Confirmation

When you were in 8th grade, did you go through Confirmation Class? I did. Well, this story isn't about that, so forget it. Lol! This story is a little different. It's about the confirmation of prayer.

A few Sundays ago our pastor suggested that we all get a prayer journal. Do you have one of those? He said to write down our prayers, but to also leave room for God's answers. I was going to wait until Thanksgiving to stary mine, but I may have to begin before that. And that's today's story.

My church is doing another youth group night in December. I already began a Bible study last month in anticipation. Yes, I'm pitiful. The couple who organizes the youth group said they want to head in an apologetics direction - teaching to kids to be able to defend their beliefs in an increasingly secular world. I'm all for that!

My study is going to be in the Book of 1st John. In it the apostle John highlights several characteristics of a Christian's life. So we're having a scavenger hunt in his book. It's only five short chapters. Here's an example of what we will be looking for.

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:7-8

Well, this past Sunday in church we had the first announcement for our second Youth Group Night. Let the confirmations begin!

Our church is going through the Book of Romans right now. We're in chapter 1, just getting into "God's wrath." During our pastor's message he referred a verse from 1st John. The one above.

"Well, he just gave away one of my scavenger hunt verses," I thought. But wait, there's more.

I am going to use the following verse to open the study. It's from the Book of James.

"You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe - and tremble!" - James 2:19

The question then becomes,  "What makes us different from the demons?"

I was searching for a verse to answer that question but hadn't found it yet. Until God provided.

About halfway through our pastor's message, this gem came out.

"For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened." - Romans 1:21

Bingo! Isn't that the difference between us and the demons? The demons are afraid of God. We love God and give honor and glory and praise! The demons hate. We love. As John said in his epistle to the churches . . .

"There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love. ¹⁹We love because He first loved us." - 1 John 4:18-19

There's ANOTHER scavenger hunt answer!

The Bible study is now complete! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Antipas

“I know where you live, where the throne of Satan sits. Yet you hold fast to My name, and you did not deny your faith in Me, even in the days of Antipas, My faithful witness, who was put to death in your city - where Satan dwells.” - Revelation 2:13

Those are the words of Jesus. He was telling the Apostle John about the church in Pergamum and also about a man named Antipas. So, who was he? And why would Jesus mention him by name?

Well, Antipas was the head of the church in Pergamum and a devout follower of Jesus. And, as Jesus said, he was put to death because of his faith. He was burned to death inside a bronze statue of a bull. Ouch!

Those Romans came up with some pretty nasty ways to kill people. They were "inventors of evil" (Romans 1:30).

He was martyred around either AD 68 or 92. The Catholic Church made him a saint and apparently you can pray to him if you have a toothache. I kid you not. There's some other weird stuff about Antipas and the Catholic Church but that's enough for now.

The thing we need to learn from Antipas is not that he was a first-century "dentist." It was his strong faith that got the attention of Jesus. That begs the question, how strong is OUR faith?

We can say that we would stand firm in our struggles and in our faith, but when things get super bad would we eventually giveup? Would we fold? Hard to say. Antipas did not give up. But maybe that should be our prayer today.

Heavenly Father, increase the strength of our faith. Do not allow us to cave in to the ways of this world. Instead, let us glorify your holy name with our every breath, until we breathe our last like Antipas did. Remember OUR name Lord. In the merciful your name of your Son we pray. Amen.

Peace Peace

Take a look around. People are outside walking their dog. They are driving into town to get their coffee. Everything SEEMS peaceful . . . on the surface. But it's the storms that we DON'T see that can often cause the most damage.

"Peace, peace; when there is no peace." - Jeremiah 6:14

The peace I am referring to is NOT found in the lack of war. Yet life CAN BE a battle sometimes. But do you have peace in your heart?

We all have people in our lives who are struggling. They're hurting. Yet most continue on, battling in their pain day after day. Why? Haven't they heard what Jesus has to offer?

"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

Do you think Jesus worries about anything? I don't. God is all powerful. He knows everything. He knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10).

So, what kind of peace does Jesus have? I'm thinking it's a total, complete peace about absolutely everything. And He's offering that to us!

I heard someone say that "worrying is believing that God can't handle it." I think that's just about right. So, why can't we ever let things go? Why is it so hard?

Pride? The desire to do things ourselves?

It's a simple choice. Struggle through on our own or let go and let God. The choice is ours to make. What will we choose today?

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7

A Gift From God

It was one of those incredibly yucky days, weatherwise. 32°, rain, snow, sleet, wind. And all of them seemed to be hitting me in the face, no matter which way I turned. So, why do I feel so warm inside?

It all started Monday afternoon, before all of the yuck arrived. I met with a friend and we talked for three hours. Then on Tuesday I met with THREE friends. Are you beginning to see the reason for the warmth in my heart?

Good friends are amazing. They are gifts from God really. It all starts with this verse:

"Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." - 1 John 4:7-8

The word "beloved" here indicates that John is writing to fellow believers in the various churches he watched over. At the time John wrote this epistle most figure he was in Ephesus but it was not written to a specific church.

The point I'm getting to is based on the "God is love" part. I believe that believers experience a deeper love because of God's Holy Spirit that dwells in us. We literally have love IN us. How can some of that love not spill out into the world, simply by our being in it?

When we meet with our believing friends, aren't our conversations always more loving? More focused on God?

God provides many things for us in these lives that we live - air to breathe, food to eat, skills to earn a living. But the greatest gift is His Holy Spirit and, as a result, the ability to, and the joy of, loving others.

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:13

I'm Going To Be a Priest?

I think I'm going to be a priest! Before you say anything, so are you, Christian.

"Worthy are You (Jesus) to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation (that's us).

¹⁰You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.” - Revelation 5:9-10

Did you catch that part in Verse 10 where it says that Jesus made us priests? It's true - confirmed by multiple sources (my John MacArthur Study Bible and GotQuestions.Org).

So, what do we do with that? Number one, bow in humble respect, that God would give us such a responsibility. And secondly, I'd better start acting the part. I need some training. I HAVE already written a bunch of sermons . . . in this blog. Lol!) But I think that humilty and responsibility are the key words ro remember. As Peter said . . .

“You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. . . . But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” - 1 Peter 2:5–9

So what should we do until we become heavenly priests? Practice. Practice. Practice. Love. Love. Love.

The Thing About Love

Today's story is all about love, and . . . the problems it can create. Let's start out in "a perfect world." In my opinion, this is how we will experience love when we get to heaven. Let's begin with "The Love Chapter," 1st Corinthians 13 - a description.

"⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ⁸Love never fails." - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

That sounds pretty good to me. Unfortunately, right now, we do NOT live in a perfect world so can we truly find that perfect love? Yes, but only in one place. Jesus.

"Nobody is perfect," so the saying goes. Except Jesus of course. That beings me to a theory of mine, and today's story. If we Christians truly follow Christ, and obey His commands, shouldn't our earthy relationships be perfect?

We all sought, or are seeking, that "perfect" someone to spend the rest of our lives with. We soon discover that we, and they, are not perfect. So, what do we do? What's the answer? Two things.

First, we should NOT become unequally yoked. In otherwords, don't get into a relationship with someone who is not a believer. It sounds like a small thing perhaps but if our spouses are not believers, our relationships are already doomed, in this life and the next.

Secondly, love unconditionally. This is 'agape' love. It is a sacrificial, Ephesians 5 love. And we should do this realizing that no one in an earthly relationship is perfect. All of these instructions (commands) are in the Bible.

"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers." - 2 Corinthians 6:14

"Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." - John 13:34

The love Jesus has for us is perfect. It is sacrificial (He already died for us). And His love will NEVER leave us.

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” - Hebrews 13:5

So, what happens if we have no one to love right now? What do we do then? First, learn to be content. If it is God's will that you remain single, submit to that. But if not, fear not. God will provide.

"There is no fear in love, for perfect love casts out fear." - 1 John 4:18

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." - Matthew 6:33

We all desire to be loved. And we are! But our FIRST love must be God. We cannot forget about Jesus when searching for love in this place. Find another believer and grow closer to Jesus, together.❤

"You have abandoned the love you had at first." - Revelation 2:4

According To You

Jesus healed many people in His 3-year ministry here as "God among us." He also brought the dead back to life. So, why then did the blind man in Mark 8 not receive his full sight right away?

"And he (the blind man) looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” - Mark 8:24

Jesus then went on to fully restore the blind man's sight. But the blind man was not totally healed initially. Why not?

As it is said, "The Bible proves The Bible." Here's another passage about Jesus healing the blind.

"As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”

²⁸When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

“Yes, Lord,” they replied.

²⁹Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; ³⁰and their sight was restored." - Matthew 9:27-30

"According to your faith."

It kind of sounds like the blind man in our opening verse didn't have a complete 100% faith. Only a partial faith.

Here's another example of this. A man came to Jesus with his son who was demon-posessed and asked . . .

"If You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

²³Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

²⁴Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” - Mark 9:22-24

Do we have faith enough to be healed? Or is our faith merely superficial? Do we go to church on Sunday only out of obligation? Or do we attend out of 100% faith and worship God? The latter faith is the faith that God seeks from us. What kind of faith do WE have?

O, SNAP

Most likely, I am going to get in trouble for writing this story. People will say, "How uncaring!" or "Does he think people should starve to death?"

No. But I would hope that people would consider what the Bible teaches. More on that in a bit.

I watched a bird trying to get a drink out of our frozen bird bath the other day. It tried a few times, pecking at the ice, before it flew away. What a perfect example of what SHOULD be happening after our government's latest shutdown. When the bird couldn't get water at the usual place, it went sonewhere else.

The United States Congress cannot seem to agree on a budget so it has shut itself down. Largely, I welcome this news. Less government is wonderful IMHO! Yet there are certain ramifications that come with rhe shutdown.

For example, people hoping to catch a plane for Thanksgiving are now wondering if they will even have a flight at all. Air traffic controllers are not being paid because Congress cannot agree. How long would YOU work for free? It's been over a month for them.

And how about all of the people on food stamps, now called SNAP (Suplimental Nutrition Assistance Program). Here's what SNAP does:

SNAP helps low-income working people, senior citizens, the disabled and others feed their families," the agency states on its website. "Eligibility and benefit levels are based on household size, income and other factors."

42 million Americans rely on the program. Not to mention quite a few illegal immigrants. Part of the reason Congress can't agree.

And now for some scripture.

"For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” - 2 Thessalonians 3:10

Now, I know that there are those who can't work due to some disability. But for those who are able to work, why aren't you working?

I don't know about you, but if I was facing a shortfall in cash for the month, there would be two choices - cut expenses or increase income. Cancel Netflix and get a second job.

And where is the church in all of this? They are out there, helping. My wife just made a donation to her church's food bank. One of the volunteers told her that there were a lot more "clients" this month compared to last month.

One of my favorite verses in the Book of Acts is about The Church.

"And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need." - Acts 2:45

The Church has been helping it's members for 2,000 years. There are food banks in most communities. Friends and families. Make due and contact your members of Congress and tell them to quit fighting with each other and do what they were hired to do, without hurting the people who hired them. Elections have consequences. So does not choosing to follow Jesus.

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. ³⁰And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." - Matthew 10:29-31

The Elect

We just watched something happen in New York City that may be the beginning of something very prophetic in nature - the election of Zohran Mamdani as its mayor. Mamdani is a young, charismatic, anti-Israel Muslim and he was elected handily by the left-leaning city.

The Bible speaks of Babylon, a great city, doomed to destruction. Could NYC be biblical Babylon? Keep your eyes open and read Revelation 18 (link at bottom).

Today I am writing about another kind of election though - "The Elect" of God. Who exactly are these people? Let's find out by opening our Bibles to Ephesians 1.

"He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love ⁵He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ." - Ephesians 1:4-5

Let us bow our heads in humble submission, for WE, my brothers and sisters in Christ, are "the elect."

Let that sink in for a minute or two. God chose us before the world even existed. Is God omnipotent or what?!

If you are a born-again child of God, you are one of the elect. That knowledge carries with it a certain amount of weight and responsibility. Honor and humility also.

So, what do we do with our "elect status" in Christ Jesus our Lord?

We should act like it! Act like Jesus! Love everyone we meet. Pray for those who need healing. Have compassion for those who are hurting. Reach out to the lost on behalf of Jesus. Share the Gospel with others. Give to one another as there is a need.

Speaking of the Tribulation, Jesus said this:

“If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened." - Matthew 24:22

Mr. Mamdani, it appears, is not one of the elect, based on his Islamic faith. Our New York City brothers and sisters should be watchful, and follow God alone in their obedience. We must pray.

Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) asked something veru revealing about socialism / communism this week.

"When the Berlin wall fell, which side did the people run to?"

Who Are The Elect of God? - GotQuestions.org

Revelation 18

What Why How?

"Apologetics is knowing what we believe, why we believe it, and being able to effectively communicate it to others." - Voddie Baucham

But HOW do we communicate it? Good question.

First, we must KNOW WHAT we believe. And HOW do we do that? We read the Bible. We study it. We find a good, Bible-believing church, with a great teaching pastor and attend every Sunday.

"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." - 1 Peter 3:15

We must also be ready. Another important, and often overlooked, part of this verse is "to everyone who asks." That said, what do we say? Do we have our testimony prepared to give? And what actually gives us hope?

The answer to that question is Jesus. It has to be. He sacrificed his own life here on earth for our sins so that we could be with him in heaven. We have hope for a future beyong this world!

But what else? What is missing?

I think love plays a big part. "Love your neighbor," as Jesus says. And as Paul tells us, in just one simple verse. But what a verse!

"So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:13

Our faith gives us hope. Sharing that hope is simply an act of love for the lost.

Consumption

Have you ever heard the phrase, "You are what you eat"? It's supposed to apply to our bad eating habits. For example, if all you eat are Twinkies, you will eventually become one. Not really, but you know what I mean. The point of the phrase is, if you want to be healthy, eat healthy things.

This phrase extends WAY beyond our diet though. Our phones are a perfect example of this. We can spend a WHOLE lot of time on those things. I am guilty of that. If we really think about it, are we not merely entertaining ourselves because we're bored?

Another "branch" in this Y.A.W.Y.E. character study is the music we listen to. I have written here before about songs that fill the head throughout the day (and night). What we consume tends to fill us.

Our belief in Jesus is the same.

"I am the bread of life." - John 6:48

Jesus then went on to say that we must "consume" HIM.

"Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. ⁵⁵For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. ⁵⁶Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them." - John 6:53-56

Jesus is telling us to CONSUME who He is. To copy Him. This practice is carried out during communion in our churches.

"And He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁰And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood." - Luke 22:19-20

Paul later confirmed this, using a phrase attributed to Epimenides of Crete while speaking in the Areopagus in Athens.

"In him we live and move and have our being." - Acts 17:28

We are what we eat. We become what we consume. May I suggest that we put down our phones and pick up our Bibles? Let us consume God's word. Live it. Move in it. And let us become who God wants us to be - His.

What consumes YOU?

Selective Hearing

They sit in fancy boardrooms, making decisions about what news stories that you and I see or read. This happens all over the world at both a national and local level.

How many people are in these meetings? Eight, ten, twelve? It varies, I'm sure.

Consider what "news" they feed us. Trump's ballroom is a big one. Mamdani's impending victory in the NYC mayor's race. Oh, and then there's Gaza and Ukraine, and the occasional natural disaster like Hurricane Melissa. And SOME stories we NEVER hear.

For example, has anyone seen on the nightly news a story about 7,000 Christians being killed in Nigeria since the beginning of the year? No? Hmm. That's strange. That would seem to be a rather large story. Yet, not much has been heard about it? Why not?

Because a small group of people has deemed the story unworthy compared to other "news" of the day. And why was that? Personal opinion vs actual newsworthiness. Or a political agenda vs actual truth.

In the last presidential election CBS "News" edited an interview to create a more favorable outcome. They were sued and they settled. It cost them $16 million. ABC "news" also settled a similar law suit for $15 million.

So, who can be trusted to speak the truth anymore? No one, in my opinion. No one except God Himself.

"The Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind." - 1 Samuel 15:29

"God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should repent; has He said and will He not do it? Or has He spoken and will He not make it good?" - Numbers 23:19

Turn off the news. Read the Bible. It is the only source of truth to be found. Examine everything else and measure it against the truth of His Word and you will do well.

"The Voice of Truth tells me a different story." - Casting Crowns

Please play for our brothers and sisters in Nigeria.

"The truth shall set you free." - Jesus (John 8:32)

 

7,000 Christians Killed - Newsweek

Voice of Truth - Casting Crowns

Terminal Narcolepsy

Do you have trouble sleeping at night? Try reading one of my stories. It'll knock you right out! Sadly, today's story is about falling asleep, but because we can't help it.

Have you ever taken an accidental nap? You know. You're sitting in your comfy living room chair and you're watching the Packers game. Suddenly you wake up and the game's over.

"Did you have a nice nap?" your spouse asks. You wipe the drool off your lip and try to pretend that you're awake. Jesus' disciples had that very same problem.

"Then He (Jesus) returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter." - Matthew 26:40

I can imagine the Disciples got VERY tired, trying to keep up with Jesus and His ministry schedule. Walking everywhere, serving meals of fish and bread to 5,000 men, etc. Plus being persecuted everywhere they went.

There is a different type of "narcolepsy" that has crept into our world in these last days. Even into our churches. We are being lulled to sleep by Satan and his schemes. Just look at the world around us.

Lawlessness, wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, the murder of innocent lives, sexual perversions, deceptions, idolatry, I could go on and on. And many of these things have so invaded our society that they have woven their way into our laws. Even into The Church!

It is just as Jesus asked, "Couldn't we keep watch for even one hour?" Apparently not. So, what do we do? Jesus tells us.

“Watch out that no one deceives you." - Matthew 24:4

Too late. The world has already been deceived. So, now what? There is only one hope. His name is Jesus.

Yes, Jesus died. He was crucified. The same thing happend to many Christians in Jesus' day. The difference, and it is a HUGE difference, is that Jesus rose from the dead.

Yes, there are other examples of this happening to others in the Bible. Lazarus, for example. Only God has the power to raise the dead.

We Christians believe that Jesus IS God, along with God The Father and The Holy Spirit. Consider closely these words from Jesus.

"The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life - only to take it up again. ¹⁸No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” - John 10:17-18

Have we laid down OUR lives for Jesus? Have we left our life of sin and turned to Jesus, our blessed hope, to have it raised again?

This is not a time to be sleeping. Rather, it is a time to be waking others up,  in Jesus' name. So get up and get out there!

“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” - Ephesians 5:14

Throughout the Bible, God has ALWAYS left a remnant of believers, through persecutions, sickness, strife, and war. I encourage you today . . . become part of today's remnant. Believe in Jesus.

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” - Acts 4:12

Birds of a Feather

There are many signs that the season is changing, especially fall. Temperature chages and leaves changing color (I wrote about that last time) are just one. Here's another sign. I almost ran into one last week!

Flocks of starlings gather during this time of year. The flocks can get so large that they can sometimes seem to come alive as a dark undulating cloud. This is called a murmur, or murmuration. The birds do this as they gather to roost for the night.

"Will somebody just land already? I'm getting tired!"

These murmurs bring to mind a question. How do these birds not collide with one another? Why are there not dead birds covering the ground?

It's a God thing.

You can also see this behavior in large schools of fish, darting here and there to avoid predators. There IS safety in numbers.

Have you ever been in a large stadium and someone, somewhere, starts "the wave?" Synchronized standing and sitting creates the illusion of a human "wave" circling the field.

If you trace these events back to their beginning, they all start with a single bird taking flight, or a single human directing the "standing up." There is a beginning and therefore an ending. Carried to their very inception, each on them has a creator. A thought.

There are several biblical analogies to behold in the example of a murmur.

"In the beginning," God created Adam, right? Out of one man the world's population has now increased to 8.2 billion inhabitants. If we all jumped at the same time, what would happen?

When God spoke to Abraham, He  said, “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing." - Genesis 12:2

By the end of the Book of Genesis (Exodus 1) the Israelites were a murmur unto themselves.

"The Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them." - Exodus 1:7

When Joshua and the Israelites conquered Jericho they all marched around the city then siddenly shouted. The city walls collapsed (Joshua 5:13 - 6:27).

A time is coming, and it is coming soon, when all God's children will be taking flight, just like those starlings. It will happen "in the twinkling of the eye" as Paul told the church is in Thessalonica. We will be like starlings in our coordinated flight up to be with Jesus.

"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Let's murmur!

Starling Murmur

Warm Up!

It's beginning to get a little cool up here in Central Wisconsin. It was 30° when I woke up this morning! And as I look outside, the leaves on our maple tree have almost completely fallen off. Another sign of what is to come. Winter.

Today I will be gathering kindling for the upcoming winter fireplace season. Another sign of fall - the first smoke coming out of chimneys around the neighborhood. My wife and I enjoy the changing seasons, but we also like to stay warm.

The air temperature isn't the only thing that's "growing cold." Have you seen the news lately? There is so much hatred in the world right now. It's almost unbelievable.

"At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another, ¹¹and many false prophets will arise and deceive many.

¹²Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. ¹³But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved." - Matthew 24:10-13

This morning I encourage you to persevere. Spend time with those who love you. Linger after church tomorrow and encourage your fellow believers. Love is the wood for the fire that keeps us warm. And Jesus is the spark that ignites it.

Look at The Fields!

There are numerous verses in the Bible which refer to a time of harvest. And although barley and grape harvests are also spoken of, the crop that is usually mentioned the most is the wheat harvest.

We first hear about this in the Gospels.

"Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest." - John 4:35

Jesus also spoke of a need for workers saying, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." - Luke 10:2. Why such a need?

The problem is us. And Satan.

There is a saying in the church that "80% of the work is done by 20% of the people." I think that is true.

There also seems to be a lack of hikers on the way to The Promised Land. Jesus told us about that shortage in the Book of Matthew.

"But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." - Matthew 7:14

The road is narrow because there is no need for it to be wider, due to the small number of travelers.

Why so few?

Like I said, the problem is us. And Satan. He is very good at what he does. Distraction, procrastination, pride, self. And we are very bad at repentance and obedience. We can see an example of this in Matthew.

"Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 19:23

Then, in verse 25, the disciples asked, "Who then can be saved?"

Good question.

Jesus then goes on to give the reason that so few will enter The Kingdom of Heaven.

“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” - Matthew 19:26

So, the problem is us. We need to have God. We need to spiritually "sell all we have" and surrender to God in our inability to accomplish salvation on our own.

This cannot be accomplished by our volunteering more at church or in the community. It is accomplished in our hearts. We must be willing to give Jesus everything. EVERYTHING.

Easy to say. Hard to do.

We done HAVE TO go to church. It should be our desire to do so. Same with serving others. It should be in our nature to do so, not forcibly given. That's why God tells us that, "I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." - Hosea 6:6

The workers are few and harvest time is approaching. Time to get to work!

I Surrender All - Robin Mark

The Ordinary World

The problem with many Christians today is this: until one has experienced Jesus and His Holy Spirit, it's hard for them to understand that there is more to their faith. I mean, why should someone trust what we tell them about Jesus unless they can experience it for themselves. Witness it being lived out in OUR lives.

I woke up at 2:20 am with another song in my head. Hmm. I wonder. Is there something I should be writing about?

This song was about lost love and the writer was lamenting about a relationship that is now gone. But pride prevented him from finding his true love - Jesus. He just wanted an "ordinary world."

I won't cry for yesterday

There's an ordinary world

Somehow I have to find

And as I try to make my way

To the ordinary world

I will learn to survive

If he only knew what awaits him. He longs to have his ordinary world instead of an extraordinary world that he cannot see.

Why merely survive, when you can thrive!?

For most of my life I thought I knew who Jesus was. However, I did not really KNOW him. Not like I do know. And I am STILL getting to know him. But it is a deeper and more meaningful relationship than it ever was when I THOUGHT I knew him.

"Seek Him and you WILL find Him, when you seek Him with all your heart." - Jeremiah 29:13 (Bob's paraphrase)

"Take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. ¹⁸But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." - 2 Peter 3:17-18

An extraordinary world awaits those who seek Him with all their hearts. Have YOU found Him yet? Are you sure?

Ordinary World - Red

Trust

God can bless us in very unexpected ways sometimes. Like this past Sunday in church for example.

A young mom and her daughter approached me before the service and asked, "Can my daughter sit with you during church? I volunteered for nursery duty and my husband had to stay at home to fix our well."

The mom then told me that earlier, when she was wondering what to do with her daughter, her daughter spoke up and said, "Why can't I just sit with Bob? He's one of Daddy's friends."

How could I say no now? So, there we sat, an old man and his 6-year old friend.

During the pastor's message she was very well behaved, coloring in a little book she had brought with her. That is, until she began tearing pages out of it.

After the service was done we both went to the nursery. There was her mom helping other moms with their kids.

Then my little friend said, "Here. This is for you," and she handed me one of those torn out pages. It was a hand-drawn picture of a little girl (I assumed it was her) and a chicken.

"Oh, thank you!"

She then proceeded to give pictures to others as they came out of the nursery. Aww. How cute!

Then she said to me, "There's something on the back."

(See picture above)

What a blessing! Think about it. Here was a mom who felt confident enough in me that she would entrust her older daughter, six, into my care. Wow. And here was a daughter who spent her time in church that day thinking about, and creating gifts for, others. These ladies reminding me of another woman I once read about.

"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. ²⁶She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. ²⁷She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. ²⁸Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ²⁹“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” ³⁰Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. ³¹Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate." - Proverbs 31:25-31

Take A Stand

Look at these two young men. They look different, yet they are the same, yet they are different. Confused yet? Let's clear things up.

Both men played for the same baseball team (LA/Brooklyn Dodgers) in the 50's and 60's. Both men were pitchers and played in multiple World Series games, winning several championships.

Their differences? The guy on the left, Don Drysdale, was a right-handed pitcher and the guy on the right, Sandy Koufax, was a lefty.

There is another little known difference between the two - Sandy Koufax was Jewish and his faith has everything to do with today's story. This is from William Choslovsky, JNS News:

"60 years ago on Oct. 7, 1965, that Koufax, a Jew, sat out game one of the World Series because it was Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar."

What? He was the best pitcher on the team and he opted out of starting game Game 1 of the World Series? Yes. Because of his faith in God.

Koufax went on the pitch two shutout games in the series that year and the Dodgers became league champions.

That makes me ask myself, "What are MY priorities when it comes to worshiping God?

"I didn't go to church on Sunday because the Packers were playing at Lambeau and I had to set up for the tailgate party."

"We would have been there but Johnny had a baseball tournament."

"I was scheduled to work that weekend."

"We were on vacation."

What will our excuse be next time? Sandy Koufax probably missed many trips to the synagogue on the Sabbath due to his baseball schedule, but he chose not to miss the holiest day of the year. That says something. It speaks to his life's priorities.

What are OUR priorities? 🤔

“The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present a food offering to the Lord. ²⁸Do not do any work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the Lord your God." - Leviticus 23:27-28

Sandy Koufax Story - JNS News

Self Betrayal

"The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, ²⁴and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁵In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes." - 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

That's the typical passage of scripture that churches us when they take communion. But the last time our church did this, our pastor pointed out something interesting. Verse 23 above says "on the night he was betrayed." One of the men Jesus was praying with and breaking bread with that night, had betrayed him, and the other 11 would deny they even knew him before the day was done.

Our pastor encouraged us to pray for those who have betrayed us. Question: Has anyone ever betrayed you? I'm sure there are a few for everyone.

I began to make my mental list of the betrayers in MY life, but then I stopped and thought, "What about me? Haven't I also betrayed God through my sin? Haven't I betrayed myself?"

Ooo. Ouch. That was pretty humbling, and that was just how I prayed. A different kind of prayer comes out when you think of yourself as a type of Judas.

Does God look at us as "a Judas?" "A blasphemer?" Yes, He would - without the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf. I personally am SO grateful for Jesus and what He did! We ALL should be.

"We ALL sin and fall short of the glory of God." - Romans 3:23

"We ALL sin," the Bible says.

Quite rightly, those following Jesus once asked Him, "Who then can be saved?"

"Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”- Luke 18:26-27

The world tells us to "forgive ourselves" for the sins we have committed. According to verse 7 that we just read, that is impossible. Maybe it is IN OUR OWN EYES but not in God's. However, God HAS provided a way for us to be totally forgiven. His Son, Jesus.

If one scrolls back up and reads that opening passage again, it kind of makes us want to eat some bread and drink some wine, and pray, as we remember what Jesus did for us.

"As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." - Psalm 103:12

Peace?

The day is Thursday as I am writing this. Everyone is talking about the new peace deal between Hamas and Israel. Trump has announced that he will be flying to Israel for a signing ceremony. The people of Israel are already celebrating in the streets.

If all this indeed comes to pass it will be absolutely wonderful. However . . . let me show you something.

‘"Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace." - Jeremiah 6:14

There will never be a lasting peace until Jesus sets up His millenial kingdom. We have become distracted by the very thing we have been praying for.

What crosses my mind about this is not good. Isn't this a perfect opportunity for Iran to strike both of its enemies at the same time? Trump and Netanyahu BOTH will be in the Knesset on Monday. Iran must be salivating loke a dog waiting for its dinner.

Of course, it's possible that nothing will happen, and probably won't, but think about the possible dangers in this.

I am reading through Ezekiel right now, speaking of things that could happen. It's not very comforting.

"You will look for peace, but there will be none." - Ezekiel 7:25

I do not trust Hamas. I don't think that Israel does either. The only reason that Hamas agreed to the ceasefire is because Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey told them to or they would not back them in the future.

This war is not over.

As Christians though, we still have hope. This is not our home. We look forward to the day when our Lord and Savior returns and DOES set up a lasting peace.

In my opinion, NONE of the people in this whole peace thing knows Jesus. And that includes our president. Yes, I cannot tell what's on someone's heart, but I am a certified Matthew 7 "fruit inspector."

"Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." - Matthew 7:17-20.

As the song says, "In Christ alone, my hope is found."

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My comforter, my all in all

Here in the love of Christ I stand

A Time For War?

"A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace." - Ecclesiastes 3:11

Right now, negotiations are taking place in the Middle East to end the war in Gaza. It seems as if the entire world is against Israel, doesn't it? And that is the way God intended it to be. But that war is insignificant to what is brewing elsewhere and in the future.

If we zoom out from the Middle East it's not long before we can see Ukraine and Russia. They too are in the midst of a war.

Keep zooming out and we can soon see the NATO countries. And China. And North Korea. There are plenty of antagonists out there. And plenty of egos to satisfy.

Trump has had some success at stopping small wars but he will not have success with Russia, nor China. This is just my opinion. "Change my mind," as Charlie Kirk used to say.

Russia has already "accidentally" flown drones into Poland and Denmark. Three Russian war planes entered Estonia's airspace. Putin is testing Nato's reaction. Even NORAD had to scramble some planes to intercept Russian jets that were approaching Alaska.

Jesus tells us in the Bible (Matthew 24) that a BIG war is coming. There are also other references in Ezekiel and Revelation. It's going to be bad. Very bad.

"For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now - and never to be equaled again." - Matthew 24:25

We who confess faith in Jesus do not need to concern ourselves with this. We should be gone from here by then. Time will tell.

Christians have hope. The rest of the world does not. And that's sad. Many of those we know and love are not going to make it. Though we try to tell them, they don't have ears to hear.

For the Christian, this is a very interesting time. We are seeing the Bible coming to life as we wait for Jesus. But God did not give us a Spirit of fear. As Jan Markell always says, "Things are not falling apart, they are falling into place."

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control." - 2 Timothy 1:7

So, be encouraged! We are not of this world. We are IN it, but not OF it. Our hope is in God.

There is a single Hebrew word that means "the Lord saves." That word is 'yeshua.' In English-speaking bibles and languages we use the word Jesus in it's place. It also translates as Joshua.

"She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” - Matthew 1:21

The point being that Jesus saves. His death and resurrection saved us from our sins. Would he not also save us from the coming wrath of the Lord God Almighty? I believe He would.

Russian Drone Flights - AP

Youth Group 3.0

Well, here we go again.

Shortly after coming to faith in Christ 19 years ago, I joined a youth group as one of the adult leaders. That was an absolute blast. It became rather clear to me that I had found my calling. Sadly, the teachings of that church strayed from God's Word so I departed "with weeping and gnashing of teeth."

God provided a new wonderful church to pour myself into, which I did. Another youth group and many more teens to love and minister to. That was an amazing time of doing what I felt God had wanted me to do. But then the lead pastor left and the new replacement pastor led the church in a different direction. Many people left that church, including me.

Again, God provided a new church, my current church home. The teaching is excellent. Right out of the Bible. Just what I was looking for. However, there was no youth group. No opportunity to serve as a youth leader. That was fine with me.

But then the church began a Vacation Bible School program. I joined that and was made a teacher. I absolutely love serving the Lord in that capacity. However, VBS only lasts one week. Still I was okay with that. I love the people AND the teaching.

Recently however, I felt led to create a young men's Bible study on Biblical Manhood. I've written about that before in this blog. Near it's completion, I approached the pastor and offered it to him. That's when God's plan began to show itself.

He told me that two of our parents had asked to start a youth group at our church and wondered if I would be interested in being the teacher. Hmm. What do YOU think I said? Lol!

[pause]

Think about this now. Within two weeks' time, three people approached the pastor about starting a youth group / bible study. I'm beginning to think that God wants us to pour into the lives of some teens in our church, in His name.🤔 Well, that is happening October 24th.

I'm just a little excited to see what God will be doing.🙂

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

"Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord." - Psalm 24:11

You Decide

I am currently writing a Bible study for our church's new youth group. It features three biblical teens - David, Mary, and . . . Manasseh? Who is Manasseh? And why him?

David and Mary we know. David was "a man after God's own heart." And Mary, well, she was the mother of Jesus so, you know . . . yeah.

Manasseh was King Hezekiah's son. He became king of Judah when he was 12. He was also in the lineage of Jesus.

"¹This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham: ¹⁰Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, . . ." - Matthew 1:1, 10

That's good, right? Let's turn to 2nd Chronicles 33 and find out.

"Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. ²He did evil in the eyes of the Lord." - 2 Chronicles 33:1-2

Uh-oh. That's not good.

Let's keep reading. Verse 11

"So the Lord brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon." - 2 Chronicles 33:11

Oh boy. That's REALLY not good. Let's keep going. Verse 12

"¹²In his distress he (Manasseh) sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. ¹³And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God." - 2 Chronicles 33:12-13

The point of this lesson is that we all must decide which path to take in life. Each decision we make effects our future, even our future decisions.

Here's a prayer from King Solomon, who also was in the lineage of Jesus.

"When they sin against you - for there is no one who does not sin - and you become angry with them and give them over to their enemies, who take them captive to their own lands, far away or near; ⁴⁷and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors and say, 'We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly'; ⁴⁸and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray to you toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name; ⁴⁹then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. ⁵⁰And forgive your people, who have sinned against you." - 1 Kings 8:46-50

Smart guy, that Solomon. He wrote that 10 generations before Manasseh. It almost sounds like Solomon knew his distant descendant was going to sin badly. Perhaps Manasseh should have studied the writings of his ancestors.

You decide

(Who will you run to?)

Wrong or right

(There is no reason)

For you to hide

Only love can change your life

You decide

God is calling out to you again

Let him pull you, let him take you in

From the fear that swallows up your life

Will you stay the same or will you fight?

You decide

You Decide - Fireflight

The Mark of The Beast?

Open your Bibles to Revelation 13. I'd like you to read something. The entire chapter is about two beasts. First one, then the other.  Pay particular attention to verse 16 and 17. John is writing about Beast #2 here.

"It causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, ¹⁷so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name." - Revelation 13:16-17

Does that sound like a recent news story from the United Kingdom? It was announced last week by Prime Minister Starmer, regarding his plan for each citizen to be given digital identification, stored on their phone.

The plan is supposed to cut down on illegal imigration by not allowing illegals to work, or buy or sell. Hmm. Same wording.

On the surface it sounds like it might work. I mean, why would you enter into a country if you couldn't buy food or get a job or an apartment? In reality though, would it really work? Hard to say.

But the point of this story is the general concept of the idea. Is it, or something like it, the actual "mark of the beast" system? Again, hard to say. But it DOES raise the eyebrows of those who read their Bibles and study their eschatology.

But how would that function? Could the system be abused? Of course it could. With AI gathering data on people the government could easily create profiles for every citizen - their race, religion, every purchase made, plane tickets purchased, weapons, drugs, political affiliation, the list goes on.

Imagine all of that power in the hands if Satan. It WILL happen.

The Antichrist is the FIRST beast, along with the rebuilt Roman Empire, which many see and the European Union. The False Profit is the second beast along with his "beast system." All these are, or will be, controlled by Satan.

Things are starting to fall into place more and more. When we see the temple being rebuilt. . . . watch out then!

Yeah, this stiff might all seem a little "out there" to some, but the basics are all written in the Bible and they are ALL told to us by Jesus.

If you think of yourself as a Christian yet give these things an eye-roll and quickly dismiss them, are you REALLY a follower of Jesus? He dictated these things to John. They are written in the Gospels. It's your call.

Starmer on Digital ID - BBC

Watering Others

Well, here we go again. I am getting ready to do my morning reading when a song pops into my head - 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman. Listen to it (link at bottom). What are the first words you hear?

"Bless the Lord, O, my soul. O, my soul. Worship His Holy Name."

Okay, then I opened my Bible to Psalm 101 and begin my reading for the day. 101, 102 . . . Then I arrived at Psalm 103 . . . Guess what?

"Bless the LORD, O my soul; all that is within me, bless His holy name." - Psalm 103:1

Coinky dink? I don't think so. [Does this happen to you? I absolutely love it!]

So, how do I "worship His holy name?" I write stories. But I also take the text I am reading, or the song I am listening to, and apply it to the day I am about to embark on. The answer is also found in the song.

"The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning

It's time to sing Your song again

Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me

Let me be singing when the evening comes"

So, the answer is to worship and praise God all day long, in whatever we do.

I therefore will sing this song in my head all day long as a reminder to myself.

But there's more to it than that. We are not here to bless ourselves, but to bless others.

Look at the watering can in the picture above. It's sole purpose is to serve and bless others. In so doing it will bless God by its very actions.

"Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered." - Proverbs 11:25

Who will you water today?

10,000 Reasons - Matt Redman 

Influencers

We all have "influencers" in our lives. Some people find them in their own household. A mom or dad, or maybe a brother or a sister. Other people turn to social media and are influenced there. Tiktok or YouTube or Instagram are their sources when seeking input into their lives. "Whatever turns you on," as my generation used to say.

Who are the "influencers" in YOUR life?

Before you answer that question, there needs to be a distinction between an "influencer," and a "teacher."

An influencer tries to get you to do or think  something, like in a Bud Lite commercial, while a teacher educates you in a certain way and shows you how you can accomplish something or instructs you in a certain area.

That's not to say that teachers can't influence us. They do. But the term "influencer" is a more modern day thing, and lately, more derogatory.

One of my teachers died on Thursday - Voddie Baucham. I first learned of Voddie's teaching and wisdom at a No Regrets Men's conference in the Milwaukee area. I was impressed with his speaking eloquence. He was also very knowledgeable about his usual topic - the Word of God.

My favorite sermon of his that comes to mind is about the nature and character of Jesus. There's a snippet of it below. In it he commented about certain churches and pastors who have strayed from God's Word and have begun teaching about Jesus in ways that are untrue. False teachers, the Bible calls them.

Voddie Baucham has "influenced" my life but only because he speaks the truth found in the Bible. He does not offer "opinions."

I will miss my brother in Christ, this gifted teacher of God's Word. Thank you for your teaching and for your example. Well done, good and faithful servant.

Needy Jesus - Voddie Baucham