Saturday, October 30, 2010

THE DR. IS WAITING

A seizure can occur in small children with fev...Image via Wikipedia

Today our nation is sick.  It is running a high fever.  We see it exhibited in the heat of all the political upheaval of our day.

   Fever is always an outward sign of an inward problem.  It is an indication of something foreign to our body that is  infecting our system, or the fever can be caused by a poorly functioning vital organ.

  Our fear is that the disease, if unchecked, will result in the condition of our nation  becoming  terminal. With that in mind, I think that it is time for America to see the Doctor.  I would actually suggest a specialist.

  The good news is that I think I have located a specialist with the cure.  He describes the condition and the cure both in the best book on the subject that has ever been written.  The book is  entitled "The Bible", which simply means "THE BOOK".   Not a book, or some book, but THE BOOK. The Book is the document  from which all other books, of truth, must be written.

   It is in the division of this book entitled  Deuteronomy we find these words in the 28th chapter.  (Taken from the Message,which is "The Bible in contemporary language")  It is rather lengthy but it is worth the read just to get the cure for what is ailing our nation today.

"If you listen obediently to the Voice of God, your God, and heartily obey all his commandments that I command you today, God, your God, will place you on high, high above all the nations of the world. All these blessings will come down on you and spread out beyond you because you have responded to the Voice of God, your God:

God's blessing inside the city,

God's blessing in the country;

God's blessing on your children,

the crops of your land,

the young of your livestock,

the calves of your herds,

the lambs of your flocks.

God's blessing on your basket and bread bowl;

God's blessing in your coming in,

God's blessing in your going out.

God will defeat your enemies who attack you. They'll come at you on one road and run away on seven roads.

God will order a blessing on your barns and workplaces; he'll bless you in the land that God, your God, is giving you.

 God will form you as a people holy to him, just as he promised you, if you keep the commandments of God, your God, and live the way he has shown you. All the peoples on Earth will see you living under the Name of God and hold you in respectful awe".

THERE YOU HAVE IT!

If you would like to know what will happen to America if we don't follow the Doctors orders, find a Bible and read the rest of the chapter.  "It ain't very pretty"

AMERICA, IT IS TIME TO WAKE UP, GO TO THE DR.,  AND REPENT!


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Thursday, October 21, 2010

THE SECOND MILE

Remember the old country song that said, “Walkin', talkin', wearing out my walkin' shoes.”

This song should be Jo Anne's theme song. She is always twisting my arm to go for a walk, and sometimes it works. I know I should be thankful that I can walk and really jump at the chance to take a stroll, but for some reason I drag my feet. (no pun intended)

We have a one mile route that we walk, but when we get around once she always hints that we should go around one more time. If I complain, she always says, “It's the second mile that really makes the difference.”

I wonder if that's not what Jesus meant in Matthew 5:41 when He said , “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.”

I wonder if He didn't mean that it's the second mile that really makes the difference.
It's the second mile that will convince a hurting friend that we really care.
It's the second mile that will convince our spouse that we really love.
It's the second mile that will convince a child that God is real.
It's the second mile that will show a co-worker what Christ is like.
It's the second mile that will convince that “Down and Outer” that there is hope.

Let's put on our walking shoes today and walk the second mile.





Wednesday, October 6, 2010

STEERING WHEEL OR SPARE TIRE?

Proverbs 23:19“....Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.”

Porsche steering wheel 0429Image via Wikipedia
Would you say your prayer life is more like a steering wheel or a spare tire?

That's a question our pastor asked the congregation and one I had not heard before. But it certainly started me thinking. I had to ask myself, “Do I use prayer as something to guide my life or do I only rely on it when I've had a spiritual “blow out” and I have to have a "spare tire?”

Now, I know every part of an automobile has value and is needed, but I think the steering wheel is essential. Using it is the only way we can go in the right direction, stay on the right road, avoid pot holes and collisions, or keep headed toward our destination.

I am not saying we shouldn't use prayer as a spare tire sometimes, because I think we should. But I am saying that if we use prayer daily to guide our lives, We will have fewer “blow outs” and changing tires will not become a habit.

Flat tire.Image via Wikipedia
1 Thessalonians 5:17 reminds us to, “ Pray without ceasing.” WHOA! How do we do that? What does that mean?
Well for me it is simply means that all my daily decisions should be made with a mind that is subconsciously controlled by an attitude of prayer of obedience to God.
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“Lord, I want to keep my hand on the steering wheel of prayer so that I can “guide my heart” down the highway of holiness.”




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Sunday, October 3, 2010

Tattoos for Christ?

 In  Galatians 6:17  Paul tells us, "...for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus."
Does this mean he had "JESUS" tattooed on his chest?

 Can you believe this tattoo thing that is going on today? And girls of all things! Turning those beautiful feminine bodies into a walking billboard of dumb looking garbage. What are they thinking?

I think tattoos are stupid!  I have thought so ever since I had one put on my shoulder at the age of 22. It didn't take long for me to realize that I had done something that was permanent and that I would be ashamed of for the rest of my life.

I'm just glad that I have stayed married to Jo Anne all these years. I would hate to think that I would have to search for a new wife whose name was Jo Anne spelled as two words with an “e” on the end.

 But like anything else we do, and feel wrong about it, we will pay the consequences. But I'm also thankful that God is faithful and just to forgive. It's just that I wish I didn't have to go to the grave with the temple of the Holy Spirit marked with a tattoo.

Now, if you have a tattoo, I'm not trying to condemn you to hell. If I did that I would have to go with you, but I am trying to warn any young person who reads this to think long and hard before they permanently mark their body with something that will be an embarrassment once they get up fools hill and start down the other side.

I have 7 grandchildren and they have done some pretty weird things, but, as far as I know, none of them has been stupid enough to get a tattoo. And just on the rare chance one of them would read this, I just want them to know how proud I am of them for not being as stupid as their granddaddy
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If you have tattoos all you can do is live with it and put it behind you as you would anything else you wish you hadn't done.. But, if you don't have tattoos, for heavens sake don't get any!

I don't think getting a tattoo is what Paul had in mind when he said, “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable.” And maybe we should give some more thought about what Paul meant when he said, “I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.”