And Then The End

It seems like every night on the news I see stories about California being on fire. Nasty fires burning thousands and thousands of acres. Sometime during the news story I usually say, "And then the end will come." Why?

I got those words from this passage of scripture in the Book of Matthew. See if this doesn't sound like California.

"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." - Matthew 24:9-14

It certainly seems like we are nearing the end of things, especially if you live in California. Here in Wisconsin however, we just received our first snowfall. Everything was a beautiful snowy white yesterday morning. So peaceful. Almost the exact opposite of what it's like in California.

From my point of view it's hard to figure out why anyone would want to live in California these days. Yes, it can be beautiful (when it's not smoldering or shaking) but it is also a hot bed of some of the most radical behavior and beliefs on the planet.

The Bible talks about things like what's going on in California and then it says that "all these things have to happen." The earthquakes, famines, wars, the increase of wickedness. All these things are a foretaste of things to come. And it will no doubt be even worse than it is now.

How do I know that this is not really the end of the world? That's an easy question. It's the Christians. We are still here! But imagine a world with all these natural disasters going on and even more evil in it. And no Christians! No churches, no faith-based relief organizations. Imagine a world so desperately in need of Jesus.

And then the end will come.

If you are not a believer in Christ, please consider becoming one today. People die everyday on this planet, most of whom do so quite unexpectedly. Those who die without placing their faith in Jesus will get to spend eternity walking through fires like those blazing in California.

Or, you could spend it in a place filled with peace, the air will be crisp and clean, and there will be no more war, forever. Which would you choose?

California's Burning - Tom Caves

Have You Seen Him?

I saw a meme this week that I thought was pretty good. It simply said, "Live in such a way that men may recognize that you have been with Jesus - Charles Spurgeon." I thought about that for a minute. Do other people see Jesus when they look at me? I hope they do but, quite honestly, I am afraid they don't.

You see, everybody has their own idea about who Jesus is and that's a problem. The Pharisee's knew who Jesus was . . . and they tried to kill Him. The demons knew who Jesus was and they feared Him. Trying to be like Jesus to a dying world comes with consequences.

Being like Jesus comes with a price to be paid. From what I read in the Bible we are to be like Jesus even if it costs us our lives. I'm okay with that but it is just a reminder of what is in store for us when we take a stand on any number of things.

This week I saw where Pastor John MacArthur spoke out against Beth Moore's preaching. He says that there is no Biblical basis for women preaching in the church. Yet, more and more these days, churches are allowing women preachers. But the more important issue with Beth Moore is her false teaching, claiming direct revelation from Jesus.

I would like to take Spurgeon's quote from my first paragraph and re-write it for our churches of today. Teach in such a way that the congregations may recognize that THEY have been with Jesus . . . through the 100% written revelation of God. The Bible.

Only Jesus - Casting Crowns

Too Good To Be True

I watched a little bit of the World Series Thursday night. A commercial came on for Amazon Prime. The ad featured an old Four Seasons song - Too Good To Be True. Being a child of the 60's I started singing along as it played. However, my singing stopped rather abruptly when they skipped some of the words. "And I thank God I'm alive."

What a sad, sad world we live in. Wouldn't want to offend anyone, but let's offend the Christians. We don't fight back. We're always turning the other cheek. Why??

38“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also." - Matthew 5:38-39

As frustrating as this world gets, as much as we want to fight back, we must remember one thing. We are not of this world! And we have a God who fights battles for His people. And there IS a battle coming. And a big one at that.

So take heart my brothers and sisters. Even though these times keep getting more and more ridiculous, we WILL be leaving soon. Our ticket has already been purchased. I wonder what the Amazons and Apples of the world will do when all of the Christians are gone. That will be up to them and their God - money.

In related news, "Amazon Jeff Bezos will reportedly drop to the No. 2 spot on the list of the world's richest people after Amazon's stock price tumbled in after hours trading on Thursday." - Fox News

Let us not take our eyes off You, Lord.

Can't Take My Eyes Off You - The Four Seasons

Off The Grid

What would happen if the power grid went down where you live? What would you do? Will you survive after your phone dies? Or would you be at the mercy of our government or others for help?

I am having way too much fun living off the grid today. I'm trying to use as little electricity as possible. The television is off. The laptop I am typing on is on battery power. But my biggest challenge so far has been flushing the toilet. Lol!

Everytime the toilet flushes our water pressure goes down until the pressure switch in the basement activates our well pump. Our electric well pump. So, how am I flushing the toilet? I am hauling rain water that I have collected from my off-grid tiny house rain water collection system.

The system works great! I have 15 gallons stored up right now and it is currently raining. I am being a good steward of what God has provided. He brought the rain, I am collecting it and using it.

Are we good stewards of all that God gives us? Our resources? Our time? What things will we do today? Are they all for God's glory? What about work? Are we doing the best job that we can, as if we're working for The Lord?

Each day we face in this world we bring different challenges for us to face. Some will be difficult. Others will be easy. But each challenge should be met with the same effort and desire on our part to please God. To honor God.

My little rain experiment was fun but it was also a way to honor God by trying to get the best use out of what God has provided. God has provided each of us with a new day today. How shall we use it?

"Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you." - 2 Timothy 1:14

One Man's Alaska - Dick Proenneke

The Invisible Killer

Everything looks normal. They can't tell there's anything wrong. Things look perfectly harmless in their eyes. They think they are safe yet, the next thing you know they end up dead. Game over. Lights out. No second chance at all. Gone.

That happens all too often at our house. A birds sees the reflection of the nearby trees and mistakes them for REAL trees and BOOM! They either die on impact or are left staggering around on the ground; knocked silly by the hardness of the glass.

There was a recent case of nearly 400 birds flying into an office building in San Antonio. Wildlife experts said that the birds were most likely confused by there surrounding. Some rain, heavy winds, and the lights from the building all combined to create a deadly scenario - deceiving the birds and ultimately leading to their deaths.

Things can be much the same for us in this confusing world. We can get distracted and confused. We can even think we are on the right track when suddenly we are hit right between the eyes by something that knocks us for a loop.

Perhaps it's a death in the family, an illness or the breakup of a relationship. We become hit so hard that we don't know what to do anymore. We then try to gather our wits about us and pick up the broken pieces. What to do? What to do?

Have we considered Jesus? Have we turned to Him in our hour of need? Usually we try to do things on our own. Well, that's the first of our problems.

"There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death." - Proverbs 14:12

Birds have no understanding about the dangers of flying into windows. They see trees, familiar things to them, and the try to fly through them. We are no different. We try to fly through life without God, never considering the consequences of doing so. That is, until it's too late.

The way that "seems right to a man" is this world we live in. Have fun, get ahead, look out for #1, just do it, everybody else is doing it so why not, if it feels good - do it. That's what the world tells us. If we follow that path we will run head long into an impenetrable barrier. Death.

Chose life! Chose Christ! Ask Jesus to show you the way you should go. He will!

"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6

Did you get that? Jesus is the only "window" that leads to life. All others lead to death. Let that sink in, then close life. Please.

395 Birds Found Dead
Open Our Eyes - Maranatha Singers

Blow Up Your TV

Back in the day, back before "smart" phones and laptops, flat screen TV's and Oprah, there was an ancient philosopher named John Prine. John had some great advice for all of us. We never listen.

This week I am fasting. Not in the traditional sense when you don't eat food. I am fasting from television, specifically anything to do with "news". You should try it! Spiritually refreshing!

I used quotes around the word "news" because, in my honest opinion, there IS no more news. News  reporting has died and been replaced by opinion. But that's just MY opinion.

Opinions are like noses. Everybody has one and they all smell.

Mr. Prine offered up some of HIS opinion in the song Spanish Pipedream. Here's the chorus.

Blow up your TV, throw away your paper
Go to the country, build you a home
Plant a little garden, eat a lot of peaches
Try an' find Jesus on your own

There is no "news" these days. It doesn't matter what you watch - ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, The Internet - it's all opinion. If you are seeking to learn the truth, forget about it. Well, there is ONE place you can go for truth - The Bible.

Did you know that God cannot lie? Lying is a sin and that is simple contrary to God's character.

You might say, "Yeah, but I want to hear about current events in the Middle East." To that I say, "Have you read Matthew 24?"

This is Jesus speaking. You know, the one who cannot lie?

"At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." - Matthew 24:10-14

I've rewritten John Prine's song. It goes like this.

Blow up your TV. Open up the Bible. Try to find Jesus on your own.

Spanish Pipedream - John Prine

Over Here!

I just finished reading the Old Testament. Again. I like to think of the Old Testament as being like Moses taking the Israelites through the dessert. It was a test. It took awhile. At times it was very dry. But in the end, it was oh so sweet to arrive at The Promised Land. Jesus.

That's what keeps me going back each time to read through the Bible. It's that "knowing that Jesus is coming" feeling that makes me want to keep on reading. It's like a great big treasure hunt. Jesus is the treasure. And what's really cool are all of the hints and hidden things along the way.

"14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." - Isaiah 7:14

Also, there is just something about reading The Gospels. It's comforting, reassuring. It's like "we're home!" It's where we want to be. And so many time I have picked up my Bible, begun reading, and heard exactly what I needed to hear that day.

It's like being lost in the woods after dark. We can look around and see nothing in the darkness. If we only had a light to guide us, we could find our way home. The fears would melt away and we would be at peace. Then the sun rises, we locate the path we couldn't see in the dark, and we rejoin our journey. Confident in the knowledge that we are on our way towards Him.

It feels comforting because the path is where God wants us to be. He holds the lamp in His hands. "This way, my little child. The path is over here."

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and light unto my path," - Pslam119:105

Thy Word - Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant

The Unwilling

"There's nothing more stubborn than a mule." the old timers used to say. Well, that saying is not really true anymore. Have you considered the human race lately?

I have pretty much given up on watching the news. It's not that I don't want to be informed. It's just that I am interested in hearing the truth. Why are we so unwilling to seek the truth or hear it spoken to us? Because it makes us uncomfortable in our sin?

Maybe that's why I have been reading my Bible more and more these days. I just finished reading through the Old Testament. Here's a gem from last night's reading.

"Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10 I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth." - Zechariah 9:9-10

Now there's some good news! THEE good news! And it was prophesied 500+ years before Jesus would actually come riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, the foal of a donkey. Good news indeed! And, unlike today's news, it's totally true, unbiased and factual.

Clutch your Bible tightly to your chest. Let no one tear it from your hands. It is our only source of truth. It provides hope and encouragement for the weary soul. It is the very Word of God, given to us, in love.

Before The Throne of God - Selah

Keys

I learned a potentially costly lesson on Wednesday. I was almost stranded with no way of getting home or into my house. I lost my set of keys . . . in a 26 acre park!

"They probably fell out of my pocket," I feared. "Out THERE . . . somewhere." Gulp.

I began wondering how I would get home if I couldn't find them. Who do I know in Point? Dakota? Todd? They were both working. This was not good. So I began walking backwards through the front nine of the disc golf course I was playing, stopping and looking at every place I had made a shot.

Then, as I approached the tee pad for Hole #5 I saw something shiny. My keys??? Yes!!!!

The first thing that occurred to me, other than the joy of being able to get back home, was what it will be like for "Christians" who miss the rapture. The first thing they will think is why wasn't I taken? Why didn't I get to go?

They will retrace their steps of faith. They will go back and question the teaching they received, they will wish they had listened to the warnings from their friends - the REAL Christians. And then they will come to the point where they realize that somewhere along the line they believed a lie rather than the truth of God's Word. And there is no way for them to get home. The key, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, was lost somewhere along the way.

I am grateful to be writing this story instead of sitting in a dark park tonight. My keys are on the counter, God's Holy Spirit is in my heart, and I am ready to go. Any time.

Many people will arrive at that moment when Jesus returns and they'll be looking for the key to their salvation. And then they'll watch Jesus rising up into the clouds - wishing they had kept better track of God's Word and His promises for those who truly love Him.

There is nothing more important than our salvation and the God who gifted it to us. It is the key to eternal life. That key is given to us by God through His Holy Spirit who dwells within us. It is through our faith in His Son who died on the cross for us that we will get to rise from the dead, just like Jesus did.

Once we have been given that amazing key we can never lose it. And that's a good thing. Especially for this old man who is forever misplacing things.

"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his." - Romans 6:4-5

The Lord Is My Salvation - The Gettys

Come

Spiritual Growth is not a class we take or something we can Google or find on YouTube - "Ten steps to Spiritual Growth". No. Spiritual growth is something that happens TO us and there is only one key ingredient to it. The Holy Spirit. And there is only one step in the process. One thing that must be done before spiritual growth can take place. We must die.

There are millions of people sitting in churches each Sunday. Most of them, in my opinion, are simply lost, doing something they think will get them into heaven. Sadly, they are lost and don't even know it. They pray prayers yet can't wait for the service to be over because the Packers game is on at noon. They need our prayers.

There are churches, however, that do contain actual children of God. They are the 20% that do the 80% of the work in the church. They deliver meals to people incapable of making them, they offer their time even when they themselves have little to give. They are "the remnant".

To grow in our faith we must come to the realization we can do nothing by ourselves to make it grow. God's Holy Spirit is the key. Step 1: Is He living in us? He should be. How can we know for sure? Well, have we changed? Changed from who we used to be? Have we surrendered everything we once were to God and to all that He wants us to be?

The picture of the empty boat above. Why did I chose it? Because that's all that should be left of us after we surrender, die to self, and follow Jesus.

"Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus." - Matthew 14:29

How many of us are still in the boat "worshipping" at church instead of leaving everything behind and following Jesus? Peter denied Jesus three times yet here he was, walking on water Himself. All because He surrendered all that he was and followed Jesus' command to "come".

Has Jesus called for us to come to Him? Have we followed? Or are we still in the boat with the rest of "the disciples"?

Our faith should not be a religion. It should be active and evident as we live out our lives. The question is, are we living out our lives for Jesus? Or for ourselves?

The Voice of Truth - Casting Crowns

Can't Sleep?

Some people have trouble falling asleep at night. Not me. My problem is waking up in the middle of the night THEN trying to get back to sleep. How about you? What keeps you up at night?

For me, once my mind gets going at two or three AM, it's hard to shut it off. I find myself thinking about one thing after another. Next thing you know an hour has gone by. How about you? Do you find yourself awake at night when you really don't want to be? What do YOU do?

Sometime during my nocturnal awake time I invariably ask myself. "What are you doing? What are you thinking about? It's 3AM!" The keyword is "focus".

That's when I pray - to get my mind off things of this world and re-focused on things above.

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." - Colossians 3:1-2

When I begin praying about the people in my life or the thankfulness I have for all that God has done, I find that my singular focus calms me and reigns in my brain to the point where God alone is in my head. That is a wonderful place to be. And that's where it should be.

Dreaming of Eden - Skillet

Forgiveness

Did you see the news story about the young man who hugged the killer of his brother? Forgiveness is a powerful thing. That's because it really sets two people free, not just one.

We live in a divided country. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all just get along?

Take a look at this picture and the video at the end of this story. Wow. The lady in the picture had just been convicted of murdering the young man's brother. Yet, the young man asked the judge if he could give the former police officer a hug. Why? Why would he do that?

He also told the woman that he loved her and wanted the best for her, hoping she would give her life to Christ. The judge also gave the convicted killer a hug . . . and a Bible. Her own personal Bible. God was clearly at work in that courtroom.

Yet, there were people outside the courthouse protesting because they felt she should have gotten a longer sentence. The judge is in trouble for "bringing religion into the courtroom." Still, this young man said he wished she didn't have to go to jail at all. The judge showed compassion. Why? Why would he say that when the law clearly states that she must go to prison for such a crime?

The reason is . . . the young man and the judge are both Christians. This is what Paul the Apostle was talking about when he said . . .

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." - Ephesians 4:32

Or when Jesus answered Peter's question about how many times to forgive someone.

"21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." - Matthew 18:21-22

Forgiveness is NOT an option or a choice, it is a command from God. The only reason this is a news story at all is because forgiveness is so incredibly rare these days. Yet forgiveness DOES happen.

If you are a Christian, God forgave you. He commands us to do the same for others. How are we doing with that? Here's another promise from God that's worth remembering.

"But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." - Matthew 6:15

Are you harboring any ill will towards someone? Are you holding a grudge? Get over it! Your lack of forgiveness is sentencing YOU to life in prison. YOU are the prisoner! Repent. Seek forgiveness from God. He will give it. Then offer forgiveness to others. It will truly set you free.

Botham Jean's Brother Hugs Ex-Officer - The Guardian
Forgiveness - Matthew West

Ignoring The Signs

My wife and I just got back from a vacation in Michigan. We had a wonderful time, even in the bad weather. But there was one day that really put us to the test.

We were trying to complete a scavenger hunt through Michigan's "Tunnel of Trees" on M-119 and had to find a nature preserve, walk down to Lake Michigan, and dip our toes into the water. Sounded simple enough. We should have paid attention to the signs that were all around us.

I'm not talking about trail signs. There was only one trail. I'm talking about signs of danger. There were a few sprinkles (sign #1) when we set out so we put on our rain gear and grabbed an umbrella. That was smart. But that didn't adequately prepare us for what lay ahead.

The wind started to increase in the now-swaying trees overhead (sign #2) and we heard the sound of distant thunder (sign #3). Still we continued on. The brochure said it was only "a short hike" after all.

We then came to a portion of the trail that sloped down dramatically. And I mean, IT WENT DOWN!! And it was just a dirt trail. No gravel, no wood chips. Dirt. So, I posed a question to my wife.

"So, are you ready for this?" I asked. I was concerned about being able to get back up the slippery slope. Getting to the bottom was NOT going to be a problem. One way or another we would get there. My wife was determined so on we went.

This is probably a good time to read this reminder from the prophet Jeremiah, which I read during our vacation. A sign of things to come?

"The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, 3 and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, 4 then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head. 5 Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head."  Ezekiel 33:1-5

We heard the warnings. Still, the thunder and the increased rainfall, which was now a downpour, did not deter us. We would have been wiser if we would have turned around. But alas, we weren't. We ignored the signs and pressed on.

When we reached the beach we were already soaked. My wife wanted to put up the umbrella but I suggested that raising a metal-shafted umbrella in a thunderstorm might not be the smartest thing to do. So on we went in a downpour, soaked to the skin. Our rain gear, we discovered, was not.

My wife accomplished her task. She took off her shoe and sock and dipped her already wet toe into the water. Then back we went. Across the sand dune, across the rocks and into the woods. I raised the umbrella at that point, but why bother? A last effort to protect mu wife?

We should have listened to the signs that were all around us. We didn't. We were too busy doing what WE wanted to do. It kind of reminded me of the human race and our current state of affairs. Watch the news. Are WE heeding the signs that are all around us? No. We are just forging ahead, doing what WE want to do, instead of observing the signs that are all around us. Signs from God.

I believe we are living in the last days as prophesied in the Bible. It won't be too long before Jesus comes back to take His bride, the church. Are we prepared? Have we taken adequate steps because of the warning signs we have seen? Have we warned others about what's on the trail ahead? Time will tell. The question is, "Are we ready?"

50 Reasons We Are Living In The End Time - Lamb and Lion Ministries