Outside The Camp

Do you remember summer campfires? How our bodies we warm on one side and cold on the other? How everything in the glow of the fire was visible and warm and how, just beyond the warm glow of the campfire, it was dark and filled with incredibly scary things.

Back in Biblical days, life inside the camp of Israel was pretty good. But anytime you got sent outside the camp by the priest, well, it was never a good thing.

"The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come." - Hebrews 13:11-14

Jesus was crucified outside "the camp", outside of Jerusalem. That's why he had to walk there, carrying His cross. Sinful people were taken outside the camp to be banished, stoned or killed. Jesus, although sinless Himself, carried our sins (His cross) outside of the camp where He was killed. For us.

Jesus carried your sins and mine so that we might have eternal life. Contemplate that as you put away the Christmas decorations. Without Jesus we would have been sent outside the camp to die. Every last one of us.

There are billions of sinners in the world, both past and present. Jesus' death covered them all - a worthy sacrifice in the eyes of God. And how do we repay such a great gift? By continuing to sin? We should be on our knees, begging forgiveness, for ignoring what God did for us.

Let us start off the new year in prayer. Then let us obey God's commands. "Act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." - Micah 6:8

Post-Christmas Blues?

It is now a couple days after Christmas. Things have pretty much gotten back to normal. And that, I think, is part of our problem.

Think back to the time of Jesus' birth. The shepherds most likely went back to tending their sheep. The wise me went back home. So did the angels. Even Mary and Joseph went back to a slightly normal life - life with  baby. But Jesus was new. And it was His "newness" that gave hope to the entire world.

We all lead pretty normal lives, by the world's standards. We go to school or to work. We eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's easy to settle back into a pre-Christmas routine. But Jesus breaks the mold of traditional thinking and sameness and challenges us to think.

There are basically two different types of people in the world. hose who have encountered Jesus and those who have not. Have YOU been changed?

Here's an example of someone who was changed in a flash. Literally.

"As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”

Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. [a]It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” - Acts 9:3-6

Paul became changed. He was one man, then he met Jesus and he became changed. Have we had that life-changing encounter with Christ yet? Or are we still the same? Still following the pattern of "The World?" Make a change. Get off the bus.

Traditions of Love

Christmas is a time of traditions in our house. Remembrances ignite with each activity or meal. Aunt Mabel's sugar cookies, my wife's date pies, an old wooden cross atop the tree, even a simple fire in the fireplace brings back memories of  Christmastime on the farm at Grandma's house.

You probably have a favorite Christmas tradition in your family. What makes traditions so wonderful? Is it the comfort of family? Remembering good times when everything seemed right with the world? The key ingredient in ALL of our traditions, I think, is love.

Love is what makes Christmas . . . Christmas. We remember Jesus being born in a manger. That was an incredible act of love by God, The Father, to sacrifice His precious Son for everyone on earth. Merry Christmas world!

This year, the singing of Christmas songs at our church's Christmas Eve service seemed extra meaningful. The years "Covid Christmas" is worthy of forgetting. Many illnesses, the loss of family members, and the cancelation of so many things once held dear have made this a year well worth forgetting.

However, if there is a silver lining to 2020 it would have to be this. That despite all the struggles we've had, the one thing there is more of this year is hope. Hope for a brighter future.

And thanks! Giving thanks for the times that we did get to be with family and friends makes those times seem that much more special.

So may this new year bring a renewed hope you and your family. And maybe we can start a NEW tradition of hugging a little tighter this year. loving a little more intentionally, and rejoicing through it all.

"Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you." - 1 Corinthians 11:2

The Courage of the Midwives

Courage is defined as "the ability to do something that frightens one." When we think about people who exhibit courage we tend to think about soldiers, the police, or firefighters. But if we read Exodus 1 we can find two Hebrew midwives who qualify.

The Hebrew slaves we being persecuted in Egypt. It was shortly before Moses was to be born when the king of Egypt ordered the midwives to kill all the baby boys born to the Hebrew women.

"But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites 13and worked them ruthlessly. 14They made their lives bitter with harsh labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labor the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly.

15The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 16“When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.” 17The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live." - Exodus 1:12-17

The midwives disobeyed the head of the ruling authority because they feared God more, even though they had to lie. That took real courage! And they were blessed for it.

I saw a similar story on the news recently where the governor of our fine state issued a mask mandate. Our local Sherriff then said he was not going to enforce the mandate because it violated a higher authority - the Constitution.

In another Covid-related case, many governors have shuttered churches trying to stop the spread of the virus. Some churches have defied their governors because they feel that God is a higher authority and that our government has illegally interfered. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed with the churches.

What decisions will you and I be forced to make? Will we blindly follow any government edict that comes down the line or will we discern what is right in God's eyes?

A time is coming when each of us will have to make hard choices about whether or not to obey our government's laws or to obey God laws. It will be interesting. And it WILL happen. It's already happening in other countries.

Canadian pastors cannot preach against the sin of homosexuality. It's a Canadian law. Will Canadian pastors continue to preach the truth, even if they face jail time for doing so?

The Apostles disobeyed many laws to spread the truth of The Gospel, undergoing all sorts of tribulation and punishment. Even death. Am I that courageous? Are you?

Each of us will have to make up our own minds when faced with decisions involving God's law.

"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." - Joshua 24:15

The Innocence of a Child

I could look at this picture for the rest of my life and never get tired of it. It's a picture of my granddaughter. The photo was taken by my daughter at Roche-a-Cri State Park.

For me, my personal connection is enough reason to love this picture, but this picture also tells a wonderful story, which is for everyone.

Children are amazing little humans. So innocent at times. Brutally honest too. There is much to be learned from our kids.

Innocence. Once lost, it can be a very difficult thing to regain. Yet, the Bible tells us we are supposed to be innocent when we stand in front of Jesus one day. That's the way I read this verse from His very lips.

"Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." - Matthew 19:14

When we grow older we lose that innocence and replace it with responsibility and guilt. That's not a good thing. Oh, to have that precious innocence again, and to live a guilt-free life. It is possible, through Christ.

"Narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." - Matthew 7:14

Look at that picture again. My granddaughter doesn't have a care in the world. She is surrounded by prickly weeds and nasty bugs but she doesn't care. She is running toward her destination - full of confidence. What an example for us older humans!

May each of us have that same confidence when we come before Jesus one day. Not being summoned before Him in fear, but running towards Him with the innocence of a child.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." - John 14:27

What Child Is This? - Vince Gill and Michael McDonald

The Babel Vaccine

Did you see where many of our politicians got their Covid-19 injections yesterday? They're so proud. President Trump will tell you that Operation Warp Speed was a success. President Elect Joe Biden says he will do whatever the scientists say in trying to fight the pandemic. We're so proud. So proud.

Do you remember the Tower of Babel? What an accomplishment by man! What did God do as a result? He scattered mankind across the face of the globe. Why? Because the people became too powerful, too prideful. united together for a single cause. They built their own "stairway to heaven" without God's help, guidance or blessing.

"The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them." - Genesis 11:6

Am I the only one who thinks we have done a bad thing here by trusting in science alone? Where was our national call to prayer? If I am reading my Bible right, I think this vaccine will turn out to be our eventual undoing. Open your Bibles to Jeremiah, the 17th chapter.

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.

7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. 8 They will be like a tree planted by the water  that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” - Jeremiah 17:5-8

Did we have any worries about the Covid-19 pandemic? Just a few. We closed our schools, shut down businesses, travel, changed our workplace practices, held sporting events with no one there, and shamed people who were out walking the dog without a mask on.

I think we as a nation should have spent more time in prayer at the get-go. And I am the worst offender. However, not everyone in our country believes in God. And, from where I sit, that's a problem. Fewer and fewer people claim faith in Christ these days. Church attendance dwindles, if our churches are even open. We have turned our backs on God.

But in a crisis more people do tend to pray. Perhaps that's why this pandemic cis upon us. But have we prayed enough?

What we need is a revival in this country, and in this world. But will it come? I don't know. I think we Americans have become too comfortable and comfort is a tool used by Satan to create lukewarm Christians.

However, "all things are possible with God." - Matthew 19:26

Let us pray then for this nation. Let us pray for God to heal us, not trusting merely in man to do so. Many will see this vaccine as (sorry) "a shot in the arm" for humanity, FROM humanity. Instead, we need to be on our knees. I must be on my knees. Let us trust in The Lord first and foremost! Then watch what He can do.

Maybe God sent the man or woman who created the vaccine. I don't know. But where is our praise to God in this vaccine? I haven't seen any. And that's another problem.

Our Need of Revival - Leonard Ravenhill

The Powerful Delusion

This is not a political post, however it might seem like one at the outset. It's more of an observation about our society and how it 100% lines up with prophetic scripture.

Have you noticed the incredible lack of rioting in the streets since Biden was voted in by the electoral college? Is the press just not reporting it? Because the left was all about rioting the minute somebody said a word against them. Or for Trump.

It's almost like the ill-tempered spoiled child is finally getting its way and are remaining satisfied, until something else comes along that they want more than what they have in their greedy little hands at the moment.

And that really is the perfect analogy, isn't it? - the calm collected parents vs the little spoiled brats. Read this and see if it doesn't line up with today's political environment in this country and afround the world.

"The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness." - 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

I think the same can be said for us Christians from time to time. Our prayers are often comprised of things we want, a Christmas gift list for God so to speak, who we view as a Santa-type at times. We forget that sometimes "Santa" gifts us lumps of coal because we were naughty.

A spirit of delusion has been cast upon our country and the world. That's how Satan works, according to verse 9 above. Note that all this happens before the revealing of the lawless one - the Antichrist.

Something else happens before the lawless one is revealed. The Church gets taken away. Imagine a world filled with nothing but leftists. That will be what remains. Riots, no police, everyone for him or herself ,or whatever you identify as on that particular day.

The time to repent is now! The Lord is drawing near and the rapture will happen in the twinkling of an eye, like a flash of lightning across the sky. We will be gone. And you thought 2020 was a bad year? You ain't seen nothin' yet.

Don't You See?

Look at this picture. What do you see? Do you see a chameleon? Good. That's exactly what the artist wants you to see. However, this is an illusion. The picture is really of two naked women, painted to LOOK like a chameleon.

We live in a fallen world. The Bible tells us that we shouldn't look or act like "the world." We should stand out. We should be different, not made up to look like something we're not.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." - Romans12:2

"You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own." - Leviticus 20:26

"The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so." - Romans 8:7

Don't you see? If we are truly Christians we won't look like or act like the world. We should stand out! We should be different than the world. If we look just like the world, aren't we just spitting in the face of God by calling ourselves Christians when we really are not?

God hates sin. He doesn't like unrepentant sinners much either. We can say we love Jesus but if we keep on sinning are our words really true? Don't we just look like the rest of the world?

So what does a Christian look like? They are the ones feeding the poor, they are the former drug users at the NA meeting helping someone kick the habit. They are not rioting in the streets. Christians are the ones who are loving others and demonstrating that  love through the living of their lives.

WE shouldn't be "acting" like a Christian. We should BE one! God knows whether we are acting or not. When God searches our hearts, let Him find us loving others, praying mindfully for the hurting and the lost. May we serve our God just like we worship - in spirit and in truth.

Legacy

How will people remember you after you're gone? Will that remembrance be good or bad? Happy or sad? The choice is up to you.

How do you want to be remembered? Someone shared this picture of a golf disc with me the other day. Someone is remembering their friend who died by writing their name on a "memorial disc" and asking people to play a hole with it. That's kind of cool. This guy's buddy is being remembered for his love of disc golf. Is that how I want to be remembered?

My answer to that question is a big, fat "No." But that will happen anyway. Why? Because I play disc golf a lot and I enjoy it. I share pictures of it on Facebook, I organize disc golf events on my community and honestly disc golf is a large part of my life right now. Is that right?

This "memorial disc" is making me think. How do others know who I am? Well, quite simply, it is by the things I say and do.

Yes, I like to play disc golf but I also love Jesus. Just reading that last sentence should tell you that my priorities are in danger of being compromised. I want to be remembered as someone who loved Jesus, first . . . who also played disc golf. And played it for God's glory.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." - Colossians 3:23-24

Everything we do in life should be for The Lord in some way. The verse says "whatever you do." How do our lives comply with that teaching? Is your life reflecting Christ? Is mine?

This memorial disc reminded me that I need to make sure I am honoring God in everything I do. EVERYTHING. Playing disc golf is fine as long as I am playing it "for the Lord." How do I do that? Creating relationships in my community and then communicating my love for Christ through those relationships.

Jesus told us that we are to "love one another." I think I would like that to be my legacy. Not that I liked one thing or another, but that I loved the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength and that I loved others as I loved myself (Luke 10:27)

Let us live this day for the Lord. What will that look like in YOUR life?

Crushed

We had communion in our church this past weekend. It's always a solemn time used for reflection and coming humbly before the Lord in repentance. But this week something new happened.

Our pastor read the following passage from the Book of Isaiah and something occurred to me that I had never thought of before. First read the text.

"Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." - Isaiah 53:4-5

This passage from Isaiah is a prophetic one, speaking of the crucifixion of Jesus. It says that He was "crushed" for our iniquities. How was He crushed. He was pierced, as the text says, but how exactly was Jesus crushed?

I was thinking about that as I put my piece of unleavened bread into my mouth and then, I crushed it with my teeth. I thought of another verse where Jesus said of the bread He had just broken with His disciples, "This (the bread) is my body." (Luke 22:19)

"As often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." - 1 Corinthians 11:26

Every time we take communion we are reminded that WE are the ones who crushed Jesus. It was our sin that Jesus died for. Something to remember the next time you take communion.

Isaiah 53 - David Platt

I Want To Know

My wife and I went out to lunch yesterday. We have a quiet little out of the way diner we like to go to where the food is good and the service is excellent. They play 80's music and my wife and I try to name the bands. I always win, but yesterday was unique.

After a Michael Jackson song ended (she knew that one), another song came on yesterday and my wife asked me who it was. "Foreigner." I quickly replied. Smiling as I listened, the words of the chorus caught my attention. What a song for this time we are living in.

"I want to know what love is,

I want you to show me.

I want to feel what love is,

I know you can show me."

Does that sound like a prayer to you? It does t me. I sounds like a DESPERATE prayer, as if prayed by someone who has never known love at all. How incredibly sad. It also sounds like a prayer we all should be praying right now.

To know what love is is actually the easiest of all things to do. Just ask. The trick comes in asking that special someone. The one who is willing to show you.

Jesus.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." - John 15:9-13

Do you want to know what love is? Just love Jesus. Doing that one simple thing will bring forth more love than your heart can hold.

I Want To Know What Love Is - Foreigner

Unworthy Made Worthy

Movies can have a tremendous effect on our development as human beings. Movies can shape us into better people. But they can also twist us into mere shadows of the people we were meant to be. Who is the gatekeeper for such unbelievable power? We are.

What are some of your favorite movies? And WHY are they your favorites? Was it a particular character you liked? Or was it the message the film brought forth?

Do you remember the movie Jaws? People wouldn't go swimming for months after that film came out. They were all afraid to go into the water for fear of the sharks. And that was in Lake Michigan!

I watched a movie the other day called Paul, Apostle of Christ. It was a powerful depiction of the Apostle Paul who was imprisoned in Roman, sentenced to death by beheading, all because of His faith in Jesus, The Messiah.

Life was not easy for Christians in Rome during the reign of Nero. They were being fed to the lions for fun, burned alive in the streets on poles, hunted down and killed because of their faith.

At the end of the movie I felt incredibly humbled - almost wondering why I was chosen to be a Christian. What have I done to warrant sure a worthy title as "Christ-follower." Anything? "Where is my faith at?" I wondered, after watching these early believers risk their lives for each other.

I suppose I could make a list of things I have tried to do, and failed. Or I could make another list of things I would have liked to have done, but never did. What good is my faith? What good am I?

Ah, "but God." Two of the most wonderful words in the Bible. God, in his imminent grace, has chosen us. Our faith in Him is all that matters. The key words there being grace. "My grace is sufficient for you," God once told Paul. It should be sufficient for me too.

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9

That is why we rejoice! That God would even consider us worthy of being saved. But He DOES! It is for His glory that we live our lives, in whatever we do. We should praise Him every minute of every day for this blessing. For even in our unworthiness, we can be made worthy, though the Son, Jesus.

Read Between The Lines

Our pastor delivered a really good message on Sunday, therefore I am stealing it . . . I mean "sharing" it today. Stealing is a sin. ;)

He told us the story about "The Three Men" who appeared to Abraham under the terebinth tree.

The Old Testament is filled with stories like this one - containing multiple meanings, prophecies or just plain good old advice. Genesis 18 contains one of those stories where we must read between the lines.

Three men appeared to Abraham "in the heat of the day" and one of them was Jesus. Pay attention to what Abraham did and how he did it. Abraham's actions are a blueprint for a healthy relationship with God.

"The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.

3 He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.”

“Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.”

6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.”

7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree." - Genesis 18:1-8

1. Abraham looked up at Him
2. Abraham hurried to greet Him
3. He bowed down to Him
4. He hurried to serve Him
5. He ran to prepare a meal for Him
6. He stood and waited to serve

Do we look up to God? Or is He just another "thing to do" on Sundays? Will we hurry to greet Him and bow down before Him when He returns? Are we rushing to serve Him by preparing meals for, and serving, the least of these? Are we standing by, ready to serve as His Spirit leads? We should be.

May today contain opportunities to serve our God by loving others in some way. May we run to those opportunities, whatever they are, and prepare them as a gift for our King. This is a time for action. The world is in desperate need, looking for a savior. Run to them and point them to Jesus.

Crowds of Opinion

 There are two types of people in this world, and I am Type II. (That's a diabetic joke) We all have our opinions and beliefs about various things. But does our opinion really matter?

For example, I have an opinion about bologna. I think bologna should come in a square shape instead of a round one. That way it would match up with my slice of bread shape and the shape of my cheese slices. Oh, my world would be perfect then. Every bite would taste the same! But that's just my opinion.

Sadly, bologna doesn't come that way. It only comes in a circular shape so what should I do? I suppose I could start a Facebook group or create a movement, get a 501c3, and start raising money for my cause. But why?

There is actually a deeper question that needs to be answered here. What if it is the bread and cheese manufacturers that are wrong? Should they be forced to conform to the round shape of the bologna manufacturers? Too deep for me. Each business has made a choice. Their decision was based on what was best and most cost effective for them.

What is the point of any opinion if it doesn't have its basis in fact? Or in truth? "Meaningless!" as King Solomon would say. But that's just my opinion. It too is meaningless.

If we cast aside all of the opinions and belief systems out there, there are STILL two types of people remaining. Those who believe in Christ and those who don't. Jesus has said that He is "the truth" (John 14:6). Is He right? He has also said that He is the Son of God (Luke 22:70). Is that correct?

That is a question that each of us must answer for ourselves, which brings me back to my opening statement. There are two types of people in this world - those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God and those who don't.

What do YOU believe?

Did Jesus Really Claim To Be God? - Ravi Zacharias

Free Time

This story isn't about what you think it is. It's not about vacations or holiday time off. This story is about what you choose to do with the rest of your life. And the rest of eternity.

I watched a movie the other day entitled In Time starring Justin Timberlake. The image you see here is from that movie. Have you ever heard the phrase "time is money?" Well, that is REALLY the case in this movie.

Everybody has a readout on their forearm. It tells them how much time they have left before they die. And time literally is money as people have to give up some of their remaining time in order to buy things that they need.

"He required everyone - small and great, rich and poor, free and slave - to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. 17And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark," - Revelation 13:16-17

The movie perfectly represented this Revelation 13 concept of buying and selling using time as money, dispensed via the human arm.

What would we do if we had that feature added to our lives? I bet that we would be much more cautious about spending money if it shortened our very lives to spend it. And if we woke up one morning and, looking at our arm, discovered we only had 12 hours remaining to live. Or five. How would we live it?

The phone companies make a big deal about selling us unlimited minutes. There actually IS a way for us to get unlimited minutes added onto our "life clocks." Repent of our sins, be baptized by the Holy Spirit and believe that Jesus is who He said He was - the Son of the Living God. He was crucified, died and was buried. But then He rose from the dead!

In effect, Jesus freely gave us HIS minutes. Eternal life.

"And this is the way to have eternal life - to know you (God), the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth." - John 17:3

Time . . . is . . . running . . . out.

In Time Trailer

Bad Bananas

 

Today's inspirational story is provided by my wife. Her and some really bad bananas.

My wife is amazing. The things she creates in the kitchen are loved by many, especially at this time of year.

Today she is baking banana bread. But not for herself. As a gift for her co-workers.

Before she left work last week she notice to over-ripe bananas on the counter. "Those are NOT going to make it through the weekend," she thought. So she brought them home and let them get worse on OUR counter.

Yesterday morning she began making banana bread, which apparent requires bananas that have been rejected by many and left to be discarded at work. She is making banana bread out of them so she can take it to work as a delicious treat for them to enjoy.

Think about that for a moment. That act of taking something bad and making it good. Doesn't that sound like what God did for you and me? At one point in our lives we were ALL bad bananas. But God had mercy on us and turned us each into something special.

I watched my wife making her bread. She took a cup of flour out of the flour jar, measuring it just so. A little baking soda, sifted of course. a dash of salt and a stir. Then in went those ugly bananas. Soon to be made perfect in our oven.

What ingredients did God use to make you into the special treat that you are today? Perhaps it was a struggling relationship or an addiction of some kind. Maybe it was a hug from a stranger or a job that kept you away from your family.

God can change ALL that. He can take the bad and sad things in your life, mix them with love, and use them to create amazing things in His children.

My wife's banana bread is amazing! And so are you! Leave that ugly banana peel behind and allow God to mold you into who He wants you to be. You will be delicious!

"I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

5 Then the word of the Lord came to me. 6 He said, “Can I not do with you as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand." - Jeremiah 18:3-5

The Restrainer

In 2nd Thessalonians 2 the Bible speaks of a "Restrainer". Who is he? What does he do? When is he going to do it? And just what is he restraining?

"Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him," - 2 Thessalonians 2:1

Okay. It's about the Rapture of God's church - "the gathering together" to Him. Let's skip down to verse  three.

"Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness a is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God."

That's the Anti-Christ - the lawless one. Verse seven.

"For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way."

There he is - the restrainer - "the one who now holds it back." Verse seven also says that he will continue to restrain until God tells Him to stop.

Think about that for a moment. Why would the Holy Spirit be removed? He lives in each and every believer on earth! Why would God remove His Holy Spirit from us? Well, it's because we are no longer here. We have been gathered to Him as it said in verse one.

"And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness." - 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Wow. Verse 10 sounds like what's going on in the world right now. Large numbers of people are being deceived already. They are ripe for a leader of that same lawlessness to lead them. And they will love him and follow him . . . all the way to hell.

Read the beginning of verse three again.

"Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way,"

The world is being deceived right now. And it's not going to change. Not until Jesus returns anyway. He will remove His church. In Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians he said this:

"For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Thessalonians 5:9

Until our Lord returns, we need to be doing His work - evangelizing, loving others, and in all ways point to Him. That is who we are. That is what we have been called to do.

Who/What is the Restrainer?

One Voice

I am going to admit something to you right now that very few people know about. It's been a secret for nearly 40 years now and it's time to bring it out in the open. Are you ready? Well, you think you are but you're not. Lol!

My wife and I used to listen to Barry Manilow back in the 80's. There. I said it. We even went to one of his concerts. I remember that night very well because the Brewers were playing the Cardinals in Game 7 of the World Series. And there I was missing the game!

Last week I was on YouTube and I saw an old song of Barry's so I played it to give my wife some laughs. But as it played the lyrics caught my ear and the way the song was put together made me wonder what it might be like to be singing songs of worship in heaven one day.

It will be like a giant Zoom meeting, only everyone will be together!

Just one voice. Singing in the darkness. All it takes is one voice. Shout it out and let it ring

Just one voice. It takes that one voice. And everyone will sing!

"Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power for ever and ever!”

14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped." - Revelation 5:11-14

One voice! They worshiped and spoke as one. All worshipping Jesus, giving Him honor and glory and power forever and ever. We will all be doing that together one day, worshipping in one voice. Better get practicing in church on Sunday. We'll want to be in our best voice, our "one voice", when He returns.

One Voice - Barry Manilow

For Your Glory

I have an old Corvette jacket. It's been hanging in the living room closet for years. I got it back when I used to have a Corvette. The car's long gone but I can't seem to get rid of the jacket. And I think I know why.

You might ask, "Why would a Christian wear a jacket touting a clearly materialistic and worldly car?" Well, the answer is quite simple. It's a trap. Lol!

Back in the day, when people saw me wearing the jacket, they would invariably ask, "Got a Corvette, huh?" or "So, do you have a Corvette?" These days my answer is different from what it was back then. As Darth Vader would say, "All to easy."

"Yeah, I used to have a Corvette but I got rid of it."

"Why? It's such a cool car! I bet it was fun to drive."

"Yes, it was. Got her up to 125 once at Road America. Cornered like it was on rails. But then I read a book that changed my mind about owning it."

"Really, what was that?"

"The Bible. Two verses really. Matthew 25:40 & 45. Jesus was talking with His disciples and telling them who would be getting into heaven. This particular lesson came down to what we did or didn't do with ourselves while we were on earth."

“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." - Matthew 25:40

“Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ - Matthew 25:45

I thought about those verses for a while and then asked myself, "What am I doing with this car?" I could have taken the money that I spent on it and done something good for someone else rather than myself. So, I sold my Corvette and began using the money for other things, things that would glorify God, not me.

"Don't you miss it?" they usually ask. "Sometimes. But then I think about what Jesus did for me on the cross. There's no comparison."

So, if you see me wearing my Corvette jacket one day. please, ask me about it. I'd love to tell you the story about how Jesus saved MY life and tell you about how He can save yours.

No Longer Hidden

Looking out against a white backdrop of freshly-fallen snow makes it whole lot easier to see the deer walking through our back yard. If it wasn't for the snow, we'd have nothing for contrast. Everything would look the same.

The deer tend to blend in with the rest of their surroundings - the pine needles, the sand and the tree bark. They can be very hard to detect unless you know they are there. God designed them that way.

Unlike the deer, we Christians are NOT supposed to blend in with our surroundings. We are SUPPOSED to stand out. God designed us that way too.

"I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy." - Leviticus 11:44

"Holy" means set apart.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:2

We are not supposed to blend in with "the world". We are supposed to stand out. And just like the deer walking through our backyard, "standing out" makes them targets.

But the deer are smart. It's almost like they know the hunting laws. No discharging firearms within 500 feet of a house. THAT's why they hang out in our yard during hunting season!

The Levitical law from the time of Moses is not really there so we can try to live up to it. That's impossible. The law is there to make our sin stand out. And it SHOULD stand out. Otherwise we'd just keep on sinning; blending in the with world. The law is there so we can see that we have no hope, aside from God's grace and the death of Jesus on the cross and subsequent resurrection.

"I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, d dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!" - Revelation 1:12-16

Jesus

The Tribulation Survivor's Guide

So, I'm just putting this out there, you know, in case somebody needs it. Someday, somebody will. LOTS of people will. So I am writing this for that time, not for now.

The first thing that everybody's probably wondering is where did all of the people go that suddenly went missing? You can go back and read some of my other blog posts about that but it really doesn't matter anymore. We're gone, so let's move on.

You are going to have to face some hard facts. First and foremost, Jesus was who He said He was and all of the Christians have left the planet. Yep. You missed the boat. Why? Well, it's because you did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God. To have any chance at all during the next seven years you are going to have to change your mind about that. Just sayin'. Here's Roman's road to salvation.

• All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)
• The wages of sin is [eternal] death (Romans 6:23)
• The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23b)
• Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9)

Of course, when you do come to faith in Christ, things will REALLY get bad for you. You will most likely be killed but that's okay if you truly believe. If that is the case, and you are executed because of your new-found faith, we will see you soon. :)

But, in case you still don't believe, things still will gradually be getting worse for you anyway. The churches will be mostly empty. Oh, there will still be some "worshippers" there. A few pastors too. But they won't be much help. They obviously weren't much help before. They never really understood or preached the Gospel. The TRUE Gospel that is. Sin and repentance?

All the relief organizations will be in disarray. The majority of them will be gone. My advice to you would be to get to a food pantry ASAP. If you thought the toilet paper shortage was bad during the Covid-19 outbreak, you ain't seen nothing yet! Basswood leaves and corncobs work Cloth diapers if you can find water to wash them.

Watch the news. You won't be able to believe much of it (like before we left) but at least you will be able to see a popular man come to world power. He will appear to have all of the answers and solutions to everything. He'll offer peace. It all will sound great! Stay away from that guy! He will be nothing but bad news.

Instead, seek out other believers, if indeed you have come to believe in Christ. They will be a tremendous help to you. They will have access to food, clothing and shelter. They will become your new family.

You will also most likely need a firearm for protection. Yes, it will get THAT bad. The government will not allow them anymore "for your safety" but you'll still need one. Look in the houses of the people who disappeared. Your chances of finding a gun will be better there. Good luck finding the key to the gun safe though. Ha ha! Sorry. Funny, not funny.

Anyway, like I said, things will become steadily worse so prepare for that. Place your faith in Christ. He is your only hope. There IS a life beyond this one. Jesus guards the door to that life. Knock. It will be opened to you.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." - Matthew 7:7

That's about it I guess. Like I said, you've got seven years, max. Consider your choices. Keep in mind that ALL of your best choices thus far have gotten you to where you are right now. Think about that for a moment. You are where you are, right now, because you have trusted in yourself, the government and the media. You should have trusted in Jesus. You STILL can. So do it now! Otherwise, good luck! You'll need it!!

[I usually place an encouraging video here at the end of my story but most likely they have already been removed from YouTube by now. Instead, do you remember that song from Sunday school? Sing it with me now. "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong. They are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.]

Belong to Him.

Freely Give

We all like a good deal. My wife especially. She's an excellent shopper - always getting the best deals in stores. She came home from grocery shopping on Monday and said she'd saved $42 on food. That's a lot!

One thing I eat a lot of is Cheerios cereal. My wife knows that and when she sees a deal in the stores she pounces on it. This week she came home with six boxes of the stuff. "It was a deal," she explained. They were practically giving them away.

My wife doesn't really like my Cheerios. She'd rather eat her Special K. Still, she knows what I like and what I need and so she provides for me in her shopping.

God knows what we need as well. He too has provided for our every need. Not our "wants" like my Cheerios, but our needs. Our hearts are beating. Our lungs are breathing. Those are REAL needs.

Eventually though our hearts and lungs stop and we are faced with the possibility of death. Even in death though, God has provided for us. He has promised us a life AFTER this one. The only thing we have to do to get God's free gift it is to believe in His Son, Jesus.

The choice seems simple enough yet many people refuse. Why is that? Well, it's because of another free gift from God. Free will. God doesn't force us to believe. We have to come to decisions about our faith on our own. Well, sort of.

God already knows who will believe in His Son and who won't. God calls the believers to Himself. Those who receive that gift of eternal life are asked to spread the good news - The Gospel. AND to love one another.

"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give." - Matthew 10:8

We are to freely give of ourselves to a dying world. Why? In hopes that some might be saved. Our love is a calling card to the world from God Himself. Our prayer then is that those who have not yet placed their faith in Christ will do so, and be saved.

You see, OUR free gift that was given to us by God was NOT free to Him. His Son had to die for our sins in order for us to be able to obtain that free gift. Respect a God that would sacrifice so much we such a group of unfit sinners. THAT is love.

Ain't nothin' free. Someone must pay the price. Jesus paid it. We get the gift. That's why we go to church. To worship the giver of the gift.

Freely Freely - Sanctuary Choir

The Sound of War

"When Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting, he said to Moses, "There is the sound of war in the camp." - Genesis 32:17

Actually, what Joshua was talking about back then was the sound of God's people rebelling against God. I hear that same sound today as people are celebrating an apparent victory for themselves. It is a premature celebration.

The news media has declared Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election. The only problem with them doing that is that they have no authority. The 2020 presidential election is headed for the judicial system to decide who won and who lost. It might well be Joe Biden, but the media has jumped the gun.

The interesting thing about that passage of scripture from Genesis was that the people grew tired of waiting for Moses to come down from the mountain so they made their own gods and began to worship them. Bad decision.

Moses ultimately gave his people a choice.

"So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” - Genesis 32:26

Only the Levites came to Moses. The rest were stricken with a plague.

Does any of that sound familiar yet?

A time is coming when God will call the people to Himself. Only those who are in Christ will come. That's the rapture. The people that are left behind will face unbelievable torment on earth. That's known as the Tribulation. It will be worse for them than a man wearing a MAGA hat to an ANTIFA convention.

The time is short. It won't be long before Jesus returns for His church. After all of us Christians have gone home, the Holy Spirit will remove His restraint on the Antichrist and things will go down hill rather quickly for those who remain.

"Do you not remember that I told you these things while I was still with you? 6And you know what is now restraining him (The Antichrist), so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one who now restrains it (The Holy Spirit) will continue until he is taken out of the way. 8And then the lawless one (The Antichrist) will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival." - 2 Thessalonians 2:5-8

Stay strong, stay faithful. God's plan is working for our good and His glory. Amen.

Uncertain Times

As of this writing the results of the 2020 election are still uncertain. We live in a world FILLED with uncertainty! No joke!

Uncertainty feeds fear. We begin to hypothesis situations and think about them as if they were real. We become frightened. Fearful.

In this scene from the Joker movie, Joaquin Phoenix gave an excellent portrayal of a man living with a "condition". ALL of us are living with a condition. It's called sin.

What is sin? It is anything that goes against the will of God. Murder is sin, Lying is sin, shedding innocent blood is sin. Adultery is sin. Idolatry is sin.

I recently posted this verse on Facebook. It is as true today as it was when God spoke it through the psalmist.

"There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community." - Proverbs 6:16-19

Satan is just waiting to pounce if this election goes his way - the way of abortion and same-sex marriage, or global warming and The Green New Deal. He can't wait.

Recently Democratic governors across our country shut down business and churches. They issued mask mandates and often exceeded their authority in doing do. They acted contrary to written law and the supreme court in those states had to step in.

I heard this quote recently that I thought was good for what is happening in our country right now.

"When evil gets a chance to do something, it always overplays its hand." - Pastor Jack Hibbs, Calvary Chapel - Chino Hills, CA

That is SO true. If Biden is determined to be the winner of this "election" turned insurrection, we can be certain that things will change. For the worse.

Now is a time for prayer. We should have already been praying. We need to ramp it up because, if we don't, things are about to hit the fan and it's not going to be good.

However, there is always hope where God is concerned. This was from my reading yesterday morning.

"Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty." - Malachi 3:7

Let us fall on our knees and pray for our redemption is drawing near. THAT is certain.

The Bus Scene - Joker

God's Election

Did you stay up late to see who won the U.S. presidential election? Me neither. If you did you would have never slept because, as of this writing, we STILL don't know.

As I was watching state after state go blue and vote for Biden, one verse from scripture kept going through my heard. "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34). Lol!

Does it really matter who is president? Well, yes it does. He is the one that signs bills into law and chooses Supreme Court nominees. But it doesn't matter if the House and Senate are of the opposing party.

For the Christian, election has a different meaning. If you are a born-again believer in Jesus Christ, you are one of The Elect. The following is from GotQuestions.org

The biblical doctrine of election teaches that God chooses to save some, and, by necessity, if He does not choose everyone, then there are some who are passed over. Those whom He has chosen to save are referred to as “the elect.”

Just like we must accept the results of earthly elections, we must also accept who God has chosen as His Elect. Sometimes that means family and friends have NOT been chosen. That can be extremely hard to deal with.

Then why evangelize if God has already chosen who He will save? Good question. But consider this: How do we know whether or not God was going to use us to reach someone on His behalf? We don't. So evangelize!

We still don't know who won the 2020 presidential election in this country. But we do know that God is on His throne and no one comes to power without God's say-so.

'For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will- 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." - Ephesians 1:4-6

You are "in Christ", aren't you? If not, seek God out today! "The election" is almost over.

Did you notice the what the sign says on Biden's podium in the picture above? Take a look. It says, "BATTLE for the SOUL of the NATION." That it is my friends. That is is.

The Doctrine of Election

The Parable of The Chickadee

A cold, cruel world exists just outside the Hall house these days. The bird feeder is always pretty well stocked but our once active birdbath is now quite empty. Much to the chagrin of one forlorn little chickadee who was looking up at me this morning.

"Hey, there's no water in the birdbath! How do you expect me to take a drink? Fly all the way down to the creek?"

I felt kind of sorry for the little guy so I put on my coat and grabbed a bucket out of the garage. I put on my shoes and my coat and ventured outside in the 35mph wind to fill up his precious little watering hole.

When I arrived on the scene with a fresh supply of water there were a few pine needles frozen in the bottom of the bird bath. There was also a frustrated little chickadee sitting right next to me in the lilac bush - supervising the fill.

After I got back inside I looked out and saw my little chickadee friend taking a drink. He took a sip and then looked up at me. Another sip and another look in my direction. That's something this world could use a lot more of. Compassion. And thanks.

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." - Colossians 3:12

Later that day the bird bath in our yard was filled with birds - all drinking the water and taking baths. My wife and I love to watch our backyard birds so we feed them and give them water. They repay our kindness by simply being who they are.

I watched the following video in the evening as I prepared this story for you. There was a hand-written message offered at its conclusion. How right it is.

A simple act of caring creates an endless ripple - that comes back to you.

Compassion In Action

The Goats

This is the look that all of the goats get after the sheep in the barnyard get raptured. "I thought I was a sheep!" they'll say. "Nope," says Jesus.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left." - Matthew 25:31-33

You don't want to be a goat.

Goats are the non-believers and/or people who call themselves Christians but sadly find out that Jesus never knew them. They only THOUGHT they were Christians. Turns out they were goats. So what happens to the goats? Do they get to go some place special? Umm . . .

“Then he will say to those on his left (the goats), ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." - Matthew 25:41

Uh-oh.

I'm making light of this situation. It's really rather terrifying if Jesus deems you to be a goat. It is totally up to Him.

So, how can we make sure we're sheep rather than goats? The Bible is filled with examples.

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” - Matthew 25:45-46

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." - James 1:27

Have you been "polluted by the world'? Has your church?

"Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons." - 1 Timothy 4:1

A recent Barna survey revealed some amazingly scary statistics about us Christians. Or should I say us goats?

• 52% of evangelicals reject absolute moral truth.
• 61% of evangelicals do not read the Bible on a daily basis.
• 75% of evangelicals believe that people are basically good.
• 41% of mainline protestants, 43% of evangelicals, and 44% of Pentecostals and charismatics believe that Jesus sinned while He was on earth.

People, people, people! Read the Bible! Satan is fighting extra hard right now because he knows his time is short. Do NOT be a goat.

The following video is excellent. Watch it for more statistics and truth.

Apostacy Will Effect Voting

The Invisible Piñata

Have you ever tried hitting a piñata with a blindfold on? You have. And you probably never even knew it.

My grandson recently had a birthday party. As part of the celebration, his parents had strung up a piñata for all the kids to take a swing at.

They all took turns trying to hit it. It was great fun for both the kids and the adults who were watching and cheering them on.

It reminded me of a family reunion I attended once where we ALSO had a piñata, only my Uncle Bill blindfolded all the kids and had the piñata strung up on a rope with a pully. Every time on of the kids would take a swing my uncle would pull the piñata up out of the way. I'm not sure who was having more fun - the kids or my uncle.

Have you ever heard of phrase "spiritual warfare?" No? Really? Have you ever read the Book of Ephesians?

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." - Ephesians 6:12

What that means is that we are not fighting battles against Trump or against Biden. We are not battling against the Democrats, the Republicans, Antifa, BLM, no earthly army or movement. Read it again. We are battling against "spiritual forces of evil."

The scary thing about that is this. Most people don't even know they are in a war. They are already among the dead. They are not fighting, but following blindly. They are standing under the piñata, not swinging at it at all.

Have you seen the older kids swinging against the piñata? They reach out with the stick until they feel it, then they strike, and they strike quickly and firmly, confident of their target. Even though they cannot see the piñata, they know that it is there.

Want to read something scary?

"For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him." - Colossians 1:16

You and I are swinging at an invisible piñata these days. An invisible force, yet very real.

Did you ever wonder how so many people could believe that it's okay to kill unborn babies in the womb? It's an abomination to God! Why is it the law of our land? Because we as a nation are currently losing the battle. But have you seen what God is doing?

How did Donald Trump win in 2016? Why did he win? And look what Trump has done. Look what GOD has done! Three conservative justices appointed to the Supreme Court and 216 other federal judges, all appointed during Trump's term in office thus far.. God is fighting the battle that "we the people" have lost.

God is in control of both the visible and the invisible. He wants us to hit the piñata. But we need to know where it is first. Read the Bible. It tells you everything!

We are not battling against a virus or a political ideology right now. We are battling against Satan. We are in the fight of our lives. We need to open our eyes and swing!

"And Elisha prayed, "Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." - 2 Kings 6:17

Windows To The Soul

William Shakespeare once wrote that, "The eyes are the window to your soul." I think that's true. Tears then must be the means by which our souls empty out to God when we open those windows to Him.

Yesterday was the anniversary of a young girl's death in our community. She had beautiful eyes. Windows.

I am always reminded during this time just how fragile we humans are. How much we crave the love we all desire to feel. And how desperate we can become when our souls become troubled or weary.

When the burden becomes too great we tend to reach out to convenient things to make the pain stop - alcohol, drugs, a gun. a rope. All that remains after a pain-filled decision are the broken hearts of all the people that loved them.

Why do we never seem to turn to God during our darkest moments? Some of us do. That's why we our broken hearts are still beating.

In Biblical times, when people were greatly saddened, they tore their clothes as a sign of their despair. God had this message for those hurting hearts of old.

“‘ Even now,’ declares the LORD, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.’ Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” - Joel 2:12-13

I sent a message to a friend this week, for no reason other than she popped into my head. I was surprised to hear that this friend had just woken up from a terrible nightmare. Later I learned that my message, as well as messages from two other people, had arrived at the same time.

God uses people to comfort others. We have to remember that the next time a friend calls or we find ourselves struggling. That's what friends are for!

Just a few days ago, I saw the mom of the young lady I mentioned earlier. She too has beautiful eyes . . . windows . . . just like her daughter. My regret today is that I did not think to pray for her and her husband. I should have done so right then and there.

God can heal our broken and hurting hearts. We just have to provide the opportunity for Him to do so.

"The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble." - Psalm 9:9

The Problem With Judas

We always think of Judas as a betrayer, the one who "sold" out Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. But we tend to pass right by the fact that Jesus chose him to be one of The Twelve. Judas heard all of Jesus' teachings yet he still betrayed Him. Why? The answer is found in verse three of Luke.

"Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. 3Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present." - Luke 22:1-6

Judas was someone close to Jesus. He broke bread with Him, He was there when the woman broke the jar of perfume and poured it on Jesus. And that's where we get another clue into the problem with Judas. Judas questioned Jesus.

"But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages. b ” 6He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it." - John 12:4-6

Judas was "ripe for the picking" and Satan entered easily into the heart of Judas. There is a lesson to be learned here. Several actually.

Lesson #1 - As we learned in both of these accounts, even though we profess faith in Christ, it is still possible for sin, Satan, to enter in to our lives and our hearts.

Lesson #2 - How can "Satan enter in" unless the Holy Spirit leaves? This was God's will, that Jesus be betrayed and given over to be killed. We need to remember that at all times. God can, and will, allow certain things to happen in our lives to accomplish His will. Remember that and pray against it, just like Jesus did before He was crucified. At the same time though we must be willing to follow God's will. That's a hard one.

The biggest thing we can learn about Judas is that anyone can fall. Priests, pastors, popes, you and me, anyone.

So, how can we keep this from happening? I already mentioned prayer. The second thing we can do would be for us to fill our hearts with God's Word. To live our lives exhibiting God's love to those around us. That way there won't be ANY room for Satan to enter in.

The problem with Judas was that he allowed Satan to enter in. That CANNOT be the case with us!