Education
Higher education must lead the march back to the fundamentals of human relationships, to the old discovery that is ever new, that man does not live by bread alone.
John A. Hannah
Ps 37:23-29
23 The steps of a man are established by the LORD, and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the LORD is the One who holds his hand. I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, or his descendants begging bread. All day long he is gracious and lends, and his descendants are a blessing. Depart from evil and do good, so you will abide forever. For the LORD loves justice and does not forsake His godly ones; they are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked will be cut off. The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever. NASU
The most important relationship man, that is we together, male and female, young and old have, is the one that we take for granted most. That is our relationship with our Creator, God Himself. The higher education that is needed in today’s society is a heightened awareness of where the basic fundamentals of successful living came from, and a march back to the principles of blessing.
Scientists examine things within strict walls. Eric Gill, a British Sculptor, once said it this way, “Science is analytical, descriptive, and informative. Man does not live by bread alone, but by science he attempts to do so, hence the deadliness of all that is purely scientific.” This is the danger of worshiping or exalting creation, which is the product of God Himself. It is a way that will lead you to Him, if you see in its perfection, a reflection of who He is, but if you pause to worship it alone, then you are forever lost.
The most important thing in all of creation is you, and all the others around you that are made like you. All these “things” were made for you and they are temporal. They will pass away in a fiery heat, but how we treat each other will last forever. We are to do good to each other every chance we get, and isn’t it wonderful? God says that if we will exhibit His righteousness in our relationships, we will get all of this wonderful stuff, and more than we could ever dream of, or see, and it will be ours forever…God Bless.
Pastor William
Monday, June 30, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
Your Days, or His?
Body
The human body is not a thing or substance, given, but a continuous creation. The human body is an energy system which is never a complete structure; never static; is in perpetual inner self-construction and self-destruction; we destroy in order to make it new.
Norman O. Brown, American Philosopher
Ps 139:13-16
For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. NASU
Henry David Thoreau once searched the stars intently, to see the Creator behind them. He also said this, “Every man is the builder of a temple, called his body, to the god he worships, after a style purely his own, nor can he get off by hammering marble instead. We are all sculptors and painters, and our material is our own flesh and blood and bones.” Now much of what Thoreau said is right, as we are the painters and shapers, we are caretakers of this temple that God created way before we had knowledge of whom we are, and what we think our purpose is here.
The simple fact is that we must fight the desire to find a comfortable place where we can settle back and watch the world go by. Change is necessary, and it is necessary that we change. Now that was a mouthful, but it is true. No matter how much this fleshly form we live in, drives us to mind its business; we are to be about the business of changing this body into the image of Christ. David in the midst of this revelation is praising God that he is fearfully and wonderfully made.
That is recognizing that God knew him better that he knew himself, He believed God knew who he was, and God had his best in mind. That was why David was so quick to agree with the Lord and repent of his ways and get back on the path of God’s will for his life. Did he make mistakes? Yes, O’ yes, many times, but guess what? He returned unto the Maker of Days, and found the days that were meant for him, again, and again. So if your days aren’t going so well, maybe, just maybe, you’re living your days and not His. Return to the “Maker of Days” and find those days He made for you…God Bless.
Pastor William
The human body is not a thing or substance, given, but a continuous creation. The human body is an energy system which is never a complete structure; never static; is in perpetual inner self-construction and self-destruction; we destroy in order to make it new.
Norman O. Brown, American Philosopher
Ps 139:13-16
For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. NASU
Henry David Thoreau once searched the stars intently, to see the Creator behind them. He also said this, “Every man is the builder of a temple, called his body, to the god he worships, after a style purely his own, nor can he get off by hammering marble instead. We are all sculptors and painters, and our material is our own flesh and blood and bones.” Now much of what Thoreau said is right, as we are the painters and shapers, we are caretakers of this temple that God created way before we had knowledge of whom we are, and what we think our purpose is here.
The simple fact is that we must fight the desire to find a comfortable place where we can settle back and watch the world go by. Change is necessary, and it is necessary that we change. Now that was a mouthful, but it is true. No matter how much this fleshly form we live in, drives us to mind its business; we are to be about the business of changing this body into the image of Christ. David in the midst of this revelation is praising God that he is fearfully and wonderfully made.
That is recognizing that God knew him better that he knew himself, He believed God knew who he was, and God had his best in mind. That was why David was so quick to agree with the Lord and repent of his ways and get back on the path of God’s will for his life. Did he make mistakes? Yes, O’ yes, many times, but guess what? He returned unto the Maker of Days, and found the days that were meant for him, again, and again. So if your days aren’t going so well, maybe, just maybe, you’re living your days and not His. Return to the “Maker of Days” and find those days He made for you…God Bless.
Pastor William
Thursday, June 26, 2008
What War?
Peace
To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.
George Washington 1732-1799, First President of the USA
2 Tim 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. NASU
One of the truths that are evading the Christian mindset in today’s world is the fact that we are truly at war. We live in the United States of America, and war is something that happens somewhere else. Death and dying, mutilation and torture are things that we see on the news and we shake our heads at its display, but there is a much more important battle raging than the one that we see.
Faith is preparedness, and we need to be practicing our faith more today than at any other time in history. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said this, “That which we do not believe, we cannot adequately say; even though we may repeat the words ever so often.” So herein lays our problem, we as Christians do not believe in this spiritual war that is taking place as you read this, and I write it. We do not see the terrible raging war that would cause us to tremble if we knew the details.
Somewhere in this world today someone will lose in this spiritual battle and will be cast headlong into an eternal hell, screaming, and will dwell there, without hope, forever. No thought that tomorrow things will improve only despair and darkness. Now if we believed this, then we would be adequate to this crisis, and God has given us all the tools, but it requires of us that we believe a crisis exists.
It is a fact that we are in battle, and we must be properly equipped. Now that equipment is found in God’s Word, and if we would be prepared at all times for this spiritual war, we would be the adequate peacemakers God wants us to be…God Bless.
Pastor William
To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.
George Washington 1732-1799, First President of the USA
2 Tim 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. NASU
One of the truths that are evading the Christian mindset in today’s world is the fact that we are truly at war. We live in the United States of America, and war is something that happens somewhere else. Death and dying, mutilation and torture are things that we see on the news and we shake our heads at its display, but there is a much more important battle raging than the one that we see.
Faith is preparedness, and we need to be practicing our faith more today than at any other time in history. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said this, “That which we do not believe, we cannot adequately say; even though we may repeat the words ever so often.” So herein lays our problem, we as Christians do not believe in this spiritual war that is taking place as you read this, and I write it. We do not see the terrible raging war that would cause us to tremble if we knew the details.
Somewhere in this world today someone will lose in this spiritual battle and will be cast headlong into an eternal hell, screaming, and will dwell there, without hope, forever. No thought that tomorrow things will improve only despair and darkness. Now if we believed this, then we would be adequate to this crisis, and God has given us all the tools, but it requires of us that we believe a crisis exists.
It is a fact that we are in battle, and we must be properly equipped. Now that equipment is found in God’s Word, and if we would be prepared at all times for this spiritual war, we would be the adequate peacemakers God wants us to be…God Bless.
Pastor William
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Are You Convinced?
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Training
Training is all-encompassing and should be related to everything a unit does, or can have happen to it.
Arthur Collins American Army General
2 Tim 3:14-17
You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. NASU
Are you ready? You ask, ready for what? The answer, are you ready for anything and everything that you may face, and can you endure, and win. Now isn’t that life, and isn’t that the plain and simple truth about life? What is it that you will face tomorrow, or in the next hour, and what will its affect be on your life?
We don’t like those kinds of questions because they make us feel insecure about our tomorrows, but if we belong to Christ and our lives are in His Hands, we can be so much more confident of our future. Listen to Paul above as he speaks to Timothy, he tells him to continue in those things that he has not only learned, but has become convinced of. When you are convinced, you feel secure, there has been a testing of the foundations you stand on, and questions are erased.
How had Timothy become convinced, let’s go back some to 2 Timothy 1:5 where Paul was speaking to Timothy earlier, “For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.” So now we see it, Timothy had already had proper training before he ever met the apostle Paul, and the question begs asking today. Where are the Lois’s and the Eunice’s of our time…God Bless.
Pastor William
Training
Training is all-encompassing and should be related to everything a unit does, or can have happen to it.
Arthur Collins American Army General
2 Tim 3:14-17
You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. NASU
Are you ready? You ask, ready for what? The answer, are you ready for anything and everything that you may face, and can you endure, and win. Now isn’t that life, and isn’t that the plain and simple truth about life? What is it that you will face tomorrow, or in the next hour, and what will its affect be on your life?
We don’t like those kinds of questions because they make us feel insecure about our tomorrows, but if we belong to Christ and our lives are in His Hands, we can be so much more confident of our future. Listen to Paul above as he speaks to Timothy, he tells him to continue in those things that he has not only learned, but has become convinced of. When you are convinced, you feel secure, there has been a testing of the foundations you stand on, and questions are erased.
How had Timothy become convinced, let’s go back some to 2 Timothy 1:5 where Paul was speaking to Timothy earlier, “For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.” So now we see it, Timothy had already had proper training before he ever met the apostle Paul, and the question begs asking today. Where are the Lois’s and the Eunice’s of our time…God Bless.
Pastor William
Monday, June 23, 2008
Get Yourself Together
Monday, June 23, 2008
Life and Living
Order your soul; reduce your wants; live in charity; associate in Christian community; obey the laws; trust in Providence.
St. Augustine 354-430, Numidian-born Bishop of Hippo, Theologian
Deut 4:9
9 "Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.
NASU
What is it to “Order your Soul? St Augustine tells us that when we have done this, reducing our wants, and living peaceably together as the family of God, and we are obeying God’s laws, that we can trust providence. Scripture tells us in Rom 8:28, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
So we see peace exists when we are living for “His purpose,” and not our own. It exists when we remember and cherish the things of God and one another, and when we hold dearly to those things, and do not let go of them for the things of this world. We are to live this way, as Moses said, “all the days of our life.”
Living the truth is how we pass it on, and then you can trust providence. It isn’t providence as much as it is promise. God’s promises are sure and trustworthy and if we live in His promises, they will come true. The best part of all of this is that we can pass it on. Not just money, land or things, but a way of living that will bless our children’s homes and families long after we are gone. When we go to live forever, the way we have lived can forever bless those we leave behind; put your soul in order…God Bless.
Pastor William
Life and Living
Order your soul; reduce your wants; live in charity; associate in Christian community; obey the laws; trust in Providence.
St. Augustine 354-430, Numidian-born Bishop of Hippo, Theologian
Deut 4:9
9 "Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.
NASU
What is it to “Order your Soul? St Augustine tells us that when we have done this, reducing our wants, and living peaceably together as the family of God, and we are obeying God’s laws, that we can trust providence. Scripture tells us in Rom 8:28, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
So we see peace exists when we are living for “His purpose,” and not our own. It exists when we remember and cherish the things of God and one another, and when we hold dearly to those things, and do not let go of them for the things of this world. We are to live this way, as Moses said, “all the days of our life.”
Living the truth is how we pass it on, and then you can trust providence. It isn’t providence as much as it is promise. God’s promises are sure and trustworthy and if we live in His promises, they will come true. The best part of all of this is that we can pass it on. Not just money, land or things, but a way of living that will bless our children’s homes and families long after we are gone. When we go to live forever, the way we have lived can forever bless those we leave behind; put your soul in order…God Bless.
Pastor William
Friday, June 20, 2008
Pry It Loose NOW!
Hatred
The passion of hatred is so long lived and so obstinate a malady that the surest sign of death in a sick person is their desire for reconciliation.
Jean De La Bruyere 1645-1696, French Writer
Eph 4:29-32
29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. NASU
Burning bitterness, how many live with that in them everyday? Many more that we would think. It is a pity how much of this we carry around everyday, and some of it we are not even aware of, we have learned to get up with it in the morning and go to bed with it at night. Pitifully some have learned to live with hatred and bitterness.
It is an old wound, or some may be fresh, but bitterness demands a heavy toll from our lives. It puts wrinkles on our faces, and steals smiles from those we love. It costs us at the pharmacy, for carrying bitterness requires a few pills for the headache and a draught of medicine for the stomach. In most cases that person you are angry with or carry that bitterness for is unaffected by your misery, hatred has a heavy price on the one who carries it, and little for the one who is it’s target.
Then when the twilight of life comes near, it is as if the human soul regurgitates that which disturbs it most, and pried loose from our ribcage, up comes carried and useless bitterness. Why wait, why carry it a moment longer? Search deep, let it go, and be healed now. Live happy, live long, and live without regret in the love of Christ, give that bitterness to Jesus…God Bless.
Pastor William
The passion of hatred is so long lived and so obstinate a malady that the surest sign of death in a sick person is their desire for reconciliation.
Jean De La Bruyere 1645-1696, French Writer
Eph 4:29-32
29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. NASU
Burning bitterness, how many live with that in them everyday? Many more that we would think. It is a pity how much of this we carry around everyday, and some of it we are not even aware of, we have learned to get up with it in the morning and go to bed with it at night. Pitifully some have learned to live with hatred and bitterness.
It is an old wound, or some may be fresh, but bitterness demands a heavy toll from our lives. It puts wrinkles on our faces, and steals smiles from those we love. It costs us at the pharmacy, for carrying bitterness requires a few pills for the headache and a draught of medicine for the stomach. In most cases that person you are angry with or carry that bitterness for is unaffected by your misery, hatred has a heavy price on the one who carries it, and little for the one who is it’s target.
Then when the twilight of life comes near, it is as if the human soul regurgitates that which disturbs it most, and pried loose from our ribcage, up comes carried and useless bitterness. Why wait, why carry it a moment longer? Search deep, let it go, and be healed now. Live happy, live long, and live without regret in the love of Christ, give that bitterness to Jesus…God Bless.
Pastor William
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Happy Trials To You
Excellence
Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.
Aristotle BC 384-322, Greek Philosopher
James 1:1-4
James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. NASU
Are you happy in the Lord? It is a benefit that we need to survive in today’s world and one that will help us to accomplish the call to endure in our surroundings. James appeals to us to consider it “all” joy or to look at those things in our lives that test our endurance as opportunities to grow.
Notice too that he said various, and they come in all shapes, sizes and colors do they not. James asks us to let them have their full effect or to endure it and to dig deeper than we dug yesterday and find more strength not to succumb to the weaknesses of the flesh. Yes, we are covered with the perfectness of Christ, yet He still calls you and I to be transformed also daily into His image.
So let’s you and I endure, let’s dig deeper, climb higher and succeed where others fail in transforming themselves into what God desires for us to be. It isn’t easy, but we will reap the joy that comes when this flesh can no longer plunge us into its many despairing weaknesses and failures…God Bless.
Pastor William
Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.
Aristotle BC 384-322, Greek Philosopher
James 1:1-4
James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. NASU
Are you happy in the Lord? It is a benefit that we need to survive in today’s world and one that will help us to accomplish the call to endure in our surroundings. James appeals to us to consider it “all” joy or to look at those things in our lives that test our endurance as opportunities to grow.
Notice too that he said various, and they come in all shapes, sizes and colors do they not. James asks us to let them have their full effect or to endure it and to dig deeper than we dug yesterday and find more strength not to succumb to the weaknesses of the flesh. Yes, we are covered with the perfectness of Christ, yet He still calls you and I to be transformed also daily into His image.
So let’s you and I endure, let’s dig deeper, climb higher and succeed where others fail in transforming themselves into what God desires for us to be. It isn’t easy, but we will reap the joy that comes when this flesh can no longer plunge us into its many despairing weaknesses and failures…God Bless.
Pastor William
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Are You Perfect?
Perfection
It is only imperfection that complains of what is imperfect. The more perfect we are, the more gentle and quiet we become towards the defects of others.
Joseph Addison 1672-1719, British Essayist, Poet, Statesman
Matt 5:48
48 "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Phil 3:13-15
13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; NASU
I am going to scare you this morning, or at least frighten you if you are one of those striving to be perfect without Jesus. Some of the things Joseph Addison says speak deeply to us and are not things that are easily understood on the surface, and unfortunately that is where we live most of the time. What Joseph is speaking of and what has been proven by those that live in Christ's perfection, is that strife ceases, and there is a peaceful flock.
So, I am speaking to the perfect today. I am speaking to those that have accepted the righteousness of Christ, and have rejected any righteousness of their own. If you have done that, then I am speaking of you. Perfect people don’t carry legers of things that have been done against them, they leave them behind. Perfect people are so engaged in living for Christ that all other things become small against the importance of reaching forward to what lies in front of them.
Perfect people feel a great urge to know the Father. What is this called? It is called having the attitude of Christ. You see it’s His perfection that you are dwelling in, you are covered with His blood, and you are consumed with His purposes. You live with purpose because you live in Christ, you are perfect because “He is perfect,” and that is enough.
Well, is it enough? Henry Beecher, an old American Preacher, said this about some of us, “I don't like these cold, precise, perfect people who, in order not to speak wrong, never speak at all, and in order not to do wrong, never do anything.” That is the result of trying live in human perfection, isn’t it? People are quiet, they don’t participate in anything that may cause light to fall on their blemishes, yet, they spend most of their time reminding others of theirs. So let’s you and I be perfect, and we should be every day, for that way we are looking at Christ when we are looking at each other, and not ourselves…God Bless.
Pastor William
It is only imperfection that complains of what is imperfect. The more perfect we are, the more gentle and quiet we become towards the defects of others.
Joseph Addison 1672-1719, British Essayist, Poet, Statesman
Matt 5:48
48 "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Phil 3:13-15
13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; NASU
I am going to scare you this morning, or at least frighten you if you are one of those striving to be perfect without Jesus. Some of the things Joseph Addison says speak deeply to us and are not things that are easily understood on the surface, and unfortunately that is where we live most of the time. What Joseph is speaking of and what has been proven by those that live in Christ's perfection, is that strife ceases, and there is a peaceful flock.
So, I am speaking to the perfect today. I am speaking to those that have accepted the righteousness of Christ, and have rejected any righteousness of their own. If you have done that, then I am speaking of you. Perfect people don’t carry legers of things that have been done against them, they leave them behind. Perfect people are so engaged in living for Christ that all other things become small against the importance of reaching forward to what lies in front of them.
Perfect people feel a great urge to know the Father. What is this called? It is called having the attitude of Christ. You see it’s His perfection that you are dwelling in, you are covered with His blood, and you are consumed with His purposes. You live with purpose because you live in Christ, you are perfect because “He is perfect,” and that is enough.
Well, is it enough? Henry Beecher, an old American Preacher, said this about some of us, “I don't like these cold, precise, perfect people who, in order not to speak wrong, never speak at all, and in order not to do wrong, never do anything.” That is the result of trying live in human perfection, isn’t it? People are quiet, they don’t participate in anything that may cause light to fall on their blemishes, yet, they spend most of their time reminding others of theirs. So let’s you and I be perfect, and we should be every day, for that way we are looking at Christ when we are looking at each other, and not ourselves…God Bless.
Pastor William
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
That Just Burns Me Up
Revenge
Revenge is barren of itself: it is the dreadful food it feeds on; its delight is murder, and its end is despair.
Johann Friedrich Von Schiller 1759-1805, German Poet, Historian
Lev 19:18
"You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.
Deut 32:35-36
Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, in due time their foot will slip; for the day of their calamity is near, and the impending things are hastening upon them.' "For the LORD will vindicate His people, and will have compassion on His servants,
Isa 59:17-18
He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; and He put on garments of vengeance for clothing and wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle. According to their deeds, so He will repay, NASU
Repayment of wrong, it is a daily problem for all of us isn’t it? We desire justice and for others to be rightfully judged, yet Christ’s reason for coming, and condescending to this earth, was to keep us from being “rightfully” judged. We play so many little, but self-damaging games in this life, and they are usually fought over temporal things that don’t really matter.
Revenge is a revolving drum that is much like the wheel that spins in the hamster’s cage and it also places us in a prison of it’s on. Revenge burns the belly, and aches the mind. It consumes time from us that could be used for so much better purposes. If we are contemplating revenge we are losing ground, and precious time, and in the end revenge falls back in our faces. As a matter of fact, we can become an enemy of God, for when we get involved in revenge, we are involved in something that is really, none of our business.
I gave three scriptures above from the Word of God to reinforce the fact that revenge is not our business, it is God’s. God gave us instructions concerning each other and none of them involve revenge, as a matter of fact vengeance is reserved for God, and Him alone. You see, God is the only One that can take off that garment of vengeance, we get consumed by it. It is a dark garment that will take away our joy and blessing and cause us to make stupid mistakes, and get into serious trouble,
Now, if you don’t believe me visit a prison and sit down and have a serious talk with some men, and women, who in a moment of anger, lost “all” of their freedoms, and dignity. God gave us some wonderful tools to work with as His children, but none of them are weapons to fight each other, they are weapons to fight the spiritual war that we all must win, and we need each other to succeed…God Bless.
Pastor William
Revenge is barren of itself: it is the dreadful food it feeds on; its delight is murder, and its end is despair.
Johann Friedrich Von Schiller 1759-1805, German Poet, Historian
Lev 19:18
"You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.
Deut 32:35-36
Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, in due time their foot will slip; for the day of their calamity is near, and the impending things are hastening upon them.' "For the LORD will vindicate His people, and will have compassion on His servants,
Isa 59:17-18
He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; and He put on garments of vengeance for clothing and wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle. According to their deeds, so He will repay, NASU
Repayment of wrong, it is a daily problem for all of us isn’t it? We desire justice and for others to be rightfully judged, yet Christ’s reason for coming, and condescending to this earth, was to keep us from being “rightfully” judged. We play so many little, but self-damaging games in this life, and they are usually fought over temporal things that don’t really matter.
Revenge is a revolving drum that is much like the wheel that spins in the hamster’s cage and it also places us in a prison of it’s on. Revenge burns the belly, and aches the mind. It consumes time from us that could be used for so much better purposes. If we are contemplating revenge we are losing ground, and precious time, and in the end revenge falls back in our faces. As a matter of fact, we can become an enemy of God, for when we get involved in revenge, we are involved in something that is really, none of our business.
I gave three scriptures above from the Word of God to reinforce the fact that revenge is not our business, it is God’s. God gave us instructions concerning each other and none of them involve revenge, as a matter of fact vengeance is reserved for God, and Him alone. You see, God is the only One that can take off that garment of vengeance, we get consumed by it. It is a dark garment that will take away our joy and blessing and cause us to make stupid mistakes, and get into serious trouble,
Now, if you don’t believe me visit a prison and sit down and have a serious talk with some men, and women, who in a moment of anger, lost “all” of their freedoms, and dignity. God gave us some wonderful tools to work with as His children, but none of them are weapons to fight each other, they are weapons to fight the spiritual war that we all must win, and we need each other to succeed…God Bless.
Pastor William
Monday, June 16, 2008
Let Not the World Bind You
Change
We are restless because of incessant change, but we would be frightened if change were stopped.
Lyman L. Bryson
Acts 21:10-14
As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, "This is what the Holy Spirit says: "In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'" When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, "The will of the Lord be done!" NASU
Norman Mailer, a well known American author, had this to say about change; “Every moment of one's existence one is growing into more or retreating into less. One is always living a little more or dying a little bit.” We read above of the response of the church to Paul’s departure, there was sadness and weeping. It would be a change in their daily spiritual experience, and their concern for Paul was legitimate, he was leaving a stable, safe, and loving environment, for the dangerous political environment that existed in Jerusalem at the time.
Paul had a truth guarded and protected deep inside his heart though and you hear it from his own lips in Romans 14:7-8. “For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.” Hallelujah! Now that is walking in faith and not in the temporary and limited world in which we live. Paul had seen a lot in that meeting with Christ on the road to Damascus, and it framed his actions, and it gave him a desire to “keep moving” for Christ.
Those around him desired to keep Paul there; they had a great love for him. They had a great preacher and pastor, but Paul had seen Jesus, and Jesus had given him orders that were more important to Paul than anything on this earth. So, Paul kept on moving, moving toward fulfillment of the spread of the gospel, so as to fulfill God’s purpose on this earth and not his.
There are times in our Christian experience that we want to park and stay in the same place and enjoy the “good times,” but there is danger in this practice. The Church is not our Church, it is God’s Church, and it must continue to grow and expand, and change, to fulfill the “Great Commission.” Instead of worrying about losing what we have, we must share it. We must go out and bring others in to have a real experience of the wonder we have in our relationship with Christ…God Bless.
Pastor William
We are restless because of incessant change, but we would be frightened if change were stopped.
Lyman L. Bryson
Acts 21:10-14
As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, "This is what the Holy Spirit says: "In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'" When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, "The will of the Lord be done!" NASU
Norman Mailer, a well known American author, had this to say about change; “Every moment of one's existence one is growing into more or retreating into less. One is always living a little more or dying a little bit.” We read above of the response of the church to Paul’s departure, there was sadness and weeping. It would be a change in their daily spiritual experience, and their concern for Paul was legitimate, he was leaving a stable, safe, and loving environment, for the dangerous political environment that existed in Jerusalem at the time.
Paul had a truth guarded and protected deep inside his heart though and you hear it from his own lips in Romans 14:7-8. “For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.” Hallelujah! Now that is walking in faith and not in the temporary and limited world in which we live. Paul had seen a lot in that meeting with Christ on the road to Damascus, and it framed his actions, and it gave him a desire to “keep moving” for Christ.
Those around him desired to keep Paul there; they had a great love for him. They had a great preacher and pastor, but Paul had seen Jesus, and Jesus had given him orders that were more important to Paul than anything on this earth. So, Paul kept on moving, moving toward fulfillment of the spread of the gospel, so as to fulfill God’s purpose on this earth and not his.
There are times in our Christian experience that we want to park and stay in the same place and enjoy the “good times,” but there is danger in this practice. The Church is not our Church, it is God’s Church, and it must continue to grow and expand, and change, to fulfill the “Great Commission.” Instead of worrying about losing what we have, we must share it. We must go out and bring others in to have a real experience of the wonder we have in our relationship with Christ…God Bless.
Pastor William
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Shame on You!
Shame
Shame and guilt are noble emotions essential in the maintenance of civilized society, and vital for the development of some of the most refined and elegant qualities of human potential.
Willard Gaylen
Zeph 3:4-7
Her prophets are reckless, treacherous men; Her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the law. The LORD is righteous within her; He will do no injustice. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He does not fail. But the unjust knows no shame. "I have cut off nations; their corner towers are in ruins. I have made their streets desolate, with no one passing by; their cities are laid waste, without a man, without an inhabitant. "I said, "surely you will revere Me, Accept instruction.' So her dwelling will not be cut off According to all that I have appointed concerning her. But they were eager to corrupt all their deeds. NASU
Jonathan Swift once wrote, “I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them not ashamed.” Jonathan Swift died in 1745, and if he had lived to see today, I am sure the things that he would see would inspire him to write a book, not just a line of comment. In today’s world shame has been buried, and its funeral was a quiet one, to which few gathered to mourn its passing.
We should not be so quick to point at the young, the fads, or the generation of today to point our fingers. Its death, as I said, was a slow one. It began with overlooking the smallest details, and then moved on to larger ones. It begins usually as an example set by someone that starts a slow, but steady, incremental slide downward, on a slope that increases over time. At some point all footing is lost, and no one can grasp or glimpse a standard, they are swept away with a rushing society bent on overlooking anything that comes between them, and what they desire.
It begins with small conversations at the table that exemplify to a younger generation how to humorously degrade someone. It ends with a giggle and not a stern stare that would have been given by a wise and loving older mature grandmother, or a clearing of the throat by a grandfather. The slope has gotten steeper since those days, things are quicker now, and with much more ease, the correction ceases, quietness rules and hope disappears for our future.
John Lyly, a British Writer who lived from 1554-1606, a voice from the past, a voice from days when stares were more frequent and standards much higher, said this of shame, “Where the mind is past hope, the heart is past shame.” You see, because we have not taught shame well enough, hope has also been deterred. People are looking for hope, and if they feel no shame they will search in forbidden places. Have we taught them or given them boundaries like we were taught, or have we glossed over the details, not wanting to shame them, and confused their search for hope...God Bless.
Pastor William
Shame and guilt are noble emotions essential in the maintenance of civilized society, and vital for the development of some of the most refined and elegant qualities of human potential.
Willard Gaylen
Zeph 3:4-7
Her prophets are reckless, treacherous men; Her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the law. The LORD is righteous within her; He will do no injustice. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He does not fail. But the unjust knows no shame. "I have cut off nations; their corner towers are in ruins. I have made their streets desolate, with no one passing by; their cities are laid waste, without a man, without an inhabitant. "I said, "surely you will revere Me, Accept instruction.' So her dwelling will not be cut off According to all that I have appointed concerning her. But they were eager to corrupt all their deeds. NASU
Jonathan Swift once wrote, “I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them not ashamed.” Jonathan Swift died in 1745, and if he had lived to see today, I am sure the things that he would see would inspire him to write a book, not just a line of comment. In today’s world shame has been buried, and its funeral was a quiet one, to which few gathered to mourn its passing.
We should not be so quick to point at the young, the fads, or the generation of today to point our fingers. Its death, as I said, was a slow one. It began with overlooking the smallest details, and then moved on to larger ones. It begins usually as an example set by someone that starts a slow, but steady, incremental slide downward, on a slope that increases over time. At some point all footing is lost, and no one can grasp or glimpse a standard, they are swept away with a rushing society bent on overlooking anything that comes between them, and what they desire.
It begins with small conversations at the table that exemplify to a younger generation how to humorously degrade someone. It ends with a giggle and not a stern stare that would have been given by a wise and loving older mature grandmother, or a clearing of the throat by a grandfather. The slope has gotten steeper since those days, things are quicker now, and with much more ease, the correction ceases, quietness rules and hope disappears for our future.
John Lyly, a British Writer who lived from 1554-1606, a voice from the past, a voice from days when stares were more frequent and standards much higher, said this of shame, “Where the mind is past hope, the heart is past shame.” You see, because we have not taught shame well enough, hope has also been deterred. People are looking for hope, and if they feel no shame they will search in forbidden places. Have we taught them or given them boundaries like we were taught, or have we glossed over the details, not wanting to shame them, and confused their search for hope...God Bless.
Pastor William
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Put A Lid On It
Complaints and Complaining
One dog barks at something, the rest bark at him.
Chinese Proverb
James 5:8-10
You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. NASU
How do you think God feels when He hears our complaining? Let’s go to the Word of God to find out: In Num 11:1 we find God listening to whom He called the “Rabble and the Greedy;” Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the LORD; and when the LORD heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.
What should we do when we feel like complaining? Earl Musselman felt the need to complain early one morning, he leaves us this story; “The sun was shining in my eyes, and I could barely see to do the necessary task that was allotted me. In resentment of the vivid glow I started to complain. When all at once upon the air I heard the blind man's cane.” Yes, sometimes we are spoiled, aren’t we? We are constantly advertizing our wants, without thankfulness that we are not getting what we deserve, and without thankfulness for what we have.
I feel as if we are too quick to complain in today’s society. Benjamin Franklin said that constant complaint is the poorest way to give thankfulness for all the comforts we enjoy, but it seems as if the more we get the more we feel we deserve. My thinking is that all complaints should be well cooked, that is we should keep the lid on them until the nonsense is steamed out and any substance is revealed.
Now how do we go about doing that? Well, we place these things before "The King" for "His" inspection. Now remember, He isn’t that fond of complaints, so that means that if you bring something, it better have substance. God will reveal that to you and me, but in the mean time, you don’t have to tell everyone else about it. You and I can be seen as a people that are thankful for what God has given us and not be counted with the selfish “rabble” of the world…God Bless.
Pastor William
One dog barks at something, the rest bark at him.
Chinese Proverb
James 5:8-10
You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. NASU
How do you think God feels when He hears our complaining? Let’s go to the Word of God to find out: In Num 11:1 we find God listening to whom He called the “Rabble and the Greedy;” Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the LORD; and when the LORD heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.
What should we do when we feel like complaining? Earl Musselman felt the need to complain early one morning, he leaves us this story; “The sun was shining in my eyes, and I could barely see to do the necessary task that was allotted me. In resentment of the vivid glow I started to complain. When all at once upon the air I heard the blind man's cane.” Yes, sometimes we are spoiled, aren’t we? We are constantly advertizing our wants, without thankfulness that we are not getting what we deserve, and without thankfulness for what we have.
I feel as if we are too quick to complain in today’s society. Benjamin Franklin said that constant complaint is the poorest way to give thankfulness for all the comforts we enjoy, but it seems as if the more we get the more we feel we deserve. My thinking is that all complaints should be well cooked, that is we should keep the lid on them until the nonsense is steamed out and any substance is revealed.
Now how do we go about doing that? Well, we place these things before "The King" for "His" inspection. Now remember, He isn’t that fond of complaints, so that means that if you bring something, it better have substance. God will reveal that to you and me, but in the mean time, you don’t have to tell everyone else about it. You and I can be seen as a people that are thankful for what God has given us and not be counted with the selfish “rabble” of the world…God Bless.
Pastor William
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Those People Around Us
Relationships
Each relationship nurtures a strength or weakness within you.
Mike Murdock
Judg 2:20-23
So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He said, "Because this nation has transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers and has not listened to My voice, I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died, in order to test Israel by them, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk in it as their fathers did, or not." So the LORD allowed those nations to remain, not driving them out quickly; and He did not give them into the hand of Joshua. NASU
Yes, it’s the same scripture from yesterday. There was just so much more to be gleaned from its reading. We talked yesterday of the importance of walking and living our faith out before the world. One of the things that will help each one of us in this journey is to realize that the people we are around, and the situations that we find ourselves in, are places of testing.
Relationships are necessary for us to see who we are, as much as they are to see who others may be. We learn gently (in most cases) from those that love and care for us greatly, and we learn also from those that do not have our best welfare in mind. People that are around us daily are a part of the daily trials and tests that God allows. Isn’t that important to keep in mind when you have that person on the job, or even in church, that doesn’t bring out the best in you?
They are around you as part of God’s plan to test you. God allows those people around us to remove those things that are not “His Best” from you, so as to make us into a people reserved exclusively for Himself. You are to be tested as silver, and purified as gold and relationships can be fiery, in fact they are some of the toughest trials we face aren’t they. Peter relates this to us in 1 Peter 1:22 “Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart.”
Now, I wonder why that is so important? 1 Peter 1:7 says that the proving of your faith was more valuable and important than purified gold, which is perishable. It is important for us to be held up and shine before the world and seen as the Redeemed souls of our Lord Jesus Christ, and it is important that His strength be established and witnessed in us. All of those relationships that we walk in every day are opportunities God uses to transform us into the image of His wonderful Son, and remember He has adopted you. All that God is doing in us is transforming us a little more every day, so that we resemble His family, what a privilege, what a make over…God Bless.
Pastor William
Each relationship nurtures a strength or weakness within you.
Mike Murdock
Judg 2:20-23
So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He said, "Because this nation has transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers and has not listened to My voice, I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died, in order to test Israel by them, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk in it as their fathers did, or not." So the LORD allowed those nations to remain, not driving them out quickly; and He did not give them into the hand of Joshua. NASU
Yes, it’s the same scripture from yesterday. There was just so much more to be gleaned from its reading. We talked yesterday of the importance of walking and living our faith out before the world. One of the things that will help each one of us in this journey is to realize that the people we are around, and the situations that we find ourselves in, are places of testing.
Relationships are necessary for us to see who we are, as much as they are to see who others may be. We learn gently (in most cases) from those that love and care for us greatly, and we learn also from those that do not have our best welfare in mind. People that are around us daily are a part of the daily trials and tests that God allows. Isn’t that important to keep in mind when you have that person on the job, or even in church, that doesn’t bring out the best in you?
They are around you as part of God’s plan to test you. God allows those people around us to remove those things that are not “His Best” from you, so as to make us into a people reserved exclusively for Himself. You are to be tested as silver, and purified as gold and relationships can be fiery, in fact they are some of the toughest trials we face aren’t they. Peter relates this to us in 1 Peter 1:22 “Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart.”
Now, I wonder why that is so important? 1 Peter 1:7 says that the proving of your faith was more valuable and important than purified gold, which is perishable. It is important for us to be held up and shine before the world and seen as the Redeemed souls of our Lord Jesus Christ, and it is important that His strength be established and witnessed in us. All of those relationships that we walk in every day are opportunities God uses to transform us into the image of His wonderful Son, and remember He has adopted you. All that God is doing in us is transforming us a little more every day, so that we resemble His family, what a privilege, what a make over…God Bless.
Pastor William
Monday, June 9, 2008
You're The Author
Guidance
Examples are more forcible than precept. People look at my six days in the week to see what I mean on the seventh.
Robert Cecil 1830-1903, British Conservative Politician, Prime Minister
Judg 2:20-23
So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He said, "Because this nation has transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers and has not listened to My voice, I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died, in order to test Israel by them, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk in it as their fathers did, or not." So the LORD allowed those nations to remain, not driving them out quickly; and He did not give them into the hand of Joshua. NASU
So…you and I have wondered at times. God, why do you let these evil, worthless, and terrible people live around us, and disturb the peace we could have if they weren’t hanging around. Well, the truth is that we also were once some of those terrible and worthless people, and someone cared enough about us to share with us a new way of life. More importantly, we looked at some of those lives and decided that we wanted to live that way also.
Jim Rohn, an American philosopher leaves us this tidbit of wisdom about the way we should live. “The Bible gives us a list of human stories on both sides of the ledger. One list of human stories is used for examples -- do what these people did. Another list of human stories is used as warnings -- don't do what these people did. So if your story ever gets in one of these books, make sure they use it as an example, not a warning.
Now this is the truth of the matter. The way you live will be remembered, and it will be told to someone else. What is the story that you and I are going to leave behind us, are we going to be remembered as an example, or as a warning to those that knew us? It is a question that should precede every action that takes place in our lives, and it is a picture that we paint of ourselves. Albert Schweitzer the German missionary, musician and philosopher who left this earth for heaven’s glory in 1965, said this of being a proper example; “Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.
Your words are not easily remembered but, your life is a picture show that will play for years in the lives of your children, friends and your family. What will they remember? Well, it’s up to you. The script is being written, and the book will one day be published. Then the author and finisher of our faith, Jesus, who wrote the preface of our book, will decide where it will be eternally published, remembered, and read, in heaven, or hell, in anguish, or rejoicing…God Bless.
Pastor William
Examples are more forcible than precept. People look at my six days in the week to see what I mean on the seventh.
Robert Cecil 1830-1903, British Conservative Politician, Prime Minister
Judg 2:20-23
So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He said, "Because this nation has transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers and has not listened to My voice, I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died, in order to test Israel by them, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk in it as their fathers did, or not." So the LORD allowed those nations to remain, not driving them out quickly; and He did not give them into the hand of Joshua. NASU
So…you and I have wondered at times. God, why do you let these evil, worthless, and terrible people live around us, and disturb the peace we could have if they weren’t hanging around. Well, the truth is that we also were once some of those terrible and worthless people, and someone cared enough about us to share with us a new way of life. More importantly, we looked at some of those lives and decided that we wanted to live that way also.
Jim Rohn, an American philosopher leaves us this tidbit of wisdom about the way we should live. “The Bible gives us a list of human stories on both sides of the ledger. One list of human stories is used for examples -- do what these people did. Another list of human stories is used as warnings -- don't do what these people did. So if your story ever gets in one of these books, make sure they use it as an example, not a warning.
Now this is the truth of the matter. The way you live will be remembered, and it will be told to someone else. What is the story that you and I are going to leave behind us, are we going to be remembered as an example, or as a warning to those that knew us? It is a question that should precede every action that takes place in our lives, and it is a picture that we paint of ourselves. Albert Schweitzer the German missionary, musician and philosopher who left this earth for heaven’s glory in 1965, said this of being a proper example; “Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.
Your words are not easily remembered but, your life is a picture show that will play for years in the lives of your children, friends and your family. What will they remember? Well, it’s up to you. The script is being written, and the book will one day be published. Then the author and finisher of our faith, Jesus, who wrote the preface of our book, will decide where it will be eternally published, remembered, and read, in heaven, or hell, in anguish, or rejoicing…God Bless.
Pastor William
Friday, June 6, 2008
Stubbornly Weak
Stubbornness
A small mind is obstinate. A great mind can lead and be led.
Alexander Cannon
Ps 78:5 -8
For He established a testimony in Jacob And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers That they should teach them to their children, That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, That they may arise and tell them to their children, That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, That they may arise and tell them to their children, That they should put their confidence in God And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments, And not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not prepare its heart And whose spirit was not faithful to God. NASU
An important fact that we need to remember in this life is that leading and being led are major center points of our life. The way we live is following a path that others will watch, and maybe even follow, and that’s why it is so important for us to make sure that the life’s path that we are on is a safe and secure one.
Today in Psalm 78, we find that truth repeated for a good reason. Asaph is in full musical tilt and has composed a song for all to sing that will remind everyone of the failings of past generations. I would be good for us all to join in song with him today, for the theme and subjects are much the same. What are the main themes of Asaph’s song? Well let’s look at the end of vs. 8. If we do then we will see the main subject matter of the song, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it were a repeated refrain.
The main things that I see are these; fathers; who are; stubborn and rebellious and who are burdened with unprepared hearts that are unfaithful to their God. Now that was a mouthful wasn’t it. Yes, and it is also pretty prevalent in our society today isn’t it. Men who think it unmanly to rely on anything but themselves and possess a strong sense of pride, and are unable to accept a word, or a hand from anyone, less they be deemed weaklings.
We need to be reminded everyday of our weaknesses, Paul was, let’s read his view on this subject this morning from 2 Cor 12:10, “Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” Well, there goes the manly strong theory out the door. Paul says, weakness is strength, and strength is weakness. The man that is discontent with all these things, Paul says not I, is a “weak” man.
One of the things that I have learned in life is that good leaders learned to lead by being good followers. If we would be weal enough to follow God’s plan for us, we could lead our lives and be examples for those that follow…God Bless.
Pastor William
A small mind is obstinate. A great mind can lead and be led.
Alexander Cannon
Ps 78:5 -8
For He established a testimony in Jacob And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers That they should teach them to their children, That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, That they may arise and tell them to their children, That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, That they may arise and tell them to their children, That they should put their confidence in God And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments, And not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not prepare its heart And whose spirit was not faithful to God. NASU
An important fact that we need to remember in this life is that leading and being led are major center points of our life. The way we live is following a path that others will watch, and maybe even follow, and that’s why it is so important for us to make sure that the life’s path that we are on is a safe and secure one.
Today in Psalm 78, we find that truth repeated for a good reason. Asaph is in full musical tilt and has composed a song for all to sing that will remind everyone of the failings of past generations. I would be good for us all to join in song with him today, for the theme and subjects are much the same. What are the main themes of Asaph’s song? Well let’s look at the end of vs. 8. If we do then we will see the main subject matter of the song, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it were a repeated refrain.
The main things that I see are these; fathers; who are; stubborn and rebellious and who are burdened with unprepared hearts that are unfaithful to their God. Now that was a mouthful wasn’t it. Yes, and it is also pretty prevalent in our society today isn’t it. Men who think it unmanly to rely on anything but themselves and possess a strong sense of pride, and are unable to accept a word, or a hand from anyone, less they be deemed weaklings.
We need to be reminded everyday of our weaknesses, Paul was, let’s read his view on this subject this morning from 2 Cor 12:10, “Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” Well, there goes the manly strong theory out the door. Paul says, weakness is strength, and strength is weakness. The man that is discontent with all these things, Paul says not I, is a “weak” man.
One of the things that I have learned in life is that good leaders learned to lead by being good followers. If we would be weal enough to follow God’s plan for us, we could lead our lives and be examples for those that follow…God Bless.
Pastor William
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Doing It Your Way
Stubbornness
Obstinacy is the result of the will forcing itself into the place of the intellect.
Arthur Schopenhauer 1788-1860, German Philosopher
Jer 5:23-29
'But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; They have turned aside and departed. 'They do not say in their heart, "Let us now fear the LORD our God, Who gives rain in its season, Both the autumn rain and the spring rain, Who keeps for us The appointed weeks of the harvest." 'Your iniquities have turned these away, And your sins have withheld good from you.
What is it to take advantage of the Lord’s goodness, or to take for granted the blessings He delights to give those who love and serve Him. Well, for one thing it is to take the attitude that we deserve those things. God says in Genesis, that all of this we see around us is for our benefit and we are to rule over it fairly and justly. All of this was created just for our benefit and is linked closely to us.
How closely is creation linked to us? Let us look at Genesis 2:5, there it says this; “Now no shrub of the field was yet in the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the LORD God had not sent rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground.” When I look at this, I see that all that God was waiting to create all of those the plants and shrubs, He wanted us to be there first, He, God, wanted us to watch them grow, to see His love and care for us.
When I see the sin in the world today I wonder, I have to ask myself the question; “Is God pleased with us, and how would He show us His displeasure. In the Old Testament I see that God looked upon the rebellion of man, man’s iniquity and sins and those things turned away the good that God wanted to bless them with.
We are, in the United States, a spoiled and proud people. We have many comforts and an abundance of good things. In fact, we have more that practically any country in the world, although China is catching up quickly. Our comforts are many, but it doesn’t take anything but a strong wind to bring us to our knees. Isn’t it time for the church to wake up, before we lose those things due to our loss of relationship with the God who created us?
We the church must leave those comforts and reach out to change our world for Christ. Time is running out quickly, those things that we take for granted are going to be completely gone before long. The fact is that these things that provide our comfort will disappear, and we will be sustained only by our God, we will dwell with Him and He will be our only need. In light of that fact, are we preparing ourselves, and the world for that event? And if not, then why should we expect God’s Blessings…God Bless?
Pastor William
Obstinacy is the result of the will forcing itself into the place of the intellect.
Arthur Schopenhauer 1788-1860, German Philosopher
Jer 5:23-29
'But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; They have turned aside and departed. 'They do not say in their heart, "Let us now fear the LORD our God, Who gives rain in its season, Both the autumn rain and the spring rain, Who keeps for us The appointed weeks of the harvest." 'Your iniquities have turned these away, And your sins have withheld good from you.
What is it to take advantage of the Lord’s goodness, or to take for granted the blessings He delights to give those who love and serve Him. Well, for one thing it is to take the attitude that we deserve those things. God says in Genesis, that all of this we see around us is for our benefit and we are to rule over it fairly and justly. All of this was created just for our benefit and is linked closely to us.
How closely is creation linked to us? Let us look at Genesis 2:5, there it says this; “Now no shrub of the field was yet in the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the LORD God had not sent rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground.” When I look at this, I see that all that God was waiting to create all of those the plants and shrubs, He wanted us to be there first, He, God, wanted us to watch them grow, to see His love and care for us.
When I see the sin in the world today I wonder, I have to ask myself the question; “Is God pleased with us, and how would He show us His displeasure. In the Old Testament I see that God looked upon the rebellion of man, man’s iniquity and sins and those things turned away the good that God wanted to bless them with.
We are, in the United States, a spoiled and proud people. We have many comforts and an abundance of good things. In fact, we have more that practically any country in the world, although China is catching up quickly. Our comforts are many, but it doesn’t take anything but a strong wind to bring us to our knees. Isn’t it time for the church to wake up, before we lose those things due to our loss of relationship with the God who created us?
We the church must leave those comforts and reach out to change our world for Christ. Time is running out quickly, those things that we take for granted are going to be completely gone before long. The fact is that these things that provide our comfort will disappear, and we will be sustained only by our God, we will dwell with Him and He will be our only need. In light of that fact, are we preparing ourselves, and the world for that event? And if not, then why should we expect God’s Blessings…God Bless?
Pastor William
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
It Begins With Us
Self-control
Govern thyself then you will be able to govern the world.
Source Unknown
2 Tim 3:1-5
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. NASU
Robert Browning, a British Poet, had this to say of Self-control; “When the fight begins within himself, a man's worth something.” What exactly is he saying? Well, first I think that he is saying that in all of us there is a battle raging. It is a battle that we are born with and one that each of us must fight, lest in the end who we are, and what we are, is wasted.
Paul says to us in Col 3:1-2, “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” This is the battle isn’t it to be focused on things that are above us, and to “keep seeking” the higher things, not the base things of the world that, face it, we are easily drawn into.
Isn’t it pitiful the way that we judge others and their shortcomings, yet knowing within that we still have a way to go? Isn’t this much of what Paul is speaking of when he warns of what we can be without Christ, brutal, treacherous, reckless, and without self-control. Paul tells us how to avoid this trap in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, “For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.”
The answer comes from living for Christ, we are to be about His business, and not ours, and it could come no plainer than this; Matt 16:24-25 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Simply put, life really isn’t all about us, it’s all about Jesus, and it’s all about others. For us to enjoy the freedom we have in Christ, we must first learn to maintain control of ourselves…God Bless.
Pastor William
Govern thyself then you will be able to govern the world.
Source Unknown
2 Tim 3:1-5
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. NASU
Robert Browning, a British Poet, had this to say of Self-control; “When the fight begins within himself, a man's worth something.” What exactly is he saying? Well, first I think that he is saying that in all of us there is a battle raging. It is a battle that we are born with and one that each of us must fight, lest in the end who we are, and what we are, is wasted.
Paul says to us in Col 3:1-2, “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” This is the battle isn’t it to be focused on things that are above us, and to “keep seeking” the higher things, not the base things of the world that, face it, we are easily drawn into.
Isn’t it pitiful the way that we judge others and their shortcomings, yet knowing within that we still have a way to go? Isn’t this much of what Paul is speaking of when he warns of what we can be without Christ, brutal, treacherous, reckless, and without self-control. Paul tells us how to avoid this trap in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, “For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.”
The answer comes from living for Christ, we are to be about His business, and not ours, and it could come no plainer than this; Matt 16:24-25 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Simply put, life really isn’t all about us, it’s all about Jesus, and it’s all about others. For us to enjoy the freedom we have in Christ, we must first learn to maintain control of ourselves…God Bless.
Pastor William
Monday, June 2, 2008
Calculating Calamity
Calamity
Calamity is virtue's opportunity.
Seneca 4 B.C. – 65 A.D., Spanish-born Roman Statesman, philosopher
John 16:33
"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." NASU
Calamity, troubles, and tribulations, is there really any use of these things in this world in which we dwell? Samuel Richardson said that calamity was the test of integrity. Jesus also warned us that we would surely have tribulation in this world, He did not promise us an easy time. So then, calamity and trials, headaches and troubles are a part of what makes us who we are, and more important makes us into who we eventually will be.
Let’s get the thoughts of someone who surely ran into many troublesome opportunities. Paul ran into many distresses and says to us in Rom 5:3-5, “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Now we get three of the many ingredients that are added to our lives due too calamity. Perseverance, proven character, and hope, and notice how they are all interrelated. Perseverance makes proven character, and proven character brings hope, and what is the valuable product of hope? We can avoid disappointment for we will have faith to cling to the precious Holy Spirit whom Christ has left to lead us through difficult times in this world.
Tribulation operates like a gristmill. The weight of calamity and tribulation is poured into the pockets of our life’s wheel, and we grind up the hard things that are poured into us, and as we process those hard grains, a product is produced that is soft and pliable and valuable to ourselves, and those around us. What we have to do is to look beyond the hard things to the eventual product, just as we watched our Wonderful Savior do…God Bless.
Pastor William
Calamity is virtue's opportunity.
Seneca 4 B.C. – 65 A.D., Spanish-born Roman Statesman, philosopher
John 16:33
"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." NASU
Calamity, troubles, and tribulations, is there really any use of these things in this world in which we dwell? Samuel Richardson said that calamity was the test of integrity. Jesus also warned us that we would surely have tribulation in this world, He did not promise us an easy time. So then, calamity and trials, headaches and troubles are a part of what makes us who we are, and more important makes us into who we eventually will be.
Let’s get the thoughts of someone who surely ran into many troublesome opportunities. Paul ran into many distresses and says to us in Rom 5:3-5, “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Now we get three of the many ingredients that are added to our lives due too calamity. Perseverance, proven character, and hope, and notice how they are all interrelated. Perseverance makes proven character, and proven character brings hope, and what is the valuable product of hope? We can avoid disappointment for we will have faith to cling to the precious Holy Spirit whom Christ has left to lead us through difficult times in this world.
Tribulation operates like a gristmill. The weight of calamity and tribulation is poured into the pockets of our life’s wheel, and we grind up the hard things that are poured into us, and as we process those hard grains, a product is produced that is soft and pliable and valuable to ourselves, and those around us. What we have to do is to look beyond the hard things to the eventual product, just as we watched our Wonderful Savior do…God Bless.
Pastor William
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Pastor William
- Pastor William F Burroughs
- Gainesville, Fl, United States
- Pray for God to move greatly in "Journey of The Word Church".