with a sharp scalpel) does not make a human being a very cruel monster... what does?
Some, including myself, think that Tim McVeigh was a monster for setting a bomb and taking the lives of several innocent small children. Yet, Mr. Tiller estimated that he performed abortions on more than 60,000 mothers. In other words, he murdered more than 60,000 innocent and helpless babies. Tiller was a heartless, cruel, murdering, man who must now answer to God for his evil ways.
The other thing I wanted to mention about this story is where he was and what he was doing when he was shot. The fact that he was inside a church building was fine... saint and sinner alike are welcomed into such buildings all of the time. However, he was actually taking a part in the service as an usher. Imagine for just a moment that such a heinous man as Tiller was in your church... would he be allowed to do anything more than sit in a pew and have the right of every sinner to hear the Gospel message?
If he would be allowed to do anything more than that, then leave... don't walk... but run away from that apostate group of people as fast as you can. Then, find a real body of believers who know in their heart that killing helpless babies is a crime against humanity and a terrible sin before the Lord Jesus the Christ.
Consider the following: all of us must stand one day before God and give account for things done in this body. Those who say they support what Tiller did, I bet even they would not want to be in Tiller's place as he stands before a Holy God and tries to give an account for murdering the "heritage of the Lord."

June 4, 8:42 a.m.

This morning I thought I would just like to give some insight into human behavior: albeit, what I write will be ascribing to man's more base nature. My dad repeated many times the famous quote, "Absolute power corrupts absolutely." At least with humans this always seems to be the case. For example, in history, there has never been a benevolent despotic leader. When any person has been given enough power, they have always turned to hurting other and weaker people. It appears that whenever more power is wielded it always turns to cruelty. However, since no one reading this blog is likely to ever acquire the power of a despot, let me show you the cruelty in the "average" person out there whenever they have even a little power.
The story is told of a man's boss hollering at him at work... so he goes home and hollers at his wife... his wife turns on one of the children and screams at them... the little child finds the dog and kicks at it... the dog chases the cat out of the house... the cat goes in search of a mouse... Are you starting to get the picture? It seems that at every stage of life... someone wants to find another who is weaker and tries to pick on them.
With that much of an introduction, I now want to write something that will make it easier to be able to spot cruelty in a person. And whenever you spot such cruelty... pray that the person you see it in never rises to any position of perceived power: or, you may be looking at another Idi Amin or other like-minded evil people.
I also need you to understand that a person does not have to have any real power to display evil tendencies, it is just that if the tendencies are there... they would definitely act on them if given the opportunity. The easiest way to illustrate this is the fact that you do not have to be rich to display the "love of money being the root of all evil" syndrome. Poor people can show this as well as billionaires. It is just easier seeing it on display among those who are already wealthy. The same way it is easier to see evil in a person who has the power to act their evil out. Although this is not what today's blog is about, if you want to know if you have the love of money problem (even as a poor person) it is very easy to know. If you ever sit around and just imagine... "If I only had "X" amount of dollars... all my problems and worries would be over." Then my friend, you have the "love of money" problem. Because money, in and of itself, has never been the answer to any person's problems.
I used to tell my wife that it was easy to spot a teenager who had a good heart and those who were cruel inside. I told her to look for two things. Watch how they interacted with small children and small animals they came into contact with. Were they kind and did they treat these smaller and weaker vessels with kindness, or were they dismissive and even physically hurtful to those they came into contact with who were more helpless than themselves?
Many years ago, by reading case histories, I studied the lives of many of the world's most infamous serial-killers. These were people who killed just for the thrill of it. There is something terrifying to know about such people as these. Without exception... every single serial-killer started out as a young child hurting animals! Now it is true that there have been children who have been cruel to helpless animals and they have not gone on and carried their particular pathology, i.e. hurting those weaker than themselves onto the next level and started killing humans, it is still worrisome to know that all serial-killers began their career by hurting helpless animals.
Isn't this the same understanding we have with hard-core drug users and the reasoning behind staying away from the "softer" drugs. Addicts do not become addicted to heroin by beginning with heroin, they start their long road to death by drugs by experimenting with "pot" and etc.
All of my belief systems are founded upon precepts from the Bible. I try and make certain that if I hold or carry a belief in my mind or heart and it does not line up with Bible precepts, then I change my belief and try to get in line with what the Bible states... if you say that you are a believer then I trust that you feel the same way.
With that in mind read carefully Proverbs 12:10a "A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast..." This also means that an unrighteous man would not regard (or care about) the life of his animal. Remember, how any person treats those around them that are weaker than themselves, always reflects on their character or lack thereof.
It is important also to understand that in the beginning in the Garden of Eden that the animal world was created by God, before man was created. And God, before sin entered into Adam and Eve only meant that animals were to be companions to man. Not something that was to be mistreated or abused simply because man was bigger or stronger or had the cunning to be able to devise a way to do it.
I even actually heard it discussed (recently) whether or not animals would be killed and eaten in Heaven. I'm not kidding. There, evidently, are some that believe a practice (eating animals) that was introduced after sin came into the world will be practiced in a sinless Heaven. I would be very much concerned with any person's Theology in other matters if they do not even have the basic understanding in this.
God created both man and animal, in the sinless Garden of Eden to be vegetarians! Genesis 1:28-30 "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful,and multiply, and replenish the erath, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yeilding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth , and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so." After... sin entered the world and Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden, then, and only then was man allowed to kill and consume animals.
Just a few questions to further prove my point. First: do you beleive the Bible? Secondly: if the Bible is clear on what is stated, do you accept what it says? Does every beast of the earth (today) eat green herbs? Does every fowl of the air (today) eat green herbs? Does every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, (today) eat green herbs? The answer of course to the last three questions is "no."
That can only mean that either the Bible is not true, God is mistaken, or (and the correct answer is this one) the diet for both man and animal has changed since their sinless beginning recorded in the first chapter of Genesis.
If you have a child or a loved one who has a tendency to be cruel to anything around them that is weaker and more vulnerable, then... be very afraid to go to sleep at night. Actually with the last nine-words of that sentence I am only joking. But, if you see this type of behavior displayed in any person, young or old, it is worrisome that they can only feel good about themselves by striking out and hurting something that is weaker. That type of behavior always speaks of both cruelty and cowardice. Cruelty for not having empathy about another's pain and cowardice because they purposefully hurt something that can not hurt them back.
In conclusion: The sad truth is that whatever character a person displays as a child they will carry with them into old-age. Many times we would take children from our Christian school to visit the elderly in the nursing homes. Sometimes there were people in their 90's who were kind and sweet and there were also others in their 90's who were bitter and rude. I explained to the students that had they met both groups of people when they were only nine years old instead of 90, they would have still seen the same type of behavior from that person. The sweet 90-year- old person would have been a sweet nine-year-old. And the bitter and rude 90-year-old, would have displayed the same behavior at nine. Age, in and of itself does not change character.

June 5, 8:57 a.m.

As part of my devotions this morning I was reading the last three chapters of Jeremiah. I just want to leave everyone with a quick thought for the day. God, at least for a season of time, will (sort of) "wink at your sin." By that I only mean that He will tolerate bad behavior in His children for a while. But, and I imagine this period of time is different for all of His children, there will come a time when "enough is enough."
First: I would like to encourage everyone to read their Bible daily, but, as you read do not forsake your Old Testament reading either. Just because we live in the "church age" does not mean that God (Himself) changes. Remember: Jesus is the same yesterday, (O.T.) today, (N.T.) and forever. (into the ages)
I'm much afraid that the average believer gets a completely skewed idea of the nature of God by only reading Matthew to Jude, and they skip the Book of the Revelation and their Old Testament reading entirely. If this is done on purpose, then one day I believe these people are in for a rude awakening.

June 6, 6:38 a.m.

I don't particularly like to write something that is only about a single news story... at least without adding something from the Bible which gives me more of a reason for wanting to talk about it.
For quite awhile now there has been an ongoing story in the news about the flight which went down in the ocean, apparently without a trace of where it went down. Such a tragedy, in and of itself, is horrendous, but for the surviving family members not even knowing where the remains of their loved ones are... must be unbearable.
Sometimes I find that whenever I pray for people I'll never meet and for those that I never knew, it feels a little disingenuous. I mean, it costs me nothing but a little time and I have no way of knowing if my simple prayer helps any of them: yet, it still feels like it is the right thing to do.
After all, in all matters of life-and-death, who else should any person turn to... but God. He alone has the answers and God is also the only one who could be able to give any comfort to the living in a time like that. With that in mind I do pray for those surviving family members to turn to God and ask for His help. And in turn, I do also pray that God will hear their pleas and will help them.





p.m.

posted by Robin Johnson @ 3:50 PM