Maryland or bust.

Well, Aaron graduated. This is the most exciting thing that has happened in the past few months. I think it even suprised him. Today, he is headed to Aberdeen Maryland for his Advanced Individual Training (AIT) part of his army training. From there, only God knows. He got his drivers license today too. So many things are happening so quickly. Time waits for no man. Arlin James, my nephew, also left for Basic Train in the Army in Oklahoma. He graduated with high honors from Longview High School, and plans on going to college as soon as his basic and AIT is completed. Please pray with Becky and I for God's will to be done in these you men's lives. May he protect them, along with the many other kids, who are in our military.

Forgiving People

Forgiving People
Matthew 18:21 – 35

Do people really understand the word “Forgive”? My pastor recently preached a message out of the book of Matthew, and as I read further down I ran into this passage. As many others have done, I may have read this passage a hundred times and never got the true meaning until that night. It always amazes me at how God shows me things.

In a very short preview of this particular passage, we see that Peter is in the midst of a conversation with Jesus and does something that many of us would love to do now, and get verbal answers too. He asked a question on a subject matter that he may not have quiet understood. The good thing is that he got his answer right then. He didn’t have to wait or study his Bible to come to an understanding. Jesus told him of a certain king who was owed money by a certain man. The KJV Bible said this man owed the king 10,000 talents. One talent of gold is equal to $26,280.00 in U.S. Currency; if not more today. I don’t know that it was worth that exact amount then, but apparently it was worth a good amount. We know that men today have been killed for a lot less, but 10,000 talents of gold, at today’s value, would be $262,800,000.00. What most of us could do with just 10 talents at today’s market value!

Let’s look at this amount at our current value. This man owed the kings almost 263 million dollars, and the King forgave his debt. The king was going to put this man and family into slavery to pay his debt, but when the man fell before him and asked him for more time, the king had compassion and forgave him of the debt (vs. 27). However, we see that this same man, who was forgiven of 262 million dollars, chose not to forgive a man who owed him ‘an hundred pence’ (vs.28). What a contrast! If this man owed 262 million dollars, wouldn’t it make sense that 15 dollars was just a drop in the bucket? My grandmother told me, long ago, that rich men are never happy with what they have. They just want more. Maybe that is why Jesus said, “It is easier for a camel to go through an eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” However, the focus is not on the wealth that this man did or didn’t have. It’s on the subject of forgiveness. There are three things I think we can learn from this passage that will help us understand true forgiveness.

WE MUST HAVE COMPASSION.

In verses 27 and 33, we find that the king had compassion. The man who owed 262 million dollars was shown compassion and was forgiven. Compassion means to show grace. Compassion is something that is very hard to find in a lot of Christians today. Granted, I don’t know anyone who owes 262 million dollars to anyone else. However, we need to see that this is just an example. Many men and women have problems with forgiving others. In fact they go in all sorts of directions to find fault in others. Today, we find people who will wrongly accuse others just to make themselves look better. What a shame! We want to claim Jesus in our lives, yet we choose to let ourselves be seen instead. We talk about people behind their backs just to see what kind of response we get back. We tear people down just to get ourselves ahead. Don’t let a person do something that offends us or makes us mad. If someone does, we will go out of our way to get revenge. This, my friends is not what compassion is all about. The question that Peter asked was, “How oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?” We need to realize that before we can forgive someone, we must have compassion and not look for faults.

WE MUST UNDERSTAND HOW TO FORGIVE OTHERS.

The man who was forgiven of his debt of 262 million dollars didn’t understand the concept that the king showed him. He apparently didn’t learn a very valuable lesson the easy way. He knew that he had been totally forgiven of everything he owned this king. He didn’t show the same forgiveness to another that had been shown to him. Jesus explained this to Peter in verse 35. “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” Jesus used an analogy that most anyone can understand. Today’s thought is forgive your brother 7 times 70. However, Jesus used that as an example of an unending forgiveness. This is not an easy thing for any man to do. I remember a person, who had been offended at how a church had treated its pastor and his family. Now, in my opinion, along with others, the church was wrong for what they did. However, two years later that person had ill feelings toward that church. The statement that the person made was, “I can forgive them, but I just can’t forget.” This is a statement that goes against itself. If you truly, from you heart, forgive someone, then you have forgave them to the point that you do not hold it against them any longer. Man has a tendency to not be able to forget. However, we have the ability, through Christ, to not hold a grudge. Unfortunately, this happen in many churches today. Jesus had a simple rule. In Matthew 6:14 and 15, we see that He said, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” How can you expect to be forgiven by God if you can’t show the same forgiveness to those who may or may not really offended you?

WE MUST FORGIVE OTHERS

It is just fact that men will always offend other men. People are going to do things that other people don’t like. Preachers are going to preach things that churches may not necessarily want to hear. However, if they aren’t in the wrong, we shouldn’t dislike them or hold it over their heads. If preachers really preach the Word of God the way it is meant to be preached, and not watered down, then we know that we are probably going to be offended. Why? Because, we don’t like that fact that we are being shown that we are wrong. We want to always be patted on the back and we don’t like feeling bad. We would rather feel good. As I said earlier; people will always offend other people. However, if we really want to live for Christ, then we must be willing to forgive them instantly. They shouldn’t have to ask us to forgive them either. However, if we should be offended, do as the Bible instructs us to do. Go directly to that person and tell them in a loving way that you were offended by them through their words or deeds. Chances are, they weren’t trying to offend you in the first place. However, even if they don’t apologize for their wrong, forgive them anyway. To do this, we must show compassion and love. May God always been seen through each of our lives, and may we all be compassionate with a Godly compassion toward each person.

Proving God
An Alternative to Trusting Self.
Malachi 3:10

In this passage we find that the Lord is dealing with Israel about a lot of different issues. Israel had turned their back upon the Lord, were not trusting Him to provide for them any longer, and sin was running wild through this people. This particular verse seems to be dealing with tithing, or first fruits. Many preachers love to use this scripture to show how God really wants us to give HIM the first fruits of our blessings from Him, or ten percent of what we earn each paid day, before taxes. However, I want to look at this scripture in a total different way. In this scripture I want to look at 3 words that stand out in this scripture. These words are, “Prove ME Now.”
When we think of the word prove, what do we really think it means? Most of us have used the word, ‘prove,’ in a two word statement, ‘prove it,’ when we are trying to get someone to push a thought or an idea. The word ‘prove’ has three different uses in the Bible. There are two Hebrew words, ‘bachan,’ pronounced , ‘baw-khan’, which means to test (especially metals); generally and figuratively it mean to investigate: examine, prove tempt, try (trial). The other Hebrew word for ‘prove,’ is; Nacah, naw-saw’; which means to test; by implication, to attempt, adventure, assay, prove, tempt, try. Of course, the Greek word, found in the New Testament is dokinmazo, dok-im-ad’-zo’. This means to test, to approve, allow, discern, examine, approve, try. In general they basically mean the same thing. However, in this passage, we find that it come from the Hebrew word ‘bachan; baw-khan’. Prove Me now. The Lord wanted Israel to test or investigate Him and His strength. He wanted them to find out that His promise was a strong a metal. It was a strong promise. There are some things I would like us to see in these three words the Lord told Israel in this passage.

UNDERSTAND THAT GOD’S WORD IS HIS BOND.

We find in this chapter that Israel was not tithing at all. They may have been giving God what they thought God needed and not what He had instructed them to do. It’s amazing to me, that we, as Christians, are no different from Israel. We do not give God what He requires of us. Tithing is just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak, in this passage. We make promises to the Lord that we are going to serve Him, when we have tough times, if He will just see us through. However, we forget what we say. Israel prayed for over 300 years that He would pull them from bondage, and if He would, they would serve Him more and obey Him. However, we see that they put Him in the back of their minds and fell back on their promises. We know that where man breaks promises on a regular basis to Him, that the Lord has made promises that He does not break. The first word that comes to me is covenant. The word “covenant,” mean to promise. The Lord has promised Abraham that his children would be as the sands of the sea. He promised that there would be an ultimate sacrifice for all of mankind. In verse 6, we see that the Lord said, “For I am the Lord, I change not.” If he stood by Israel through all the times that He did before, what made Israel loose faith now? We find in His Word that He cannot lie. When God speaks something, He stands by what He says. His promises are as strong as steel, because He does not lie.

UNDERSTAND THAT MAN NEEDS TO PROVE (INVESTIGATE) GOD’S PROMISES

As a child of God we understand that the salvation of God is eternal and that no man can pluck us from His hand. Why? Because Jesus said so! Look in John 10:28 – “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man (thing) pluck them out of my hand.” There is nothing any man can do to fall from the grace of salvation once they accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. However, many of us, who are saved, do not prove God in our lives. I reminded of the scripture where Jesus told Thomas, “Ye have believed because you have seen; blessed are they who believe and have not yet seen.” Pharisees always wanted to see signs. When Jesus showed them signs, they would say He was of the devil. They were blinded to their own selves. They depended on what they could do and only on what they can do. Today, men find themselves in very similar territory. Men have become lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, depisers of those who are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. Today, we have become conceded and think our ways are better than any of God’s ways. We are unthankful, unholy and liars. The world sees more advertisements and hear more advertisements of sex and many pleasures that God has given to men, and taken them all and turned things around so we can use them in ungodly ways. Paul said this would happen. Are you listening? The Lord told Israel, in Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” He meant it then and He has not changed. He keeps His Word and backs it up with power that is stronger than iron. We have issues that we seem to think we have no answers too. Prove God! He is there for us. My question to you is, if He didn’t want us to prove Him, why does He tell us come unto HIM?
A lost man just needs to seek God and ask Him for the promise of salvation that offers every man that seeks Him. This means you must first get self out of the way. Christians, sometimes we stand in the way of what God wants to do for us. Let Him do what He will in your life.

UNDERSTAND THAT IF ISRAEL WOULD HAVE JUST PROVED THE LORD, THERE WERE REWARDS.

The Lord predicted John the Baptist in verse 1 of chapter 3. He made a promise to Israel that He would give them a chance. Did He follow through? Yes! We need to understand that proving the Lord can, at times, be very painful. In verses 2 – 3, we see that the Lord uses the examples of a refiner. This man’s duty was to heat gold and silver up to the point that all of the impurities would come out. This would make the silver or gold very pure. The more pure gold becomes, the softer it gets. We need to allow the Lord to work in us so we can become more pure. Allow Him to remove the impurities in our lives so that we can become more aware of what He wants for us to do. Our hearts need to be softened to the point that we can reach out to the lost, the one who are hurting, and others who need Christ’s direction in their lives. Israel would have found rewards if they would have just proved God. He said, “Prove me now herewith, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Would you like that type of blessing? If we prove God, we will find that the rewards we receive will be great. However, when we don’t prove God in our lives there can be penalties. Discipline is what God performs on those who do not follow Him. His children need to seek out His ways and not there own ways. If you live like you are of the world and are not separated from it, and God doesn’t deal with you, you might want to examine your soul.

UNDERSTAND THAT WE ROB GOD OF MORE THAN TITHES AND OFFERINGS.

Israel had real issues just as we do today. The Lord’s desire was for Israel to return to the days of their fathers and start obeying His commandments and ordinances that they had turned their backs on. Robbing God is a daily thing in Christianity today. We rob Him of opportunities to be used of Him. We seek our own ways and not His ways. The statement, “Prove ME now,” was not just a request, but it was a commandment. If Israel chose to prove the Lord, then they would find favor in His eyes again. We, as Christians, as a whole, need to find favor with God again. Be used of God! Prove Him in your life! The next time you hear or read the word, ‘prove,’ remember that it means to investigate Him. If you do choose to investigate Him, I think you will find that He is very strong in His promises, and that His promises are stronger than anything. It is definitely stronger than anything this world can offer, and they have a lot greater rewards.

Friday

Today, Becky left me. She's gone to a Christian's Women's Retreat in Hot Springs. So, I'm here to be bored all weekend. I think I'm learning some of my new job. It's no the easiest thing to learn. This makes me wish even more that I could pastor again. Even though I didn't feel like I did the best job I could, at times, I was in my confort zone. I've had the crud for about 3 days now. Cough, cough, sniffle, sniffe all day long. I'm ready for it to go. I've started working on devotionals again, slowly, and I'm hoping I can get in the grove with it. I'm going to see Spiderman 3 tonight. I want to see if it is as good as previews say it is. It's movie month here. Spiderman 3, Shrek 3, and Pirates of the Carribean 3. We plan on seeing em' all. Hope ya'll have a great weekend.

Wisdom Verses Patience

How Faith Intervenes
James 1: 5 – 7

Wisdom and Patience are two different things. However, you can’t have one without the other. Think about it. Wisdom comes from having patience and Patience gives us wisdom. However they come with a common denominator in the form of faith. In James chapter 1, we see that he gets into how faith works patience and has a perfect work, which is complete, (3-4). Verses 5 and 6 tell us, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him as in faith, not wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed,” Verse 7 says, “For let not that man think, or assume, that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”

Wisdom is something I really wished I had a whole lot more of. I can remember when they said that a gray headed man had lots of wisdom, but I’ve got plenty of gray hair and I don’t really consider myself wish. Many other people consider themselves wise, but truthfully, they are lacking in that area. When wisdom is talked about, Christians usually think of Solomon right of the bat. Solomon was given wisdom, because he asked for it. However, Solomon did not always use his wisdom wisely. In a wise move, I can remember the story of two women saying that a baby was theirs. One woman had taken the other woman’s baby to declare as hers when she lost her own child. To settle the argument, Solomon finally said to cut the baby in half and each of them could have half of it. One lady was all for it, but the real mother said no. The one that said ‘no,’ was given her baby back. In a not so wise move, on more than one occasion, Solomon chose to marry women who were idol worshippers. He did not seek God’s will like he should. He made wrong decisions. Most honest men today would readily admit that they have made wrong decisions in their life. Two decisions I made wrong in mine, among many wrong decisions, are that I ran from the ministry for 14 years, because of men’s beliefs, which had been taught to me. The other decision I made that was wrong, in my opinion, was that I probably didn’t take my only pastorate as important as I needed too. I didn’t apply myself as much as I should, and therefore may have been a key instrument as Satan’s tool to push some away from church. The important small things may have been overlooked. Solomon said, in Ecclesiates 12:13, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of men.” He could have possibly said, “for this is the whole duty of wise men.” That’s not what it says though.

James, in this writer’s opinion, was a wise man too. He wrote things in this book that will help Christians in our daily and spiritual lives if we will just study it. Let’s see what he has to tell us in these verses considering wisdom and faith. There are some key things in these scripture that show us how we should seek wisdom.

WE SHOULD ASK GOD FOR WISDOM vs. 5a

In verse 7, James tells us that we shouldn’t think or assume that the Lord is just going to give us anything. Now, we all know that the Lord takes care of us with material things and He keeps His protective hands around us. However, I also believe we just assume that HE will continue to do that too. We should be thankful for what HE does give us and not just pretend that it was us all the time. Some men have this idea that they earn things themselves. However, man doesn’t earn anything: he is given things, or the Lord allows man to have things. Wisdom is there for the asking. A rule of thumb is to never ask God for patience. However, we can ask God for wisdom. We know they go together. We know that God will provide it to us if we just ask. Wisdom can teach of patience with a lot less heartache.

WISDOM IS GIVEN GENEROUSLY OR OPEN HANDED. VS 5B

When men ask for wisdom, God is open handed and more than generous in giving it to them. He gives it to him freely. I love to eat at a certain café, on a daily basis. However, as much as I like the chicken fried steak, I am only allowed to eat what I pay for. It’s not free. Buffets are a little more generous, but you still have to pay for the food you eat. In the quest for wisdom, all a man has to do is ask for it. When we ask for wisdom, not only does the Lord give it to us, HE doesn’t criticize us, or look down on us, for asking. The KJV of the Bible says, “upbraideth not.” The Lord doesn’t criticize us for asking for wisdom, and He gives it to us freely. What a blessing! However, there are conditions for us when we ask for wisdom.

WISDOM IS GIVEN TO A MAN WHEN HE ASKS FOR IT BY FAITH, AND DOESN’T WAVER. VS. 6

The Merriam – Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines the word ‘wavering’ as to hesitate as if to about to give away. We could look at this a couple of ways, I think. People waver in their faith all the time. Christians love to say, “I have faith in the Lord,” but do we really? A good example of not working faith can be found as close as this writer. I tell people I have faith in God, but I don’t always prove that faith. My wife and I have found a brand new manufactured home, or commonly known a mobile home, that we really want. However, the land we wanted to buy, and shook hands with the man on, fell through. This wasn’t necessarily the man’s fault, and I’m not blaming him, but Becky and I have not been able to find the land that best suits us. It seems like every door is shut. Even though both of us have prayed for land, it’s either too high or too much land. This can cause me, or any man, to waver on his faith. We might say, “Well God just isn’t going to give this to us.” I’m just going to give up on it, because it’s not going to happen. That’s wavering on faith. Another way to look at it would be to waver on whether we really want the wisdom or not. Like a lot of things, wisdom brings responsibility. The biggest responsibility would be that of being wise with the wisdom God gives to us. Those are things just to think about. James goes on to say that a man who wavers is like a wave of the sea, which is driven with the wind and tossed. When we waver on our faith in God we can open doors for Satan to enter. He is always looking for way to defeat a Christian, and one way to make them feel defeated is by causing them to loose their faith in the Lord. We are driven by forces unseen. Paul said, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph. 6:12)

WE SHOULD ASK FOR WISDOM AND NOT ASSUME WE JUST GET IT. (VS 7)

Men just automatically believe that God is bound to us, because we are saved, and has to just give us things. This is a lie. God doesn’t owe us anything. He doesn’t have to give us anything. We should assume that God is just going to give us wisdom. We also need to understand that patience comes through wisdom, which in turn comes through trials and tribulation. Men, for the most part, can learn patience and grow in wisdom from tough times. A lot of men can teach others from the heartaches, pains, and suffering that they have suffered. However, we have to have an ear to hear by. We can learn a lot for older adults if we just pay attention. However, we need to understand that a lot of the things we learn in this world come from trial and error in our own lives. That is were patience comes in, and faith is the common denominator to wisdom. By faith Abraham took Isaac to make Isaac a sacrifice, and by faith Abraham told the servant to hold the donkeys until him and Isaac returned. Abraham learned his wisdom from trial and error, but he also learned that God would not fail. Abraham got his wisdom from having faith in the Lord.

SOMETHING TO REMEMBER

Always remember the next time you think to yourself, “I wished I had more patience,” to ask God for wisdom. Through wisdom, you can learn patience with a lot less of the trials and tribulations. However, you must always remember that the key to both, wisdom and patience is faith. We need to remember what we are told in Hebrews 11:6. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” James said, “Faith without works is dead.” James 2:20. What is faith? “Now faith is the substance of thing hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen.” (Heb. 11:1). The stronger our faith becomes in God, the wiser we will become; and patience will follow. Faith is the common denominator when it comes to ‘wisdom verses patience.’ May the Lord grant us all the wisdom we ask for, and May we all grow in our faith.

Joy through Misery

Joy through Misery
A Perfect Work
James 1: 2 - 4

The month of April was pretty rough. A lot of things seemed to go south pretty fast, while other things went great. That’s life though, isn’t it? The book of James is one of the hardest books in the Bible. It brings the reality of life out. It lines Christians out. In chapter 1:2 James wrote, “Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; know this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” Job reminds us, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble,” Job14:1.

We don’t always count it all joy when things go tough for us. I can honestly say that I’m quick to get down on myself and, sometimes, life too. Does the Lord expect us to be down? Job could have gotten down worse, and even to the point of denying the LORD if he so chose to. In fact, his wife asked, “Why don’t you curse God and die?” I believe that this woman had already cursed God in her heart. However, Job knew that God was in control. He even stated, “I know thou canst do ever thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.” Unfortunately, in some way or another, we all experience trials and tribulation. We are tested above and beyond all that we think we can stand. Granted some are tested well above others, it seems, and at times there seems to be no end. However, some of the trials or tribulations we have can be a direct reaction to what we have done too. To every decision comes a reaction or consequence. Either way, when the trial comes through, we do not count it joy. We don’t have the excitement about it. We just wonder when it is going to stop; don’t we?

Why should we count it all joy? James tells us why would should count it all joy and this should be encouraging to us all.

WE SHOULD COUNT IT ALL JOY, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE TRYING OF OUR FAITH WORKETH PATIENCE. VS. 3

It is not smart to ask the Lord for Patience. I know that my patience has been worked hard, but then again maybe it hasn’t been worked as hard as it can be. If you pray for patience, you usually are given trials to help build it up. It leads us to depend on God more. I made the comment, not long ago, about how I would like for the Lord to speak to me like HE did in the Old Testament and even some in the New Testament. How simple would it be if God would answer us directly and verbally? Then again, it may not be what I really would want to hear. Would communications between me and the Lord be constant? How about, what would he say if I made wrong decisions and ask me, why are you here, or there, or why did you do this or that? How come you didn’t go to church this morning or how come you didn’t study your Bible today? Get the drift? Yes, it would be great to have the answers quickly, but there are times we don’t want to hear these answers either. Patience is not my best virtue by a long shot. When I want something, I usually want it now. However, I find that actually waiting upon the Lord does renew my strength, and God’s plan is usually revealed to me. There is one area in my life though, that I wished I could be doing what my heart desires, and my patience is not so strong. We need to thank God daily for even the bad things that seem to happen from day to day. We need to realize that things could always be much worse. Thank God for life and the opportunity to have our faith worked. We all need it.

WE SHOULD COUNT IT ALL JOY, BECAUSE WHEN PATIENCE HAS FINISHED HER WORK WE WILL BE PERFECT AND ENTIRE, WANTING NOTHING. VS. 4

Now understand this; God supplies our needs, but doesn’t always give us our wants when we want them. When I was a young man, I bought a brand new 1981 - 14 x 80 Melody Mobile Home. It was my first ever major purchase, well, besides a car or two. My wife and I lived in a trailer park, which was provided by the man I bought the Mobil Home from. Eventually I wanted a place of my own to put it on. I believe I was paying $70.00 a month on this place and I decided I could pay that much on my own place. A man that I used to go to church with told me he would sell me 21/2 acres of land when he moved his mobile home, which he was trying to sell separate. I went to my banker, who later went with me to examine this land, and he started showing me the down sides of the land. It has a gas well on it; what if the gas line explodes, the land is low, it may flood; and he finally ended the conversation with, “I don’t think it’s worth what they are asking for it. The value of it is lower than their price.” It was a devastating blow to me. He then said, “But, if you just have to have it, I guess I’ll finance it.” I went home and was still very down about it. I had lost all patience, which wasn’t much, and started asking, ‘why me?’ Not many days longer, another man that I had gone to church with called me and told me of an acre and a half that was vacant. I found out that my bank had gotten the land back from a default of the owner and needed to get rid of it. I went to my banker who didn’t know a thing about it, but found out which banker did own it. He loaned me the money for it, and even though I don’t live there any longer, it is still one of the prettiest lots I ever had. Even though I didn’t have the patience I needed, God provided it for my family. I lived there for 5 years before I moved. Now, I’m looking for another place to live, and again, I thought I had the perfect spot to live. A man had promised me some land at a great price, but he was unable to fulfill his commitment, because of other problems with the land. I have not counted it joy that I was unable to get the land, because I wanted it so bad. It seems like everything I’ve been interested in has been a dead end. Before I left my job, I thought I had another job, and it fell through. I was very disappointed, but God had a better idea. Things don’t always go as we plan, but they always, and I mean always, go the way God plans. If we learn to be patient, God will show us a better way, and it will be perfect and entire, and you will be wanting for nothing. However, this comes in HIS time, and not always in our time.


WE SHOULD WAIT UPON GOD’S WILL FOR US.

I know that this isn’t the easiest thing to do. Many trials and tribulations may come our way while waiting upon HIM. If fact, it may be the waiting that causes us to think we are in a trial. Who knows? However, we do know that the Lord only wants the best for each of us. That is why HE sent HIS only begotten SON to die for us, in our place, that we can be saved. Do we count that all joy? If we don’t, we should. Thank HIM for dying in our place. When making a decision, seek the Lord. If you make that a priority, then you are allowing HIM to show you what HE wants you to do. When it happens, you will be pleasantly surprised.

The Importance of Sound Doctrine

The Importance of Sound Doctrine
Why We Need It As Christians


If they took the Bible away from us, or locked it to where we couldn’t get into it, no matter how much we tried, what would we remember? This is a thought that made me think of how this generation of people has lost the perspective of serving God. This made me think of how we are leaning more to worshipping the LORD than serving HIM. I am not against worshipping God, because HE needs to be worshiped in our lives, daily. However, serving God is a way to worship in obedience too. It reminded me of what Paul to Timothy concerning the last days.
In 2 Timothy 3:1 – 5, Paul talks about the last days being dangerous and how people will be lovers of their own selves, and he goes into great detail of how men will be, and I should say, look at us and how we are today. In America, sin is more acceptable today, than it was even in the 70’s. Of course, being a child of the 60’s, I barely remember some things, but the 60’s and 70’s were worse than the 40’s and 50’s. Granted, each generation gets totally worse. This is Bible prophecy being fulfilled.
I went to 2 Timothy 4:1 – 4, which ties into chapter 3, and Paul was encouraging Timothy, but he was warning of how the last days should be too. Paul wrote, “I CHARGE thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at HIS appearing and HIS kingdom; preach the WORD; be instant in season, out of season; reprove rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine; for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine: but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables.” If you go back to chapter 3:7, you see that Paul said men would be, “Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
To Paul, it was urgent that Timothy understands how man would become. We are in a generation of head believers and not heart believers. We have seen it necessary to have several different interpretations of the Bible, when, at one time, the KJV was fine and just not understood, because it wasn’t studied like it should be. Some versions take the power of salvation from God and put it upon man; some leave out scriptures totally; and some even curse. I believe this is a sin in the sight of God. These are my personal beliefs and therefore I am sharing them with you. We have seen it necessary to preach lies, by telling people that God is not able to keep us secure in our own salvation and therefore we must earn it through works; we have seen it necessary to not preach Bible doctrine (truth) so people can feel good about themselves. Paul covered a great deal in 2 Timothy 3 and 4 that apply to this world and so called Christians today.
First of all, I need to clarify what I believe a Christian is; it is a child of God; a man that has been saved by the grace of God, who is living Christ-like. Not every born again child of God can call themselves a Christian all the time! Why? Because, we, as born again children of God, do not always live like Christ did, act like Christ did, and serve our Father, which is heaven like Christ did. We are in a generation of people that use the title, “Christian,” very loosely. I’m saved by the grace of God and therefore I am secure in HIM. But, I do not always portray Christ in my life the way I should. Therefore, I do not always consider myself a Christian. I am, however, still saved, by HIS marvelous grace.
In 2 Timothy 3:7, Paul talked about how men would be, “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” We are in a generation that believes that a worldly education is more important that a Bible education. It’s evident this is true, because many people do not go to church, come to Sunday School, if they do go to church, and do not study their Bibles. I have come to a conclusion, that the reason we have so many different types of Bibles is because people want the Bible to fit their lives and beliefs rather than their lives fitting God’s Word. I’ve done some devotionals on Proverbs, and Solomon said, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction” Proverbs 1:7. So, what is Paul telling Timothy? Could it be that he is telling him, “There are going to be a bunch of fools, because they are rejecting the truth?” Jesus told us about the wise man and the foolish man in Matthew 7. If our knowledge of God weakens, then we become as fools. Wouldn’t you agree? So, what does sound doctrine bring?

SOUND DOCTRINE WILL NOT LEAD A MAN IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. Why would Paul say, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine?” First we need to see that Paul encouraged Timothy to, “Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” The Word of God is like a two edged sword. God uses HIS WORD to mold us into what HE wants us to be, and some of the time, it’s painful. People reject guidance that is painful. We’ve got an attitude, “I’m saved now; isn’t that all that matters?” No, it’s not. God intends for us to represent HIM in the fullest part of our lives. To do this we must be willing to obey HIS WORD. Bible stands for the Believer’s Instructions Before Leaving Earth. Why do we thing that the Psalmist said, “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet; and a light unto my path?” He also said, “Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Sound doctrine is God’s Word.

SOUND DOCTRINE WILL LEAD A LOST MAN TOWARD CHRIST. Doctrine means truth. I reminded of the scripture, where Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life: no man can come to the Father, but by me” John 14:6. This knocks Mary completely out of the picture, by the way. We cannot approach the Father, but by and through Jesus Christ. He is the advocate between us and the Father in Heaven. Paul talks about how God chose the foolishness of preaching the gospel to save those who would believe. The gospel of Jesus Christ is sound doctrine. This means that you must believe that ‘Christ died for our sins according to the scripture; and that HE was buried and arose again on the third day according to the scripture”1 Corinthians 15:3 – 4.

SOUND DOCTRINE BRINGS STABILITY IN A CHILD OF GOD’S LIFE. If our lives are based on Bible truths then we will not be steered wrong. Instead of accepting what a preacher, teacher or leader of a church says, write the scriptures down and study them and ask God for help in understanding them. If you study God’s Word and these teachers are teaching false doctrine, lies, then you can make your decisions of attending that church or not, based on God’s Word.

SOUND DOCTRINE LEADS A CHILD OF GOD FROM SIN. Now, a child of God will not always heed to himself what they are taught. This usually happens when God is put on the back burner of their life. Paul talked about the inward and outward man; and as I said in one of my previous studies, the one that wins is the one I say sic’em to the most. Sound doctrine will teach a child of God how to rely on God, communicate with HIM, and how to serve HIM. After all, we are saved to serve, right?

For people who might be reading this, I would like to ask you a question? Do you know, that you know, that you are saved? If you are not saved, you must put your pride to the side, and must admit that you are a sinner with no direction. You must believe that Jesus Christ died for you. You then must confess that you are a sinner and that you know HE died on the cross in your place. You must then ask HIM to forgive you of your sin and ask HIM to come into your life as you LORD and SAVIOR and then thank HIM for it. Romans 10:10 tells us, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” You must then go to a New Testament church, tell them what Christ has done for you, because you are saved. It is an ordinance that you be baptized, by the authority of that church, which Jesus Christ gave to that church. It will be very important that you get in that church, study your Bible, and seek God’s doctrine that you will not be led in the wrong direction. Child of God, I encourage you to get in HIS WORD and study it, so you can be a good worker for Christ. May God richly bless you all, and may we all seek HIS will in our lives. Amen.

Wow! It's been a long time since I wrote a blog. This year hasn't started off a whole lot different, but I'm finding it interesting. I quit my job! Enough is enough! I just could not tolerate working for the boss I had any longer. However, God seen what I needed and answered my prayers. I've got a new job in the oil and gas business. Amazing huh? THAT'S MY KING! Kevin, I loved the video you wanted us to look at. It explains it all in a nutshell. Today I plan on starting to do what I wanted to anyway. I hope to start back with devotionals again, so you that no me, please pray that God will us them. Have a great day.

Cold and Wet

This morning we woke up to a cold, wet and rainy day. It's rained all weekend basically. My rain gage showed about 4 inches on Sunday morning, and we've gotten about 2 1/2 more since then. I was just out at Lake Murval, and it is over several piers and the creeks are way out of the banks. Thank God for the rain though. Lake Cherokee was really bad, but it is catching up fast. They are calling for freezing rain this afternoon and tonight, but I don't expect it to get as bad as it is north of here.
I had the opportunity to preach last night, and it was a blessing to be able to try again. The last time I preached was in October, and when you get out of practice of doing it, it becomes a struggle...at least for me. Have a great week folks.

Where did 2006 go?

An amazing thing just happened! 2006 went away....It seems that my mom was right. The older you get, the faster time flies. I can still remember what I was doing in the 8th grade, at a school that no longer exists. At the ripe old age of 13, when I thought mom didn't have a clue what life was all about. Wow! Was I wrong! How I wished that I still had her around to correct me, even when I knew for sure I was right. I guess that is why God allows us to have children, huh? So they can pretend to know everything and think we, as parents, don't have a clue to life's challenges.
I have come to the conclusion that making a New Year's resolution has to work eventually, doesn't it? Most people make New Year's resolutions to only break them within a week or two. We don't like commitment, do we? Becky and I are going on another diet. We did well with it the first 3 months of 2006. It was the last 9 months we dove off the deep end. Of course, Becky had her heart attack in July, and I began wondering about life being so short. Why not enjoy some of the flavors of life? Now, we go on a diet again. There were a lot of bad things that happened in 2006, but God still blessed us. I still have Becky, which is a great blessing to me. Thank you LORD for not taking her away. We were able to accomplish a few goals we set, but not all of them. Mark was saved, and I'm thankful for that.
My hopes for 2007? That my kids will do well in school and in life. Now that I have a daughter - in - law, things are looking up. Yes, Chase got married in November. Her name is Jill and they really seem happy. Other hopes are; that I get a job that I really enjoy, that we get our own house, and quit renting, and that I may be able to pastor a church again or that I may even get to be an associate Pastor somewhere. I would love the opportunity to make things right with God, by showing Him that I would try harder to be a better Pastor. I hope to get to finish school. That would be great, but it's not a priority. I'm really debating on whether I want to officiate sports anymore. I think that I need to try to slow my life down and really enjoy my family. I'm praying that Mark does well in school and in football at Corsicana. I want him to exceed all of my expectations with flying colors. I also pray that Ryan continues to do well with all of his schooling, and that he becomes a great basketball player. I pray that Aaron will get his life in order by graduating school and returning to AIT in the army. I think it will do him well. Of course I pray that Chase and Jill are able to fill their dreams. Becky and I both hope and pray that everything becomes positive in 2007 and that it won't be as bad as 2006 was.
Our prayers for you? That America will get back to the basics of life and forget about the negative things we choose to do. We pray that our kids get back home from Iraq and Afganastan, and that peace will come to America again. We hope that you have the best year of your life thus far, and that everything is a positive for you. We hope that we all remember that we can only have a good year by knowing that we must follow the best leader, Jesus Christ. May God richly bless you in the year 2007!

Today is the second year that mom has been gone. I've really missed her. She always told me that one day I would know what it would mean to not have a mom still here, and she's right. Even though, as my cousin said, "But she's not here so you can tell her she's right." Missing her has brought many thoughts to my mind. However, the one piece of advice that I will give to anyone reading this is simple. If your mom is still alive, tell her you love her often. If there are differences, settle them. Be there for your mother as much as you can, when you can. One day, she may not be there for you to help or to help you.

No Place to Call Home

No Place to Call Home
Opportunities past by
John 14:2 – 4

It was a beautiful October day, and I was working feverously to finish my route. As a pest control technician you have many stops a day to do in about 22 working days and it is not always easily done. However, this day would make me think about something harder than I ever thought before. On this day, I was going to an estate to do a pest control service. I have serviced this residence for more than 8 years myself, but the company has served it for many years. The elderly couple who owned this property had now passed away. The main house has 4 bedrooms and 4 baths in it. It is surrounded by 280 acres of fields and trees. The house itself is a magnificent work of art in my mind. It may not be fancy as some houses today, but in its day, it was nice. The estate also has a barn, an in-ground swimming pool and pool house, which has a kitchen, bath and bedroom in it. The estate also has a 2 bedroom house that a hired couple lived in, rent free, and part of their salary.
This day, as I pulled up in the drive way of the big house, the iron gate was closed. I had been to this house many times and never seen the gate closed. As I wondered what to do, I looked to my left and saw Norma trimming vines off a fence row. She is a lady, in her late 30’s to early 40’s, who was the person in charge of overseeing the Browns in their life time. She had worked for the Browns for twenty years or more. Her main job was to take care of them, see that they went to the doctors when scheduled, made sure they were fed, and took all their medications. She hired people to help in this job. She was in charge of paying bills, dealing with people who came in, and just really overseeing the whole deal. Her husband was the ranch foreman. He was in charge of taking care of the animals and the whole property. He repaired all the things he could on this estate, but also contracted others when necessary. They had devoted most of their lives to the Browns and did things for them that the Brown’s kids would not. As Norma trimmed the vines, she turned to me and politely told me the gates were not locked. I commented about how it seemed lonely here now, and she started talking from her heart.
It turned out that the kids immediately put the place up for sale to get the money to live their lives by. The Browns were a wealthy family and the land they lived on was family land from way back. During the time of Mr. Brown’s illness, Norma’s husband, who is not a healthy man either, decided he wanted a divorce and left her. She continued to treat Mr. Brown as her own Father. Mrs. Brown had died in 2003, which was a huge surprise in itself. The Brown kids would also include the house that Norma had lived in for over twenty years in the sale. They had reduced her pay from something she could live on to a measly 1000 dollars and told her that she would have to move out when the place sold. The Brown’s had apparently told her and Dana that the house was theirs when they died, but it wasn’t put in the will. As I talked to Norma, with tears running down her face, I realized the impact of what was happening to her. She had no computer experience or no public work experience and she would be on the streets. She has no clue at to what she is going to do.
As I finished up all the services on this account and wished Norma a good day, I told her that I would pray for her, and I have. During the past few weeks however, I could not get off of my mind about having no place to go.
There are thousands of people who live on the streets day in and day out in just the United States alone. We pretend to want to take care of them, but how did most of them get to this situation? Most of them got to living on streets by making wrong decisions in their lives, whether it was drugs, alcohol, or bad financial moves. Most of them chose not to live like they had the opportunity too. I have often thought about how people won’t be able to get in heaven because of one bad decision. That bad decision is made by not accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.
So, in essence, they have no place to call home. Jesus said, “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 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. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know John 14:2 - 4.” Unfortunately these mansions are not for everyone. You may ask why not? Truth is, many people have turned the house down for life in this world. Many of these people are, what many people would call, ‘good people.’ They have good lives, never get in trouble with the law, and seem to model citizens. They may also be a member of a church, and work hard to help it, by teaching, being deacons or deacons’ wives, or just by being faithful to go to church, but they are missing Christ in their lives. How can this be? Jesus answered this in Matthew 7:13 – 14 when he said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” We need to understand that living a good life does not guarantee us a new home. We are told in Ephesians 2:8 – 9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast.” A man cannot do anything himself to get to heaven, other than accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.
Like Norma, who may not have a place to go when the estate is sold, many are not prepared for the future. She never saw what was coming in her life, because this family had always treated her right. Now, the family that seemed to so much love her have, to some extent, turned their back on her. The world may seem to love you now, but it really doesn’t love you at all. When people find this out, they have no where to go. With Jesus, you always have HIM. HE will not turn you away, and HE will not turn HIS back on you. Be prepared for the future. Know where your destination is. Know that you have a Savior that loves you. How can you know this? Simply pray and ADMIT that you are a sinner and that God is right and you are wrong. BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, and CONFESS it. Paul said, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on HIM shall not be ashamed” Romans 10:9 – 11.
This seems to be a simply solution doesn’t it? The answer to getting to heaven is simple, but it is not always easy to accept it the way God meant for us too. It takes putting your pride to the side in believing that you are not a bad person. The scripture is plan. There are none good, no not one. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The word ‘all’ leaves no man out. This means every person has this decision to make, and now you have the same decision to make now. What will it be?
I love the song that sings this course, “This world is not my home, I’m just passing through, If heaven is not my home, then Lord what would I do?” The facts are simple. If heaven is not your home, then hell will be. Being tormented day and night forever, and not being happy is the destination for any person who does not seek the Lord.
Lord, thank you for allowing us the opportunity to be saved, and for making a way for all. Thank you for loving us even when we are not loveable. May the person who reads this devotional know their destination, and may it be with you. Convict them of their sins and draw them to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Chase's Wedding Day

I guess I never thought about my oldest son getting married. It may have been in the back of my mind and I just never thought of it much. Chase is marrying a girl namd Jill Ann Davis this evening at 7:00 p.m. I have the great honor of performing the ceremony, but I can't help but be concerned. For all the people who pray out there, please pray for these two kids. It's a tough world on single people, but it seems to be even tougher on married couples. They both seem excited aboutt he marriage and I guess I'm excited for them too. Pray for me as I perform the ceremony, that it may go well.

Thought for the day

Affections For Christ
Setting Our Lives on Things of God
Colossians 3:1 - 3

One thing that seems to always happen, in life, is that Satan puts obstacles in our way to keep us from doing what God has asked us, or has laid on our hearts, to do. I’m no different than any one person. I give you a great example of that in this thought for the day. I started doing this on a regular basis and all of sudden things changed in my life. Satan used a person, who, by the way, claims Christ, to hinder me from doing daily devotions on the way I was. I lost focus of what I needed to be doing and allowed things to take the place of this ministry. For this, I apologize to the people who have emailed me and told me how much they appreciate them and how much it helped them. I hope to get back to doing what I enjoyed so much. How do I do this? I found myself thinking about this scripture all week long, so I thought I would share them with you.
In Colossians 3:1 – 3, Paul wrote, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” What a great thought for the day and everyday for that matter. As the Lord spoke to my heart, in this scripture, I began to search myself and I began to see all the things that I have allowed Satan to place in my path that have become a stumbling block in my life. Paul tells us what we should do to help us keep Christ first in our lives.

SEEK THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE.

Today’s world has people seeking everything but Christ. Think about it. I guess you can call this a pet peeve of mine, but I really admire schools that still defy the law that says that people can’t pray at school. As a football official I often see schools still praying at the game. Some schools openly pray. The announcer will pray over the speakers or you will hear students saying the model pray found in the book of Matthew. Others, however, choose to deny Christ and just have a moment of silence. I once pastored a man, who was a teacher, and claims Christ as his savior, which told me, “Bro. Ronnie, I’m glad they choose not to pray in school. This means that other can’t pray to their false gods either.” I disagreed then, just as I do now. A good example of this is found when Daniel continued to pray daily even after the law said he had to pray to an idol. He chose not to listen to them and prayed to the true and living God. Because of his choice, he was delivered from certain death. God rewarded his obedience. Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and HIS righteousness,” (Matt. 6:33.) How can we get anywhere without seeking Christ first? We can’t! I have often said, as I still do, that we have gotten too busy for God, family, and ourselves. We have allowed things of this world to become idols in our lives. Think about it. We find things that we love and we stick more faithful to them than we do to God. We allow them to become our god in our lives. I like to officiate football and baseball, I like to fish and hunt, and I liked being a firefighter, first responder, and arson investigator. Have I ever allowed these things to become more important than God in my life? The answer to this would be a resounding yes. I’m guilty. How did I allow that to happen? I studied them more than I did about God. Now, I’m not knocking these things, because there can be a ministry in all of these areas. I still officiate, hunt, and fish at times. The fire department stuff has been taken out of my life for now. However, I try not to allow these things to get in the way of serving God. I have to keep my guard up though. I just choose not to do them when I know church is going on, or I try not to allow these things get in my way. However, I’m not successful at this all the time. I know I need to improve. How does a person improve in serving God?

SET YOU AFFECTION ON THINGS ABOVE

What does the word affection mean to you and me? When I think about it, I know my wife loves the attention I give to her when I’m affectionate. Affection means tender attachment. The Greek word for affection is ‘Phroneo, fron’ – eh’ – o.’ this definition is, to interest oneself in, with concern and obedience. In laymen’s terms, put your interest in things above. Paul continued in verse 2 with, “not on things on the earth.” When we allow things of this earth to get in the way of serving God, then we are sinning by allowing other gods to get in our way. I’ve always said you can find out what people’s interests are when you go into their house. Many times you will find out what they really spend time doing. Deer hunters, many times, will have horns mounted, heads mounted, lots of pictures, etc. Fishermen will have mounted fish, pictures, and pertinent stuff. Even dedicated firefighters will have things that pertain to that in their homes. Many times I have seen Bibles on lamp tables, scriptures in frames, and pertinent things to Christianity in houses too. You know what people do. However, a Bible on a lamp table doesn’t mean, a lot of times, as much as people might think. Is the Bible talked about as much as the deer mounts or fish mounts on the walls? Now I’m not just picking on hunting and fishing. If we allow anything to divert our attention or affection from Christ and being obedient to HIM, then we have allowed another god into our lives. Another definition for affection would be love. How much do we love God? It is shown in our lives by the way we live. If we seek Christ first then HE will be first in our lives, if not, then he won’t be first. Defining HIM in our lives and the things about HIM in our lives as Christians is the most important thing we can do.

The world may not show how important God is, and apparently, America has defined her definition of ‘one nation under god.’ It may not mean a whole lot to some, but to Christians it should be of most importance. Our affections should be set on HIM and HIS promises. It’s time for Christians to stand on the promises, which is the Rock of our salvation, Jesus Christ. May we seek Christ in all that we do and show the world how important HE is to us.

Preachers and Firefighters

As I read the new poll, which Kevin Higgins put out, I thought of something that is unique to me. October is pastor's appreciation month and it is also Firefighter appreciation month too. Now this may not mean a whole lot to some people, but it does to me. Let's look at things that pastor's or preacher and firefighters have in common.

1. Preachers and Firefighters try to keep people from burning up.
a. Pastors preach the gospel so many can be saved from a burning hell.
b. Firefighters try to save people's lives from firey deaths.
2. Pastors and Firefighters study to improve.
a. Pastors study God's Word to improve their teaching and preaching skills.
b. A firefighter must stay on top of his game by training and learning
new things to fight fires, and do first responder things.
3. Pastor's and Firefighters teach things that can save us.
a. Pastor's teach us how to be saved from our sins; how to live our lives in
the best way and things that apply to life in general.
b. Firefighters teach things that can save our lives; how to live safely in this
world and things that apply to fire safety.
4. I heard a preacher tell a man who was a fire extinguisher man, you know that fire extinguisher and Christ have two things in common. The extinguisher canister is red, and Jesus' blood is red. They both keep you from burning; The product in the red canister is for putting out fires. The blood of Jesus Christ keeps a man, who with a repentant heart asked Jesus Christ to save him, from burning in hell for eternity.

I thank God for both Jesus and Firefighters. I thank HIM for Jesus because when HE shed HIS blood for me, HE provided a way to eternal security with HIM. I thank God for firefighters because they provide a way for safety in this world by preventing fires.

If you find or think of other things that firefighters and preachers have in common, share them with me.

God and the Beautician

This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering that I have seen. It's an explanation other people will understand: A lady went to a beauty shop to have her hair cut and her nails painted and trimmed. As the lady began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the beautician said : "I don't believe that God exists." "Why do you say that?" asked Sheryl who has MS. "Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things." Then Sheryl thought for a moment, but didn't respond because she didn't want to start an argument. The beautician just finished her job and the customer left the shop. Just after she left the beauty shop, she saw a woman in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and not groomed at all. She looked dirty and unkempt. Then Sheryl turned back and entered the beauty shop again and she said to the beautician: "You know what? Beauticians do not exist." "How can you say that?" asked the surprised beautician. "I am here, and I am a beautician. And I just worked on you!" "No!" Sheryl exclaimed. "Beauticians don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and be very unkempt, like that woman outside." Ah, but beauticians DO exist! What happens is, people do not come to me." "Exactly!"- affirmed Sheryl. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! What happens, is, people don't go to Him and do not look for Him. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

Life and Death

Life and Death
A Man’s Uncertainty Verse A Certainty.
James 4:14

I know that there are many people, including me, that were upset, to some extent, at the untimely death of Steve (the Crocodile Hunter) Irwin. As I heard about this death, I could not think of anything, but his wife and kids, and his soul. You watch someone who had the glow about himself towards wildlife and family and you automatically assume that that person is right with God. However, this assumption is not always true. I’m not going to take the step to say that this man was or wasn’t saved, because truly, I do not know. Only he and God knew for sure. I pray that he was, but I recently heard that he was a Buddhist. If this is so, then his destination was horrible. There have been many people who have died, what we consider early deaths, but my question is, were they really early?

I have often said, “Time waits for no man,” and it’s true. Have you ever wanted to continue doing something you enjoy and then find that time flies faster than before? Of course you have! Jesus taught us that we are not guaranteed another breath of life. Truth is we may not make it through the day, before our destination after life is finalized with our last breath.

James said, in chapter 4:14, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” I admire people who take opportunities serious. I’ll talk about my pastor, for one, he has had some health issues, which the doctors are trying to get under control. Even though he has been in the hospital twice, then told to rest, he sees the importance of serving God with everything he has. He also said, “That until God calls me home, I desire to serve HIM.” I admire him for his dedication. Even though he hasn’t felt the best in the world, he has not allowed Satan to stop him from serving God. This should be every child of God’s purpose upon this earth, and we should all be dedicated to Christ too. We are saved to serve and not just sit and wait.

DEATH IS ALWAYS UNTIMELY TO MAN. God knows every breath you take and exactly when you are going to die. The writer of Hebrews, whom I think is Paul, said, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment,” (Heb. 9:26). We all have our appointed day, and it will never be when we want it. Paul said, “Let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die, (1 Cor. 15:32). Death from this earthly body is certain. However, there is a chance for eternal life.

JESUS MADE A WAY TO LIVE FOREVER, John 3:16. He said, “For God so loved the world that HE have HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, that whosoever beleiveth in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life.” How much clearer can it get for anyone? We can gain eternal life by placing our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. We, however, must do our part. We are in a world that thinks that if we live a good life, and do good things that we will somehow end up in heaven. This is not true! God’s Word tells us, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

MAN’S PART STARTS WITH CONFESSION. Paul said, in Romans 10:10, “For with the heart man beleiveth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” You must confess that God is right and you are wrong. We need to quit thinking that we are good. A man’s definition of good is; “I’m not a murderer, or adulterer, or a drunkard, etc. We try, like Adam did, to make ourselves look better than we are. Adam, in Genesis, tried to blame God and Eve for his downfall. We need to confess that we are in that group, which every person is in. We are in the group that is called, “NO GOOD.” Romans 3:10 says, “There is none righteous, no not one:” Verse 12 says, “There is none that doeth good, no, not one.” The Psalmist says, “We are all as filthy rags,” in Psalms 14:3 and 53:3. So, if the Bible tells us that we are not good, then the conclusion must be we aren’t good. This group is called sinners also. “For we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” So we now know that we need to confess. However, it doesn’t stop there.

MAN’S PART INCLUDES REPENTANCE. In Luke 13:3 and 5, Jesus said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Repentance means simply, ‘to change one’s mind.’ God will not enter an unrepentant heart. We cannot expect God to save someone who thinks that there is nothing wrong in their life. Grant it, repentance usually happens before confession at times, but it has to happen. Paul said, in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that we become a new creature in Christ. Actually creature means creation in Christ. Remember where Nicodemus asked Jesus, “How can a man be born again when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” Jesus and Nicodemus were talking about two different births. One was the fleshly birth and the other the spiritual birth. Jesus explained unto him that he needed the spiritual birth. Everyone alive needs the spiritual birth, but you must change your mind about yourself before you can receive the free gift of salvation.

SALVATION IS THERE FOR THE ASKING, AND IT’S FREE. With a repentant heart and the confession with your mouth that you are wrong and God is right, you have the opportunity to ask for the free gift of salvation. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved,” Romans 10:13. Don’t be one of the people who everyone thought was the greatest person and find yourself in hell with the rich man, who was very popular too. Accept the free gift of salvation, because there is no other way to get to heaven. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me,” John 14:6. Jesus made the way for each and every man, but it takes action upon our part to receive this free gift.

No matter how good you or someone else may seem, without Christ you are nobody. He completes a person, when they put their faith and trust in HIM. Have you done this yet? Please don’t think you have the rest of your life to do it, because the rest of you life may be at its end now. Lord, I pray that you will convict the lost and that they will seek your free gift of salvation. May we all serve you with an open heart to find your guidance, and please help us to follow you. Amen.

What a weekend

This past weekend started of rough, but ended up relaxed. Well, to some extent, that is..lol. Friday night I officiated a high school football game in which Alba Golden, who had lost 47 games in a row, last win being in October of 2001, beat Cumby by the score of 7 - 6. It was exciting to watch a game in which both teams were so closely matched. Becky, who pretty much always goes to the game with me, and I went to Lindale afterwards and stayed at a Days Inn. We woke up Saturday to go spend the day in Canton, at First Monday. She bought another dog.........lol.
We didn't go there for that though, we went to just spend time together. Sunday was church day, and that's where we went. I'm praying hard that the Lord will reveal to me what or where he wants me to go or do.
Today, Monday 9/4/06 was a busy day. After putting chicken wire around the bottom of the storage room, I went with Becky to her office to put her plants back in place. Praise the Lord she gets to do what she wants to do now...go to work, tomorrow. After we got back, I grilled some ribs, burgers and sausages, and turned on the tube to find out that the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Erwing was killed by a sting ray. He leaves his wife and two small children behind. Sad, Sad, sad. Anyway, pray for his family. Tomorrow is another day with Terminix, so I pray all will go well this week. The weekend, even though it was a three day weekend, was too short.

Change, Change, Change

Yesterday started off with a bang. I got up, all prepared to finish this week out as a technician. I had planned on trying sales, should this new job not pan out. I got to the office and the first thing that happens, things have changed since Friday. Terminix has put a freeze on any moves, including hiring. I had to ask, 'What's up with this?' My manager told me that I would continue my route, and not go into sales at this time. SHE ALREADY HAD MY REPLACEMENT IN LINE! LOL. I told Becky that if it's God's will for me to have this new job, I would tell my boss lady to get 'her man,' as she called him.
I'm thankful that God is opening doors. I pray that HIS will is done in my life, and that it is willfully on my part. Interesting to see what might go on today, huh? God is truly good. I just wished I knew what HE was doing in my life before hand. As Becky would say, "Please Lord, put in on a bulletin board." Ultimately, I would much rather be pastoring a church, but obviously it's not in God's plans right now. I am excited for Jason Sheffstall and his family, as well as his church family and how God is blessing them in West Virginia. Thank God for Godly men who seek HIS will. Have a nice day folks.

Where's the time gone to?

I can't believe that it has been 11 days since I posted a blog. I have been extremely busy, but it may slow down soon. I found out that September 1, I am to be moved to the sales department. This could be a good move, but I'm really concerned about it. I also had an interview, this past week, that seems to be promising. If they offer me the job, I will take it. It will be working in a warehouse for a company and may be a good chance for promotion. Please pray with me that God's will shall be done.
Becky is getting stronger, and the doctor told us she could go back to work on the 5th of September. She has been stir crazy around the house and it is driving her crazy. I am just thankful to God that HE decided to keep her here instead of taking her home.