Heart wish . . .

Oh, for a heart to praise my God,
A heart from sin set free;
A heart that's trusting in the blood
So freely shed for me.

A humble, lowly, contrite heart,
Believing, true, and clean,
Which neither death nor life can part
From Him that dwells within. -Charles Wesley

Where?

Where is the Life we have lost in living?
Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?
Where is the knowledge we have lost in information? -T.S. Eliot, poet (1888-1965)

- It takes a lifetime to figure this out! : ) but satisfying to know you know some of the differences.

Why cruelty?

It is the certainty that they possess the truth that makes men cruel. -Anatole France, novelist, essayist, Nobel laureate (1844-1924)

Our Sunday School has gone over the history of the church and the cruelty that man put upon his fellow human being if they don't believe the same way. I'm trying to understand the cruelty and maybe the above quote has truth in it? Better watch ourselves!

More Ayn Rand

BY Xion 06.17.11 AT 7:51 PM

Rand thought she came up with a new philosophy and people often attribute her with creating something new. It wasn’t new at all. Objectivism is quite simply existentialism with a purpose. The purpose is to “be all you can be” as the Army slogan goes. If you love architecture or making steel, then build the best buildings and make the best steel and ascend to the highest heights of your potential.

It is amusing to see how wrong Rand was about Christianity and yet to see her espousing principles which aren’t far off. A Christian would say “be all God would have you to be”. Fulfill your God given purpose.

Rand’s arch-enemy was collectivism which is contrary to individualism. One’s purpose is to serve the state and not ascend to the heights of your potential, but the state’s. The state is run by moochers, lawyers and politicians who produce nothing but feed off of the productivity of others. In the name of fairness and equity they destroy prosperity.

Rand viewed Christianity as a tool of the state, as the opiate of the people, which demands self-sacrifice and service of others. This was the greatest evil in Rand’s view. She got it wrong.

Serving God is a personal, individual aspiration. Service of others is not an end in itself. Service of God is the fulfillment of one’s maximum potential and it goes far beyond concrete and steel, the stuff of this life.

Existentialists are not wrong. The problem is their view is too narrow. Solomon, the wisest man in history aside from Christ spoke of things under the sun. Vanity of vanities.

If the secular world is all there is, then existentialism is the truest philosophy around. It accurately captures the vanity of existence and proposes no hope other than to burn brightly before your light is snuffed out.

Solomon went on to explain that there is another dimension to life above the sun, i.e. a spiritual dimension which gives life meaning even beyond the grave. I pity Rand for never having embraced this wisdom. Her philosophy, i.e. plain old existentialism, is quite good for materialists. But reality is more than the rudiments of this world and its vain philosophies.

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world,and not after Christ.” (Col 2:8 KJV)

(She missed the cross, but freed my thought to reject the collective view of the church to the individual love of Christ for me. Yes,"God so loved the world...", but "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

Amy Carmichael

Amy Carmichael was commissioned by the Church of England Zenana Mission. Hindu temple children were young girls dedicated to the gods and forced into prostitution to earn money for the priests i.e Devadasi. Much of her work was with young ladies, some of whom were saved from forced prostitution. The organization she founded was known as the Dohnavur Fellowship. Dohnavur is situated in Tamil Nadu, thirty miles from the southern tip of India. The fellowship would become a sanctuary for over one thousand children who would otherwise have faced a bleak future.

In an effort to respect Indian culture, members of the organization wore Indian dress and the children were given Indian names. She herself dressed in Indian clothes, dyed her skin with dark coffee, and often travelled long distances on India's hot, dusty roads to save just one child from suffering.

While serving in India, Amy received a letter from a young lady who was considering life as a missionary. She asked Amy, "What is missionary life like?" Amy wrote back saying simply,

"Missionary life is simply a chance to die."

In 1931, Carmichael was badly injured in a fall, which left her bedridden much of the time until her death. She died in India in 1951 at the age of 83. She asked that no stone be put over her grave; instead, the children she had cared for put a bird bath over it with the single inscription "Amma", which means mother in the Tamil.

Her biography quotes her as saying:

"One can give without loving, but one cannot love without giving.

Amy Carmichael - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

No Scar? is one of my favorite of Amy's poems first heard read by Elizabeth Elliot on her radio program.

NO SCAR?

Hast thou no scar?
No hidden scar on foot, or side, or hand?
I hear thee sung as mighty in the land,
I hear them hail thy bright ascendant star,
Hast thou no scar?

Hast thou no wound?
Yet I was wounded by the archers, spent,
Leaned Me against a tree to die; and rent
By ravening beasts that compassed Me, I swooned:
Hast thou no wound?

No wound? no scar?
Yet, as the Master shall the servant be,
And pierced are the feet that follow Me;
But thine are whole: can he have followed far
Who has nor wound nor scar?

Lying

Lying to ourselves is more deeply ingrained than lying to others.

-Fyodor Dostoevsky, novelist (1821-1881)

The first step to trust Jesus Christ as our Redeemer is to realize that we are helpless and need to be rescued. Satan "hath blinded the minds of those which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them" II Corinthians 4:4).

It is a miracle that our spirit will listen to God's Spirit that we might be saved, but God has made it possible and reasonable to those who seek. Praise God!

Differences in Christianity?

Solomon writes in Proverbs: “Only by pride cometh contention.” There’s a certain amount of pride.

Pride, in religion per se, it just runs the show. This is what Jesus dealt with, with regard to the Jewish religious leaders, the Pharisees, Sadducees and so on.

(I often wonder how the differences in denominations are possible...but, could it be as simple as pride? We are certainly a self-aggrandizing bunch of humanity, aren't we? Lord, guard our heart from our own deception of ourself. Amen. - Linda)

Does the Bible Mention Denominations? | thebereancall.org

HOPE IN YOUR WORKS?

If God announces the gift of righteousness apart from works, why do you keep mourning over your bad works, your failures? Do you not see that it is because you still have hopes in these works of yours that you are depressed and discouraged by their failure? If you truly saw and believed that God is reckoning righteous the ungodly who believe on Him, you would fairly hate your struggles to be "better"; for you would see that your dreams of good works have not at all commended you to God, and that your bad works do not at all hinder you from believing on Him, - that justifieth the ungodly!

Therefore, on seeing your failures, you should say, I am nothing but a failure; but God is dealing with me on another principle altogether than my works, good or bad - a principle not involving my works, but based only on the work of Christ for me ... God, in justifying me, acted wholly and only on Christ's blood-shedding on my behalf.


--William R. Newell (1868-1956), pastor, assistant superintendent of Moody Bible Institute, and writer of the beloved hymn "At Calvary."

Amen, amen! - Linda

Ann Barnhardt: The Boston Speech.. .

“Sir, you are deeply confused. I killed Jesus. The Jews are merely the historical proxy for me.”

Ann Barnhardt: The Boston Speech. @ AMERICAN DIGEST

Reading with thought. . .

Reading is sometimes an ingenious device for avoiding thought. -Arthur Helps, writer (1813-1875)

My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: Words without thoughts never to heaven go. -William Shakespeare, playwright and poet (1564-1616)

My kids were avid readers from the time they could put some words together. I should be delighted, and am, that they love the story, but reading with thought is what would be best. I know that I cannot enjoy the reading of the Bible on tape etc. as the reader does not stop for thought! You too?

Are Angels and Demons Reality or Myth?

I think Satan is a self-deluded egomaniac who probably to this day thinks he’s going to win. After all what does he offer? He offers people all that their selfish ambitions would want. Self as god and instead of taking that, who is going to follow this lowly man of Nazareth who all he promises you is take up your cross and follow me? You’ll be hated by the world and so forth, and Satan promises you the world. So rationally, you would think he would have the biggest following and in fact he does. I often say to young people especially, if Satan has more to offer than God, if what Satan is offering you is better and your conscience can go with it and in the long run it’s going to prove to be better than what God offers, by all means follow Satan. God is not trying to trick anyone, but he is up front with what he’s offering. Satan is a deceiver and a liar—

Are Angels and Demons Reality or Myth? | thebereancall.org

A good read from Dave Hunt. - L

"O What A Savior" (Marvin P. Dalton)

Once I was straying in sin’s dark valley
No hope within could I see
They searched through Heaven
And found a Savior
To save a poor lost soul like me.

Chorus
O what a Savior, O hallelujah
His heart was broken on Calvary
His hands were nail scarred
His side was riven
He gave His life-blood for even me.

Death’s chilly water I’ll soon be crossing
His hand will lead me safe o're
I’ll join the chorus in that great city
And sing up there for evermore.

YouTube - "O What A Savior" By Squire Parsons/Larry Ford

Today, not judgment but grace and peace. . .

"Thy word is true from the beginning...," "Thy word is truth" (Psalm 119:160; John 17:17).

"As even the limited evidence we've presented suggests, this winter's extreme weather, animal deaths, and even earthquakes are not the beginnings of divine judgment...but rather these events appear to be the consequences of entropy, in conjunction with the wickedness of men" and Satan's power.

You mention God's chastenings in men's lives, to either bless them or call them to repentance. It is true that the Lord chastens those whom He loves (Heb 12:6). This principle applies to God's children--those who have been made joint heirs through faith in Christ(Rom 8:17). Scripture tells us that it is not God's wrath but His kindness that leads us to repentance (Rom 2:4)

With the professing church, it's important to note that in the New Testament we see God's judgment of unrepentant believers: "deliver[ing] such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh" (1 Cor 5:5). This may occur in a sudden, catastrophic manner, or perhaps in a slow but obvious deterioration of health. God simply allows Satan to do what comes naturally as the thief and destroyer and sworn enemy of God's people. This method of justice seems consistent with what we see in regard to peoples and nations today.

There is no scriptural or physical evidence to suggest that our Creator is presently doing the "thundering" or "shaking" that results in catastrophic death and devastation. Instead of a biblical view of love, grace, and mercy, this paints the Lord as a spiteful, vengeful being, who indiscriminately hurls lightning and waves upon the continents. Such a picture is largely indistinguishable from that of a mythological or pagan perspective.

Today in the age of grace, God "maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust" (Mt 5:45)--not for judgment, but for blessing.
(From The Berean Call Newsletter, May 2011.)

Did Jesus come to England?

And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?

And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark satanic mills?

Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!

I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.
- William Blake

Gillian.E. Shaw wrote:
This poem was written about the Industrial Revolution that took place during the early 19th century. The first verse asks did Christ visit Britain. This may be metaphorical or literal. There is an old English legend that Christ came to Britain as a boy.

The poet questions Christianity in Britain (2nd verse) and illustrates the point by using the adjective 'satanic' when describing the industrial mills. (In the North of Britain at this time many people; men, women and children, worked in the cotton industry.) This clearly gives the impression that the poet thinks the mills are evil places.

In the final two verses he poet summons up his faith and reveals he will not rest until there is justice in society.
This is a beautifully written poem and is sometimes used as a national anthem.

(L. This song was sung at the Royal Wedding today of William and Kate. It was wonderful to see the respect for Christianity. The name of Jesus Christ was spoken often during the service. I'm afraid our country would not acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ as England has done today. This is sad for us, isn't it?)

NOT YET ACCOMPLISHED

Now it must be freely granted that Messianic prophecy as a whole has not yet received its full accomplishment, that only a part of it has done so. "The woman"s seed" has not yet completely crushed the serpent"s head, as is evident from his present tremendous and universal activity in our world, where the tempter is undeniably still alive and at large! He is still in our day what our Savior called him in His day, "the prince of this world, " and what Paul called him, "the god of this world," "the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience" (John 14:30, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Ephesians 2:2). Sin still reigns unto death. No one contends that the work of human redemption is as yet complete.

This Christian age, though fast nearing its close, has not yet run its course; and according to Scripture, another age the millennial is to succeed the one in which we live before the old serpent will be fully destroyed, before redeemed humanity will rest and rejoice in the new heavens and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
-- Dr. Henry Grattan Guinness, The Divine Program of the World's History, 1889

Perfection in the cross. . .

Good Friday teaches me that failure is not to be avoided at all costs, but instead embraced as a great opportunity. Good Friday teaches me that my lifelong struggle for perfection is doomed to failure, and is chasing after the wind. Good Friday teaches me that I have no idea what is best for me, that pain and suffering have a purpose which I need not, and often should not, understand. Good Friday teaches me that God can make sparkling diamonds out of filthy coal, that my worst attributes, my most painful failures, the most disastrous events which have befallen me beyond my control, are but the building blocks of a new and far better life in hands of God.

Read:
Meditation on Good Friday | The Doctor Is In

Thank you, Doctor Bob, for this wonderful essay on the cross. It reads true and encourages me. - Linda

Beneath the cross...

Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand,
The shadow of a mighty Rock within a weary land;
A home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way
From the burning of the noon-day heat, and the burden of the day.

I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place,
I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face;
Content to let the world go by, to know no gain nor loss,
My sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross.

"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Galatians 6:14).

Jesus Christ is the most important person who ever walked this earth. His cross is glory to all who believe.

Good Friday

"Jesus therefore again groaning in Himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it." (John 11:38 cf. vs. 33).

groaning, Gr.(Strong's 1690) embrimaomai, to snort with anger. Translated "groaning", "straitly charged" (Mark 1:43).

"Jesus wept" (John 11:35).

Not a passive picture of our Lord when connected to the Greek word. Jesus snorted with anger at the death of his friend, Lazarus.

Jesus suffered our death; the last enemy is death. He did it in opposition to the power of darkness, and He did it with righteous anger against the evil one.

"And when He thus had spoken, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth" (John 11:43). "And he that was dead come forth. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go" (John 11:44).

The good news of Good Friday. "It is finished."

Simple answers . . .

“There are no easy answers, but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)

Yes, I think this rings true. We are in the world, but not of the world. We are the light. We are the salt. You think?

The perfection of God...

"Remember the perfections of that God whom you worship, that he is a Spirit, and therefore to be worshipped in spirit and truth;

and that he is most great and terrible, and therefore to be worshipped with seriousness and reverence,

and not to be dallied with, or served with toys or lifeless lip-service;

and that he is most holy, pure, and jealous, and therefore to be purely worshipped;

and that he is still present with you, and all things are naked and open to him with whom we have to do.

The knowledge of God, and the remembrance of his all-seeing presence, are the most powerful means against hypocrisy."

-- Richard Baxter, English, Calvinistic, Puritan church leader. (From The Berean Call.)

Richard Baxter (1615-1691) wrote hymns and was a great leader. Two quotes might be familiar to you:

"I preach as never sure to preach again,
And as a dying man to dying men."

"In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity."

What Devil?

"The smartest thing the Devil ever did was to convince the world that he doesn't exist."

This is a common paraphrase of CS Lewis from the Screwtape Letters.

Gordian knot. . .

Gordian
PRONUNCIATION:(GOR-dee-uhn)

MEANING:
adjective: Highly intricate; extremely difficult to solve.

ETYMOLOGY:
In Greek mythology, King Gordius of Phrygia tied a knot that defied all who tried to untie it. An oracle prophesied that one who would undo this Gordian knot would rule Asia. Alexander the Great simply cut the knot with one stroke of his sword. Hence the saying, "to cut the Gordian knot", meaning to solve a difficult problem by a simple, bold, and effective action. Earliest documented use: 1579.
(From Word A Day site.)

The cross of Jesus Christ liberated the world from the wicked one. The secret of the cross which Satan did not know, fooled him into doing the only thing which would bring down his plan of controlling man and besting God Almighty. One wooden cross, so crude, cut the Gordian knot of his dominion. "It is finished" Jesus said. Hallelujah!

The strong delusion. . .

“And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2Th 2:11-12)

WORLDmag.com | Community | Blog Archive | Newsweek on the Apocalypse

A wonderful day . . .

Zippity doo dah, Zippity aye,
My oh my what a wonderful day
Plenty of sunshine coming my way,
Zippity doo dah, Zippity aye.

Mister blue bird’s on my shoulder,
it’s the truth,
it’s actual,
everything’s satisfactual!
Zippity doo dah,
zippity aye,
My oh my what a wonderful day!

I always loved this happy song from a Disney movie with Uncle Remes singing and cartoon butterflies and birds rejoicing with him for the beautiful day.

Today is a beautiful day too...it is a day of God's grace and His offer of salvation. Don't misuse the day, we might not have many more days of grace and withholding of wrath. Today is the day of salvation! Trust Christ today.

"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (II Corinthians 6:2).

The pleasure of the LORD. . .

"And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for His mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man" (II Samuel 24:14).

"The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy" (Psalm 147:11).

It's all about the ride!

On the Harley page: "I'd rather be riding my motorcycle thinking of God than sitting in church thinking about my motorcycle" - Unknown.

Must be a guy thing!

Cause of 1st effect . . .

God is the cause of 1st effect. In II Samuel 24.l it says, “He (God) moved David” to number the people. I Chronicle 21.l retells the incident and says, “Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel”. Evidently God and Satan provoked David to do the same thing, but how can that be? The Wycliffe Bible Commentary interprets these verses in light of God being the cause of 1st effect: “From the Biblical viewpoint, all things have their ultimate source in God. Even the wrath of man, and Satan, ultimately further the Divine purpose.”

I don’t know about you, but knowing nothing takes the Lord by surprise, and knowing that God is good and He is good ALL the time, no matter what man or the devil is up to in the world, brings me great comfort and security.

Though the cause of evil prosper,
Yet ‘tis truth alone is strong;
Though her portion be the scaffold
And upon the throne be wrong,
Yet that scaffold sways the future,
And, behind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadow,
Keeping watch above His own.
(-James Russell Lowell, 1819-91)

David was God’s representative on earth, and God’s “eternal purpose” was to be accomplished through David’s physical descendants to bring forth the One who would redeem the world from the dominion of Satan. The eternal Son, Jesus Christ, did become mortal flesh, and He did redeem the world and won the victory over Satan at the cross of Calvary. How Satan must have danced for glee on Good Friday when he accomplished the death of the only Man who could defeat him—but oh, the horror of his mistake when on Resurrection morning he realized the cross was exactly what God had purposed to free the world from his grasp!

Today Satan is agitated and “walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5.8). He knows he is a defeated foe and his time is short and his judgment of doom is certain. He still is a ‘roaring lion’, but a greater lion, the Lord Jesus Christ, “The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed…” at the cross of Calvary. Alleluia! (Rev. 5.5)

O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from Thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.

Thank you Lord Jesus.

ROB BELL AND LOVE WINS

At the very heart of this controversy, and one of the reasons the blogosphere exploded over this book, is that we really do have two different Gods. The stakes are that high. If Bell is right, then historic orthodoxy is toxic and terrible. But if the traditional view of heaven and hell are right, Bell is blaspheming. I do not use the word lightly, just like Bell probably chose “toxic” quite deliberately. Both sides cannot be right.

As much as some voices in evangelicalism will suggest that we should all get along and learn from each other and listen for the Spirit speaking in our midst, the fact is we have two irreconcilable views of God. (Online source)

ROB BELL AND LOVE WINS MEETING AT MARS HILL BIBLE CHURCH : Apprising Ministries

Heaven. . . really?

“If you think about in the angelic world, they’re just as real as you are. They’re just not made of the same physical properties. Life in their realm is just as real as it is in our realm. I've tried to show you that in heaven are farms and cities and manufacturing plants. We talk about the business of heaven. Paul describes the invisible realm and he use exactly the same terminology to describe it as he does for down on earth. There’s work, there’s jobs, there’s life to be carried on." -Pastor Richard Jordan, Grace Impact from Lisa Leland blog (February 20, 2011).

A good fear. . .

The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy. (Psalm 147:11)

Refuge and strength . . .

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea . . .” (Psalm 46:1-2).

Be still, my soul!

Be still, my soul! The Lord is on thy side:
bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide:
in ev'ry change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul! Thy best, thy heav'nly Friend
through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul! The hour is hast'ning on
when we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
sorrow forgot, love's purest joy restored.
Be still, my soul! When change and tears are past,
all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Words: Katharina von Schlegel, 1752
Music: Finlandia, Jean Sibelius, 1899

I love the Finlandia melody. It is used with different words for several other hymns in the Hymnal.

MEETING THEIR TRUE NEEDS

I have no intention to depart in the smallest degree from the main principles on which I have acted in the past. My only hope for the permanent deliverance of mankind from misery, either in this world or the next, is the regeneration or remaking of the individual by the power of the Holy Ghost through Jesus Christ. But in providing for the relief of temporal misery I reckon that I am only making it easy where it is now difficult, and possible where it is now all but impossible, for men and women to find their way to the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

--William Booth (10 April 1829 - 20 August 1912): British Methodist preacher and founder of The Salvation Army, serving as its first General (1878-1912).

SELF LOVE

"...men shall be lovers of their own selves..."

Lots of loving of self lately. Self is all I think of as I try to get to the commode or do the exercises prescribed, or wanting a hot cup of tea. Sis Lois says, "What's new!". I guess she is right, only now self can't be hidden by pleasant phrases or reciprocated by a kind gesture of my own.

I'm listening and learning.

Deer Stand

Don't forget. . .

We are forgetting that the All Powerful God became a helpless baby boy.

Home...

Well, I'm home after a stay in the hospital for a hip repair. It is so good to be home with Max and Bailee worrying over me. Wayne is giving shots, cooking (or serving as so many are helping out with good food) laundry, and overseeing my every move. Every day goes better.

We're in different waters, but good to be home.

Wait . . .

"They also serve who only stand and wait."- John Milton

In 2 Samuel King David divides the spoil with those who were too exhausted to continue on the fight and were used to hold the line and wait. The main contingent complained when it came time to divvy up the stuff. David directs the stuff to be divided equally.

I suppose a matching analogy would be Paul's picture of the One Body of Christ where the smallest member is worthy of honor.

Call no man cheap for whom Christ died.

Jesus Christ gives value to all.

The foundations are out of course. . .

To the gods or judges of the earth:

"They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course" (Psalm 82:5).

A meeting in the air. . .

Notice they go out to meet Him.

They heard He’s coming.

It’s a planned thing.

I Thessalonians 4 says we have a rendezvous with the Lord in clouds in the air.

I Cor. 4:5 says, ‘Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.'

(Pastor Richard Jordan, from Lisa Leland.)

A young earth?

The Population Genetics Modeling Program Software Mendel's Accountant can simulate, with unprecedented biological accuracy, the result of this accumulation:

Assuming a population size of 2,000 individuals, assuming that each mother has six children, and using the rate of 60 mutations per generation in the algorithms, the simulation shows the extinction of the human race after only 350 generations. This also assumes that natural selection would have been effective at removing the least fit from the population every generation.

If this result is anywhere close to correct -- that humanity's genetic mutations would have led to extinction within 350 generations -- how could that possibly fit within evolution's long ages? But if the total age of the world is about 6,000 years,(4) as is consistent with biblical history, then mankind has been here for fewer than 300 generations(5). Thus, the latest and most accurate research into human genetics confirms a straightforward reading of the biblical account of origins and human history.

References

1. Pennisi, E. 2010. 1000 Genomes Project Gives New Map of Genetic Diversity. Science. 330 (6004): 574-575.

2. Kondrashov, A. S. 2003. Direct estimate of human per nucleotide mutation rates at 20 loci causing Mendelian diseases. Human Mutation. 21 (1): 12-27.

3. Vardiman, L. 2008. The "Fatal Flaws" of Darwinian Theory. Acts & Facts. 37 (7): 6.

4. Beechick, R. 2001. Chronology for everybody. Journal of Creation. 15 (3): 67- 73.

5. In reality, the number of generations since creation is smaller, since the average generation time among pre-Flood peoples was 117 years, not 20. Factoring this in yields about 231 generations from creation to 2010 A.D.

http://www.icr.org/article/5722

(Of interest, eh?)

Perfect in weakness...

Whatever God requires of us He provides.

You think?

"My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh...casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:3,5).

Hard when you're hurting.

Thoughts on Thanksgiving

Thoughts on Thanksgiving | The Doctor Is In

Thanksgiving tells us that we have a higher purpose, a calling which draws us toward the divine, in order that His highest purposes are fully served. It tells us we are hopelessly handicapped in our pursuit of this noble calling, waylaid in wanton selfishness and frivolous foolishness, distracted from our goal by baubles and the banal. Indeed there is little hope of restoring our vision but by grace, by the gracious hand of God to guide, empower, and correct us. It is in this extraordinary reality that true gratitude is found, that we who have hated the good have, in spite of ourselves, been called back home, in forgiveness and with vision restored, to be made useful and purposeful again, to be made new.

This grace empowers gratitude, for it opens all things, both good and bad, to the possibility of redemption. For the good we may be grateful, not merely that it blesses us, but that it enables and empowers us to serve and give to others. Our trials and liabilities, too, become tools by which we may reassess and redirect our lives, growing in empathy for the suffering of others, and in trust in the inscrutable goodness and wisdom of God, who uses evil for good. Our thanksgiving is a celebration of freedom — the freedom to transform all things, whether good or evil, to the higher purposes of God.


Let us, then, be truly grateful this Thanksgiving, for the grace of redemption, the hope of transformation, and the mercy shown to us through Him who is most gracious.

The small c . . .

Keep experimenting, and don't be afraid to combine the verbal with the visual. Don’t capitalize your I’s all over the place (or, at the very least, don’t let it swell your ego when you do.) -e.e. cummings, 1894 - 1962

So, let's not give c the capitalization it usually garners from its prey. It's serious, but it's not all.

Day by Day

Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find, to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,
I've no cause for worry or for fear. - Lina Sandell Berg, Swedish

Not sure my Father's wise bestowment is the cancer I am now taking chemo for...just getting me more ready to leave this body or hope for the redemption of my body 'cause we all live in a ruined world where sickness happens.

You think?

I read your book....

[General Patton outmaneuvering Rommel whose campaign in North Africa earned Rommel the nickname "The Desert Fox.")

Patton: [referring to Rommel's book, Infantry Attack)

"Rommel... you magnificent ******d, I read your book!"

General Patton beat Rommel by understanding his methods, by reading his book.
Infantry Attacks

We too have a foe to defeat. We also have a Book on how to deal with him, and an understanding that he lost the war by the cross of Jesus Christ.

For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us;
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us:
The prince of darkness grim,
We tremble not for him;
He rage we can endure,
For lo! his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him. - Martin Luther, A Mighty Fortress

The little word is TRUTH. Where do you find the truth? In the Bible where Jesus says He is the Truth. Alleluia!

RESURRECTED BODIES

[In] the Millennium, our resurrected, glorified bodies, like Christ's, will no longer be part of the physical universe and will thus be changeless and timeless, able to be seen, then vanish, and to pass through closed doors and walls. "Jesus himself stood in the midst of them...but they were terrified ...[thinking] they had seen a spirit....[H]andle me, and see," said Christ, "for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have" (Lk 24:36-43).

Paul informs us, "There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body" (1 Cor 15:44). We don't know what that means except as it was demonstrated in Christ's resurrection. --Dave Hunt

The religion of man...

The Bahá'ís: What is the Bahá’í Faith?


Posted by: Van Grungy Nov 15, 06:31 AM:
Esperanto speaking* 'new world order' believing. Do your own homework...you will see why you should worry about the Baha'i influence on world events...especially the UN connection.

*Esperanto - An easy-to-learn and politically neutral language that would serve as a universal second language to foster peace and international understanding.

(Well, we do know from the Bible that a return to Babel(Genesis 11) is coming on the earth under the influence of the "evil one". It is the coming of the one-man, the anti-christ, who will control the whole world. Amazing how the events of the world are pointing to this time, isn't it?)

Babylon rebuilt?

Quote from Christopher Hitchens: "...the discovery of oil around Baghdad has transformed the material basis for political control. "There's a petro-chemical reason for federalism now. If the oil laws were enforced properly by province, it could be as rich as Kuwait. The Saudis and the Iranians don't want a revived Iraqi oil industry because it will undercut them. You could have a modern Middle Eastern country or a parties-of-God failed state."

The Bible prophecies seem to clearly indicate that a literal city of Babylon will be the center of the Middle East world. Yes, Babylon, the spiritual head of a false religious system, but also a literal city.

Maybe the catalyst will be oil. We all need it, and it seems that Iraq (Babylon) has it. You think?

Depths. . .

"Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O LORD" (Psalm 130:l).

Depths = Strong's, Hebrew 4615, ma'amaq, a deep.

A pastor likened the word depths to the sound a mama camel emits when seeking its young in the wilds of the desert. That low, lowing gut bellow. Growing up on a farm perhaps it is a bit like the lowing given out when the cows come into the barn for the warmth of the hay and community of each other.

A cry of "help"...shelter me.

The cattle are lowing the Baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes;

The world was sitting in the depths of darkness, when He was born...out of the depths of despair, He came.

Titles of Jesus in John chapter 1. . .

Word (v. 1);
God (v. 1);
Creator (v. 3);
Light (v. 7);
only begotten Son (v. 18);
Lamb of God (v. 29, 36);
Son of God (v. 39, 49);
Messiah (v. 41);
King of Israel (v. 49);
and Son of Man (v. 51).

Wow!

The will of God in Jesus's day . . .

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24).

"And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:40).

Praise to the Lord, the God of everlasting life!

I am He. . .

"God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

The woman saith unto Him, I know that Messiah cometh, which is called

Christ: when He is come, He will tell us all things.

Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am He" (John 4:24-26).

The Farm

Ma would have loved this.

(Ensign, Michigan - August 2010)

Marion Visser

VISSER - Mrs. Marion L. Visser, aged 90, is now in the presence of her Lord and Savior and was joyfully reunited with her beloved husband Andy in Heaven on Saturday, October 30, 2010. Marion had a sweet, gentle spirit and was a loving, generous and selfless woman. - GR Press obituary

Pastor Andy loved Marion and always called her his "sweetheart". She was a warm and wonderful woman.

I'm blessed!

"Blessed is (s)he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the (wo)man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity" (Psalms 32:1,2).

Growl & Giggles

What growls and giggles?

My 9 month granddaughter, Amelia.

Grrrrrrrr & a giggle from the depth of her little soul. She is also a hugger.

Blessed, that's me.

In memory of Andy Visser

It's Real

O how well do I remember
How I doubted day by day,
For I did not know for certain
That my sins were washed away.
When the Spirit tried to tell me,
I would not the truth receive;
I endeavored to be happy
And to make myself believe.

Refrain

But it’s real, it’s real!
O I know it’s real
Praise God, the doubts are settled,
For I know, I know it’s real!

When the truth came close and searching,
All my joys would disappear,
For I did not have the witness
Of the Spirit bright and clear.
If at times the coming judgment
Would appear before my mind,
O it made me so uneasy,
For God’s smile I could not find.

Refrain

When the Lord sent faithful servants
Who would dare to preach the truth,
How my heart did so condemn me
As the Spirit gave reproof!
Satan said at once, “Twill ruin
You now to confess your state;
Keep on working and professing,
And you’ll enter Heaven’s gate.”

Refrain

But at last I tired of living
Such a life of fear and doubt,
For I wanted God to give me
Something I would know about,
So the truth would make me happy
And the light would clearly shine,
And the Spirit gave assurance
That I’m His and He is mine.

Refrain

So I prayed to God in earnest,
And not caring what folks said.
I was hungry for the blessing;
My pour soul—it must be fed.
Then at last by faith I touched Him
And, like sparks from smitten steel,
Just so quick salvation reached me.
O bless God, I know it’s real!

Words & Music: Homer L. Cox, 1907 (MI?DI, score).

Yoga, power of the serpent?

From far north of India—way up in the jungles where outsiders very seldom get—and they came to an ancient temple and in the temple on one of the walls was sort of a fresco, worn out, but you could distinguish—a woman, a serpent, and a tree. They are together—a woman, a serpent, and a tree.

And in this particular temple they worshiped the serpent, and he asked, “Why do you worship the serpent?” “Well,” they said, “he’s our savior. He’s the one who came to rescue us, to deliver us.”

You know in yoga, for example, yoga is depicted as a raft of serpents, cobras, that takes you across the ocean into the Promised Land, into … the power within yoga, kundalini, serpent. - from The Berean Call, Dave Hunt
Kundalini -

(Yoga is being pushed by all the medical therapies...seems there must be another way to exercise the body than the religion of the serpent. - Linda)

It's not supposed to be that way. . .

I don’t know if he’ll make it. A friend—a recovering drunk—once told me that sometimes you only get saved by dying. It’s not supposed to be that way. You’re supposed to help them and then they come to Jesus and then they’re better.

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