How did Wise men know with out a Bible?

Wise men came from the East....probably Babylon and from the school of Daniel who taught their and was considered one of their wise men or magi. The Magi were astrologers or star studiers. I'm interested in a verse from Matthew 2:2 which says the Magi astrologers knew 3 truths without ever reading a OT Bible of there day...1) Someone was born....2) He was of Royal lineage...and 3) He was a Jew....." Where is he that is born King of the Jews?, for we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him." WOW ... he had a star that told all that...How?

I'm glad you asked. Daniel told them that a Messiah was coming to Rule the world as did most all OT prophets. They obviously studied the Hebrew nations constellation or group of stars...It was Leo meaning Lion. The Jewish Hebrew people were called the Lion in Gen 48. Something was happening in the Leo constellation that revealed one born to the Jewish peoples. Look at sky charts and you can trace back a orbit or clock like rotation of two planets that would have caused an astrologer to be amazed...they were Jupiter and Venus...Venus or Virgin..or Virgo was a planet that rotated around the Sun and eclipsed with Jupiter -"the King planet" to created what seemed to be a new glow in the sky that would have lasted for almost two years....WOW The KING planet and the VIRGIN planet crossed paths in the constellation LEO....can you see how they knew one was born a King of the Jews?

Gen 1 :14-15 show God created them (stars) for a specific reason...1 for light...and 2 for a SIGN...Lost man here is your sign.....sinner look up and see the sign. Stars are Majestic, glorious, but never to be worshiped Deut 12. To God and Jews it is punishable by death if you do. Worship the creator and not the creation. So read your Bible and not your Horoscope.

Wait look at this....i personally don't believe that the star was created at his birth, God is bigger than that. He some 4000 years earlier spoke all the stars into existence and set them in motion or orbit rotating around the Sun in a clock like manner.....He knew the exact time His Son would be born and put Jupiter and Venus on a collision path (from our view anyway) some 4000 years before it ever took place...THAT A BIG GOD !!!!! Ow year Jesus was crucified before the foundations of the Earth were ever spoken into existence to. Hope this was a holiday blessing to you...Merry Christmas

We come bearing gifts

What are we coming to church for? To many I fear are coming to receive and to take home, to few come to give. I certainly don't mean a tithe or offering, but worship. I would rather be a lowly shepherd coming to worship with my small flock of sheep any day than to be a wise man knowing how the markets operate, or knowing when to buy/ sell/ trade on Wall street. Remember those that come to worship always get their first. Wise men came to see the young child (Matthew 2:9 "When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was." ), that was in a house not in a manger as verse 11 of the same text says ("And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh" ). It was around one to two years later, after the birth. Shepherds came to see the Jesus the same day he was born (Luke 2:11 "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord") and they went and got there to see him on the same day, "And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger"Luke 2:16. I hate to be the one to bust your bubble but the shepherds and wise men were not there on the same day or at the same time.

Shepherds are lowly, no one in the eyes of society, the poorest of the poor....disrespected, unappreciated, yet that is exactly who God chose to come see and worship the Savior first. Wise men brought gifts, shepherds shouts and praise, which will you bring?

Hair Day

Comb it, braid it, weave it, curl it, straighten it, dye it, perm it, crimp it, wash it, shampoo it, condition it, dry it, highlight it, moose it, wet it, scrub it, spray it, flat iron it, steam it, slick it, style it, net it, wear a hat on it, brush it, grow it, Afro it, beehive it, swirl it, bun it, french twist it, stick gum in it, spend big money to replace it, cut it, trim it, ponytail it, put bows in it, shave it, donate it, fake it (wig), or just simply get up and go with it. Anyway you do your hair remember God has them all counted and numbered! If you lose a hair the count doesn't go from 2,345 to 2,344 no God says hair 278 just let go. He knows more about you than anyone else. He made you wonderfully and fearfully. Trust in the creator to help you with all you do today, for He careth for you! Will their be bald heads in Heaven? Full heads of hair? If nothing ever dies there will we all have long hair like cousin "IT" since cutting it would produce dead hair - what about toe nails? My mind is a dangerous thing, who can know it. One thing is for sure if nothing dies their no one will have dead skin cells falling off their pretty little heads = no dandruff. Blessed day.

Is GOD LOVE

Is God love? I have heard this question asked so many times. How can God be love if people are suffering and dieing as they are today, in war, poverty, and disease? How can God let people starve to death in Africa, India, Asia, and yes America, small children even, if God is Love? Questions such as why does He allow rape, adultery, drugs, and murder to even exist? All legitimate questions i believe, and all rightfully deserve a biblical answer. Here it is, you ready? Remember you don't have to agree with me, you have every right to be wrong! HA HA HA.

God doesn't allow any of it we do!!!! He didn't invent murder - it was Cains choice; nor adultery - it was Davids decision. God never allowed a home to be broken - Eve did by disregarding Gods Word and listening to the Devil. Know that the "wages of sin=death", yet God gives life.

Still one may beg the question, "What about all those suffering with no food in Africa, and around the world?" The TV is full every Holiday season with commercials of pitiful children starving that rips even the coldest of souls heart out. (My opinion) Your money sent over their to feed the poor is a waste of time. Jesus said "the poor you have with you always" = never will the world be without starving people, children. The cure is Jesus alone. Put money in a trustworthy missionaries pocket and send them the gospel which is the Bread of Life. Only when they repent of sin and accept Jesus and not religion and tribal rituals will they be fed. If God can split the Red Sea (and he did), and tell the fish to get in Peters net on that side of the boat, more than he could drag in - doesn't it stand to reason he could cause enough fish to swim to their African shores and creeks to feed them all and more? Yes of course He can, and will if He alone is their God. Jeremiah said he never saw God children forsaken or His seed begging bread, meaning he will take care of them that are His own. Whenever a person comes by the church asking for grocery money or gas money rest assured they are lost. Elijah had no meat or bread and God sent a raven to feed him, and He promised to not give his children a stone that came begging bread - He will take care of you. Now if your lost it is by Gods grace your not already dead and in Hell. Sinner know he will not meet a lost mans physical needs as he does for his children, He died on Calvary to meet the spiritual need first - then he takes care of all the rest. So give them a meal - they will be hungry tomorrow, BUT give them the message of the Master and He will feed them all the days of their life. Lord give us this day our daily bread. Amen

A Subliminal Christian

I hate subliminal imaging (dRiNk pEpSi). Introduced in 1897, the concept became controversial as "subliminal messages" in 1957 when marketing practitioners claimed its potential use in persuasion (gO tO ChUrCh). Visual stimuli may be quickly flashed before an individual may process them, or flashed and then masked, (cHuRCh=Go) thereby interrupting the processing, don't you hate that?

Well truth is most Christians are subliminal in that they hide their faith and expect others to just see the quick prayer over their food that could be mistaken as a yawn, nose wipe, or a muttered word. "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost" 2 Cor 4:3. Or some chose to live worldly and blend in, then get mad if the preacher says on Sunday to repent and live right because someone is watching your life. NEWS FLASH - if your saved you have lost people watching your life - do they see Christ crucified in you, or are you hiding it, using only subliminal imaging? On judgement day I really don't believe a good response would be "but I thought they saw the Bible in my car trunk, and knew I was a Christian"!!!!!!! So the real question is Who are you hiding the gospel from? Classmates, co-workers, children?

Save the Planet?

It has always amazed me how people get so worked up about saving the planet! I am for bamboo bowls and compose piles and think supporting local farmers is right. I like solar energy, and think (don't eat) organic food is terrific. I'm all for more efficient shower heads and clothes dryers to save me moo-la but will it matter in the end? I have not received any fines for littering so know this is not a venting, or vendetta about a ticket or the like. People argue about trash, pollution, and smog but does it matter at all. Save the planet - it is a figure of speech I guess. Go green, drive a Hybrid, burn vegetable oil not petroleum. I'm for recycling but refuse to wear Patagonia's PCR fleece vest ($70) that is made from recycled soda bottles. Oil drillers are getting their ear full these days around the gulf, and here as well. Whales, walruses, snow owls, platypuses, O' my. Know that even if we destroy the O Zone and all of that stuff the planet will still be here - it may be a cold, dead, lifeless rock the way we treat it but it will be here. We should concentrate on saving people. Thant is what God is focused on - seeking to save that which is lost. People need help - need truth, need God. I would trade all the snowy owls in the world for one soul to know Jesus as Lord and I love animals.

Just for the record this planet is going to burn up, aka, be destroyed one day anyhow. God said He was make a new Heaven and a NEW EARTH, and the old Heaven and earth will pass away.Revelations 21:1"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. "

Only those believers that Jesus died and arose from the grave will escape the real pollution- sin.

2 Peter 2:20 "they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ"

Here Peter says the earth will be destroyed in fire:

2 Peter 3:5-7 "For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."

Get all the Hybrid cars you want, nothing but the blood of Jesus will save you from that day. I don't really care if you hug a tree, hug a bug, or hug your momma , but you had better hug on Jesus first and foremost. Love what is here now (people) and gone tomorrow! People are the only things on planet Earth that have a chance of not burning forever. Save the people not the planet, by getting them to Jesus.

Smoke em' if ya got em'

What do you identify with smoke? To a young man i met today he related it to sorrow, for his house burned to the ground and he lost family members due to smoke inhalation. I relate it to birthday parties since my childhood was filled with happiness. To timber cutters smoke means run, or danger. To the lost man it signifies an end unwanted, and undesired.

There are different smells that smoke makes depending on what is being burned. A house fire smells like tar b/c of the shingles, that tar smell is overwhelming. A brush fire smells quite different. I personally always love cool fall mornings because of the wood fires people use to heat their homes with. It is a sweet smell to me. Birthdays have their own unique smell as burning wax candles are burnt and blown out - to me that smell means it is a time of celebration. Then i also remember that poor little squirrel that didn't understand just how electrical currents flow and the aroma of burn hair turned my stomach. Incense is used by many to make a room or house smell better. In the Holocaust testimonies of people burning in concentration camps was a most horrid smell, that was detectable for miles. I do not like smell of smokers smoking, I thank God for Credit/Debit cards and gas stations that accept them so I do not have to go inside to pay and come out smelling like smoke. Diesel smoke, factory smoke, train smoke, match smoke, electrical smoke, machine smoke, marijuana smoke (which I personally have never tried), candle smoke, gas logs smoke, cigar smoke, plane smoke, liquid smoke, fireworks smoke, grill smoke (which I like), Japanese restaurants cooking smoke in front of you smells good. Food burning in the oven has its own unique smell (gag),What smoke smells bring you joy? sorrow? celebration?

To God, some smells please and some he dislikes as well....a sacrifice for sin is a sweet smell to God but no sacrifice is needed today because, Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice for sin that appeased a Holy God forever.
Rev 8:4 - He likes the way incense smells with prayers
And the smoke of the incense, [which came] with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
Rev 15:8 - His glory is smoking hot
And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Rev 9:2 states that the bottomless pit is filled with smoke- not a smoke I want to smell.

The bible says smoke arose, and it arises, rises up....aka it goes up.... to the heavens so to get to heaven do as the Hebrew children did and follow the pillar of smoke... following the smoke will lead you up to a higher place. Jesus died on Calvary to take you to a higher place if you call on him to repent of your sins. Smoke em' if ya got em'

Bridge Heading Where?

Two points of view here when beholding such a sight. A) is this a bridge to nowhere; or B) is this an adventure into the great unknown? Both a little scary, both are filled with mystery. Some day I feel I'm on the bridge to nowhere - nowhere good anyway, and at any moment could step off into the end of life as i know it. Yet there is an excitement of pursuing across such a bridge to see what awaits, an adventure if you will.

I am not talking about what awaits after death at all - for I know where I'm going then. It is the now that I speak of. What does this day hold - do we want to run across to see or creep over if fear? Normally I would run over, but as of late in my life at least, I have been walking more cautiously. In fear really of what new horror awaits just out of sight. But things were not always such.

The overwhelming majority of my life has been a run to get their and get it done. Now I have a different approach. In good days we have no problem heading over - in more trying times we naturally are more cautious to say the least.

What is over their? Treasure and gifts; rewards or ruin; gloom or glory; vipers or victory? So much of our life we think we have planned out but in reality we really don't know what is ahead - death, disease, deliverance?

The only one who can find any amount if comfort is the child of God. He alone knows what is over there, and he alone can help or hurt us with it. It is hard to say but true none-the-less, whatever is over their is for our good and his glory. Sometimes you wonder how can He get glory from such a tragedy as death, or heartbreak - but i have seen it, beheld it with mine own eyes. In funerals souls come get saved. In tragedy hearts and lives knit closer together and to him as well. He allows the pain so as to administer the cure. As Job said and as we also may say (who knows what is over their) "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord"

Keepin it real

Sad to say but the world is more honest than the church in most places. We put on a fake smile, dress in clothes we are exspected or feel obligated to wear instead of what we want to do and go through our play performance every Sunday trying to feel something. The only time it gets real is when God shows up and shows out. Then people get real - dealing with sin, sorrow, hurt, pain, suffering, and self. We really do go through our unwritten programs every week unless He messes it up for us. I hope and pray God messes up your service sometime soon and it gets real - the singing, the worship, the praying, the preaching, and the repenting. Why Lie the drunk says, so if the world is keeping it real shouldn't we be? Keep it real, get it right, or get right when its not.

Ink

Roses are red, violets are blue, I thank the good Lord, I never got a tattoo. What in the world is the human desire to ink up their body. Truly I don't even like the fake kind. Is tattooing a choice or what a "friend" does to you when your wasted? But honestly when I was a teen in High School I did think on getting a "Tigger" (from Whinny the Poo) tattooed between my calf and heel (glad i didn't now) Why? because I could bounce. Never did I want barbed wire around my arm or a dragon on my back, a loves name or initials, or even an heart with mommy on it burned into my arm. Lev 19:28 makes it pretty clear "Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD." Don't cut it in nor print it on. Ow well, maybe the need arises from the local trailer park and grows from their, who knows. Can you be a red neck without one? Who knows! Are they condemnable, No. I have many vets with their service branch on their arm faithfully in church today and God saved them. A tattoo on a arm in a service is only a testimony of a gracious and forgiving God. But being real, just go buy some paper and have the artist draw on it, carry it with you, show that off. Avoid the pain and the potential Aids threat from shared needles. Use your head for something besides a hat holder, wise up, save the loot and go buy something for yourself less permanent.

Unplugged

Are we addicted to convenience? I have spent 3 hours today trying to get my wife's phone fixed at the Verizon store, while she has used mine for the last couple of days. New number - check, last 4 digits of her Social Security number - no. Wait let me call her - ow - I can't no phone. I'll text her - ow- no phone. My mind illuminates, I'll call her mom to get it - but no phone. I have noticed pay phones have disappeared in the past 7 or 8 years with the cell phone wave. A cordless phone, but today a phoneless cord and it is aggravating to say the least. My hat goes off to those who still don't use cells, and have not got the addiction to punch a number when something happens funny, tragic, pointless, or just to feel or look important to have a cell phone stuck in your ear. Is the mark of the beast a cell phone #, just saying they are stuck into our forehead most all the time with our right hands (yes, biblically your ear is part of your forehead). I feel disconnected from the world today - but after a while it is kind of nice not to hear anyone elses problems so that I can actually deal with mine (minus the cell phone bit). I wonder, should I disconnect from facebook and blogger for a few days? Na. I will pledge to still surf the unending wave until Jesus return, unless the power goes out. I challenge you to disconnect sometime for a day and see if it helps you to connect to God. Gotta go - phone is ringing

Due Reward

For the child of God we are assured that their is better days ahead. I'm not sure how many 1,000's or 100's or 10's will be up looking and praying for His return tonight, but Lord willing I;ll be one. Sleep for a preacher is a precious commodity. I heard preacher Lockee say one time he averaged around 4-5 hours day. Honestly I have seen only 14 hours of sleep in as many days plus the occasional 10 min power nap here and their. A preacher without a burden is like a cow patty without a fly, it's just unheard of. The strain can lead us to neglect our most precious gifts from God if not careful = family, children, wives. The good Lord knows I have done my share of burying myself in the ministry and neglected my family way to much and to long. I want to say no man on earth has ever had a sweeter family. Children who wake up ready to smile in the new day, and hugging and kissing you as they go off to bed- Hannah, Abigail, Isaiah I love you all dearly and would die for you if need be, I want your every dream to come true, and i want you to dream big.

To my wife, I must say that no woman on earth does more with less credit than you. My/Our ministry together for the Lord though a tremendous burden has beared fruit and in Glory we will see the full effects of our labor together. So to often you get my frustrations poured out on and dumped on you. Never a word do you say, but are always their every service being truly a blessing to me. To see you on the pew with our children is a great encouragement to me and the work we have together in the Lord. Spring, I love you, with all my heart, in good times and bad, now and forevermore. The yellow rose is for you, a cheap download some may say but if we were rich, a million and one would I buy for you. I'm praying for many more years of labor together for His glory and honor, we both know that without you, my/our ministry would not be possible. You are and have been a help meet to me.

Not many more valleys! (I pray)

I have but one prayer today - O, Lord help me to be a husband, and father you would be pleased with and help those I love dearly. I am many things seen and unseen I admit very ashamedly, but at the end of the day I have learned, I love with an Agape Love (don't ask me how- I'm not sure my self) for my children and wife. I have had three O days in my life this week - I will not survive a fourth, unless it is God saying O to me "O, Timothy". Pray for me friend that I may have one of those days, soon. I appreciate some people at Taylorsville Campmeeting expressing a joy in reading this blog. My heart desires to met with him today, would pray for me that i be so.

The 21st Century Sodomite

It is amazing how the past 10 years has given Homosexuals which are a vast minority in American and the world seem to have taken over clothing, entertainment, and now Government (July is the White Houses recognition month of Gay pride - and Obama said this past Sunday on Fathers Day he appreciated all the Gay Homes with two dads in them to kick it off). Lest we forget 10 years ago it was a "Crime against nature"- so saying in all law books, in school we knowed them as "queers, fagots, etc". Today it has developed into a alternative lifestyle. Does that make it right? Let me pose this question, "Charles Mason lived an alternative lifestyle, does that make it a right way to live?"

I Cor 6:9 God describes the Homosexuals as "abusers of themselves". "Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord....he took away the sodomites out of the land" I Kings 15:11,12. Lev 18:22 describes the lifestyle as "abomination".

Is it sexual preference or perversion? Look at this list I have complied over recent years and decide.

* Montana school teacher - received 20 yrs. in prison and a $25,000 fine for sexually abusing 45 male students- saying he has no remorse (Rom 1:28 confirms his "reprobate mind")

*Boy Scout leaders in GA- 5 yr in prison for indecent purposes.

* Us Congressmen today admit keeping male prostitutes on their payroll

*Largest bank fraud in Indiana History was by a banker who bought shopping trips,necklaces, mink coats, and Cadillacs for his homosexual friends = $ 2 mill

* Internet cops (new division of law enforcement )arresting homo predators seducing and luring in your children*The National Gay Task Force has a #1 priority to remove all age-of-consent laws which will permit sex with children. They claimed victory in Hawaii a few years ago dropping the age to 14. Gay Pride - Pride cometh before the Fall

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The 21st Century Sodomite is a serial killer.

* New Jersey Associated Press says the top 7 serial killers in the US are homosexuals.

1. Donald Harvey - 37 raped/killed

2.John Wayne Gacy - 33

3. Patrick Kearney- 32

4-6. Dean Corall, Elmer Henley, David Brooks - 27 each raped/ killed

7. Juan Corona - 25.

The New York Times listed many more than the Ass. Press but both testify these men are homosexuals. Certainly it does not mean that all homos' are serial killers but it does mean the leading serial killers int he US are sodomites.Romans 1:29 lists all the sexual perversions BUT leaves out Adultery. Why? You must be married to commit adultery. What is the Bill in the White house that is going to be voted on soon "Gay Marriage" - God leaves it off the list , Why? Could it be we are at the door of the Rapture right now, even this year? Hope your ready!

The Arrogant Man

Isaiah 2:17 says "And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. " Man is an arrogant fool. We think we can conquer all. We have tried to rule the sky and God lets one volcano on the backside of nowhere create a multi-billion dollar hole in the international air lines pocket. We think we can rule the sea but on a average routine day an oil platform explodes and sinks into the sea leaving a oil mess that still cannot be contained or cleaned, leaving yet again a multi-million dollar question for BP as to what to do. We think we rule the land, but in reality one series of earthquakes in Haiti leaves 1000's dead, missing, or wounded and we still harden our hearts to God and His Word. The only thing we can do is humble yourself lest God does it for us. We all should quit lying to ourselves

For the record in Rev. 5:12 in Heaven it isn't about "we" but "He". "Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing." He is the focus - not our crowns we toss, or our works/rewards, or even our efforts for the kingdom mentioned - it is about Him period. I'm glad, personally I'm sick of the "look what i did" mentality. The church isn't thriving because of you or your prayer life - but rather because He gave himself for the church. It was doing well before we got here and will be just fine after we are gone. We are the creation not creator. He alone should and shall be exalted in that day - Amen and Amen

A God Called Man

It is a blessing to be called of God Almighty to preach the Gospel, and Christ Crucified. It is a sad day we are living in when men never mention conviction, burdens lifted, or peace when surrendering to His will. We are in a day of some deciding to go into the occupation of clergy. Some want to see if it works out - then they compromise, deceive to keep the paychecks rolling in, and lead a people into a ditch - both being blind and all.

I got a call on the phone today around 8:15 or so, and heard through tears on the other end a voice that relayed HE had been unable to sleep, was now able - had been under a burden, and now it was rolled away - had the weight of the world lifted off of HIM after surrendering to preach with a God sent calling and burden - and I say AMEN to a newly God called man.

I was in a WCU dorm room listening to some tapes of Maze Jackson, and singing when God came into the room with conviction greater than that of when I was lost. I knew what He wanted and their between my bed and garbage can surrendered to His will to Preach the Word. I remember making sure my heritage was true by settling for myself the truth of Bible Versions, Baptist traditions, etc. I am without apology a KJV man, a Baptist to most extents, a Blood bought, born again Christian. That was a great night for me, I relive most weeks in my head.

I would desire all prayers for Him and ME as I would never want to give unsound advice or council. Lord help me with the responsibility of aiding your man as he embarks on a new, exciting, God filled and blessed life. God hedge Him and use Him for thy Honor and Glory all in Jesus precious name.

Mike Moore gave me the greatest advice of any man at that 19 year old age, "Preach what God gives you to preach, and then make a bee-line for Calvary". Amen and Amen

Ritalin -Propaganda for Laziness

Which drugs are bad! Who gives who the right to say which drugs are good and others bad? Statistics now show 9 million young k-5 boys are now on Ritalin in America. A drug never used before 1980, and given to children diagnosed with A-D-D (also created in 1980). Remember it is a "male" drug. Personally I believe it is a result of lazy teachers. Those who are their supposedly to help children are to lazy to find a way to teach a 5,6,7 year old boys who refuse to sit still for six hours a day in lecture. NEWS FLASH - boys are not created by God to sit for six hours a day.

Basically instead of teachers taking time to "teach", and finding a way to get through to these children. Boys are hands on not seats down. Those to whom they say - he is disrupting the class, or he is to slow to learn, they diagnose them as A-D-D and place them on drugs the rest of their life. Yes these trusted ladies are destroying more lives than helping = To few are their to help children but are their for the money. NEWS FLASH - some children are more of a challenge than others, and the rewards for helping them are far greater to. I can count on 1 hand the teachers that actually cared about me enough to take me aside and show me they wanted to help in my areas of struggle. Thank you Mrs. Dockery for your heart of a true teacher. She was one of few I ever met. My English is still awful but you did at least try. If your a teacher I challenge you to go the extra mile and try and help these boys instead of seeing them as a problem or hindrance. If that is the way you view them then You Mame are the problem and hindrance.

Another reason boy are so fidgety is discipline has left the school house completely. Nothing like a good paddling to make a boy sit and sulk for a class or two. But don't get me on that or I may say something I'll regret.

I know a boy whom the school wanted to drug with Ritalin because of a A-D-D problem who was years beyond his class mates. They said his failing grades were a result of a mind unable to keep up in class yet while the other children were still learning to ride a bicycle he knew how to take one apart and reassemble it again. AGAIN I believe a lazy teacher should have been fired instead of placing a child on a mind-altering drug and creating a dope addict for the rest of their life. We now know Ritalin is addictive and putting a child on it for several years then taking it away will lead over 89% of them to seek out drugs of a illegal nature the rest of their lives. Being only a 30 year old drug the side effects are still unknown. I have kin folk through marriage that were on it and now are not, but raid family med. drawers stealing whatever drugs they can to fill the teacher made void.

Second Chance Ranch is a boys home that specializes in boys on Ritalin. It is a working christian farm. Boys arise early to gather eggs, milk cows, and then slop pigs all before breakfast. They then go to the woods with the mule and log trees to the sawmill where they stack lumber the rest of the day. With teaching then added in ever few hours as they rest from work, they learn more in two days than your child does in a week of sit down lectures on the same subjects. No drugs were allowed and no problems of attention deficit found. The boys named the sawmill Ritalin, because it took away their nervous energy. Why? Because boys are made by their creator to long for the outdoors. The energy was put their by God himself to help young boys to be a blessing to their family in planting, harvesting, mowing, carrying wood, and so on. Boys were never made to play dress up, have tea parties, or iron clothes inside.

Quit destroying lives and man up. Turn the tv off and put that boy in the garden. Take a walk in the woods, go on a pic-nick, enjoy the children you have and stop seeing them as a problem - because they are a blessing from the Lord. I address this issue knowing my boy (now 2 years old) will be required to take it in Kinder-garden, because he is all boy, and wide open with life. Yet he can call by name any tool in your garage, and show you how it works. Nothing wrong with his mind, nor his desire to be outside, where every healthy boy longs to be. Homeschooling will be my first choice before any drug to altar his mind and/or destroy his life is given. Amen and Amen!!!

If your a teacher who cares about the money more than the children, you have not enjoyed this read, but if you are one of the chosen few whom teaches and does care, find a way without drugs to help that child. Take a class outside, give them more hands on - yes it will require more time, but the rest and reward much sweeter. Let your class plant a garden and see which ones rise to the occasion. Get the ink off your hands and put some dirt on theirs, it is called Kinder"garden" right? - 9 million lives have already been abused don't be the next "legal" drug dealer at your school.

Nip it, nip it, nip it

I believe it was Barney Fife who made the phrase popular "Nip it in the Bud". But the idea came much earlier. Crude beginnings in scientific Horticulture practiced the phrase at least as early as the 14 Century. In good growing seasons gardeners would have an excess number of blooms, and blossoms. It became necessary to pinch off the majority in order that those which were left could produce large fruit. This would improve the quality of the garden produced, but was devastating to the individual buds. When a bud was nipped off no fruit was produced at that point.

Honestly it seems as though many areas of potential fruit are being nipped off by God himself. Of course what He does is always right, don't get me wrong. All my life I have hosted, preached at and participated in youth meetings, looking for a young harvest. But truth be known, the greatest youth meetings I have ever been in were not scheduled. I have seen God sweep through a service where young people were the overwhelming majority that testified, and worshiped. I have seen God move to save 4, 5, and 6 young persons in a service that was never ordained by man as a youth service. I'm not saying youth meetings are wrong or that VBS is outdated (I believe VBS is the churches greatest mission, at home or abroad). Fact is if God doesn't meet with us in a powerful way, it makes little difference if it's Youth Day, Old-timers Day, Bring a friend Day, Communion service, Revival Day or Campmeeting Day it will profit nothing.

In a nutshell, God chooses sometimes not to overwhelm us with blooms in order to produce something worth having. I am not interested in winning 1,000's and 990 go astray or quit. Give me 10 and 10 years from now still have 10 growing and prospering, and feeding others in the Lords name. We have to much shallowness in the church today and it may be because we have started looking at the big numbers of blossoms and produced weak, anemic fruit with no quality. Preacher don't be afraid of letting that secular crowd walk out - it may just produce a better atmosphere in your church for a stronger quality of fruit. Some sins (whether they like it or leave) you must nip it, nip it, nip it.

Noah's Ark found?

After the flood killed nearly everything on earth, the Ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat in present-day Turkey (according to Genesis 8:4). "Web sites are buzzing over claims that remains from Noah’s Ark may have been found on Turkey’s Mt. Ararat. Yeung Wing-Cheung claims he and his research team located the remains of Noah's Ark. The finders are an evangelical group, saying they are '99.9 percent' sure that a wooden structure found on the mountainside was part of a ship that housed the Biblical Noah, his family and a menagerie of creatures during a giant flood 4,800 years ago". I say who cares! If finding an ark on a mountain is what you need to validate your faith then you have no faith to start with. Hebrew 11:1 says "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen". Did you get the "not seen" part? "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God"- If you don't attend Church you have 0 faith. It is not faith if you have to see it to believe it! I'm trusting Him who is invisible. My faith is in one whom my fleshly eyes have never seen, who's blood washed away my sin (didn't see that either), but it happened just the same. How you say? He came to me and spoke in a still small voice to my hearts ear, that truly was as loud as a trumpet spiritually. He gave me the faith I needed to call on Him, and place my trust in Him to save my soul, and He did. Romans 10:9-10 says, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation". What marvelous grace.

Just for the record, I believe any man who is a carpenter and knows the labor involved in cutting, limbing, scaling, moving (logging), debarking, sawing, plaining, hacking it to dry out, re-cutting and building with wood, would never walk away from all that lumber that he has bled and sweated on. Personally I think the ark was torn apart by Noah and his family to build Houses with, and barns, plus chicken coups, etc. I believe it wasn't left to rot, nor abandoned but dismantled and reused. It hasn't been found because their is nothing left to find, for some 4000 years now, Amen! But that is my opinion.

NASA's Wisdom of the Ages

Ever wonder why NASA in their infinite wisdom had to climb down out of a ladder nearly 10 feet instead of walking flat out in the first moon landing? You may want to read this blog to find out why?

On July 16, 1969 Neil Armstrong stepped out on the moon before any other man stating "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind". NASA knew the pod would sink in the lunar dust but not how far. NASA couldn't definitely determine how deep the lunar dust would be so they calculated that the moon would create 1/2" of dust for ever 1000 years of Earths existence. Their total was 10' feet of dust and the earth being 240,000 years old. The ladder and tripods on the module were to reach down 10 feet and sink in the lunar dust, allowing the astronauts to walk out smoothly on flat gound(Dust). Obviously from the pic they did not walk out so smoothly, but had a ladder in waiting. Guess with wisdom how deep it plunged into the dust? It was a plunge of 3 inches. Yes the climb down 9' 9" to be exact( sinking a whopping 3 inches) making the earth around 6000 years old (Remember 1/2" per 1000 years= 3 inches = 6000) Yes they should have read their Bible instead of Listening to Siegfried and Lloyd. Morons. Go NASA!

Yes the elite of the minds have once again outdone themselves in the recent Delta Rocket explosion. Totals coming in of only $ 40 million dollars worth of fireworks and 250 tons of raining debris and rocket fuel falling to the ground exploding dozens of cars and creating creators the size of small houses. See the stupidity and our taxes go up all at the same time http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62-L-_3tdG8. But we at least now we have Velcro right?Where are their job cutbacks? Hope they have at least one job gone after this 40 mill mistake! At least we got to watch our tax dollars at work $40 million in 15 sec = 2.6 million per second, enjoy!

The hand that rocks the Cradle

I have always been a fan of young hearts. I heard a statement made in a journal 20+ years ago made by a Catholic priest who said "let us teach your children for their first 8 years and we will have them for life". Sad but true unless God steps in. No doubt youth is wasted on the young. The LORD has always put a special place in my heart for young people. I have enjoyed to the fullest working with youth in the church for over 14 years now. Alot of great and fun memories have been made, fellowship gained and Bible lessons taught. It has been our privilege to lead a handful of teens to the LORD in these many gatherings. I was reading about World Youth Day 2011 to be held in Madrid, Spain in August of that year- hosted by the Catholic crowd, averaging 1 million in attendance every year. I am thankful my faith isn't in a man wearing a dress, but a Savior who arose from the grave. My forgiveness is not found in a confessional but in the Blood of Jesus Christ alone. I do strive to fulfill Marys only command found in the Bible; "whatsoever he (Jesus) saith unto you, do it" John 2:5. It is her only command, Obey Him, in that I can agree with her.She is blessed AMONG women not above them. Thank God for the Bible which reveals a true baptism (after Salvation not for it) and Communion (not literal blood and flesh but symbolic of it) to remember His sacrifice on the cross of Calvary.

We have just scheduled in this last week another overnight adventure for St. Johns crowd, a trip to Shatley Springs in Crumpler NC just inside the Virginia line for the later part of June. Looking forward as always to the trip, already meditating on the message to teach. Certainly no shortage of things to do in the Blue Ridge Mountains (Cheese Factories, Old time candy stores, fishing ponds, Fresco's, and don't forget Gods handy works - mountains,wildlife, etc. Good times. I know many preachers who are afraid to take people anywhere outside of regular church services because they act different outside of church than in, and the same for the people, but I'm thankful for all the youth I have ever worked with that for the most part have been the same in and out of church -= I only pray the same can be said about me. The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world - make sure parents Hitler and communist do not have a hand on your children's crib!

Puff the magic Dragon or Dinosaur?

Dinosaurs have been extinct for millions of years text books say - What a crock! Any fool with access to the Internet can make an educated decision to what to believe for oneself. Where does knowledge come from anyway - school - no. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge" Proverbs 1:7. But wait dinosaurs are not mentioned in the Bible right? WRONG, they are, and quite frequently in the Old Testament. The reason the actual word "Dinosaurs" doesn't appear is because the word itself did not exist in 1611 when you Bible was originally written in English. Not until 1841 to be exact did the word first appear - deemed so by Sir Richard Owen, a British Museum Superintendent. Dinosaur means "terrible lizard". No dictionary, school text book, or scholarly gent used the word before 1841 either since it did not exist.

The most common word in the Bible for dinosaurs is "DRAGON". Yes they did exist, just under a different name. The Bible also uses other names for Dino's such as "sea monsters", "fiery flying serpent", and "behemoth". If you think they died out 235 million years age and no human being ever existed before they died out you better not read Job 40:15-19 " Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox. 16 Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly. 17 He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together. 18 His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron. 19 He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him". And don't dare read Job 41 about the great Leviathan with scales the size of human shields that nothing can penetrate. Job lived with these beast and describes them to a "T". Say you don't want to accept the Bible - then look at the Sumerian story in 2000BC - where Gilgamesh encountered a huge vicious dragon (remember all Dino's were called dragons), which he slew, cutting off its head as a trophy. Hunting dragons/dinosaurs became sport - St. George of England is recorded slaying a dragon that lived in a cave. 330 BC records that Alexander the Great and his soldiers marched into India and found Indians worshiping a huge hissing reptiles that they kept in caves. What is the connection with caves and Dino's? Puff the magic dragon lived down by the sea in a cave did he. Wonder how that song came about? China is renowned for its dragon stories, and dragons are prominent on Chinese pottery, and carvings. The Chinese flag still bares the dragon/Dino symbol today.

Extinct you say - no - just read a 15th century Encyclopedia that states dragons were becoming extinct, meaning they were not yet extinct. WOW Miss McGillicutty had it all wrong in Science class. Even Ancient rock paintings in White River Canyon, Utah show that a Sauropod Dino existed with them. Are you ready for the clincher? A hunting party of Navajo Indians got caught in a thunderstorm in the late 1500's according to their own history. They hid from the storm under a high mountain rock cliff, where they beheld a giant bird that got struck by lightening and fall to the ground in the bright flash of light in the night time sky. Then next day after the storm had passed they tracked it down and found the dead 6 ft tall 40 lb bird that had a 33 foot wing span and a bone that protrudes out the back of its head like a horn some 18 inches long = they described a Pterodactyl (Pteranodons)to the button, and they called it the thunder bird = the thunder bird today appears on the car bearing the same name (and you thought that was a fighting rooster). So then, whipped out by ice or hunted out for sport? The later seems more likely! Lockness may be real and Puff a real dragon/Dinosaur. The evidence they exsisted only a few hundred years ago is quite overwhelming, so yes EVERY WORD in my Bible is true.

An Atheist in my gas tank

Creation is a big topic to ever born again Christian and Atheist. We hear the world and the Church argue how old the Earth is 6,000 to 600 billion years they would proclaim. What if both trains of thought are wrong. Biblically, man was made on day 6. I said man. Again MAN. On day 7 if you would have looked at Adam you would have said "the earth must be at least 30 years old because here is a MAN that would have taken at least 30 years to grow to his present form - right?" WRONG - Adam was two days old, yet a full grown man - and God made him as though he had been around that long (30 years). With that Biblical thought - doesn't it stand to reason that God could do the same with the earth in creation? He spoke it into existence on day one - yet He could have made it in the form of a 600 billion year old planet, just as He did Adam? Remember God isn't taking sides on the creation issue - He is coming back to just take over!
While I'm in the neighborhood let me drop in on Atheism and Biblical events. OIL comes from dead decayed flesh- on that we can all agree. Dinosaurs mostly died out in the flood of Noah's day with masses of animal flesh herding together on high ground and then drowning. BUT there were several million if not billion people on the planet as well. Atheist to be exact. Noah preached and they mocked, in unbelief. God showed them Baptism will not save (Even full submersion). Yet man flesh has no doubt turned into oil reserves as well as animal. NOW get this, God took all those preacher hating, God cursing unbelieving Atheist and turned them into gasoline to be put in preachers cars to get them around the world to Preach His Holy Word - Amen - only God could work such a work in that kind of wisdom. My last question to ever Bible believer is "How many Atheist are you getting a gallon?"

Inside Out

I'm Sitting under my Christmas Tree wearing my Halloween costume, and getting ready to start eating my Easter eggs - If you have already passed judgment on me then Read Matthew 23:25-28 "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity." Jesus said you are a Pharisee, Hypocrite, Blind, Serpent, Viper, and in danger of not escaping Hell Matt 23:33 "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" - Christian don't judge the outward, God is judging deeper than that. One preacher said it best "If a man is wearing a suit or an tattoo I should see them both the same - with a capital L on them which stands for LOST until I testify to him and find out different." As a Christian assume nothing and be ready for everything. The field is white for harvest. For all of my judgemental friends we do not celebrate or dress up at Halloween (Satans Holiday) but we do have a Christmas tree, and we do hide eggs. BUT ask my children what Christmas is and they will respond - It is when Jesus came to us in flesh, and Easter " When He got up from the dead"

Sunrise Service

Easter - as Christmas is to the child (excitement, joy, family, fun, toys) so is Easter to the Preacher. I pity the man who has a loss for what to preach on the most glorious occasion for the church to meet. Ow yes, the 5am alarm sounding, kids put into car seats with eyes still matted shut from lack of sleep, the cold pneumonia like weather, the chatter of teeth to keep the Choir in rhythm, Children being strangely quiet as their routine has changed and they stand in shock as to why we meet so early - What is not to love about the Sunrise service. Ashamedly, I usually care nothing for the sunrise services, it is hard enough to get a Holy Grunt out of most folks at 11am much less 7am. The Lord has Blessed/Cursed me to be a part of many sunrise services in four different county's.

On the other Hand, I'm glad I have a spiritual reason to get up physically early. I'm thankful for freedom we still have to meet and recognise Jesus arose from the grave. His Resurrection is the key ingredient in salvation. If He lie dead so do we - forever. It fills ones soul to arise early as He did, and as followers of him we go to the grave yard, mimicking what some ladies and disciples did some 2000 + years ago. BUT we go knowing how the preachers message will end - they did not. Truthfully I'm excited about this years Sunrise Service in that as long as we remember and follow He will no doubt smile upon us the more. Heaven will be Easter morning all endless day long - Hallelujah. Get prepared, close laid out Sat night, toothbrush and toothpaste all ready for the mad rush of Easter morning. Go Go Go to a Sunrise service, it opens up doors to tell your children about Him, it is an extra time of worship, and it is a good way to remember what power He holds for his people in the Rapture to come.

The Hottest Topic in the Church (HELL)

I have no ax to grind. no denomination to please, no traditions to uphold, only a Holy God to answer to.
Different Views of Hell: (I believe none of the following)
1) Anglican Church View: In 1996, purposed that "if there is a hell, it must be empty"
2) Atheist view: "There is no God, therefore, there can be no hell"
3) Agnostic view: "The idea of hell was born out of revenge on one side, and cowardice on the other"
4) Liberal view: "There is a God, but he is a God of love and there-fore can not send anyone to hell"
5) Religious view:
a. Christian Science: "Hell is an error of the mortal mind"
b. Jehovah Witnesses: "The wicked will be annihilated, burned up"
c. Mormonism: "all will eventually be saved, and not suffer eternal punishment"
d. Seventh Day Adventist: "God will blot out all sins and sinners"
Here is the truth of what the Bible says. Of the 260 Chapters in the NT, warnings about hell are found in 230 of them. Those who believe in the myth of no hell, are myth-taken. Lukes account is not a parable. In all of Jesus' parables, he made a reference to 'a certain man, or woman", but in this story He named the names. Hell is a word of hope to the righteous, that the scales of justice will be finally balanced and evil will be judged, condemned and eradicated.Hell is bad news because actual people go there.Without Hell, the Gospel is not really good news. Without hell, there would be no urgency to go into all the world and preach the gospel. Luke 16:19-31. The most ignorant generation to ever live (as to what Hell is and what it is about) is today. The Main problem is the pulpits, and lack of men with backbones. A payday on Friday is more important to most than an eternal payday in Glory. Here is the Outline on a Series a preached on Hell a few years back
The Fact of Hell -Mt 5:20-30
The Field of Hell -Lk 16:19-31
The Faces of Hell -Rev 9:1-12/ Rev 20
The Fear of Hell -Proverbs 23:13-14
Note : Jonathan Edwards in his 1741 message "Sinners in the hands of an angry God" (which led 1000's to Salvation in Jesus Christ) Had to stop and settle down the crowds 4 different times because of their astonishment of a place called Hell. Hell is not what the uneducated preach - it is what Jesus preached.
Make sure you are born again, washed in the blood, made a new creature to avoid a place called Hell.

Check out some of My church members in the local school talent show ! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adb75NuMO_0

Yes we are in the backwood of Burke Co, NC - we are acctually on the other end of Burke county than the nut house but apparently some got loose.

Cows on the highway

What a weekend. We left Wed after church at appox. 830pm to set sail for Pigeon Forge Tenn. for the 17th Annual Married Couples Retreat. We arrived at 3am yes 3 am. Snow, closed roads and alot of services station maps hunts helped us to harbor safely in an untimely manner. I took some pictures for you that I am sure all will enjoy. Cades Cove was closed due to repaving and will remain that way until May. We heard great preaching from brother Rick Safriet and Steven Dagenhart that helped me tremendously. This retreat was not a seminar but plain old preaching of the Word that always gets the job done! Enjoy the pics of the wolf (not coyote, dog or deer), turkey, sunsets, and my favorite cows (4 or 5) in the bed of a pickup truck. You might be a redneck if you dont put cows in a trailor, but elect to haul them in a truck with a slim-line cover. To no surprise, this great cattleman got off on the Asheville exit, need I say more?

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Drink like a sailor

Here is a little history I picked up at App. St. a few years ago on binge drinking

U. S. S. Constitution

The U. S. S. Constitution (‘Old Ironsides’), was a combat vessel, carried 48,600 gallons of fresh water for her crew of 475 officers and men. This was sufficient to last six months of sustained operations at sea. She carried no evaporators (i.e. fresh water distillers).
However, let it be noted that according to her ship’s log, “On July 27, 1798, the U.S.S. Constitution sailed from Boston with a full complement of 475 officers and men, 48,600 gallons of fresh water, 7,400 cannon shot, 11,600 pounds of black powder, and 79,400 gallons of rum.” Her mission: “To destroy and harass English shipping.”
Making Jamaica on 6 October, she took on 826 pounds of flour and 68,300 gallons of rum. Then she headed for the Azores, arriving there 12 November. She provisioned with 550 pounds of beef and 64,300 gallons of Portuguese wine.
On 18 November, she set sail for England. In the ensuing days she defeated five British men-of-war and captured and scuttled 12 English merchant ships, salvaging only the rum aboard each. By 26 January, her powder and shot were exhausted. Nevertheless, although unarmed she made a night raid up the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. Her landing party captured a whiskey distillery and transferred 40,000 gallons of single malt Scotch board by dawn. Then she headed home.The U. S. S. Constitution arrived in Boston on 20 February 1799, with no cannon shot, no food, no powder, no rum, no wine, no whiskey, and 38,600 gallons of water.

If no loss of life occurred = 530 gallons of boos per man and 21 gallons of water in 7 months.

GO NAVY!

Just so you know "Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is raging and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise" Proverbs 21:1

 

Do you walk in Light?

Theological Crisis

Sad and exciting times we live in. Last years survey released in Feb 2009 at Pew Forum of Religious and Public Life states 65% of America now believes Heaven is not exclusively for those who accept Christ as Savior. 52% said Jesus is not the only way to get to Heaven. Matthew 15:14 "Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." Blind leading Blind? OK, if you never go to church = your Blind. If you take heed to a man in the pulpit who never testifies of a place God has called him to preach = your as blind as he is; If you never turn on your flashlight in the dark (open your Bible to read it)you are in the dark = blind. Today people are so blind they call evil good and good evil. A blind man says Abortion = good, and giving birth to a precious child = evil. I was sitting in an Appalachian class of Seniors about 5 years ago and we all had presentations to give on our area of occupation, I did salvation. Not one person in the classroom of counseling could tell me how to get to heaven when I asked. All were shocked I would pick such a subject in a class that is designed to help counsel others (I was shocked they were shocked). If you don't tell people about the Prince of Peace how will they ever find any peace? If we don't tell others about the True God of heaven how can they expect to go to Heaven? Here is something to chew on John 14:6 (Jesus Speaking) "...no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 3:36 " He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." and I John 5:12 "He that hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." Being good, being baptised, living clean, will never get anyone into heaven, only those who pray and believe, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."Romans 10:9-10. I am thankful to be one of the children of light. Are you blind?

Is Love Dead?

It's in the air. Valentines, cupid, and flowers laced with pure chocolate. Really it seems that our Christmas trees are now replaced with bouquets and underpinned not with gifts but assorted fattening chocolates. Even the Beatles's song is non-stop on all my scan radio channels "All You Need Is Love". It plays well in songs and looks good in sappy chick flicks but love has fallen on hard times. How is it couples who have been married for 10, 20 , 30 years who seemed so inspired at the outset have become so devastated in just a few years? The vows were "till death do us part", but now to many have a death wish. So then from whence comes the break, the disillusionment and the pulling apart. Is true love fleeting and flemsy? Is it only a feeling that is but for a moment?
True love never asks "If you love me you will do this for me -= never, never , never!True loves is what can I do for you, and doing it. Real love is enduring. How do you know, one might ask! Because I have talked to the author of Love, Jesus Himself. God is love. He loved the world and gave. Our culture defines love as "getting", God said to it's very core it is "giving". Today we have to many on the marriage scene who only have a romantic obsession, which to no surprises lasts only two years. Love grows, so to fall in love is to say it takes no work, makes no sacrifices, and needs no effort put forth. If you have ever planted a flower you know it must be cultivated (worked on). True love begins with a commitment (I'll go die for their sin Father), and then gives and invest in that other person (Jesus walked on earth for 33 1/2 years.)True love is known and concluded in sacrifice (Someone did die on a old rugged cross for you - have you experienced that kind of love?) May the Holy Ghost shoot an arrow of conviction through your heart!

Natures a-foot