Tue, Jul 31st - 7:54AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
A lawyer died and arrived at the pearly gates. To his dismay, there were thousands of people ahead of him in line to see St. Peter. To his surprise, St. Peter left his desk at the gate and came down the long line to where the lawyer was, and greeted him warmly. Then St. Peter and one of his assistants took the lawyer by the hands and guided him up to the front of the line, and into a comfortable chair by his desk. The lawyer said, "I don't mind all this attention, but what makes me so special?" St. Peter replied, "Well, I've added up all the hours for which you billed your clients, and by my calculation you must be about 193 years old!"
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Tue, Jul 31st - 7:45AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
"There is always enough time for the things that really matter to us."* Jim Pleitz
*"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21 (NRSV)
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Mon, Jul 30th - 8:28AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
This guy was pulled over for running a stop sign. When the cop checked the man's driver's license, he said, "You're wearing glasses on your ID and you're not now. I'm going to have to give you a ticket."
The guy said, "Officer, I have contacts."
The cop said, "Look, buddy, I don't care who you know, ... I'm giving you a ticket."
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Mon, Jul 30th - 8:17AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
Those predisposed to do His will understand what it is, and by the grace of God will do it.* Neil Anderson
*17Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own. John 7:17 (NRSV)
6I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 (NRSV)
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Sun, Jul 29th - 7:41AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
God’s Grace is accessed through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.*
*21as I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus. Acts 20:21 (NRSV)
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Sun, Jul 29th - 7:34AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
If the metric system did ever take over, we'd have to change our thinking to the following:
* A miss is as good as 1.6 kilometers.
* Put your best 0.3 of a meter forward.
* Spare the 5.03 meters and spoil the child.
* Twenty-eight grams of prevention is worth 453 grams of cure.
* Give a man 2.5 centimeters and he'll take 1.609 kilometers.
* Peter Piper picked 8.8 liters of pickled peppers.
Personally, I think everyone else should convert to our system!
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Sat, Jul 28th - 8:17AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! BAD NEWS-WORSE
BAD NEWS - WORSE NEWS: A man is surprised to receives a call from his doctor.
The doctor says, "I'm sorry, but I have some bad news and some worse news."
"Well, alright, give me the bad news first," said the man.
"Well," said the doctor, "The bad news is that you only have 24 hours to live."
"Holy Cow! That is some bad news!" the man exclaimed. "What news could be worse than that?" he asked.
"The worse news is that I have been trying to reach you since yesterday."
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Sat, Jul 28th - 7:56AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."* -- Jeremy Kitson
*"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live," Deuteronomy 30:19 (NRSV)
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Fri, Jul 27th - 8:01AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
There is no jail which cannot be made a sanctuary of worship, no jailer who cannot be reached by God's love. The will of God never leads where the grace of God cannot sustain. When you're called to Macedonia, go. When you find yourself in jail, pray. Your Father will grant you his peace, all day long. Is he waiting on your next prayer? Jim Denison, GodIssues 3/19/09
6Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 (NRSV)
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Thu, Jul 26th - 8:17AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! No More Work
Lady, this vacuum cleaner will cut your work in half.
Good. I'll take two of them.
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Thu, Jul 26th - 8:09AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
Those predisposed to do His will understand what it is, and by the grace of God will do it.* Neil Anderson
*17Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own. John 7:17 (NRSV)
6I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 (NRSV)
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Wed, Jul 25th - 6:31AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! PREGNANT STAMP
A man and his wife were making their first doctor visit prior to the birth of their first child. After everything checked out, the doctor took a small stamp and stamped the wife's stomach with indelible ink.
The couple was curious about what the stamp was for, so when they got home, the husband dug out his magnifying glass to try to see what it was.
In very tiny letters, the stamp said, "When you can read this, come back and see me."
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Wed, Jul 25th - 6:25AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
It is good to be a Christian and know it, but it is better to be a Christian and show it.* Pastor Tim provided this quote.
*Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 1 John 3:18 (NRSV)
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Tue, Jul 24th - 7:39AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! TRICK ANT
A man was sent to prison for 20 years. He was so bored while in there; he found an ant and decided to teach it tricks - like beg, play dead, roll over, jump hair etc. He served his time and was released. He took his ant with him in a matchbox. The first place he went was to a bar. He sat down, took out the matchbox and emptied out the ant. He then said to the guy beside him, "you are not gonna believe what this ant can do". He showed him all the tricks and the guy was impressed. He told him that he could make a fortune with the ant. The guy with the ant was excited and called the bartender over and said "you see that ant?" The bartender put his finger on the ant, twisted it and said "sorry sir it won't happen again."
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Tue, Jul 24th - 7:31AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
It is easy enough to be friendly to one's friends. But to befriend the one who regards himself as your enemy is the quintessence of true religion. The other is mere business*. -Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948)
*"And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?" Matthew 5:47 (NRSV)
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Mon, Jul 23rd - 8:17AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! HALF DRUNK
A man comes home from a night of drinking with the boys. As he falls through the doorway of his house, his wife snaps at him, “what’s the big idea coming home half drunk?” The man replies, “I’m sorry, honey. I ran out of money.”
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Mon, Jul 23rd - 8:03AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."* -- Jeremy Kitson
*"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live," Deuteronomy 30:19 (NRSV)
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Sun, Jul 22nd - 8:11AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! THREE RULES
One of my husband's duties as a novice drill instructor at Fort Jackson, S.C., was to escort new recruits to the mess hall. After everyone had made it through the chow line, he sat them down and told them, "There are three rules in this mess hall: Shut up! Eat up! Get up!"
Checking to see that he had everyone's attention, he asked, "What is the first rule?"
Much to the amusement of the other instructors, 60 privates yelled in unison, "Shut up, Drill Sergeant!"
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Sun, Jul 22nd - 8:02AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
"Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand."* - Augustine
*24So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24 (NRSV)
“If any Man will do His will, he shall know....” John 7:17
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Sat, Jul 21st - 3:27PM
No Responses
I have been blogging for a long time and very few responses. I have reveiwed the blog categories and found that many have quit blogging for the same reason. I am going to try for a short while longer and if I don't find some fellowship among the brothers and sisters on this blog, I will suspend my effort here. I do like the foremat. It looks like a good site but I am growing weary. I would like a word of encouragement. Brother Doyle
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Sat, Jul 21st - 9:26AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
One day a man drove his secretary home after she fell quite ill at work. Although this was an innocent gesture, he decided not to mention it to his wife, who tended to get jealous easily.
Later, that night the man and his wife were driving to a restaurant.
Suddenly he looked down and spotted a high-heel shoe half hidden under the passenger seat. Not wanting to be conspicuous, he waited until his wife was looking out her window before he scooped up the shoe and tossed it out of the car. With a sigh of relief, he pulled into the restaurant parking lot. That's when he noticed his wife squirming around in her seat.
"Honey," she asked, "have you seen my other shoe?"
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Sat, Jul 21st - 9:01AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
The world's concept of happiness is getting what we want. ... God's concept of happiness is summed up in the simple proverb: "Happy is the man who wants what he has."* Neil Anderson
*"Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that" (1 Timothy 6:6-8 NIV )
But strive first for the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 (NRSV)
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Fri, Jul 20th - 8:19AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
True story from a Novell NetWire SysOp:
Caller: "Hello, is this Tech Support?"
Tech: "Yes, it is. How may I help you?"
Caller: "The cup holder on my PC is broken and I am within my warranty period.
How do I go about getting that fixed?"
Tech: "I'm sorry, but did you say a cup holder?"
Caller: "Yes, it's attached to the front of my computer."
Tech: "Please excuse me if I seem a bit stumped. It's because I am.
Did you receive this as part of a promotional, at a trade show? How did you get this cup holder? Does it have any trademark on it?"
Caller: "It came with my computer, I don't know anything about a promotional.
It just has '4X' on it. “At this point the Tech Rep had to mute the caller, because he couldn't stand it. The caller had been using the load drawer of the CD-ROM drive as a cup holder, and snapped it off the drive!
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Fri, Jul 20th - 8:07AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
There is no jail which cannot be made a sanctuary of worship, no jailer who cannot be reached by God's love. The will of God never leads where the grace of God cannot sustain. When you're called to Macedonia, go. When you find yourself in jail, pray. Your Father will grant you his peace, all day long. Is he waiting on your next prayer?* Jim Denison, GodIssues 3/19/09
*Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 (NRSV)
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Thu, Jul 19th - 7:11AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
During a dinner party, the hosts’ two little children entered the dinning room totally nude and walked slowly around the table. The parents were so embarrassed that they pretended nothing was happening and kept he conversation going. The guests cooperated and also continued as if nothing extraordinary was happening.
After going all the way around the room, the children left, and there was a moment of silence at the table, during which one child was heard to say, “You see, it is vanishing cream!”
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Thu, Jul 19th - 7:04AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
It is more pleasing to God for us to walk in the Truth we have, than for us to know all the truth and not walk in it.*
*3I was overjoyed when some of the friends arrived and testified to your faithfulness to the truth, namely how you walk in the truth. 4I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 1:3-4 (NRSV)
That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. 48But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded. Luke 12:47-48 (NRSV)
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Wed, Jul 18th - 6:42AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
The drill sergeant making his morning announcements to a group of newcomers in a training camp, stated: "Today, gentlemen, I have some good news and some bad news. First, the good news Private Peters will be setting the pace on our morning run.” With this the platoon was overjoyed, as Private Peters was overweight and terribly slow. But then the drill sergeant finished his statement: "Now for the bad news. Private Peters will be driving a truck."
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Wed, Jul 18th - 6:34AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
The effectual, fervent prayer of faith is prayer offerred without any conflict of interest!*
*10Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 (NRSV)
16Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. James 5:16 (NRSV)
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Tue, Jul 17th - 8:12AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
A young boy enters a barber shop and the barber whispers to his customer, 'This is the dumbest kid in the world. Watch while I prove it to you.' The barber puts a dollar bill in one hand and two quarters in the other, then calls the boy over and asks, 'Which do you want, son?' The boy takes the quarters and leaves the dollar. 'What did I tell you?' said the barber. 'That kid never learns!' Later, when the customer leaves, he sees the same young boy coming out of the ice cream store & says; 'Hey, son! May I ask you a question? Why did you take the quarters instead of the dollar bill?' The boy licked his cone and replied, 'Because the day I take the dollar, the game's over!'
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Tue, Jul 17th - 8:05AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
A grudge is a heavy thing to carry. (or No matter how long you nurse a grudge, it never gets better.)*
*"Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil." Ephesians 4:26-27 (NRSV)
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Mon, Jul 16th - 7:41AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin, 5,
Ryan 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the
first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral
lesson. "If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, 'Let my
brother have the first pancake, I can wait.'"
Kevin turned to his younger brother and said,
"Ryan, you be Jesus!"
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Mon, Jul 16th - 7:29AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Dying is not as great an accomplishment as living!* (Peter Marshall) It is easier to die for Jesus than to live for Him.
*"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." John 10:10 (NRSV)
"and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
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Sun, Jul 15th - 9:46AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
Still On the Road!
A doctor broke the bad news to a man, that his wife would have to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital. “I’m afraid her mind’s completely gone,” he said. “Makes sense,” mumbled the man. “She’s been giving me a piece of it every day for the last 15 years.”
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Sun, Jul 15th - 9:36AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
Still on the road!
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."* -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
*"and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20 (NRSV)
"To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27 (NRSV
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Sat, Jul 14th - 11:57AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: G. K. Chesterton was asked to submit an essay to a contest titled, "What's wrong with the world?" His entry:
Dear sirs:
In response to your question, What's wrong with the world,
I am.
Sincerely yours,
G. K. Chesterton
The source of my problems is lurking in the nearest mirror. The solution to my problems is waiting for my next prayer.* (Jim Denison in God Issues 2/1/08
*1 Timothy 1:15 (NRSV) 15The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost.
(Sorry I am lag bloging today! I am in a motel in Abilene for a wedding. I am rather chaotic in thought and behavior.)
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Sat, Jul 14th - 10:24AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! HAIRCUT
- Daddy, daddy... Why is it that everyone calls me stupid?
- I don't know kid; I am not your daddy.
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Fri, Jul 13th - 7:55AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
Every Saturday morning Grandpa Walt found himself babysitting his three grandchildren...all boys. The kids always wanted to play ''war,'' and Grandpa somehow always got coaxed into the game.
His daughter came to pick up the kids early one Saturday and witnessed Grandpa take a fake shot as Jason pointed a toy gun and yelled, "Bang!''
Grandpa slumped to the floor and stayed there motionless. The daughter rushed over to see if he was all right. Grandpa opened one eye and whispered, ''Sh-h-h, I always do this. It's the only chance I get to rest.''
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Fri, Jul 13th - 7:46AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
Because He has Risen, He is closer to you than the breath you breathe. Because He has Risen, He can give you His undivided attention without neglecting anyone else.*
*22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:22 (NRSV)
11Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; Romans 13:11 (NRSV)
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Thu, Jul 12th - 8:07AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
Bubba and Johnny Ray, two good ole boys from North Carolina, were sitting' on the front porch drinking a cold soda when a large truck hauling rolls and rolls of sod went by.
"I'm gonna do that when I win the lottery," said Bubba.
"Do what?" asked Johnny Ray.
"Send my grass out to be mowed," answered Bubba.
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Thu, Jul 12th - 7:52AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.* -Samuel Johnson, lexicographer (1709-1784)
*“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:43-48 (NRSV)
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Wed, Jul 11th - 6:38AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! GROUP CLASS PICTURE
The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture. "Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, "There's Jennifer; she's a lawyer,' or “That’s Michael, he's a doctor.'"
A small voice at the back of the room rang out, "And there's the teacher. She's dead."
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Wed, Jul 11th - 6:31AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
God doesn’t just work along side us. He works in us. Christianity in an inside job. Christians are all wrapped up in Christ.*
*"To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27 (NRSV)
"and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 (NRSV)"
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Tue, Jul 10th - 11:20AM
Slaying the Righteous With the Wicked
Slaying the Righteous With the Wicked
Genesis 18:25 (NRSV)
25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?"
There is going on in our Nation something that is a far thing from what God would do...He would not slay the righteous with the wicked. Before He would bring hell fire and brimstone down on Sodom and Gomorrah, He would deliver the righteous first from the cities.
Before the courts right now is whether or not picture I.D.'s should be required at voting poles to prevent ineligible people from voting. It has been shown in Florida and other places that enforcing this rule that citizens have been denied voting. One couple was denied to vote whom the people working the voter's table knew personally. Many elderly and handicapped people are hard pressed to get photo I.D.s. The rule denies innocent people their right to vote. There should be as great an effort to insure citizens can exercise their right to vote as there is to deny the ineligible to vote. In stead of delivering the innocent people from this judgment, many eligible voters are denied their right to vote along with the ineligible voters.
Instead of putting our emphasis of denying illegal aliens from voting there should be equal emphasis on making sure citizens are not denied their right to vote. Our policy of preventing illegal aliens from voting should not in itself be the stumbling block to citizens wanting to vote. Far be it from us to prevent citizens from voting by our policy to prevent illegal aliens from voting.
I am not saying that we should not have a policy that would prevent illegal aliens from voting. But our policy should not be the instrument that denies citizens their right to vote.
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Tue, Jul 10th - 8:45AM
He Set Me Free!
When I prepared this message I consulted about slavery in the Encarta Encyclopedia that came with my computer. This is what it said:
Slavery, (is a) social institution defined by law and custom as the most absolute involuntary form of human servitude. The definitive characteristics of slaves are as follows: their labor or services are obtained through force; their physical beings are regarded as the property of another person, their owner; and they are entirely subject to their owner's will. Since earliest times slaves have been legally defined as things; therefore, they could, among other possibilities, be bought, sold, traded, given as a gift, or pledged for a debt by their owner, usually without any recourse to personal or legal objection or restraint.
In ancient cultures persons became slaves in several different ways. Some
people sold themselves into slavery to pay off a debt. Others were forced into slavery for reasons such as debt. Some people were captured and sold into slavery.
A slave master had absolute control over slaves. As the encyclopedia said a slave was a thing, a tool, or a piece of property that could be used at the master’s desire even to the point of death.
We would hate to be an involuntary slave, but the fact is, every man and woman is born a slave of sin.
How did this happen? We tell the story over and over again and in different ways. But listen to Paul in Romans 5:12-21 (NRSV)
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned— sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. But law came in, with the result that the trespass multiplied; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, just as sin exercised dominion in death, so grace might also exercise dominion through justification leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
By one sin of one man, Adam, all of us became slaves, servants of sin. Some say this is unjust. It is neither unjust or unexplainable. It is the natural result. When Adam and Eve sinned they apparently did not ask themselves what effect their sin would have on their children. That children are affected by what their parents do is a natural as the law of gravity. To deny reality is insanity. It is insane to think we can sin without affecting our children and others.
Listen to Jesus in John 8:34 (NRSV)
Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.
Jesus taught that when a man sins, he becomes a slave of sin. Until that sin is pardoned and forgiven, a person is a slave to that sin; he can’t get rid of it. He will be bound to that sin for eternity unless he is pardoned and forgiven.
Adam became a slave to sin the moment he sinned. He and Eve were separated from God, turned out of the Garden of Eden into the world without God and without hope in the world. As the Scriptures say in Ephesians 2:12 (NRSV)
remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
It is no more unfair for all men to be slaves of sin because their parents didn’t consider the result on their children of their disobedience than it is unfair to the man who jumps out of an airplane without a parachute and plummets to his death. It is the natural result of gravity to pull such a person to his death and it is the natural result of parent’s disobedience that their children are slaves of sin.
It is insane for a person to go to hell because he cannot accept the natural result of Adam’s sin on his children screaming “Unfair! Unfair!”
But the gift of God’s grace and forgiveness in not like the sin that condemns us. As we read a minute ago:
But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
By one man’s sin we all became slaves of sin and by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. One man’s one sin condemned us to death, but we who have committed many sins that are pardoned and forgiven because of one Man’s obedience and righteousness.
Something else we notice about Paul’s words here:
sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law.
Paul here teaches that none of Adam’s children are going to hell just because Adam sinned. Between Adam and Moses there was no law, therefore, even though sin prevailed during this time, sin was not charged to their account. I believe sin committed without law and knowledge of right and wrong is covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Most Baptists believe that when a child dies before the age of accountability, the child will go to heaven. And many Baptists have arbitrarily identified the age of accountability with the child’s twelfth year or with puberty.
However, the Bible teaches that accountability depends not upon age, but upon possessing the law and light. Again we quote Paul:
“...sin is not reckoned when there is no law....”
Jesus taught the same principle in Luke 12:47-48 (NRSV)
That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.
Sin and its punishment will be based on knowledge of God’s law and light.
People ask me as a preacher if I believe that anyone who has never heard about Jesus will go to hell. I need to always say, God has commanded me not to answer that question in Romans 10:6-7 (NRSV)
But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
While God has commanded us not to say who is going to heaven and who is going to hell, He has commanded us to preach the Gospel: Matthew 28:18-20 (NRSV)
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
It is not our responsibility to determine who is lost, who has reached the age of accountability. It is our responsibility to preach the Gospel to everyone. Knowing God through Jesus Christ, I am convinced that God will do wrong by no one. It is our responsibility to preach the gospel every where we go and to teach the disciples we make to do the same thing.
What is the conclusion? Paul says in Romans 3:9 (NRSV)
for we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin,
Since we are all under the power of sin, is there any way to be free from our slavery to sin? Yes. Listen to Jesus. First, I am reminded what we already quoted Jesus saying: John 8:34 (NRSV)
“Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.
But listen to Him just two verses later: John 8:36 (NRSV)
So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
Only Jesus can set us free from sin. Only Jesus and the Church have the keys to unlock the chains of sin and open the door to the Kingdom of God.
Jesus set me free from slavery to sin the moment I believed in Him at the age of 8 yrs old. However, when I was fourteen, I started smoking. That it was wrong, was not clear at that time. My mother didn’t smoke but all the men and one or maybe two women smoked. I smoked for approximately 35 years. I quit in 1985 or thereabouts. But I was delivered and set free from smoking when I was saved. Jesus set me free at that time and I could have walked away from smoking at the first temptation to smoke. On the other hand, I came to understand my liberty in Christ years after He set me free.
Do you understand your liberty today? Or, do you think you’ve just got to do this or that?
Let us look at this freedom that Jesus has given us. Revelation 1:18 (NRSV)
and the living one. I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever; and I have the keys of Death and of Hades.
Matthew 16:19 (NRSV)
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 18:18 (NRSV)
Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Christ gave the keys to the Kingdom to the Church. The Key to the Kingdom is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only thing that will set us free from the slavery of sin.
Paul said in Romans 1:16 (NRSV)
For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
We often sing: Would you be free from your burden of sin? There is power in the blood of Jesus Christ.
There is power in the Blood of Jesus to bring us to repentance, that is, turn us from our sins. As Acts 3:26 (NRSV) says:
When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”
The purpose of Calvary was to bring us to repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ.
The only way to be free from our slavery to sin, is to turn in repentance from our sin and trust Jesus to break the chains of sin in our lives.
You remember when Peter was jailed at Jerusalem during the Passover. The event is recorded in Acts 12:5-12 (NRSV)
While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him. The very night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists. The angel said to him, “Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.” He did so. Then he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening with the angel’s help was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. After they had passed the first and the second guard, they came before the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went outside and walked along a lane, when suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hands of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many had gathered and were praying.
Notice that after the Angel of the Lord loosed Peter’s chains, he could hardly believe that he was free. He could hardly believe he could walk out of the jail. The Angel had to lead him out and Peter finally believed he was free.
That is the way it is with many Christians. They have repented of their sins and place their faith in Jesus Christ but they have a hard time believing that they did not have to keep on committing the sins they had been committing. They have a hard time believing that Christ has really set them free. We do not have to sin. We can walk away from any sin that is besetting us and hurting our witness and causing others to stumble.
There is a little Scriptural Chorus that goes like this:
He set me free, Yes, He set me free.
And He broke the bonds of prison for me.
I’m glory bound my Jesus to see.
For Glory to God! He set me free!
Listen to Paul’s appeal for us to walk away from the chains of sin in Romans 6:5-20 (NRSV): I will make some comments as I read these verses:
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
That is, consider yourselves to be dead to sin, that you do not have to keep on sinning. Acknowledge that you are alive in Christ Jesus.
Therefore, do not let sin exercise dominion (or authority) in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions.
We don’t have to do what our passions tell us to do. We are able to disobey our bodies. I heard some say, “When temptation calls, I don’t answer the phone.”
No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness.
Let us not use our bodies as tools of the devil but tools for God and His righteousness.
For sin will have no dominion (no authority) over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Sin no longer has authority to order us around. We are free to obey God in Christ.
What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
There were people actually teaching that Christians should sin all they can because the more we sin the more grace is magnified. Paul says, “God forbid.”
But thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves of sin, have become obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which you were entrusted, and that you, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
God expects us to be as faithful in serving His righteousness as we were in serving the devil and his wickedness.
I am speaking in human terms because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness for sanctification.
We must commit our bodies as slaves to righteousness as diligently as we presented them as slaves to sin.
Has Jesus set you free from your sin? Do you want to be set free from your sin? He will set you free if you ask Him to.
Romans 10:9-13 (NRSV)
because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
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Tue, Jul 10th - 8:27AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! WHY MOM'S TURN GREY!
A young child walked up to her mother and stared at her hair. As mother scrubbed on the dishes, the girl cleared her throat and sweetly asked; "Why do you have some grey strands in your hair?"
The mother paused and looked at her daughter. "Every time you disobey, I get one strand of grey hair. If you want me to stay pretty, you better obey."
The mother quickly returned to her task of washing dishes. The little girl stood there thinking. She cleared her throat again. "Mother?" She sweetly asked again.
"Yes?" Her Mother replied. "Why is Grandma's hair all grey?"
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Tue, Jul 10th - 8:15AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
Of course, it's possible to love a human being -- if you don't know them too well.* -Charles Bukowski, writer (1920-1994)
*"I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35 (NRSV)
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Mon, Jul 9th - 8:44AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! BASEBALL IN HEAVEN
Earl and Bob, both obsessed with baseball, never missed their favorite team’s game. They promised, whoever died first, and went to heaven, would come back to earth and tell the other if there was baseball in heaven. One day, Earl died. Bob waited for him to come back. Finally Earl did. He said to Bob. "I have good news and bad news. I'll tell you the good news first. There is baseball in heaven." Bob said, "That’s the best news!" Then Earl said, time for the bad news....”You're pitching tomorrow night."
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Mon, Jul 9th - 8:37AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
All history emanates from God and gravitates toward God.* --Doyle Purifoy
*1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being John 1:1-3 (NRSV)
34....For his sovereignty is an everlasting sovereignty, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation. 35 All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does what he wills with the host of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can stay his hand or say to him, “What are you doing?” Daniel 4:34-35 (NRSV)
5They conveniently forget that long ago all the galaxies and this very planet were brought into existence out of watery chaos by God’s word. 6Then God’s word brought the chaos back in a flood that destroyed the world. 2 Peter 3:5-6 (TMSG)
13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Revelation 22:13 (NRSV)
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Sun, Jul 8th - 8:17AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! Car Keys
Several days ago as I left a meeting at a hotel; I desperately gave myself a personal TSA pat down. I was looking for my keys. They were not in my pockets. A quick search in the meeting room revealed nothing.
Suddenly I realized I must have left them in the car. Frantically, I headed for the parking lot. My husband has scolded me many times for leaving the keys in the ignition.
My theory is the ignition is the best place not to lose them. His theory is that the car will be stolen.
As I burst through the door, I came to a terrifying conclusion. His theory was right. The parking lot was empty.
I immediately called the police. I gave them my location, confessed that I had left my keys in the car, and that it had been stolen.
Then I made the most difficult call of all, "Honey," I stammered; I always call him "honey" in times like these. "I left my keys in the car, and it has been stolen."
There was a period of silence. I thought the call had been dropped, but then I heard his voice. He barked, "I dropped you off!"
Now it was my time to be silent. Embarrassed, I said, "Well, come and get me."
He retorted, "I will, as soon as I convince this policeman I have not stolen your car."
Yep, it's the golden years.
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Sun, Jul 8th - 8:10AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
"Don‘t jump to conclusions. You might brake your nose!"*
*"Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but one who has a hasty temper exalts folly." Proverbs 14:29 (NRSV)
"Those who are hot-tempered stir up strife, but those who are slow to anger calm contention." Proverbs 15:18 (NRSV)
"One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city."
Proverbs 16:32 (NRSV)
"rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing." Joel 2:13 (NRSV)
"The LORD is slow to anger but great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet." Nahum 1:3 (NRSV)
"You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger;" James 1:19 (NRSV)
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Sat, Jul 7th - 6:21PM
ENABLING GRACE
2 Corinthians 12:1-9 (NRSV)
1It is necessary to boast; nothing is to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows. 3And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows—4was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat. 5On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. 6But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, 7even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. 8Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, 9but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for (My) power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
We have to be familiar with the previous chapter to understand why Paul said; “It is necessary to boast.” Verse 13 of Chapter 11 identifies some false apostles: 2 Cor 11:11-15
11And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! 12And what I do I will also continue to do, in order to deny an opportunity to those who want an opportunity to be recognized as our equals in what they boast about. 13For such boasters are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15So it is not strange if his ministers also disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness. Their end will match their deeds.
Paul found it necessary to do a little boasting of his own in opposition to these false apostles who where challenging his authority.
Paul acknowledged that there was “nothing is to be gained by” such boasting. He even calls such boasting ‘foolish.’ in 2 Corinthians 11:23 (KJV)
23Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
As we follow our text, we will learn the danger of boasting of our personal experiences in the Lord.
Paul moves on to talk about “visions and revelations of the Lord.” He said,
2I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows. 3And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows—4was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat. 5On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses.
Many commentaries suggest that Paul was talking of himself in the third person. He says, I will boast of this fellow but not of my self. Then listen as he goes on:
6But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth.
But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, 7even considering the exceptional character of the revelations.
Paul did not want others to think more highly of him than he deserved. He also feared thinking too highly of himself, so he says:
“... to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated.”
Do we not learn from this the danger of boasting of our spiritual experiences? We may be given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to keep us humble even though we may have some spectacular experiences and insights that were given us of God. Such a thorn, messenger of Satan is not pleasant. Listen to Paul:
8Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me,
If the Apostle Paul can pray three times for deliverance without receiving what he asked for, are we to be surprised that we sometimes do not get what we ask for when we pray over and over for it?
What is the thorn in the flesh that Paul was given? Some commentaries say it was a physical problem, maybe his eyesight. Others say it was a person who was a minister or messenger of Satan that buffeted him.
No matter, whether spiritual or physical, Paul begged the Lord to remove it. God said “No, you have something better to keep you from boasting and reveling in your personal spiritual experiences.”
Listen to the answer Jesus gave Paul:
9but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for (My) power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
“My grace is sufficient for you.” Enabling Grace is the theme of this message.
When I was in the Seminary I took one course during a Summer Semester. It was on Missions. I don’t remember why we were discussing the Doctrine of the Atonement, especially the Vicarious Suffering of Christ and His Substitutionary Death. I remember speaking up in class and saying something like, “Some of the preaching on the Atonement I have been hearing is sorta like fixing the books. Our account is overdrawn. But our account is credited with Christ’s account. This preaching seems to suggest that our atonement is simply a paper transaction. What bearing does this paper transaction have on our behavior? Or am I just going off an a tangent?” The Professor replied, “No, Doyle. You’re not going off on a tangent. You may be coming back off of one.”
Paul taught that we are saved by grace through faith:
8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—Ephesians 2:8 (NRSV)
Some people seem to think that grace and faith are static, rather than dynamic and proactive. Some people act like grace is like the diploma one receives from graduating from college. That diploma doesn’t confer on the person anything; it recognizes the person’s completion of the required work to be recognized as a graduate of that college. When we receive God’s grace it is not just a diploma to hang on the wall. Grace is not static; Grace is sufficient, that is enabling. Grace was sufficient for Paul; that is, Grace enabled Paul to cope with the thorn in the flesh he was given, with the messenger from Satan.
Grace and faith are not something static and passive like a set of doctrinal beliefs. The Devil believes all of our doctrines are true but he is not saved. Saving faith in not the Baptist Faith and Message. Faith and Grace are dynamic and proactive, not static and passive. Grace and faith are sufficient and enabling.
This is illustrated by our text:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for (My) power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
Grace and faith enable us to lay bare the power of God in our lives. God’s grace was sufficient in the continued presence of the thorn Paul asked to be removed. God’s grace enabled Paul to magnify the power of God in him through the weakness that the thorn brought to him.
When Paul realized that the thorn exposed his weakness and manifests the power of God he said:
10Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10 (NRSV)
The next time you think of your unpleasant conditions or circumstances, just turn your thoughts to the sufficient, enabling grace your have. When I do that, it inspires me to shout halleluiah in my heart.
Some people see grace and faith as static, inert, and passive. But grace and faith are dynamic, enabling, and proactive.
Let us look as some New Testament passages to illustrate that grace and faith are dynamic, enabling, and proactive.
The basic saving confession of a Christian is “Jesus Christ is Lord.” That statement and confession is not static but dynamic and proactive. That is why Jesus asked in Luke 6:46 (NRSV)
46“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you?
This reminds me of the deacon that asked the Pastor, “Is there anything I can do around the Church that won’t cost me any time, money, or effort? This is what James means when he wrote in James 2:18:
Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.
Confessing Jesus Christ as Lord morally and spiritually obligates us to do what Jesus tells us to do. This is why I recommend we study the New Testament, especially the Four Gospels and the Sermon on the Mount because they tell us what the Old Testament means.
I use to preach for the Texas Alcohol and Narcotic Education known as TANE. About five of us preachers would pile in a car on the weekender early Sunday morning. One by one the driver let one of us off at a church. Then he went to his assigned church and came back and picked us up one by one. Sometimes we drove a long ways to the first church. I was astonished when I heard some of those preachers arguing that accepting Jesus as Savior saves us. Then, later we accept Him as Lord. So, according to a couple of those preachers, we have Christians who have accepted Jesus as Savior but have not accepted Him as Lord. This illustrates the difference between a static, inert, and passive faith and saving faith which is dynamic and proactive.
Enabling grace and dynamic proactive faith do what Jesus tells us to do, it follows Jesus. Following Jesus is proactive not passive.
I picked up a little book one time. The title of it was Faith Spelled ‘Do’! What the writer was saying is that Faith is proactive, not passive and inert.
Hebrews 11 gives what some call the Saint’s Hall of Fame:
The Examples of Abel, Enoch, and Noah
4By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable£ sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith£ he still speaks. 5By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and “he was not found, because God had taken him.” For it was attested before he was taken away that “he had pleased God.” 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith.
The Faith of Abraham
8By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised.£ 12Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.”
These men and women of God accomplished things by enabling grace, and by dynamic, proactive, and obedient faith.
After looking at these many Scriptures we should be exhorted by our text:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for (My) power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
I want to use one more illustration from a familiar Bible event. It illustrates what we must do every time the Messenger of Satan tries to hobble and muzzle us and prevent us from doing God’s will. The story is found in Daniel 3:12-18 (NRSV):
12There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These pay no heed to you, O king. They do not serve your gods and they do not worship the golden statue that you have set up.” 13Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought in; so they brought those men before the king. 14Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods and you do not worship the golden statue that I have set up? 15Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble to fall down and worship the statue that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire, and who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?”16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to present a defense to you in this matter. 17If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. 18But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up.”
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego found themselves in what Texans say proverbially, between a rock and a hard place. It was their Father or the Furnace. But they knew if they choose the Furnace they would get their Father. They knew that God’s grace was sufficient for they said:
“17If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. 18But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up.”
There are a lot of things that can catch you between a rock and a hard place. It appears that we lose no matter what we choose. It maybe your caught in a relationship that is going sour. It may be this recession we are going through. Over the last 56 going on 57 years of marriage I have been caught many times between a rock and a hard place. Now I look back and see the miraculous deliverance of God from all my snares. And, to be frank, I continue to be in tight spots. Would that I had always remembered God’s Word of promise in all the tight spots I have been in:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for (My) power is made perfect in weakness.”
Have we yet learned to:
“....boast all the more gladly of ‘our’ weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in ‘us?’”
Let us look at the tight spots we are in as opportunities to gloat in our weakness, our inability to get out of them by ourselves. Look at these tight spots as opportunity to glorify and magnify the power of Christ Who dwells in us. To God Be the Glory. Amen.
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Sat, Jul 7th - 8:16AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! COMPANION
For months Bill had been Lynn's devoted admirer. Now, at long last, he had collected up sufficient courage to ask her the most momentous of all questions.
"There are quite a lot of advantages to being a bachelor," Bill began, "but there comes a time when one longs for the companionship of another being, a being who will regard one as perfect, as an idol; whom one can treat as one's absolute own; who will be kind and faithful when times are hard; who will share one's joys and sorrows."
To his delight, Bill saw a sympathetic gleam in Lynn's eyes. Then she nodded in agreement. Finally, Lynn responded,
"I think it's a great idea! Could I help you choose which puppy to buy?"
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Sat, Jul 7th - 8:09AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
Put Women In Their Place--Beside Men!* Audra and Joe Trull
*"There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28 (NRSV)
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Fri, Jul 6th - 8:10AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! SUNDAY SERVICE
A minister was planning a wedding at the close of the Sunday morning service.
After the benediction he had planned to call the couple down to be married for a brief ceremony before the congregation.
For the life of him, he couldn't think of the names of those who were to be married.
"Will those wanting to get married please come to the front?" he requested.
Immediately, nine single ladies, three widows, four widowers, and six single men stepped to the front.
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Fri, Jul 6th - 8:02AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
Good instincts usually tell you what to do long before your head has figured it out.* – Michael Burke
*26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. John 14:26 (NRSV)
26Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27 (NRSV)
9 The human mind plans the way, but the LORD directs the steps. Proverbs 16:9 (NRSV)
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Thu, Jul 5th - 8:20AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
Sometimes even to live is an act of courage.* -Lucius Annaeus Seneca, writer and philosopher (BCE 3-65 CE)
*"So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9 (NRSV)
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Thu, Jul 5th - 8:11AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! FREEZER ORDER
I have my own system for labeling homemade freezer meals.
Forget calling them "Veal Parmigiana" or "Turkey Loaf" or "Beef Pot Pie."
If you look in my freezer you'll see "Whatever," "Anything," "I Don't Know," and, my favorite, "Food."
That way when I ask my husband what he wants for dinner, I'm certain to have what he wants."
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Wed, Jul 4th - 8:10AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! NAME WARNING!
On a street, where the speed is limited to 30 mph the police stop a driver.
"Not only have you been driving too fast, you've been passing cars where it is not allowed. Your lights don't work, your tires all completely worn out. This is surely going to cost you a lot. What's your name?"
"Schtrathewisizeski Vocgefastilongchinic."
"Well, I'll let you go this time but don't do it again."
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Wed, Jul 4th - 8:05AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."* -- Jeremy Kitson
*"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live," Deuteronomy 30:19 (NRSV)
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Tue, Jul 3rd - 8:54AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
A company offered tours through the historic district, led by guides dressed
in Colonial clothing. While leading a group, one of the guides, tripped and
fell, breaking his wrist.
He went to the hospital, and as he sat waiting in the emergency room, a
policeman walked by.
Doing a double take at him in his 18th-century garb he asked, "Just how
long have you been waiting?"
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Tue, Jul 3rd - 8:48AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
“Watchman Nee calls us to choose the "exchanged life." Here is his explanation: "A day must come in our lives, as definite as the day of our conversion, when we give up all right to ourselves and submit to the absolute Lordship of Jesus Christ. . . . There must be a day when, without reservation, we surrender everything to Him—ourselves, our families, our possessions, our business and our time. All we are and have becomes His, to be held henceforth entirely at His disposal. From that day we are no longer our own masters, but only stewards. Not until the Lordship of Jesus Christ is a settled thing in our hearts can the Holy Spirit really operate effectively in us. He cannot direct our lives effectively until all control of them is committed to Him. If we do not give Him absolute authority in our lives, He can be present, but He cannot be powerful. The power of the Spirit is stayed."* Quoted by Jim Denison, Resident Theologian at the Baptist General Convention of Texas in his devotional of 4/15/09 GodIssues.
*18A certain ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 20You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother.’” 21He replied, “I have kept all these since my youth.” 22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money£ to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 23But when he heard this, he became sad; for he was very rich. 24Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Luke 18:18-25 (NRSV)
46“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you? Luke 6:46 (NRSV)
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Mon, Jul 2nd - 12:28PM
Gi'me That Old Time Religion
Gi'me That Old Time Religion
Over the years our culture has led Christians to weaken the old time religion. Many Christians have so mingled with our culture that one can not tell the difference between a Christian and a non-believer. “Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you,” 2 Corinthians 6:17 (NRSV)
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Jude 1:3 (KJV)
My prayer is that God will pour out His Spirit on us and create a genuine passion to earnestly contend for the faith which was delivered unto the saints.
Now I believe Jude used the word 'faith' in the inclusive sense, that is he was talking about the whole Scriptural revelation of God recorded in the Bible.
We write here of the word 'salvation' in is inclusive sense, salvation from the beginning to the end and all in between.
Some people say they got saved, and maybe they did. But they never understood what salvation encompasses. Zig Ziglar said, “They squatted to rise and got baked in the squat!” That's what happened to a lot of Christians.
Salvation encompasses a beginning called conversion or new birth, regeneration, justification, an ongoing process called sanctification, and an end called glorification.
We begin with the beginning: conversion (new birth; regeneration; justification). Conversion is when a person puts his/her faith in Jesus Christ as Lord with the willingness to do what He says. Faith in Jesus Christ without a willingness to do what He says is not saving faith. No one understands the Bible who is not willing to do what it says.
There is a lot of fuzzy preaching about the relationship of works and salvation. This fuzzy preaching has caused many newborn babes in Christ to stagger in their Christian growth.
An experience that illustrates what I am trying to say happened while I was in the Seminary. I preached for the Texas Alcohol and Narcotic Education. Each week about five preachers would pile into a car and travel to various churches throughout the State. We would let a person out at a church. The last one drove to his assignment and then picked up each one of us after preaching. We often drove long distances which sometimes required overnight stays at a motel on the way. During this time of riding with each other we tried to solve all of the theological problems in the world. Once I was driving and not participating, except to listen, in a debate going on between the other preachers. Of all things, they were debating if a Christian had to accept Jesus Christ as Lord to be saved. Some argued that one accepts Christ as Savior and then later accepts Him has Lord. I could not believe that these Seminary students could believe that a person could be saved without accepting Jesus Christ as Lord.
This is the result of the fuzzy preaching I mentioned concerning the relationship of works and salvation. As long as it is preached that works have no relationship with salvation, young converts will stagger in their effort of growing in Christ. We are not saved by works; we are saved to work. Salvation necessarily results in works. James 2:18 “But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.” Salvation is to works as is cause is to effect. Salvation causes good works. We do not work to earn or deserve salvation. We work because we are saved and love Him above all.
Why does a Christian work? It is not to earn salvation. We work because we love Him: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15 (NRSV)
“They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them." John 14:21 (NRSV)
“If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.” John 15:10 (NRSV)
The love of God is shed abroad in our heart when we are saved. Romans 5:5 (NRSV) “...and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”
It is true that Christians are not under the law of the Old Testament, but they are under the Royal Law of Love.
"You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." James 2:8 (NRSV)
“Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet"; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, "Love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.” Romans 13:8-10 (NRSV)
Jesus said: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matthew 11:29 (KJV)
If we worked for our salvation or out of duty because we had to, we would have a heavy yoke to bear. But because we work out of love that the Holy Spirit has spread abroad in our hearts, indeed our yoke is easy and our burden is light.
You have heard the story of the boy carrying his handicapped brother on his back. A man asked the boy, “Isn't he heavy?” The boy replied, “No, he's my brother.”
The love of Christ takes the burden of working to earn our salvation or working from a sense of duty away, and replaces it with the light burden of Christ's love.
The beginning of salvation is described as a new birth. Now, when a baby is born into our family, the baby has to literally learn everything. They learn these things at different rates of speed. This is called growing up or maturing. The same is true of a newborn babe in Christ. They are not born fully mature. They must grow in Christ, in knowledge, and in love. It doesn't all come at once. We must be patient with ourselves and with others in the growing process.
This growing process is called sanctification. Sanctification begins the moment one is saved and will continue throughout the Christian life until we are glorified with Christ in heaven.
“I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. God is faithfully bring to completion the good work He began in us until He comes again.” Philippians 1:6 (NRSV)
“And it is by God's will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10:10 (NRSV)
“For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. Hebrews 10:14 (NRSV)
To be sanctified is to be set apart for God's use. Every Christian is set apart for God's use at the new birth and is being sanctified as he/she grow in Christ.
Running parallel to conversion and the new birth is justification and sanctification. Some people erroneously teach that each of these, conversion, new birth, justification, sanctification are separate experiences. However, the moment one is born again, converted, regenerated, he or she is sanctified, that is, set apart for God's use, justified, that is, given right standing before God. All of this is working toward a Christian's becoming like Christ and finally glorified when we see Jesus.
“Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2 (NRSV) Just like a newborn infant bears some resemblance of his or her parents, just so a born again child of God bears some resemblance to his or her Father, God. But the resemblance doesn't stop there. Through sanctification the Christians grow into the image of Christ as we quoted above in 1 John 3:2.
We like God's promises when they are light and blessed. But what about this one?: 33 I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!" John 16:33 (NRSV) The KJV puts it this way: 33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33 (KJV)
As a child of God we must accept persecution and tribulation as a promise of God. Persecution and tribulation are a part of our growing up, maturing in Christ, our sanctification. The Bible teaches a progression of growth through persecution and tribulation. James says: My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 (NRSV) Paul says: And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, Romans 5:3-4 (NRSV)
By the love spread abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit we rejoice in the testing of our faith because it brings experience, endurance, character, and hope. Thus, it is true what Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek, humble, lowly at heart and my burden is light.”
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Mon, Jul 2nd - 8:30AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! MEMORY CLINIC
Two elderly couples were enjoying friendly conversation when one of the men asked the other,” Fred, how was the memory clinic you went to last month?" "Outstanding," Fred replied. "They taught us all the latest psychological techniques: visualization, association, etc. It was great." "That's great! And what was the name of the clinic?" Fred went blank. He thought and thought, but couldn't remember. Then a smile broke across his face and he asked, "What do you call that flower with the long stem and thorns?"
"You mean a rose?"
"Yes, that's it!" He turned to his wife, "Rose, what was the name of that memory clinic?"
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Mon, Jul 2nd - 8:18AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
God’s Grace is accessed through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.*
*21as I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus. Acts 20:21 (NRSV)
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Sun, Jul 1st - 7:48AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! DIFFICULT QUESTION
There was a student who was desirous of taking admission for a study course.
He was smart enough to get through the written test, a GD and was to appear for the personal interview. Later, as the interview progressed, the interviewer found this boy to be bright since he could answer all the questions correctly. The interviewer got impatient and decided to corner the boy.
"Tell me your choice;" said he to the boy, "What's your choice: I shall either ask you ten easy questions or ONE real difficult. Think well before you make up your mind."
The boy thought for a while and said, "My choice is ONE real difficult question."
"Well, good luck to you, you have made your own choice!" said the man on the opposite side. Tell me: What comes first, Day or Night?"
The boy was jolted first but he waited for a while and said: "It's the DAY, sir."
"How???????" the interviewer was smiling ("At last, I got you!" he said to himself.)
"Sorry sir, you promised me that you will not ask me a SECOND difficult question!"
Admission for the course was thus secured.
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Sun, Jul 1st - 7:34AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
Those predisposed to do His will understand what it is, and by the grace of God will do it.* Neil Anderson
*17Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own. John 7:17 (NRSV)
6I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 (NRSV)
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Name: Doyle Purifoy
