The Savior is Waiting

This was the song we were singing when Jesus yanked me out of my seat in April of 1971 in a Bible college chapel in Joplin, Missouri. What a long strange trip it's been since that time. I praise His name for all the second chances. Give Nikkimae a listen. She's good.

Be A Servant Like Your Master

Philippians 2 New International Version (NIV)

2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in very nature^[a] God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature^[b] of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

¹² Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
¹⁴ Do everything without grumbling or arguing, ¹⁵ so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”^[c] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky ¹⁶ as you hold firmly to the word of life.

It still boggles my mind when I read it. Part of God actually came to earth as a man and served His creations. Jesus Christ gave up the glories and riches of heaven to spend some time with us, teaching us how to live in a way pleasing to God and then he offered His life in service to us. I am forever grateful. Thanks Lord.

Go to church tomorrow. Visit a Sunday school class or Bible class. Learn how to get yourself back with God. Put away the rebellion and the anger and the hate and submit to His will. He is waiting. Anything He asks you to give up or anything He might ask you to do is a small sacrifice for the things that await in the next life. This one is only practice anyway.  Why do it alone?

The High Crimes and Misdemeanors Of Abraham Lincoln

 
When I was sophomore at a Christian college in Texas back in the 70's, I went through some culture shock. Texas is, in some respects, a nation unto itself and it was most definitely a part of what was called the Confederacy back in the mid 19th century. What I learned while there was that wounds heal slowly and if those wounds are cultural, sometimes they just go on festering and itching and never completely heal.

I was an Iowa boy that grew up believing that Abraham Lincoln was the greatest American president in the history of the Republic with the possible exception of George Washington. I was taught this in school. It was reinforced by my family and there were monuments in Washington DC to prove it. So when this ground hog went to Texas and to college and he studied American history under the tutelage of Dr Smith (whose first name escapes me), he had to reassess his initial programming.

When we came to the history of what I thought was the American Civil War, me and my classmates were all quickly informed that it was not the civil war, but in fact it was the war between the states. Then for the next two days, we had to endure a lecture about the 16 impeachable offenses of Abraham Lincoln. My first thought was that Dr Smith was a revisionist and we were being treated to an alternate version of American Civil War history that was not written by the victors of said war. But as I listened (and tried to argue with without success), the crimes of Lincoln and the Union government of the north were revealed to me in convincing fashion. I felt like a light had been turned on in my brain.

The war between the states was a terrible thing and it had nothing to do with slavery. It had everything to do with the death of states rights and increasing the power of the federal government over them. In a very real sense, the good guys lost that war. It's true that slavery is a terrible thing, but the fact is that slavery was on its way out as an institution. The industrial revolution was under way throughout the western world and slaves were going to be replaced by factories and machines that did agricultural work. Slavery was doomed. This war was not about slavery. It was about consolidation of political power and economic power.

All of this came flooding back to me yesterday when I got to thinking about Lincoln (it was his birthday) and googled a few things. I found this article in the Southern Sentinel blog that details the whole issue. I thought I would share some of it here. Let me know what you think.

   
LINCOLN’S CRIMES
1. Lincoln waged a war that cost the lives of 620,000 Americans. Including the murder of 50,000 innocent Southern civilians.
2. He arrested several thousand Marylanders suspected of Southern sympathies, including 30 members of the State legislature, a US Congressman representing Maryland, the mayor and police commissioner of Baltimore, and most of the Baltimore city council. These political detainees were imprisoned in Fort McHenry and Point Lookout without trial, in many cases, for several years.
3. He suspended the writ of habeas corpus without the consent of Congress (as required by the Constitution).
4. He illegally shut down and confiscated the printing presses of dozens of newspapers that had spoken out against him.
5. He re-instated and summarily promoted an Army officer who had been court martialed and cashiered by the US Army for war crimes.
6. He even had an arrest warrant issued for the Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court because said justice refused to back his illegal actions.
7. Chief Justice Roger B Taney ruled that Lincolns actions were illegal, criminal and unconstitutional.
8. He invaded the South without the consent of Congress as required by the Constitution.
9. He blockaded Southern ports without a delclaration of war, as required by the Constitution.
10. He imprisoned without trial, hundreds of newspaper editors and owners and censored all newspaper and telegraph communication.
11. He created two new states without the consent of the citizens of those states in order to artificially inflate the Republican Partys electoral vote.
12. He ordered Federal troops to interfere with Northern elections to assure his Parties victories.
13. He confiscated private property, including firearms, in violation of the Second Amendment; and effectively gutted the Tenth and Ninth Amendments as well.
14. He had his Generals attack US cities full of women and children and burn them to the ground.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Number 14 is particularly interesting to me. There were Iowans in the front lines of General Sherman's army when he put Atlanta to the torch. And when that army marched north to Columbia, it was an Iowan that tore the Confederate flag from the rooftop of the capitol. That flag is on display today in the capitol building in Des Moines. Is it any wonder that southerners still refer to that time as "the recent unpleasantness"? I doubt they will ever forget it. It is deeply burned in the southern conscience. 

 

The Great Conspiracies Of Our Time...The Devil Is in the Details

As it's Lincoln's birthday today, I though it might be interesting to look at some comparisons between the Lincoln assassination and the JFK assassination. I found these at White Out Press.

Lincoln-Kennedy Similarities and Coincidences
- Lincoln's name has 7 letters
- Kennedy's name has 7 letters

- In Lincoln's & Kennedy's names the vowels & consonants fall in exactly the same place; in the order c, v, c, c, v, c, c

- Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846
- Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946

- Lincoln was elected president in 1860
- Kennedy was elected president in 1960

- Kennedy had a secretary named Lincoln

- War was thrust upon Lincoln almost immediately after inauguration
- War was thrust upon Kennedy almost immediately after inauguration

- Lincoln ordered the Treasury to print its own money
- Kennedy ordered the Treasury to print its own money

- International bankers may have arranged the assassinations of both Lincoln and Kennedy

- Lincoln gave black Americans freedom and legalized equality
- Kennedy enforced equality for black Americans

- Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863
- Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963

- Lincoln was succeeded, after assassination, by vice-president Johnson
- Kennedy was succeeded, after assassination, by vice-president Johnson

- Andrew Johnson was born in 1808
- Lyndon Johnson was born in 1908

- Andrew Johnson's name has 13 letters
- Lyndon Johnson's name has 13 letters

- Andrew Johnson had a pug nose and slicked-back hair
- Lyndon Johnson had a pug nose and slicked-back hair

- Lincoln was sitting beside his wife when he was shot
- Kennedy was sitting beside his wife when he was shot

- Rathbone, who was with Lincoln when he was shot, was injured (by being stabbed)
- Connally, who was with Kennedy when he was shot, was injured (by being shot)

- Rathbone's name has 8 letters
- Connally's name has 8 letters

- Lincoln's wife held his head in her lap after he was shot
- Kennedy's wife held his head in her lap after he was shot

- Lincoln was shot on a Friday
- Kennedy was shot on a Friday

- Lincoln was shot in a theater named Ford
- Kennedy was shot in a car named Ford
- Kennedy was shot in a car also named Lincoln

- Lincoln's bodyguard was away from his post at the door of the President's box at the theater
- Kennedy's bodyguards were away from their posts on the running-boards of the President's car

- Lincoln was shot in a theater and his assassin ran to a warehouse
- JFK was shot from a warehouse and his assassin ran to a theater

- Lincoln's assassin had a three-word name, John Wilkes Booth
- Kennedy's assassin had a three-word name, Lee Harvey Oswald

- John Wilkes Booth has 15 letters
- Lee Harvey Oswald has 15 letters

- John Wilkes Boothe was born in 1839 (s/b 1838)
- Lee Harvey Oswald was born in 1939

- Lincoln didn't die immediately after being shot
- Kennedy didn't die immediately after being shot

- Lincoln and Kennedy died in places beginning with the initials P and H
- Lincoln died in Petersen's house
- Kennedy died in Parkland Hospital

- Booth was shot and killed in police custody before going to trial
- Oswald was shot and killed in police custody before going to trial

- Kennedy's funeral was modeled on Lincoln's funeral

- Andrew Johnson was a heavy drinker with crude behavior
- Lyndon Johnson was a heavy drinker with crude behavior

- There were conspiracy theories that Johnson was knowledgeable about Lincoln's assassination
- There were conspiracy theories that Johnson was knowledgeable about Kennedy's assassination

- Days before it happened Lincoln told his wife and friends about a dream he'd had of being shot by an assassin
- Hours before it happened Kennedy told his wife and friends it would be easy for an assassin to shoot him from a crowd

- Shortly after Lincoln was shot the telegraph system went down
- Shortly after Kennedy was shot the telephone system went down

- Kennedy's father had been the Ambassador to England at the Court of St James
- Lincoln's son became the Ambassador to England at the Court of St James

Odd how these things work. Only involvement of a supernatural power could bring together such a mass of coincidences between two events separated by 98 years. It's just weird.

It's Not What You Do; It's Who You Know

Have you ever heard that expression? How many times have you gotten the job or the opportunity to do whatever because of who you knew?

That is many times the way it is. It helps even more if the person you know has influence in what ever it is you are trying to do.

Jesus told a story recorded in Luke 15 about a father with two sons. The youngest one decided he would take his inheritance early and left home. Lacking the wisdom and probably the desire to restrain himself, he burnt through his inheritance quickly and found himself in poverty in a foreign country. He had to take jobs that were beneath someone of his social class to support himself and it was not a good situation. He was eating at the animal trough with the pigs he was taking care of.

Experience is a great teacher. It will make you think and the situation this young man was in made him remember his home and how even his father's servants lived better than he was currently living.

With this in mind, he decided he would go home. He knew what he would say to his father.

¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father.

What happens next is the crux of the story for me.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him."

You see, even before the son could make his apologies and put forward his repentance, he was embraced by his father and welcomed home.

The father knew the son. The son knew his father. And because of this, a second chance was forth coming.

You probably know the rest of the story, but if you don't, go to Luke 15:11-31 and read it.

The Lord knows all His children; the ones at home and the ones far away from Him. If you are ready to come home, He is waiting to welcome you. If you get to know Him, you will find Him to be gentle and meek. 

I can tell you as one of His servants, that you will be treated well. He will always be there to hear you and He is a great listener. He also forgives when forgiveness is required. You will never be alone again. He is always with you.

Consider getting to know Him. He is waiting.  

Why Doesn't The Government Do Something....

Those who count themselves on the right of the political spectrum tend to deplore that statement. They see it as a cry for socialism or Marxism or communism. The problem is that the right wing has things they think government should be doing too. It's really a bit hypocritical to point fingers with regard to these matters when both sides have their own political axes to grind.

There is however a group of right wingers that really chap my backside. They are the politically involved evangelical Christians. Now there is nothing wrong with political involvement, especially when there is something that is realistic and achievable to be done and it involves eliminating the role of government in our lives. But what I really can't abide is the lap dog mentality of evangelicals that will put all their eggs in the Republican basket and expect something to happen.

I'm not sure who said it, but there is an expression that we use at work from time to time. It says, "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result."

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, please stop the insanity. Use the brain the Lord gave you. Consider a different approach. The Republicans have proven that they are not going to help you make this a moral and upright nation. How long have you been with them and how long have they promised you they will do something about your most important issues and how many times have they failed even when they have a majority in government? I think it's about 100%. Isn't it time to stop being tricked by these lottery ticket salesmen? They are not going to fix the abortion issue or the gay marriage issue or the prayer in schools issue or your favorite tax issue. They do not care about anything other than personal empowerment and they are like their colleagues on the other side of the aisle.

Your answer is not in politics. Your answer is in the Power of Christ and the gospel.

The culture war is over and we lost. The church in America is one generation away from death and it is at least partially because we placed our confidence in these snake oil salesmen rather than Christ.

The time has come to cut our losses. We have to lower the drawbridge at church. We have to tear down the walls and let the sinners in so they can be saved. If we cooperate with God, the gospel will have it's effect. God will take the harvest and those he has chosen will live the new and better life. We have to go out among them and use the tools we have to bring them in. Political involvement is not the route to do that. It foments hate toward the church and her husband Jesus Christ. People need to know what they are facing personally before they will change. We have that message. It might even be possible to remake the culture one person at a time.

Beyond that, there is no place in scripture where the Lord promises us a Christian culture. It just ain't gonna happen. Some believe we had a Christian culture in the US once. I would say, perhaps nominally so, but I have plenty of arguments proving otherwise. It does not matter. That was then. This is now.

Use the tools. Bring them in. Let God sort them out.

Ephesians 3:16-21

¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. ²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Sticks and Stones

We've all heard, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me".

I have always considered that statement to be patently false.

I have been hurt by them many times, but I am also a bit of an artist at using words as a weapon. If you mess with me, you better come prepared.

Then there is something called the Truth. Words of Truth can be explosive and painful when heard by certain parties and a comfort to others. It depends on who you are.

Words are powerful things. Entire books are made from them. What's the other cliche? "The pen is mightier than the sword."

Perhaps it's in the writing of the words. Maybe that's what makes them dangerous, powerful, constructive or destructive. What I do know is this. Words have hurt me. Words have made me think. Words have helped me and words have saved me.

The Bible is the written Word of God. It is powerful in and of itself. Jesus Christ is the Living Word from God. He is the medium through which God reaches out to His creations to save them.

If you you pay any heed to words at all, it's Jesus that you need to be listening to. His Word will only help you, even though it may make you uncomfortable initially. Let me suggest that you read the gospel of John. It will not take long, and it is written by an eyewitness to Jesus' life on earth. You can start here:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome^[a] it.

⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. ⁸ He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
⁹ The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Doesn't it just reach out and grab you? Wouldn't you like to be a child of the Living God? Read John. He can help show you how that's possible. If you have questions, Ghog is right here to help.
 

Later 

You Give Them Something To Eat...Really? Me?

The apostles had just come back from a preaching tour. They reported their work and accomplishments to their rabbi, Jesus. For His part, Jesus knew they were tired and a bit hungry. Here is how the event is recorded in Mark 6:30-44

³⁰ The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. ³¹ Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
³² So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. ³³ But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. ³⁴ When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
³⁵ By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. ³⁶ Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”
³⁷ But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”
They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages^[e]! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”
³⁸ “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”
When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”
³⁹ Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. ⁴⁰ So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. ⁴¹ Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. ⁴² They all ate and were satisfied, ⁴³ and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. ⁴⁴ The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

When you carry an important message and you are able to reinforce it with works, people will seek you out to hear what you have to say and see those words put into action. And so it was with Jesus and His disciples. Even though they were tired and hungry after a period of such work and even though they tried to retire to a remote place for a recharge of their batteries with the One who had sent them, they could not escape the needs of the people that were clinging to the information they had to share.

They could not get away. They could not escape. Five thousand men, and who knows how many women and children, tracked them down because they wanted a little bit of what Jesus and disciples had to share.

As an introvert, I cannot imagine this. I have to be able to escape, to recharge, to prepare for whatever the next event in my life will be, but this was not to be for Jesus and the 12. As tired as they were, Mark tells us that Jesus had compassion on this mass of humanity. He preached, He taught, he used this time He intended for rest to helped others find their rest.

Mark says that by the time Jesus had finished His remarks, it was late in the day. His disciples wanted to dismiss the crowds so they could go somewhere and get something to eat. The problem was that they were out in the middle of no where with these people and there was no McDonald's of KFC to hit before you went home.

Jesus had the solution. Instead of sending them to find their own food, Jesus said to His disciples, "You give them something to eat".

Really. Sounds simple when you just say it doesn't it. You feed them.

Immediately, the apostles begin to find reasons why this would be impossible, not the least of which was the cost - more than six months wages. This was a lot of people and resources were limited - severely limited.

So what did they do? Did they tell Jesus no?

Of course not. Instead, they began to see what they had; what was available. It was a meager amount of food. It was enough for enough for three or four people. Five loaves of bread and two fishes. How would they feed 5000+ people with that?

 

But they went forward anyway with what they had. They organized the crowds into small groups. And they gave Jesus the resources available and what did He do? He turned it into a mountain of food. Everyone ate. Everyone was satisfied...and there were leftovers.

So what's the point?

Nothing is impossible with God. If you are seeking to genuinely love God and love your neighbor, he can take your meager resources, whatever they may be, and help you use them to the best of your abilities. He wants His people fed.

You give them something to eat.

Talking Animals From The BBC..Enjoy My Cameos

I Just Love a Talking Dog

Who Is My Neighbor?

We talked a bit about the greatest commandments back on January 28th. We also talked a bit about the scope of these commandments. If you love God and you love your neighbor, you are required to act. You have responsibilities. Failure to meet these responsibilities would represent a violation of these commandments. In today's scripture we will see someone following these commands. The interesting thing here is that the one in obedience is not one that the people of the time would have expected.

Luke 10:25-37

²⁵ On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
²⁶ “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
²⁷ He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’^[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[b]”
²⁸ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
³⁰ In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii^[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

It's interesting that the "expert in the law" knew what the greatest commandments were. Perhaps he had heard Jesus speak about this before. Whatever the case, this expert immediately baits a trap for Jesus by asking the question, "Who is my neighbor?". I call it a trap because the expert knew that there were all kinds of reasons why you might not consider someone your neighbor according to the prevailing interpretations of the law at that time.

Never the less, Jesus proceeds to answer the question. He uses a story about a man going from Jerusalem to Jericho that gets mugged on his way home and is left for dead by his attackers.

The road on which the crime was perpetrated turns out to be quite busy. As the "half dead" man lays there in his misery and wounds, no less than two people pass by. One is a priest and the other a Levite. It's interesting that both of these men are supposed to be the shepherds of Israel; leaders in the faith, knowledgeable of every aspect of the law . They were to serve in the temple in various capacities at given times and that may well be where they were headed when the saw the severely wounded man by the road. 

Did they offer assistance? Did they stop to help? No, they passed by the victim on the other side of the road and continued on to their destination.

Why would they do this? Why would they not help? These men knew the law. Had they determined that this man was not their neighbor according to the law? Perhaps a foreigner or a sinner? Or was it something else? Maybe they were concerned about remaining ceremonially clean. If they were going to Jerusalem to serve in the temple, they would have been forbidden to come into contact with human blood or dead bodies. This would have disqualified them from temple service. Then again, maybe they just did not want to get involved or maybe they did not want to be late. Whatever the reason for their lack of concern, it was not a good excuse.

As Jesus explains, a third traveler, a Samaritan, comes along and shows immediate concern for the injured man. He treats and bandages the man's wounds and then delivers him to a local inn so he can receive care. The Samaritan man even pays the innkeeper for the man's stay and says he will be back in a couple of days to check on him and bring more money if needed.

A Samaritan did this. The significance of this is astounding. Samaritans were held in very low regard by the Jews of the time. They were considered heretics to the law and rejected by God. They would not have been considered anybody's neighbor by a Jew in those days. Even so, it was a Samaritan that instinctively did what God's law commanded. It was notably not the priest or the levite - the spiritual leadership of God's people. Strange indeed.

So what would you do? Who is your neighbor? Would you help? Suppose it was someone that looked different from people you normally associate with? Would long hair, body piercings and tattoos stop you? Would their inability to speak English and the color of their skin stop you? Would a gay pride bumper sticker stop you? Would fear stop you?

There's always a reason not to help isn't there? But God's greatest commandments are not festooned with contractual footnotes offering reasons why we do not have to obey in a particular instance. They are plain and clear.

If you love God and you love your neighbor, you will act.

Jesus asked the expert in the law which of the three was a neighbor to the injured man. The expert replied that it was the man who had mercy (he would not even utter the word "Samaritan").

What did Jesus say?

"Go and do likewise" 

Rest

^{Matthew 11:28}

^{Jesus said,}

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Get some rest this weekend. Go to church on Sunday. Visit a Bible or Sunday School class. Learn how Jesus can change your life.  

Talk to you tomorrow.

The God of My Fathers

It was around 1446 BC when an 80 year old Hebrew shepherd met his God in the Sinai desert...

Exodus 3:1-6

3 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. ² There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. ³ So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”

⁴ When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
And Moses said, “Here I am.”
⁵ “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” ⁶ Then he said, “I am the God of your father,^[a] the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

Moses had a strange life. For 40 years, he lived in the Egyptian king's palace as the adopted Hebrew son of the King's daughter, but one day he decided to get in touch with his roots and he discovered the misery of his own people. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave and it so infuriated him, that he killed the Egyptian. Even though he had buried the Egyptian in the desert sand, Moses' actions became known and so he fled to the desert. He was taken in by a nomadic shepherd people and he eventually married a daughter of the tribal head - Jethro. He worked as a shepherd until that fateful 
day when Yahweh approached him on the mountainside through an angel inside a bush that burned, but was not consumed.  

The Lord God introduced Himself to Moses and the rest of it is ancient history. I love the story. I am sure that Moses was familiar with the history of his people. He knew the stories passed down from generation to generation; but I am also sure he never imagined that the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would approach him personally, let alone send him on a mission that would last for the remainder of his life. I am awestruck every time I read it. I am only 57, but I do not think I would want to lead 4 million people. Moses did that from the age of 80 to 120.

What strikes me as relevant in this particular passage though is how God introduces Himself. He says, "I Am the God of your father(s)..."

Many times the faith of Christians is as much a hereditary thing as it is experiential. Many of us go through our journey with Christ without ever really meeting Him. We believe because we grew up believing. It was expected. We became Christians because it was expected. We learned about the Bible because it was expected. Then when we reached a certain age, we lost sight of our faith. 

I think this happens because those of us that grew up in the Church, never really experienced the saving power of Christ in the same way that others who come to Him later experience Him.

For me, I had to wander in my own desert for a very long time before I finally heard His voice for true and He called me home to dwell in the land He promised to my fathers - Will and Lloyd and Charlie and Dennis. That land is called Iowa if you are wondering. But...

My point here is, that as dry as it was, the faith of my youth that was passed to me by my fathers, is what I have based my own faith on and it has grown like a holy mountain before me where the living God dwells with me and teaches me daily how to walk in His ways. It has been a difficult and trying journey, but He is helping me to find my way on His path.

Lord, you are the God of my fathers. Your name has been passed down to me from generation to generation and even when I was far away from you, you beckoned me to your Holy Kingdom.

I thank you and praise your name for the grace you have given me. Thank you for bringing me back to your pasture to graze again with the Saints.

I love You Lord. In Jesus' Name,

Amen     

Peace and Safety

"While people are saying, "Peace and safety", destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape."
1 Thessalonians 5:3

When Paul wrote those words to the Thessalonians, he was talking about eschatological matters; the second advent of Jesus Christ. It will be a glorious day and it will be a day of mourning and destruction. Some will go on to eternal peace and joy, while others will move on to an eternity of separation from God. It will not end well for those that refuse faith in Jesus. Fear will rule the day among the unbelievers.

And is fear not the major issue of our time? The world is rife with fear and fear mongering. Everyone seems to be afraid of something. Global Warming (now called climate change), currency failures, ISIS, ISIL, Al Qaeda, the Russians, the North Koreans, the Iranians - these things all strike fear in the hearts of westerners just as the Third Reich did in 1939 when blitzkrieg brought Europe to its knees.

My personal opinion about many of these things is that they are manufactured by western governments to control their populations for the advancement of the American Empire and consolidation of the financial and corporate interests that actually rule the world. Constant fear mongering, defensive posturing and promotion of hate with an attitude of fear toward perceived enemies in the interest of maintaining control is the rule of the day.

We even fear the weather. We can't go to work or to school or to church if the weather is a bit threatening because something awful might happen.

You know what? Something awful might happen in any second, in any day in any year at any time.

Why is it that we live in an age where we expect protection and peace and safety all the time and we  are willing to give up the most basic of our freedoms to ensure that nothing bad happens?

It's time for the fear to stop. We have to stand up to it, look it in the eye and say, "No More".

Brethren, we are better than that. We have something that all the nations, governments, corporations and banks that control this world do not have!

1 Thessalonians 5:5,6

"But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this Day should surprise you like a thief in the night. You are all Sons of the Light and Sons of the Day.   We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like the others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self controlled."

Ephesians 6:10-12

"Finally be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Fear is the opposite of faith. We need to stop allowing fear to rule our lives so that we can actually live. It is the last major tool that Satan has at his disposal and it works in the world and seemingly in God's church. It has to stop. We have to stop allowing it to dictate where we go, what we do and how we vote. If fear is not conquered, in the end, we become slaves. God did not intend us to be slaves to anything but His righteousness.

It's time to re-examine our approach. Just sayin'.     

Making It Work

Ya know, I ain't perfect, but I think I am getting closer to it every day. Just an observation. I am not bragging. If you knew where my head was at 35 years ago and how hard it was for the Lord to get me to this place in my life, you would believe in miracles. I know I do.

My Grandpa would say, "it's no miracle Jeff. You are just getting old. Growing up."

To which I would say...

"Gramps, why did it take so long and shouldn't I be done by now?"

Apparently I am not done. Just the very minute I start feeling good about myself, something happens. You know what I'm talking about; it's those tests and trials that James says we are supposed to consider a pure joy.

I have trouble with that, even after the fact - even when I get a passing grade.

Growing pains are rough.

To make it work for me I like to read Colossians 3:12-17.


¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Whatever you do, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.

That's the key isn't it?


I'm thinking so.

Lord, I love you. Thanks for yet another day of life. Thanks for a good report from Dad's doctor today. Thanks for the extra help at work. Lord, for awhile there, I thought I was under attack. Things with work and with Dad kept getting ratcheted up. I was looking for the evil one to pop out from behind the curtains at any time, but you got me through it. Work was really awful, but you got me through it. So, now on to the next test I guess. Hope I can consider it a pure joy...and when I say that, I am not asking for an opportunity to practice. I just wanted to be sure we were both on the same page with that.

Lord, I'm going to work now. Please watch over Dad today. Please keep him off ladders and ice and help him to be mindful of the date. His sense of time is about shot. I suppose that has it's advantages, but it's also kind of disconcerting. You know what I'm saying.

Say 'Hi' to Mom for me and if she's watching me, tell her to quit laughing.

I'm feeling the Peace today. It's good.

In Your Name Lord..Amen

Six of One And A Half Dozen Of the Other In 2016

Is this really going to be the offering in 2016? We get either the Whore of Babylon or the Bush Baby?

I'm sorry, but I can't. I just can't. We do not live in a hereditary monarchy. The Houses of Clinton and Bush need to go. The entire middle east is in flames because of the policies of these families. I cannot bear it any longer. If this is my choice, I will not tick a presidential candidate on my ballot.

It's time to consider adding "none of the above" to the ballot.

I might be able to pull the trigger for Rand Paul or Ted Cruz, but I cannot think of anyone else that would entice me into voting for a presidential candidate. And even these two would continue the Empirical reorganization of the middle east.

These are not good days for Christian Libertarians.

That Great Gettin' Up Morning

 

 It's been a busy day and it's only 9 AM. Popped out of the hole this morning and there it was...my shadow in all it's glory. It seemed bigger than last year.

I know I know....everything will be all right. Spring, she is a coming albeit a bit later than we may have hoped, but it will come nevertheless!

Anyhow, the annual ceremony this morning made me think about something else. It kind of made me tear up with happiness. It seems that happiness always makes my face leak, but here it is. Here is what I thought about....
 -------------
1 John 3:2-3
 
² Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. ³ And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
 --------------
There will come a day, a great and glorious day, when the Son of the Lord God will appear in the eastern sky. His glory and brilliance will outshine the sun and the days of shadow and darkness will be no more. The dead will live again and those of us that are His will rise to meet Him in the air.

All the world will see Him and those of us that are His will be remade, we will be like him, becoming eternal beings with new bodies and pure minds, prepared for eternal service in His everlasting kingdom. The Peace that Passes All Understanding will be upon us and we will share with Him in His eternal inheritance. 

All the spring times in my life here will not compare to the final Spring that is coming. I long for the Day.

Rest. 

So bring it on Lord. 

Lord, Thanks for the promise. Thanks for setting in motion the final reunion. It will be good to be with you both in Spirit and in Person.

Lord, it's time now to resume the daily grind, to get back to the matters of the world that really do not matter all that much. But I wanted you to know when I saw the sun this morning, it made me think of you. You light up life when I am surrounded by darkness and I know you are going to get me through to the Day we all look forward to.

Please watch over me today. Let me reflect your glory. Take care of Dad today while I'm gone. Please keep him upright and safe.

Please bless my workplace, my church and my home. Drive the evil one from our presence. Assign him to the abyss. Strengthen me for the time that is coming.

I love you.

In Your Name I pray these thing....Amen and Amen  

Church

Good Morning. Welcome to Ghog's Church of the On Line Rodents

Ghog, will you open with some prayer please?

"Lord, we would like to thank you for the lovely weather. It's perfect for hibernating in a burrow. Even so, we come together today to celebrate your life and what you did for us. We thank you for coming here in the fullness of time to teach us how to live. We thank you for sacrificing your life and then defeating death that we might live again with You in the Time after our time on earth. Lord we also thank you for this opportunity to come together on line and share with each other even when we are separated by the wonderful geography you have created. We know that you did not cancel church even though we did and we at least wanted to say 'Hi'. Thanks for being there. Now please keep the old ones safe. Heal the sick ones. Cheer up the sad ones. And send spring as soon as possible. Please be mindful that tomorrow is my day...I really do not want to see my shadow. Some clouds when I pop out of the burrow tomorrow would be nice. Just a thought. Anyway, thanks for hearing our prayers. I know we are just ground hogs in your sight, but we love you. In Jesus' name...Amen"

Now maybe we should sing a song?

Do you think so? I really can't sing very well.

Do it anyway...no one but God will hear and that's who it's for. He likes a joyful noise.

How 'bout a Rich Mullins tune?

OK

Oh God you are my God and I will ever praise You
Oh God you are my God and I will ever praise You
I will seek you in the morning and I will learn to walk in your ways
And step by step you'll lead me
And I will follow you all of my days.

Thanks Ghog for your rendition of an otherwise worthy praise song

I tried to warn you.

And now the sermon...

Today's scripture comes from Matthew 6:25-33

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[a]?
²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Footnotes:

1. Matthew 6:27 Or single cubit to your height

New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

This scripture is from the Sermon on the Mount. The mountain is never identified, but it is believed to be somewhere just northwest of the Sea of Galilee. He gave a lengthy sermon there and this is just one small, but important part.

So why should Christians worry. Seriously. If we know the promises that we have in Christ, why is it that we get are underwear all up in a bunch over things that, in the big picture, do not really matter. Ultimately God is going to take care of us.

You say, "but I have to plan. I have to make sure there is enough for the future. I have to leave something for the kids. I gotta be sure the cupboards are full and there's gas in the tank. I have to work to make that happen. I have to be busy keeping up with Jones' and the Smith's. I don't know what's going to happen. I have to be prepared."

Do you really think that you have that much control over your destiny? Do you really think you can prevent personal disaster by storing up stuff and protecting it with your guns while you live in your suburban fortresses?

Let me tell you something. When the hammer falls and the feces hit the oscillating wind device, no matter how well you think you have prepared, those preparations will not be enough. They are going to run out. Or someone will steal them from you. Or they will rot before they are consumed. Ultimately, you will be in the same boat with the rest of us...totally dependent on God and each other. Why not just face that fact now and quit struggling so much in your life. Instead enjoy what God has given. See to the needs of your family by spending time with them. Take care of what you already have and enjoy because tomorrow it may be gone.

As Rich Mullins would, "we should all dress like flowers and eat like birds".

Seriously though, there are many things more important than the pursuit of material possessions, even when it comes to the essentials like food, shelter and clothing.

Everything will ultimately be all right. Whatever it is, by the grace of God and under His care, you will get through it. And if you die in the process, you will be with Him. It's a win win situation.

Worrying is for amateurs. Be a pro.

Thanks Ghog for that instructive, bold and direct message..."oscillating wind device" where did you get that one? Never mind. I don't want to know.

Since we're not actually together today, please be sure to take time to remember what the Lord did for you and thank Him for His sacrifice and His victory from which we all benefit.

I'd ask Ghog to sing us a closing song before the benediction, but I don't think anyone wants that.

So Ghog, will you close us out with some prayer...no song necessary.

"Lord, it's been good to be here today at the HyVee with the on line brethren. It would have been nice to see everyone in person, but that was not to be. I really needed to teach a class today too. My brain is full and I had no where to empty it. That being said, this too has been an instructive endeavor. Please bless us today as we go back out into the world. Help us to remember who we are and help us to act like it when we're out among 'em. Lord we love you. Thanks for the grace. Help us please to spread it around a bit. In Jesus' Name we pray these things....Amen   

They Canceled Church

Really? Are you kidding me? They never cancel church.

Ya, but it's snowing...alot

So...I know a 79 year old man that made it to church this morning and you know what they did? They sent him home.

I don't know what they were thinking. Guess I'll shovel some snow. Wait, here comes Joe to plow us out. Great!!! Now I only have to do the sidewalk

Something is still not right. I feel like I should be doing something right now. I feel like I should be with my peeps sharing the scriptures and acting like I know what I'm talking about. The Holy Spirit is willing, but weather is not.

Something is still not right. I feel like I should be with people...together...in a group setting.

I must be sick. I think I'm having church withdrawal. What the devil is wrong with me? Something is broken. I'm not sure I can go a whole other week without church...

Tomorrow is Ground Hog Day. Cheer up. You'll be fine.

What did you get me for Ground Hog Day?

Same thing as last year only twice as much.

Oh, good. I love a surprise.

You Might Be An Introvert If...

This list comes from thomrainer.com.

1. You might be an introvert if you enjoyed timeout as a child.
2. You might be an introvert if you shop at 1:00 am in the 24-hour grocery store to avoid seeing people.
3. You might be an introvert if you rearrange the name cards at a dinner table so you don’t have to sit next to people you don’t know.
4. You might be an introvert if you like to have an extroverted friend with you so he can carry on the conversations you want to avoid.
5. You might be an introvert if your favorite game is solitaire.
6. You might be an introvert if your favorite number is one.
7. You might be an introvert if you take plenty of reading material on airplanes to avoid talking to people.
8. You might be an introvert if you smile when you see the “Do Not Talk” sign in the library.
9. You might be an introvert if you try to convince family members that you are really okay staying at home for a week of vacation.
10. You might be an introvert if you avoid buying new clothes so people won’t comment to you about them.
11. You might be an introvert if you can’t understand what’s so bad about solitary confinement.
12. You might be an introvert if you enjoy talking to yourself more than anyone else.
13. You might be an introvert if the word “meeting” causes you to become mildly to violently nauseous.
14. You might be an introvert if you work in your garden at night with a headlamp to avoid conversations with neighbors.
15. You might be an introvert if you think social media is the greatest invention in 200 years because you can communicate without being around people.
16. You might be an introvert if your favorite room in the house is the bathroom because you know you can be alone there.

That last one is near and dear to my heart. If I really have a home, that's what it's for. It's my hiding place - that and my truck. The truck is really better. It won't hold much more than one other person...hope they are quiet.