That’s right, I started with a hash, Jordan said it was ok (I Think). Anyway, I heard the coolest thing available for free, I mean absolutely no cost to you. It is the app for your favorite radio station. And best of all… It’s FREE! So when you are at home, working on your computer, you no longer are a slave to your vast music library on your computer or iPod, you can now listen to music from your favorite radio station right in your home. Of course that’s music in between commercials, and Public announcements, and the host’s witty chatter. But even with all that, you get to hear new music (They say it all the time, “Here’s a new song by so and so”, though it is only a song off a three year old album that they never played. I guess it is new to them).
You know, as I say all this out loud it really sounds ludicrous. I don’t know about you, but I would love a mute button for my radio for the in between the two whole songs they play before the commercials, but really, how would you know when to un-mute? So ok, this was a really bad idea, so I have another that may even be better…. The “Toolbar” for your internet browser… It’s FREE too. Imagine my surprise, when I found I could have ten at a time on internet explorer… wow, what a great Free experience. Hey has anybody seen my webpage, I want to run my radio app.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
What Must I Do?
Acts 16:30 And {the keeper of the prison} brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
So, there is the question for all mankind to ask. So what answer does God give man for this desperate quest?
Acts 16:31 And they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ”, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
So we have several questions from these two verses:
1-Did the prison guard want to know what action he could take to secure salvation from his sin, and obtain eternal life? I would have to say, “YES”
So it seems evident that the question to the Apostle Paul carried “Theological” and “Doctrinal” implications.
I would guess that the Great religious thinker, and now converted Christian, and chosen Apostle to the Gentiles, would have surely corrected this man if indeed correction was needed.
2-So, by his answer to this guard, did the Apostle Paul reveal to us the answer of God? Is God’s plan of Salvation as simple as this, that a person must “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” to be saved?
3-Then, we ask, would the belief on the Lord Jesus Christ by this Gentile prison guard, also be enough to save his house? I would have to say, “NO”
4-This leads to a follow up question then, what did Paul mean by “and thy house”? One would have to conclude that those of his household could be saved by the exact same action of belief. {Was Paul privy to the list of God's chosen to know that this man's whole household would be saved? I don't think so}.
I am certain that we can conclude from this that God chooses to save men that believe on his Son. So the age old debate on this subject is, Does God choose people from before he created time to be saved (thereby excluding the ones he did not choose)? So that when the spirit of God begins the separation process of a person unto himself, does that individual no longer have a real choice to believe, but is compelled by something that spiritually happens to him, like “Irresistible Grace”? Or, is it really up to the individual to hear the gospel and respond with an action of either “Belief” or “Rejection”?
Listen to the response of Philip to a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch concerning belief:
Acts 8:36-37 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
5-Was Philip speaking from his own logic, or was he speaking the word and doctrine of God?
6-His reply was that the eunuch needed to “Believe with all his heart”. Sounds like an action of effort.
So, our theological debate has God’s sovereignty in view with two opposing views.
a)Does God choose based on an "unrevealed to man" method who will be saved?
b)Does God choose to choose any and all who will believe?
For man, God has set a final line in the sand between an eternity in Heaven and an eternity in Hell:
Mark 16:16 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Listen to the final instructions of our Lord Jesus to his disciples, to go, preach the gospel to all the world, to every creature, and “he that believes and is baptized (another subject to be explained later) shall be saved”. But the line drawn here is the next part, “he that believeth not, shall be damned”.
1 John 2:2 2 And he {Jesus Christ} is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Last thought: God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whosoever believes on him, should have everlasting life. His death, and shed blood is sufficient to redeem and forgive the “Whole World”
What must I do? You must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. You must be born again. You must do it today.
So, there is the question for all mankind to ask. So what answer does God give man for this desperate quest?
Acts 16:31 And they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ”, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
So we have several questions from these two verses:
1-Did the prison guard want to know what action he could take to secure salvation from his sin, and obtain eternal life? I would have to say, “YES”
So it seems evident that the question to the Apostle Paul carried “Theological” and “Doctrinal” implications.
I would guess that the Great religious thinker, and now converted Christian, and chosen Apostle to the Gentiles, would have surely corrected this man if indeed correction was needed.
2-So, by his answer to this guard, did the Apostle Paul reveal to us the answer of God? Is God’s plan of Salvation as simple as this, that a person must “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” to be saved?
3-Then, we ask, would the belief on the Lord Jesus Christ by this Gentile prison guard, also be enough to save his house? I would have to say, “NO”
4-This leads to a follow up question then, what did Paul mean by “and thy house”? One would have to conclude that those of his household could be saved by the exact same action of belief. {Was Paul privy to the list of God's chosen to know that this man's whole household would be saved? I don't think so}.
I am certain that we can conclude from this that God chooses to save men that believe on his Son. So the age old debate on this subject is, Does God choose people from before he created time to be saved (thereby excluding the ones he did not choose)? So that when the spirit of God begins the separation process of a person unto himself, does that individual no longer have a real choice to believe, but is compelled by something that spiritually happens to him, like “Irresistible Grace”? Or, is it really up to the individual to hear the gospel and respond with an action of either “Belief” or “Rejection”?
Listen to the response of Philip to a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch concerning belief:
Acts 8:36-37 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
5-Was Philip speaking from his own logic, or was he speaking the word and doctrine of God?
6-His reply was that the eunuch needed to “Believe with all his heart”. Sounds like an action of effort.
So, our theological debate has God’s sovereignty in view with two opposing views.
a)Does God choose based on an "unrevealed to man" method who will be saved?
b)Does God choose to choose any and all who will believe?
For man, God has set a final line in the sand between an eternity in Heaven and an eternity in Hell:
Mark 16:16 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Listen to the final instructions of our Lord Jesus to his disciples, to go, preach the gospel to all the world, to every creature, and “he that believes and is baptized (another subject to be explained later) shall be saved”. But the line drawn here is the next part, “he that believeth not, shall be damned”.
1 John 2:2 2 And he {Jesus Christ} is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Last thought: God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whosoever believes on him, should have everlasting life. His death, and shed blood is sufficient to redeem and forgive the “Whole World”
What must I do? You must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. You must be born again. You must do it today.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
I think I hear the ice cream truck coming!
I love ice cream. There is nothing like hand churning five quarts of that creamy frozen goodness on a hot summer day. I think the sore arm, and the sweaty brow makes it taste all that much better. As a kid I think the old folks played us like Tom Sawyer, and convinced us of how much fun they were having turning that hand crank, and we just had to have our turn. And we felt like we pulled one on them when they forgot to take the churning back from us. Kids today don’t fool so easily. They want the frozen creamy goodness, but also want it after the fact.
Now there are a lot of things that goes into a good ice cream recipe, like eggs, sugar, and of course Cream. Now while you are churning there is a lot of time to think. What I found myself thinking about, was who was the first person that thought it would be a good idea to consume excretion from a cow? I know that we all were breast fed, and it is not a weird thought to consume the milky substance we call breast milk, as a baby. But as an adult, it kind of grosses me out now. Ok, So, have you seen a cow? Really, who in their right mind would look at one of these fury beasts and say… “Oh Yum, Cow Breast Milk”? I don’t even want to know how they first sampled it. Gross, just gross.
The same thought goes for the egg. I am glad I was not the pioneer in that expedition. Imagine if you were on a quest to find something weird to eat. The thought process may be something like, what about eggs? So your first attempt was with a turtle egg. Yuk… I mean, YUK! And how many species were tried before the chicken? So here you are, crack an egg, and there it is, yellow and clear goo. You instantly find that you can’t pick it up with a fork. There is no telling how long it was until they thought about cooking it.
But I am thankful for those that went before me in the food conquering world. We now have something as wonderful as ice cream to show for it. Which leads me to the many ways you can eat it. Really, who doesn’t love a banana split? Or a hot fudge sundae? But the best of all is the eatable containers. You know that if you were in possession of a food creation machine (that’s where we get all those crazy crackers and cookies. They are not made in a tree like Keebler wants you to believe). But with one of these machines, I know I would have created the ice cream cone. Something you can hold in your hand, and lick your ice cream like a crazed dog Then you get to the cone itself, and now you don’t have to worry about leaving any of the sweet goodness in a bowl, you just start eating your way to the end, lick your fingers clean, and smile like nobody’s business. Well, sorry to run, but I have to go, I think I hear the ice cream truck coming!
Now there are a lot of things that goes into a good ice cream recipe, like eggs, sugar, and of course Cream. Now while you are churning there is a lot of time to think. What I found myself thinking about, was who was the first person that thought it would be a good idea to consume excretion from a cow? I know that we all were breast fed, and it is not a weird thought to consume the milky substance we call breast milk, as a baby. But as an adult, it kind of grosses me out now. Ok, So, have you seen a cow? Really, who in their right mind would look at one of these fury beasts and say… “Oh Yum, Cow Breast Milk”? I don’t even want to know how they first sampled it. Gross, just gross.
The same thought goes for the egg. I am glad I was not the pioneer in that expedition. Imagine if you were on a quest to find something weird to eat. The thought process may be something like, what about eggs? So your first attempt was with a turtle egg. Yuk… I mean, YUK! And how many species were tried before the chicken? So here you are, crack an egg, and there it is, yellow and clear goo. You instantly find that you can’t pick it up with a fork. There is no telling how long it was until they thought about cooking it.
But I am thankful for those that went before me in the food conquering world. We now have something as wonderful as ice cream to show for it. Which leads me to the many ways you can eat it. Really, who doesn’t love a banana split? Or a hot fudge sundae? But the best of all is the eatable containers. You know that if you were in possession of a food creation machine (that’s where we get all those crazy crackers and cookies. They are not made in a tree like Keebler wants you to believe). But with one of these machines, I know I would have created the ice cream cone. Something you can hold in your hand, and lick your ice cream like a crazed dog Then you get to the cone itself, and now you don’t have to worry about leaving any of the sweet goodness in a bowl, you just start eating your way to the end, lick your fingers clean, and smile like nobody’s business. Well, sorry to run, but I have to go, I think I hear the ice cream truck coming!
Monday, June 27, 2011
Dr Smith will be with you in a moment, he is on the line with Tech Support
Ring:
Tech: Thank you for calling supreme tech support, how may I help you today?
Caller: My computer don’t work and I hate your company.
Tech: I am sorry to hear that you are having problems with you computer, but I will be happy to assist you in getting it working again.
Caller: Why do you make such a rotten computer, I need it to work. I cannot make any money when the computer is not working. All my stuff is on this thing, its my whole life on this thing. All my finances are on this thing. all my customers are on this thing. I need it to work!
Tech: I fully understand how important all of your data is. May I ask, do you do a regular back up of your data, to protect against a computer failure?
Caller: I don’t know how to back up, and if your computer wasn’t so rotten I wouldn’t have any trouble anyway…. I feel like throwing this computer out the window.
Tech: Really? (Bite lip, and supress quip) Listen, I am sure this is a problem that I can help you get resolved. Tell me what happens when you press the power button?
Caller: What is the power button?
Tech: On the front of your computer there is a power button. It is the button you need to push to turn on your computer every day.
Caller: All I know is the screen is black, and there are no lights anywhere.
Tech: Ok, look on the front of your computer, do you see the power button… it’s round… it is right in the center of the front of your computer.
Caller: I see a button.
Tech: OK, now press it, and tell me if any lights come on, or if you see anything on the screen.
Caller: Do you want me to press it now?
Tech: Yes.
Caller: Ok, the light on that button is lit green. And I see your company name on the screen. And I see Windows XP on the screen. I see my log in screen. What should I do now?
Tech: OK, that’s good. You can log in.
Caller: I see my screen now. I hate your company, I have wasted more time with you people, having to get this thing fixed all the time.
Tech: I understand Sir. I would suggest, the next time your screen is black, to try and turn your system on, that has always worked for me.
Tech: Thank you for calling supreme tech support, how may I help you today?
Caller: My computer don’t work and I hate your company.
Tech: I am sorry to hear that you are having problems with you computer, but I will be happy to assist you in getting it working again.
Caller: Why do you make such a rotten computer, I need it to work. I cannot make any money when the computer is not working. All my stuff is on this thing, its my whole life on this thing. All my finances are on this thing. all my customers are on this thing. I need it to work!
Tech: I fully understand how important all of your data is. May I ask, do you do a regular back up of your data, to protect against a computer failure?
Caller: I don’t know how to back up, and if your computer wasn’t so rotten I wouldn’t have any trouble anyway…. I feel like throwing this computer out the window.
Tech: Really? (Bite lip, and supress quip) Listen, I am sure this is a problem that I can help you get resolved. Tell me what happens when you press the power button?
Caller: What is the power button?
Tech: On the front of your computer there is a power button. It is the button you need to push to turn on your computer every day.
Caller: All I know is the screen is black, and there are no lights anywhere.
Tech: Ok, look on the front of your computer, do you see the power button… it’s round… it is right in the center of the front of your computer.
Caller: I see a button.
Tech: OK, now press it, and tell me if any lights come on, or if you see anything on the screen.
Caller: Do you want me to press it now?
Tech: Yes.
Caller: Ok, the light on that button is lit green. And I see your company name on the screen. And I see Windows XP on the screen. I see my log in screen. What should I do now?
Tech: OK, that’s good. You can log in.
Caller: I see my screen now. I hate your company, I have wasted more time with you people, having to get this thing fixed all the time.
Tech: I understand Sir. I would suggest, the next time your screen is black, to try and turn your system on, that has always worked for me.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
A Letter To My Dad
Dad
I wanted to ask you some questions, but now that you are in heaven, I may never know the answers. But I feel like asking them will help.
Why did you leave us? As an adult now, I understand why you left our home, but why did you leave us? I remember so many things we did together. You took us to the beach. You took us to hockey games. You took us to see Pro Wrestling, my favorite wrestler was Wahoo McDaniels. I saw the Harlem Globe Trotters with you.I caught fly balls at the baseball games you took us to. But all of these things I remember when you lived with us. I don’t remember you ever doing anything with me after you left. I don’t remember you at any of my birthdays, and you never took me fishing, as much as you loved to fish, it makes me wonder why?
Every night, you taught us something from God’s word. You helped us memorize scripture verses, and rewarded us for saying them. You always took us to church on Sundays, and showed us how important it was to be in God’s house on the Lord’s day, and to show respect. But after you left us, you never took me to church again. You never talked to me about my salvation ( I was only six), and you never asked if I was reading my bible, or memorizing scripture. I still wonder why?
Did you stop loving us when you left? Did you stop caring if we knew God anymore? When God led me back to the church where I was raised, and revealed his son to me at the age of twenty three, you were still there. After all those years of going to that church without us there too, did it ever feel strange to you? Did you ever wish we were there with you? After God saved me, and began to use me in this church, why did you act like I was your opposition? After seventeen years of me being in the perils of God’s wrath, were you not glad that I was now saved from that wrath?
Dad, what did we do to make you not care about us anymore? I wish I knew before you left us again, so I could say I was sorry. I grew up with many of the values I learned from you in the six short years you lived with us. I became a man that is trustworthy, Kind, and honest. I came to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I married and raised a beautiful daughter that loves the Lord. I did all that with only six tears of your influence in my life. I wonder what kind of man I would have been if you had not left us?
Dad, I forgive you for leaving. I may never know why you left, or why you did not want to share your life or faith with me anymore, but I forgive you. I know if I were you, and had time to think about what I had done to my children, I would be really sad. So I forgive you, and I Love you anyway!
Happy Father’s Day,
Your Son.
I wanted to ask you some questions, but now that you are in heaven, I may never know the answers. But I feel like asking them will help.
Why did you leave us? As an adult now, I understand why you left our home, but why did you leave us? I remember so many things we did together. You took us to the beach. You took us to hockey games. You took us to see Pro Wrestling, my favorite wrestler was Wahoo McDaniels. I saw the Harlem Globe Trotters with you.I caught fly balls at the baseball games you took us to. But all of these things I remember when you lived with us. I don’t remember you ever doing anything with me after you left. I don’t remember you at any of my birthdays, and you never took me fishing, as much as you loved to fish, it makes me wonder why?
Every night, you taught us something from God’s word. You helped us memorize scripture verses, and rewarded us for saying them. You always took us to church on Sundays, and showed us how important it was to be in God’s house on the Lord’s day, and to show respect. But after you left us, you never took me to church again. You never talked to me about my salvation ( I was only six), and you never asked if I was reading my bible, or memorizing scripture. I still wonder why?
Did you stop loving us when you left? Did you stop caring if we knew God anymore? When God led me back to the church where I was raised, and revealed his son to me at the age of twenty three, you were still there. After all those years of going to that church without us there too, did it ever feel strange to you? Did you ever wish we were there with you? After God saved me, and began to use me in this church, why did you act like I was your opposition? After seventeen years of me being in the perils of God’s wrath, were you not glad that I was now saved from that wrath?
Dad, what did we do to make you not care about us anymore? I wish I knew before you left us again, so I could say I was sorry. I grew up with many of the values I learned from you in the six short years you lived with us. I became a man that is trustworthy, Kind, and honest. I came to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I married and raised a beautiful daughter that loves the Lord. I did all that with only six tears of your influence in my life. I wonder what kind of man I would have been if you had not left us?
Dad, I forgive you for leaving. I may never know why you left, or why you did not want to share your life or faith with me anymore, but I forgive you. I know if I were you, and had time to think about what I had done to my children, I would be really sad. So I forgive you, and I Love you anyway!
Happy Father’s Day,
Your Son.
Monday, June 13, 2011
My Favorite Niece
Let me tell you about my favorite niece.
First of all, She is very beautiful.
She has the sweetest spirit.
She loves the Lord.
She is very smart.
She is very witty.
She is tenderhearted.
She is fun to be around.
She has the cutest smile that warms the room.
And best of all… I am her favorite uncle!
Who is my Favorite Niece? I thank the Lord for all of the wonderful children that he has graced this family with. I have watched each one grow up, and mature into wonderful people that bless all who know them. All of my nieces match the description I noted in my blog. I am thankful for each one, and proud to be loved by them. Yes… “YOU” all are my Favorite niece!
First of all, She is very beautiful.
She has the sweetest spirit.
She loves the Lord.
She is very smart.
She is very witty.
She is tenderhearted.
She is fun to be around.
She has the cutest smile that warms the room.
And best of all… I am her favorite uncle!
Who is my Favorite Niece? I thank the Lord for all of the wonderful children that he has graced this family with. I have watched each one grow up, and mature into wonderful people that bless all who know them. All of my nieces match the description I noted in my blog. I am thankful for each one, and proud to be loved by them. Yes… “YOU” all are my Favorite niece!
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Be Holy As I Am Holy
Just how holy is holy? It would seem that most people equate holiness with a life lived at a certain level of religious practices. There are a great many dos and don’ts, that help us determine just how religious, or holy someone is. Most items on these lists, as well as the degree of adherence to them are based on man’s thoughts and logic. Then there are the BIBLE rules of holiness. It is amazing that we can have debates as to what rules to follow, and what things to avoid so as to be holy.
What about those lists? There is the big ten right off. Let’s see if I can remember them. 1) Don’t Kill; 2) Don’t Steal; 3) Don’t Lie; 4) Don’t have fun… Well, maybe not that, but I don’t remember all of them. It seems that a good many people base their holiness on that list of ten commandments, yet most people cannot even quote at least half of them. Then there is man’s logic. 1) First take the three I listed above, then add the abstaining from: Drinking, Smoking, Dancing, and Cussing. There are way more, but for the sake of brevity, I will shorten the list.
Let’s look at this list: 1) Cussing. What determines what is a cuss word? The greatest example I can think of is, Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain. At what point in or daily verbiage (Conversations / Texting / Facebook updates) do we take his name in vain? I will not even type the letters of the most common and offensive form used by vile persons. But don’t we just water the same phrase down for our personal use? Like Gosh Darn? Or Oh My Goodness? You translate this: OMG. I don’t know about you, but the words were loud and clear inside my head. I could go on a rant about the many different words we classify as cuss words, and yet we say it another way, and now its ok. 2) Dancing. Really? 3&4) Smoking and drinking goes together. But what about eating? Dang, that hurt my toes! Ooops, there I go again!
Think with me one moment. What does the Bible tell us about being holy? 1 Peter 1:15 But as he which has called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of living. So the standard is not the ten commandments, or man’s list of rules. Our standard of holiness is the holiness of the Lord. The word holy means to be separated unto something, and thereby separated from something else. It was said of Jesus that he was separate from sinners, yet we see him with them all through his ministry. The explanation for this is that he is totally separated unto God, because he is God. So what he is, is what we are to be separated unto as well. Let’s look at some of these things. God is Love. God is Life. God is Light. God is truth. Now, with just these four things, imagine if you made it your passion to be separated unto them. Then imagine what you would be like when you are around worldly people. If these things were your passion, could you steal from them, cuss at them, or hurt them in any way? Wouldn’t you want them to escape God’s judgment of all unbelievers? Wouldn’t you want them to understand God’s plan of salvation, to see the light?
There are the people we have met, or will meet in the future that are “Holy People”. I remember one man who visited Jacksonville, and attended our meeting for a short time. He was all about living for the Lord. He wanted everybody he met to know his savior. I remember being a little embarrassed as he stopped to talk to every person we passed. He shared the gospel with them with such genuine concern for their souls. I remember well that man, and I compared myself to him. I have wasted a lot of years trying to reason why the way I do things is ok, that it is ok that I am not like that man. That I am holy too. But I realize, the difference was his passion and mine were focused on different things. I truly believe that he saw things through God’s eyes, not his.
Psalms 126:5 Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy.
Psalms 126:6 He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves [with him].
What about those lists? There is the big ten right off. Let’s see if I can remember them. 1) Don’t Kill; 2) Don’t Steal; 3) Don’t Lie; 4) Don’t have fun… Well, maybe not that, but I don’t remember all of them. It seems that a good many people base their holiness on that list of ten commandments, yet most people cannot even quote at least half of them. Then there is man’s logic. 1) First take the three I listed above, then add the abstaining from: Drinking, Smoking, Dancing, and Cussing. There are way more, but for the sake of brevity, I will shorten the list.
Let’s look at this list: 1) Cussing. What determines what is a cuss word? The greatest example I can think of is, Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain. At what point in or daily verbiage (Conversations / Texting / Facebook updates) do we take his name in vain? I will not even type the letters of the most common and offensive form used by vile persons. But don’t we just water the same phrase down for our personal use? Like Gosh Darn? Or Oh My Goodness? You translate this: OMG. I don’t know about you, but the words were loud and clear inside my head. I could go on a rant about the many different words we classify as cuss words, and yet we say it another way, and now its ok. 2) Dancing. Really? 3&4) Smoking and drinking goes together. But what about eating? Dang, that hurt my toes! Ooops, there I go again!
Think with me one moment. What does the Bible tell us about being holy? 1 Peter 1:15 But as he which has called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of living. So the standard is not the ten commandments, or man’s list of rules. Our standard of holiness is the holiness of the Lord. The word holy means to be separated unto something, and thereby separated from something else. It was said of Jesus that he was separate from sinners, yet we see him with them all through his ministry. The explanation for this is that he is totally separated unto God, because he is God. So what he is, is what we are to be separated unto as well. Let’s look at some of these things. God is Love. God is Life. God is Light. God is truth. Now, with just these four things, imagine if you made it your passion to be separated unto them. Then imagine what you would be like when you are around worldly people. If these things were your passion, could you steal from them, cuss at them, or hurt them in any way? Wouldn’t you want them to escape God’s judgment of all unbelievers? Wouldn’t you want them to understand God’s plan of salvation, to see the light?
There are the people we have met, or will meet in the future that are “Holy People”. I remember one man who visited Jacksonville, and attended our meeting for a short time. He was all about living for the Lord. He wanted everybody he met to know his savior. I remember being a little embarrassed as he stopped to talk to every person we passed. He shared the gospel with them with such genuine concern for their souls. I remember well that man, and I compared myself to him. I have wasted a lot of years trying to reason why the way I do things is ok, that it is ok that I am not like that man. That I am holy too. But I realize, the difference was his passion and mine were focused on different things. I truly believe that he saw things through God’s eyes, not his.
Psalms 126:5 Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy.
Psalms 126:6 He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves [with him].
Monday, February 21, 2011
The Story Of The Sower And His Seed.
There was a Famous preacher that was asked to come and preach at a certain church. He was told that the building would be filled with believers and the lost to hear the word of God.
As this preacher preached the word, He reproved the world of sin, because the lost had not believed on the Lord Jesus as the only way to eternal Life. He also preached of the righteousness that is imputed to those that do believe, based on the death of our Lord. Then he spoke of the judgment of those that reject the gospel, because the only forgiveness from God is based on God’s judgment on his Son.
When he finished preaching, and had prayed, there were many in the crowd that came forward to speak with the preacher, and trusted in the saving work of Christ.
Sometime later, this preacher inquired of the folks at that church, and those that were at the meeting that night. He was told that first of all there was a whole group of them that went out for a meal after the meeting, and discussed what they heard. But as they one by one used their logic to make sense of it, they all soon came to believe that this was just another religious way to find God. None of them in that discussion ever returned to the church.
Then there was a group of people that made a great show of joy that very night, the preacher remembered them because of all the excitement they displayed, they continued to come to church for a little while, but never really were interested in studying the word of God for a deeper understanding, but exhibited an emotional high, and made quite a show of themselves. But after a while, things got really hard for them at work and home, and one by one they all dropped off, and have not been seen since.
There was also a group of the more affluent folks, they responded to the gospel, being quite moved concerning eternal judgment, and were fearful of dying and going to hell. But as they attended our meetings, our preacher spoke often of self-sacrifice and sacrificial giving. These richer folk seemed really offended at this train of thought, and left the meeting in a great show.
But preacher, you will be glad to hear, that there were a number of people, including boys and girls, that were really moved that night, their eyes were filled with tears as they came to realize that the filthiness of their sin was borne by the Lord Jesus, and came to understand his great love for them, that he died for their sin. These folks are very active in bible study, and witnessing at work and to their neighbors. Many are now teaching Sunday school, while some of them have expressed a desire to preach the word in church. They give to the church, and bless God for his richness in providing for their every need. They have been here every time the doors are open, and have brought many here that they have shared the gospel with….
Many times in my early life the majesty of the eternal seed was cast into my life. To me, it was foolishness, and a waste of time. The gospel is just words, Right? Now that I have believed that gospel, I look back, and realize that it is not just words. These words we say to the lost, are eternal, powerful, majestic, and life giving. They changed my life, made me whole, and gave me purpose.
I stand amazed though, so many people that respond to the gospel, react to it so differently. The story of the Sower brings this to light, so I created this story to illustrate just how crazy it is to not react to the gospel with your whole heart, mind, and soul. Has the seed planted in your heart begun to spring into life? Has it begun to bear fruit? And will you hear from the lips of our Lord in the soon coming day, “Well Done, Thou Good And Faithful Servant”?
As this preacher preached the word, He reproved the world of sin, because the lost had not believed on the Lord Jesus as the only way to eternal Life. He also preached of the righteousness that is imputed to those that do believe, based on the death of our Lord. Then he spoke of the judgment of those that reject the gospel, because the only forgiveness from God is based on God’s judgment on his Son.
When he finished preaching, and had prayed, there were many in the crowd that came forward to speak with the preacher, and trusted in the saving work of Christ.
Sometime later, this preacher inquired of the folks at that church, and those that were at the meeting that night. He was told that first of all there was a whole group of them that went out for a meal after the meeting, and discussed what they heard. But as they one by one used their logic to make sense of it, they all soon came to believe that this was just another religious way to find God. None of them in that discussion ever returned to the church.
Then there was a group of people that made a great show of joy that very night, the preacher remembered them because of all the excitement they displayed, they continued to come to church for a little while, but never really were interested in studying the word of God for a deeper understanding, but exhibited an emotional high, and made quite a show of themselves. But after a while, things got really hard for them at work and home, and one by one they all dropped off, and have not been seen since.
There was also a group of the more affluent folks, they responded to the gospel, being quite moved concerning eternal judgment, and were fearful of dying and going to hell. But as they attended our meetings, our preacher spoke often of self-sacrifice and sacrificial giving. These richer folk seemed really offended at this train of thought, and left the meeting in a great show.
But preacher, you will be glad to hear, that there were a number of people, including boys and girls, that were really moved that night, their eyes were filled with tears as they came to realize that the filthiness of their sin was borne by the Lord Jesus, and came to understand his great love for them, that he died for their sin. These folks are very active in bible study, and witnessing at work and to their neighbors. Many are now teaching Sunday school, while some of them have expressed a desire to preach the word in church. They give to the church, and bless God for his richness in providing for their every need. They have been here every time the doors are open, and have brought many here that they have shared the gospel with….
Many times in my early life the majesty of the eternal seed was cast into my life. To me, it was foolishness, and a waste of time. The gospel is just words, Right? Now that I have believed that gospel, I look back, and realize that it is not just words. These words we say to the lost, are eternal, powerful, majestic, and life giving. They changed my life, made me whole, and gave me purpose.
I stand amazed though, so many people that respond to the gospel, react to it so differently. The story of the Sower brings this to light, so I created this story to illustrate just how crazy it is to not react to the gospel with your whole heart, mind, and soul. Has the seed planted in your heart begun to spring into life? Has it begun to bear fruit? And will you hear from the lips of our Lord in the soon coming day, “Well Done, Thou Good And Faithful Servant”?
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