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Hope - The Steadfast Anchor of the Soul

2007-10-23T20:52:00.000-07:00

What follows is a very long lesson I prepared recently on HOPE, one of the three eternal virtues described in 1 Corinthians 13.

My hope for you, is that you will find something good and instructive from God's Word, and that you will be encouraged in your HOPE. If you do not have this true hope, perhaps you need to seriously consider God's Word and the GRACE & LOVE & HOPE contained for you therein.

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What is the state of the world all around us?? Stress. Anxiety. Depression. Despondancy. War. Terrorism. Job Stress. Jobs moving overseas to India, China, and Mexico, and other places. Economic Changes. Markets are Up and Down. Housing Markets and Housing Costs are high, unpredictable, and volatile. Marital Stress. Divorce, over half of all marriages end in divorce now. Broken homes are the new norm. Children with problems. Rebellion. Promiscuity. Molestation. Abduction. Drug Abuse. Crime.

We have more and more news that is evil, dwelling on each and every evil detail for months on end. Each evil and titillating detail they can drudge up. Scott Peterson. OJ Simpson. And the list goes on and on…

This is the worlds view. Those in the world look outside themselves, and life is good for us if we have no problems, …or if all the things going on outside and around us are good and trouble free. We think if we only have enough money, and if we have all the things we want, and if we have money enough to cover all our problems, then, we will have no problems and life will be good and we will enjoy it.

WebMD states that An estimated 19 million American adults are living with major depression.

And Wikipedia says that:

In the United Kingdom the use of antidepressants increased by 234% in the 10 years up to 2002.[22] In the United States a 2005 independent report stated that 11% of women and 5% of men in the non-Insitutionalised population (2002) now take antidepressants. A 2007 study purports that 25% of Americans were overdiagnosed with depression, regardless of any medical intervention.[25] the findings were based on a national survey of 8,098 people. Surveys indicate that antidepressant use, …has increased rapidly in most developed countries, driven by an increased awareness of depression together with the availability and commercial promotion of new antidepressants.

We can see for ourselves by looking at those in the world that many have no hope, and they are both stressed and depressed over life and life’s struggles.

What does the bible say about those in the world? Do they have HOPE?

Ephesians 2:11-12
11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

And again in 1 Thessalonians 4:13
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.

God concludes in these two passages that those who are in the world have no hope.
By contrast the Christian has hope.

The word 'hope' (Gr., elpis)...
a. Means "a confident desire and expectation"
b. Hope is closely aligned with the word 'faith' - See Hebrews 11:1

Hebrews 11:1
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

"Hope" is the happy combination of desire plus expectation. Many of us desire things we never expect and most of us expect things we never desire. Hope, however, is the combination of desire and expectation. In this lesson we will discuss how the bible describes the Christian’s hope, and learn about it, meditate on it, and hopefully understand how we can get through anything we have to in this life.

In the bible we learn that Hope is one of the three eternal virtues…
1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

In Romans 12:9-20 (esp 12) we learn that the Christian is to REJOICE IN HOPE! This is a common theme where the bible talks about hope!
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

In the passage where God discusses the “ones” of our faith (on Lord, One Faith, One Baptism,…)
The Lord has given his people "one hope" (Eph. 4:4-6)

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

In 1 Thesalonians 5 our “Hope of Salvation” is described as part of the Christians armor – “our helmet”, in fact protecting our life and our head.

1 Thesalonians 5:4-11
But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

This “One Hope” as it is called in Ephesians is described in Hebrews as the "anchor of the soul" (Heb. 6:19).

Hebrews 6:13-20
For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”
And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

[comment inserted here:"By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord" (Gen. 22:16)]

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

This sure and steadfast hope enables us to persevere in the midst of adversity.
We who are Christians are heirs of that promise - a promise from God confirmed by an oath.

The certainty of its being fulfilled rests on two immutable things:
(a) God's promise and
(b) God's oath.

God cannot lie (Tit. 1:2). Hence, we have grounds for our hope - the immutable word of God.

Titus 1:1-3
“Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior;”

Parents were exhorted to teach their children the Lord's commandments "that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments" (Psa. 78:7)
and in Romans 15:4 it is written “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”

In the midst of life's uncertainties, there is only one fixed, immutable thing to which we can tie our hopes – God, His Word and the Promises therein! All else may fail us before life is over.

As Christians we are not guaranteed a wonderful and problem-free life on this earth.

Listen to Paul describe his circumstances and the circumstances of the apostles in these passages:

Paul was going through many trials and difficult times, yet was anchored in this hope when he wrote these. By these statements we learn that our hope does not center on what circumstances happen to us on the outside in our lives. They are not the product of a stress-free life, or a charmed, and blessed life free from problems.:

2 Corinthians 11:23-29
“…in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?”

1 Corinthians 4:8-16
8 You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you! 9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! 11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. 12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. 14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. 15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me.

2 Corinthians 7:5-6
For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,

2 Corinthians 1:8-11
For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.

Listen how Paul describes dealing with these awful and trying circumstances…

2 Corinthians 4:8-18
We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you. And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Here we see Paul dealing with all kinds of troubles, afflictions, hardships, etc. Yet we see how the hope and eternal view he expresses in 1 Cor 4 renews his inward man day by day.

Back in the passage in Hebrews 6, God describes hope as the anchor of the soul.

The metaphor compares the Christian to a boat on the sea; the Christian is on the sea of life. There are storms which threaten to drive his ship from its port - the storms of persecution, adversity, doubt, death, etc. Just as the boat's anchor reaches down to the bottom of the ocean and out of sight, the Christian's anchor ascends out of sight into heaven where it is there fixed.

To serve any purpose, an anchor must hold. It must be "sure and steadfast." When sailors cast out an anchor, they want it to take hold on the bottom of the sea to prevent drifting, to keep them from being driven upon rocks which might destroy their ship. The Christian's hope also must be "sure and steadfast." It must hold.

A Christian's hope serves to give him stability in the midst of the storm. During the storm, his ship may drift a little, but the fixed anchor will bring him back to his moorings. I have witnessed hope sustaining Christian’s during the storm. I have seen Christians struggle with illness, loss, death, and the death of a beloved child. In the midst of conflict, a Christian with fixed and rooted hope will stay faithful to God.

In 2 Thesalonians we learn that we have an everlasting consolation and a good hope

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.

Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

In Romans 15 God is called the “God of Hope….” ….That we may abound in hope!!

Romans 15:12,13
“And again, Isaiah says:
“ There shall be a root of Jesse; (SPEAKING OF JESUS)
And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles,
In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

JESUS CHRIST OUR HOPE
1 Timothy 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,

In reference to Jesus Christ, Paul uses a title which is very unique in the New Testament...
a. He calls Jesus "our hope" - 1 Ti 1:1
b. Nowhere else is Jesus so described, other than in Co 1:27

Yet it came to be a precious title used by some in the early church...
a. "Be of good cheer in God the Father and in Jesus Christ our common hope" - Ignatius, To The Ephesians 21:2
b. "Let us therefore persevere in our hope and the earnest of our righteousness, who is Jesus Christ." - Epistle of Polycarp 8

Colossians 1:24-29
I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

1 Peter 1:3-ff
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

We learn here that the hope we have should be apparent to others in the world around us!!! 1 Peter 3:13-15
And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

HOPE PURIFIES US….
1 John 3:1-3
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Titus 2:11-15
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

Titus 3:4-7
But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Hebrews 3:1-6
Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

HOPE IN RESSURECTION
In Acts 23:6 Paul cried out in the council that he was being judged concerning “the Hope and Resurrection of the dead”.

Hebrews 9:29-28
And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

There is a danger that we as Christians (like those in the world) can share the same view that *this* world and life is the time and place where we should be blessed with life and health and money and no problems or pain. No illness. No death. No strife. No worries. Yet we read in Revelations that that life is the one yet to come. We live here today in a cursed world, full of sickness, pain, death, living with pain in childbirth, and by the sweat of our brow. A world full of sin and evil and sinners with free will and capacity to hurt others. We read in Revelations 21 about a Christian’s hope for a trouble-free life, but it is not here in this life and in this place….

HOPE IN HEAVEN
Revelation 21:3-4
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

And we read in 1 Corinthians 15:50-58
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “ O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Colossians 1:3-5
3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,

Hebrews 10:19-25
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:32-39
But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: “ For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”
But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

WE HAVE A HOPE LAID UP IN HEAVEN
Colosians 1:3-5
We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,

WE HAVE HOPE BECAUSE WE HAVE JESUS AS OUR INTERCESSOR
Hebrews 7:22-25
by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

WE HAVE HOPE BECAUSE THE SPIRIT INTERCEDES FOR US
WE HAVE HOPE BECAUSE IF GOD IS FOR US WHO CAN BE AGAINST US
WE HAVE HOPE BECAUSE THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR OUR GOOD
Romans 8:14-39
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us[a] with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “ For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

WE HAVE HOPE IN TEMPTATION
1 Corinthians 10:13
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

WE HAVE HOPE IN PRAYER TO A GOD WHO CARES FOR US WHEN WE HAVE TROUBLES AND CARES!
1 Peter 5:7
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

WE HAVE HOPE IN THE WONDER OF GOD’S GOODNESS TOWARDS US
1 Corinthians 2:9
“ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Ephesians 3:14-21
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

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Summary (OUR HOPE):

Living – 1 Peter 1:3
Blessed – Titus 2:13
Good - 2 Thess 2:16
Better - Heb 7:19
Sure and Steadfast - Heb 6:19
One of the great virtues - 1 Cor 13:13

(OUR HOPE) Produces:

Purity
- 1 John 3:3

Patience
- Romans 8:25

Courage
- Romans 5:4,5

Joy
- Romans 12:12

Salvation
- Romans 8:23

Assurance
- Heb 6:18,19

Stability
- Colosians 1:23

23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Source of Our Hope:

God’s Word
- Psalms 119:42-81
- Romans 15:4

God’s Promises
- Acts 26:6,7
- Titus 1:2

Christ
- Colosians 1:27
- 1 Timothy 1:1

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And how does the bible describe those who trust in the world and those who trust in God?

Jeremiah 17:5-10
Thus says the Lord:
“Cursed is the man who trusts in man
And makes flesh his strength,
Whose heart departs from the Lord.
For he shall be like a shrub in the desert,
And shall not see when good comes,
But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness,
In a salt land which is not inhabited.
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
“The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
I, the Lord, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways,
According to the fruit of his doings.

Lamentations 3:20-26
20 My soul still remembers
And sinks within me.
21 This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”
25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord.

----------------------------------------------------
Psalm 33:13-22

The LORD looks from heaven;
He sees all the sons of men.

From the place of His dwelling He looks
On all the inhabitants of the earth;

He fashions their hearts individually;
He considers all their works.

No king is saved by the multitude of an army;
A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.

A horse is a vain hope for safety;
Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.
Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope in His mercy,

To deliver their soul from death,
And to keep them alive in famine.

Our soul waits for the LORD;
He is our help and our shield.

For our heart shall rejoice in Him,
Because we have trusted in His holy name.

Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us,
Just as we hope in You.

Psalm 38:15For in You, O LORD, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God.

Psalm 39:7“And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.

Psalm 42:5,Psalm 42:11 - Psalm 43:5
Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.

Psalm 71:5For You are my hope, O Lord GOD; You are my trust from my youth.

Psalm 71:14But I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more.

Psalm 78:7That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments;

Psalm 119:43And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, For I have hoped in Your ordinances.

Psalm 119:49Remember the word to Your servant, Upon which You have caused me to hope.

Psalm 119:74Those who fear You will be glad when they see me, Because I have hoped in Your word.

Psalm 119:81My soul faints for Your salvation, But I hope in Your word.

Psalm 119:114You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.

Psalm 119:116Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.

Psalm 119:147I rise before the dawning of the morning, And cry for help; I hope in Your word.

Psalm 119:166LORD, I hope for Your salvation, And I do Your commandments.

Psalm 130:5I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope.

Psalm 130:7O Israel, hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption.

Psalm 131:3O Israel, hope in the LORD From this time forth and forever.

Psalm 146:5Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the LORD his God,

Psalm 147:11The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy.

Proverbs 10:28The hope of the righteous will be gladness, But the expectation of the wicked will perish.

Our Hope is in God:
Our Hope is in Jesus:
Our Hope is in God’s Word, God’s Plan, and God’s Promises:
Our Hope is in God’s Boundless Love for His Children…
God is Almighty – nothing is too hard for Him
God Loves us – Nothing can separate us from that Love & our Father and Jesus has gone to prepared a place for us so that we can be with Him. Every good and perfect gift descends from our Father in Heaven.
God Knows all things – No surprises, though we don’t understand, He has a plan
God is Eternal and Timeless – He knows the end & outcome before we even get there
God Did not spare his only begotten Son in order to save us
God Defends us and Protects us
God …Mediates for us (Jesus and the Holy Spirit)
He made us His Children, and gave us a spirit that cries out ABBA, Father (or Daddy)
He created us in His image, and planned for us to be conformed to the image of Christ – and transformed
He predestined us with an eternal purpose, before creation

Recent Catholic Proclamations!

2007-07-10T20:38:00.001-07:00

Well, I read online on CNN today some amazing things (Vatican: Non-Catholics 'wounded' by not recognizing pope http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/07/10/pope.churches.reut/index.html).
Hmmm... WOW! Not to defend the beliefs of the Orthodox or most Protestant religions... or to attack Catholics, but STILL!!! This really demands some response from me.

I was born and raised a Catholic, but I am Catholic no more. Much of my family and my folks and relatives are still Catholic. Most of our relatives and my families dearest friends are Catholic too.

I have known and loved and been loved by some of the nicest people you'd ever want to ever meet in this life - all of these Catholics. And so I understand what it is to be Catholic. To be raised Catholic. To be an Altar Boy. To go to parochial school. To have an appreciation for a reverence of formalized worship in ways non-Catholics might not. I still get my ire up whenever anyone slanders or speaks sideways about Catholics. Most don't even know a Catholic and look down their nose at them when they speak about them.

However I really got a little put out by this latest bit from the Catholic Church leadership.

They act like and claim they are the One True Church - Christ's Church itself! They act like other believers are second class and sub-rate. Well let's look at a few things here...

How many Catholics bring their bibles to mass? How many read the bible? How many even possess a bible?

There is a smugness about the way that Catholics believe that they are beyond needing to know the scriptures on a personal basis. Like as if the priest will read and understand the Word of God for them, and will tell them what they need to know at church on Sunday.

What does the bible say about itself?

Jesus answered and said to them, “Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?
Mark 12:24

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
Romans 1:16

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17

This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Galatians 3:2

So if the word of God is the power of God unto the salvation of our souls, why isn't there the proper emphasis in reading and understanding it at a personal level in the Catholic Church? Why aren't priests everywhere directing their congregations to read it? Study it? Learn it?

Hmmm.

Perhaps because things they will read will not jive well with the things that the church is telling them.

Baptism for Babies: No commandment or direct example of this. In fact, the Ethiopian eunich was told "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest". A baby is not capable of reptentance, understanding, or faith - prerequisites for baptism into Christ and into His Church.

Calling priests "Father": Jesus said, "Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven."
Matthew 23:9

Other things not found in scripture: Limbo, Pergatory, Confession of sins to a Priest, Penance being given by the Priest, Catholic Priests, Nuns, Earning or Meriting Salvation (Good outweighing Evil), worship of saints, worship of Mary, creating a special class of saints created by the Catholic church, etc

More Things Forbidden in the Bible but Practiced by the Catholic Church:

Ritualized Rote Worship: Jesus said, "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words."
Matthew 6:7

Bishops Being Unmarried and Without Children:
Paul said to Titus in Titus 1:5-9,...
"For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you— if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict."

and Paul also told Timothy in 1 Timothy 3:2, "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife"

and there are many, many more differences between the Catholic Church and God's Holy Scripture!

Why then do you suppose they do things the way they do? Why no bibles in Sunday mass? Why no bible study? Why bring back the Latin mass? So ritualized worship in a dead language can be performed as another mysterious thing that only the priests can understand??!!

ARGH!! I so wish that Catholics would look to God for the simple truth found in His Word! I truely love and respect Catholics, but cannot respect the error they teach and practice. In truth, most are sincere, loving and decent folks - the ones I know. They want to do the right things. They have been taught all their lives what those right things are.

Oh yeah. I almost forgot. This is a biggie.

In Matthew 16, where the Catholics say Jesus called the apostle Peter "Cephas" and said "On this rock I will build my church".

Jesus wasn't talking about Peter! "The Rock" is that "Jesus is the Christ" and the son of the "Living God"!!!

He was talking about what Peter had just said previously by Divine revelation from God the Father in heaven - that Peter had just answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ! Jesus had asked "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" and then asked his disciples "But who do you say that I am?"

THAT was the topic of conversation. THAT is the Rock the Church is built on.

And if Peter was the First Pope in the way you claim - then why didn't he act like it?!!?? Read Acts 11 and Acts 15. Peter did not preside over the other elders and apostles like a Pope! Not when large matters of doctrine were to be decided!

I apologize for upsetting you if you have been upset or offended or hurt in reading this. I do not apologize for saying **anything** that the Word of God says (Let God be true and every man a liar), but in the feelings you might have experienced reading this if you, like me were born and raised a Catholic. If you know and love and are loved by Catholics. If those who love you most in this world and all you know about God are Catholics and the Catholic Church. It is not my intention to upset you or anger you or frustrate you. It is to direct you to God's Holy Word and what it says. To truth. God's truth and not man's.

And as to if the Catholic Church is the One True Church...

Those that do what God's Word says to do are the members of His Church, and are His disciples and "Christians" indeed! They are His mother and brothers....

"Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
1 John 2:3-6

"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome."
1 John 5:2-3

Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd. And it was told Him by some, who said, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.” But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”
Luke 8:19-21

"These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."
Acts 17:11

I love Catholic people and desire that all people everywhere (Catholic and non-Catholic) come to the truth revealed in God's Word!

A Blessing and A Curse

2007-07-08T14:02:00.000-07:00

“Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you today; and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known. Deuteronomy 11:26-28

"And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:1-12

Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world
Matthew 25:34

“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels
Matthew 25:41

Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
Revelations 22:14

Fear God and the Wrath of God! REPENT!!!!

2007-05-11T23:04:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe all the liberties churches, organizations, and individuals are taking with displaying something that purports to be something that God Himself is supposedly saying, but content that is not scripture and is not God's Word!

I have seen a rash of signs along the roads as I travel (often in front of churches) with one message after the other as if they came from God Himself. Many actually are indicating that they are signed by or quoting God, as there is a little " - God" at the bottom. Ocassionally I see them on Billboards and on bumper stickers.

Where has the fear of the Lord gone? Doesn't anyone fear the wrath of God anymore, that even preachers and religious people are not afraid to speak in God's name, and to put words in God's mouth (that He never ever uttered)??!!!!

I cannot help but remember how serious the Lord God is about the use of His name, about the seriousness of the Words that He has spoken, and the awesome fear we should have in paying attention to, and obeying, and revering the revealed Word of God in His Word - the Bible.

I think of those who offered strange fire before the Lord and were consumed by fire. Those who offered prohibited worship before the Lord and were struck with leprosy. We should be so careful with the Word of God, ...to understand that we do not have the authority to change one jot or one tittle of it. To understand that not one Word goes forth from His mouth and returns void. That if you have to believe on or bet on anything, you can believe the Word of God - that it is truth, and that what God has spoken - it will be done.

I urge one and all to be careful when quoting scripture. To be careful to be literal in the speaking of God's word. To be careful and respectful and reverential before God as we read and share His word. In truth we have no rights to speak for God nor to attribute anything to Him that He did not say. And we need to fear His righteous and certain judgement if we do not do so, or if we take this kind of activity without the seriousness one should possess in doing so.

I would tell you tonight that I implore you to:
REPENT OF EVIL, FEAR GOD, AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS!!!!
Ecc 12:13, Deut 6, Deut 8

"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
Hebrews 10:31

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! "
Revelation 22:12-20

John 14:1-4

2007-02-25T21:14:00.000-08:00

Let not your heart be troubled;
you believe in God,
believe also in Me.

In My Father’s house are many mansions;
if it were not so, I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again and receive you to Myself;
that where I am, there you may be also.

And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

This Earthly Tent

2007-02-19T17:49:00.000-08:00

Philipians 1:22 (19-24)
For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.

The Greek word for “Depart” used in Philipians chapter one has a literal meaning to “take down ones tent and be off”.

All of us live in a tent. Our spirits and souls reside in our earthly bodies like someone might dwell in a tent.

2 Peter 1:13,14
Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.

Hebrews 11:8-16: Shows Abraham had the right idea about this life.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

This was written in the beginning of the second century;
"Christians," says the writer, "differ not from other men in country, or speech, or customs. They do not live in cities of their own, or speak in any peculiar dialect, or adopt any strange modes of living. They inhabit their native countries, but as sojourners; they take their part in all burdens, as if citizens, and in all sufferings, as if they were strangers. In foreign countries they recognize a home, and in every home they see a foreign country. They marry like other men, but do not disown their children. They obey the established laws, but they go beyond them in the tenor of their lives. They love all men, and are persecuted by all; they are not known, and they are condemned; they are poor, and make many rich; they are dishonoured, yet in dishonour they are glorified; they are slandered, and they are cleared; they are called names, and they bless. By the Jews they are assailed as aliens, by the Greeks they are persecuted, nor can they who hate them say why.”

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 through 2 Corinthians 5: 1-11
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.

What we can learn from God describing our life in this body being like dwelling in a tent:

Our journey here is only temporary. A tent is only a temporary dwelling. It has no foundations!
Our Body in this life described as a tent tells us that life is very short!
There is some urgency to this matter of life in this tent!

James 4:13-16
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

Philippians 1:21, 23
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

Psalms 90;9b-12
We finish our years like a sigh.
The days of our lives are seventy years;
And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,
Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow;
For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Who knows the power of Your anger?
For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath.
So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Job 7:6
My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle

Job 9:25-26 25
Now my days are swifter than a runner;
They flee away, they see no good.
They pass by like swift ships,
Like an eagle swooping on its prey.

Heb 9:27
And as it is appointed for men to die once,
but after this the judgment

Ecclesiastes 12:1
Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth,
Before the difficult days come,
And the years draw near when you say,
“ I have no pleasure in them”

Matthew 24:44
“Therefore you also be ready,
for the Son of Man is coming at an hour
you do not expect.”

Phil 3:20
For our citizenship is in heaven,
from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ

2 Peter 3:10-14
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;

Are you ready to put off your tent,
and stand before the Lord God in judgment?

Have you considered My servant Job?

2007-02-06T21:01:00.000-08:00

Then the LORD said to Satan,

“Have you considered My servant Job,
that there is none like him on the earth,
a blameless and upright man,
one who fears God and shuns evil?”

Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house; and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, when the Sabeans raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking,...

another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking,...

another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking,...

another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head;
and he fell to the ground and worshiped.

And he said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.

Job 1:8, 13-22

Matthew 25:31-46

2007-01-01T16:00:00.000-08:00

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Isaiah 58:6-12

2007-01-01T15:54:00.000-08:00

“ Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;
You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
“ If you take away the yoke from your midst,
The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
If you extend your soul to the hungry
And satisfy the afflicted soul,
Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,
And your darkness shall be as the noonday.
The LORD will guide you continually,
And satisfy your soul in drought,
And strengthen your bones;
You shall be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
Those from among you
Shall build the old waste places;
You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,
The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.

The Lord is the Strength of my life...

2006-11-15T20:08:00.000-08:00

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13

But Jesus looked at them and said to them,
“With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:26

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 18:2

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1

The Wonderous Ways of God

2006-11-12T12:58:00.000-08:00

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

For who has known the mind of the LORD?

Or who has become His counselor?”

Or who has first given to Him

And it shall be repaid to him?”

For of Him and through Him

and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Romans 11:33-36

ISAIAH 55

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance.

Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you— The sure mercies of David. Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people, A leader and commander for the people. Surely you shall call a nation you do not know, And nations who do not know you shall run to you, Because of the LORD your God, And the Holy One of Israel; For He has glorified you.”

Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

“ For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. “ For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. “ For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace;

The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; And it shall be to the LORD for a name, For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

Acts 18:23-31

2006-10-30T23:30:00.000-08:00

Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing,
Him I proclaim to you:
God, who made the world and everything in it,
since He is Lord of heaven and earth,

does not dwell in temples made with hands.
Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands,
as though He needed anything,
since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.

And He has made from one blood every nation of men
to dwell on all the face of the earth,
and has determined their preappointed times
and the boundaries of their dwellings,

so that they should seek the Lord,
in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him,
though He is not far from each one of us;
for in Him we live and move and have our being,

as also some of your own poets have said,
‘For we are also His offspring.’

Therefore, since we are the offspring of God,
we ought not to think that the Divine Nature
is like gold or silver or stone,
something shaped by art and man’s devising.

Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked,
but now commands all men everywhere to repent,
because He has appointed a day
on which He will judge the world
in righteousness
by the Man whom He has ordained.

He has given assurance of this to all
by raising Him from the dead.”

Psalm 139

2006-10-30T23:04:00.000-08:00

O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.

You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.

You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.

Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?

If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.

If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,”
Even the night shall be light about me;
Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;

When I awake, I am still with You.

Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God!
Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.
For they speak against You wickedly;
Your enemies take Your name in vain.
Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
I hate them with perfect hatred;
I count them my enemies.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.

This same Jesus...

2006-09-12T20:43:00.000-07:00

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said,

“Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

Acts 1:9-11

He shall direct your paths...

2006-09-11T19:56:00.000-07:00

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;

Fear the LORD and depart from evil.

Proverbs 3:5-7

Fruitful or Fruitless?

2006-09-10T20:14:00.000-07:00

--OR--

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

John 15:1-8

--OR--

Sheep or Goats?

2006-09-10T14:24:00.000-07:00

--- OR ---

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.

All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’"

“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:"

Matthew 25:31-36,41

Do Not Be Deceived...

2006-09-10T14:00:00.000-07:00

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?

Do not be deceived.

Neither fornicators,
nor idolaters,
nor adulterers,
nor homosexuals,
nor sodomites,
nor thieves,
nor covetous,
nor drunkards,
nor revilers,
nor extortioners

will inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Overcoming, or Falling Short...

2006-09-10T13:50:00.000-07:00

"He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the...

cowardly,
unbelieving,
abominable,
murderers,
sexually immoral,
sorcerers,
idolaters,
and all liars

shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Revelation 21:7,8

Press Towards the Goal of the Upward Call of God

2006-09-10T13:40:00.000-07:00

"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him,

...not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind..."

Philipians 3:7-15

Be a Doer...

2006-09-10T13:28:00.000-07:00

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ...If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

James 1:21,22,26

Judge Not, Condemn Not, Forgive...

2006-09-10T13:24:00.000-07:00

“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Luke 6:37-38

Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

James 4:11,12

Do You?

2006-09-10T13:15:00.000-07:00

"...make your boast in God, and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law.

You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself?

You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?

You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery?

You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?

You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?

For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written."

Romans 2:17b-24

Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

2006-04-16T14:22:00.000-07:00

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

Matthew 18:1-5

The Fruit of the Spirit

2006-04-14T07:04:00.000-07:00

But the fruit of the Spirit is
love,
joy,
peace,
longsuffering,
gentleness,
goodness,
faith,
meekness,
temperance:
against such there is no law.

Galations 5:22-23 (KJV)

2 Peter 1:2-15

2006-04-14T06:42:00.000-07:00

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.

The Importance of Love

2006-03-22T04:33:00.000-08:00

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:3 (New King James Version)

But the cowardly...

2006-03-22T04:31:00.000-08:00

"But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Revelation 21:8 (New King James Version)

Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words...

2006-03-22T04:28:00.000-08:00

"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

Mark 8:38 (New King James Version)

The I AM's of Jesus Christ

2006-03-19T19:50:00.000-08:00

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
John 8:56-58

He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
Matthew 27:43

And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
John 6:35

The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.”
John 6:41

I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”
John 6:51

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
John 8:12

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
John 9:5

Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
John 10:7

I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
John 10:9

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep
John 10:11

I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
John 10:14

do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?
John 10:36

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
John 11:25

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:6

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
John 15:1

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
John 15:5

And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me,“Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
Revelation 1:17

I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.
Revelation 22:16

Give the more earnest heed... Lest we drift away...

2006-03-18T11:23:00.000-08:00

Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

Hebrews 2:1-4

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast...

2006-03-17T03:36:00.000-08:00

Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Our Compassionate High Priest Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Heb 4:11-16

Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Heb 6:17-20

by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.
Hebrews 7:24-28

The Lord is my sheperd

2006-03-17T03:26:00.000-08:00

The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

Psalms 23

Isaiah 53

2006-03-14T23:54:00.000-08:00

Who has believed our report?And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked— But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul,and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

The LORD your God Carried you...

2006-03-14T23:50:00.000-08:00

...you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.
Deuteronomy 1:31

2006-01-13T23:43:00.000-08:00

1 John 4:7-11, 20-21
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

1 Corinthians 13
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind;
love does not envy;
love does not parade itself,
is not puffed up;
does not behave rudely,
does not seek its own,
is not provoked,
thinks no evil;
does not rejoice in iniquity,
but rejoices in the truth;
bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things,
endures all things.

Love never fails.

But whether there are prophecies, they will fail;
whether there are tongues, they will cease;
whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is perfect has come,
then that which is in part will be done away.

When I was a child,
I spoke as a child,
I understood as a child,
I thought as a child;
but when I became a man,
I put away childish things.
For now we see in a mirror, dimly,
but then face to face.
Now I know in part,
but then I shall know just as I also am known.

And now abide faith, hope, love,
these three;

but the greatest of these is love.

Matt 5:3-16, 38-48

2006-01-07T19:41:00.000-08:00

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

1 Thes 5:8-24

2006-01-02T11:49:00.000-08:00

But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.

Be at peace among yourselves.
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly,
comfort the fainthearted,
uphold the weak,
be patient with all.

See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone,
but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing,
in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Do not quench the Spirit.
Do not despise prophecies.
Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

1 Chronicles 16:8-12,23-36

2006-01-02T11:39:00.000-08:00

Oh, give thanks to the LORD!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples!

Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works!

Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!

Seek the LORD and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!

Remember His marvelous works which He has done,
His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,

Sing to the LORD, all the earth;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.

Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples.

For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised;
He is also to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the LORD made the heavens.

Honor and majesty are before Him;
Strength and gladness are in His place.

Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
Give to the LORD glory and strength.

Give to the LORD the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come before Him.
Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!

Tremble before Him, all the earth.
The world also is firmly established,
It shall not be moved.

Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
And let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns."

Let the sea roar, and all its fullness;
Let the field rejoice, and all that is in it.

Then the trees of the woods shall rejoice before the LORD,
For He is coming to judge the earth.

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

And say, "Save us, O God of our salvation;
Gather us together, and deliver us from the Gentiles,
To give thanks to Your holy name,
To triumph in Your praise."

Blessed be the LORD God of Israel
From everlasting to everlasting!

And all the people said, "Amen!" and praised the LORD.

Love of Darkness and Love of This Present Life

2005-12-30T14:39:00.000-08:00

John 3:19
And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

John 12:25
He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Eternal Life or Punishment

2005-12-29T05:56:00.000-08:00

Galations 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Revelation 21:7,8
He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Ephesians 5:3-7
But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.

Matthew 25:31-46
“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Proverbs 3

2005-11-28T05:45:00.001-08:00

My son, do not forget my law,
But let your heart keep my commands;
For length of days and long life
And peace they will add to you.
Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
And so find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones.

Honor the LORD with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.

My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor detest His correction;
For whom the LORD loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding;
For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver,
And her gain than fine gold.
She is more precious than rubies,
And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.
Length of days is in her right hand,
In her left hand riches and honor.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who retain her.

The LORD by wisdom founded the earth;
By understanding He established the heavens;
By His knowledge the depths were broken up,
And clouds drop down the dew.

My son, let them not depart from your eyes—
Keep sound wisdom and discretion;
So they will be life to your soul
And grace to your neck.
Then you will walk safely in your way,
And your foot will not stumble.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
Do not be afraid of sudden terror,
Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
For the LORD will be your confidence,
And will keep your foot from being caught.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in the power of your hand to do so.
Do not say to your neighbor,
“ Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you.

Do not devise evil against your neighbor,
For he dwells by you for safety’s sake.
Do not strive with a man without cause,
If he has done you no harm.
Do not envy the oppressor,
And choose none of his ways;
For the perverse person is an abomination to the LORD,
But His secret counsel is with the upright.

The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the home of the just.
Surely He scorns the scornful,
But gives grace to the humble.
The wise shall inherit glory,
But shame shall be the legacy of fools.

Psalm 34:1-7, 15-22

2005-11-26T07:55:00.000-08:00

I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.
I sought the LORD, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.

The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry.
The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them all.
He guards all his bones;
Not one of them is broken.
Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
The LORD redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.

Psalm 1

2005-11-26T06:59:00.000-08:00

Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Your throne, O God, is forever and ever

2005-11-19T08:04:00.000-08:00

Psalm 11:4
The LORD is in His holy temple,
The LORD's throne is in heaven;
His eyes behold,
His eyelids test the sons of men.

Psalm 45:6
Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.

Psalm 103:19-20
The LORD has established His throne in heaven,
And His kingdom rules over all.

Bless the LORD, you His angels,
Who excel in strength, who do His word,
Heeding the voice of His word.

Revelation 20:11-12

2005-11-19T07:55:00.000-08:00

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.

And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life.

And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.

Revelation 14:6-7 and 12-16

2005-11-19T07:27:00.000-08:00

Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth - to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people - saying with a loud voice,

"Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water."

Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'"

"Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them."

Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe." So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

2005-11-19T07:18:00.000-08:00

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

James 5:7-9

2005-11-19T07:08:00.000-08:00

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.

See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient.

Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned.

Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!

The Words We Speak

2005-11-16T04:51:00.000-08:00

Proverbs 15:1,2
"A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness."

Proverbs 29:11
"A fool uttereth all his mind; but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards."

Proverbs 12:22
"Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord; but they that deal truly are His delight."

Proverbs 12:18
"There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword; but the tongue of the wise is health."

Proverbs 16:13
"Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right."

Proverbs 10:11
"The mouth of a righteous man is well of life; but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked."

Proverbs 10:20
"The tongue of the just is as choice silver; the heart of the wicked is little worth."

Proverbs 15:4
"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life; but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit."

Proverbs 25:11
"A word fitly spoke is like apples of gold in pictures of silver."

Matthew 12:36
"But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment."

Matthew 12:34
"O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."

Luke 6:45
"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh."

James 1:26
"If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless."

John 17

2005-11-07T05:22:00.000-08:00

Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

"I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.

"I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

"But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

"Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."

Matthew 6:5-15

2005-11-07T05:14:00.000-08:00

And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

John 14:1-3

2005-11-05T10:00:00.000-08:00

"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."

Hebrews 13:5-6 (New King James Version)

2005-11-04T05:32:00.000-08:00

For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say:

" The LORD is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?"

A Mediator Who Sympathizes With our Weaknesses and Is Able to Help Us

2005-11-04T05:25:00.000-08:00

1 Timothy 2:1-7 (New King James Version)
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle-I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying-a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Hebrews 2:17-18 (New King James Version)
Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

Hebrews 4:11-16 (New King James Version)
Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Isaiah 55:1-13

2005-10-29T08:02:00.000-07:00

"Ho! Everyone who thirsts,
Come to the waters;
And you who have no money,
Come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price.
Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And let your soul delight itself in abundance.
Incline your ear, and come to Me.
Hear, and your soul shall live;
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you
The sure mercies of David.
Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people,
A leader and commander for the people.
Surely you shall call a nation you do not know,
And nations who do not know you shall run to you,
Because of the LORD your God,
And the Holy One of Israel;
For He has glorified you."
Seek the LORD while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the LORD,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
"For you shall go out with joy,
And be led out with peace;
The mountains and the hills
Shall break forth into singing before you,
And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree,
And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree;
And it shall be to the LORD for a name,
For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."

2 Timothy 1:6-14

2005-10-29T07:52:00.000-07:00

Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

Romans 8:28 - ff

2005-10-25T17:46:00.000-07:00

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written:

'For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.'

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

2005-10-15T12:32:00.000-07:00

Matthew 25:1-13
“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

What is the meaning of this parable? Of whom is Jesus referring? Obviously all of the ten virgins are already Christians. This is evident as they already are all called "virgins", are all carrying lamps, and are all watching for the return of the bridegroom (Jesus). Also because the five unwise virgins call unto the bridegroom saying, "Lord, Lord, open to us!".

What a terrible situation to be in. To have the bridegroom return and to not be ready and watching and waiting. To be shut out of the wedding feast. And to have the bridegroom declare unto you - 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.'

What does this mean to us as Christians? We need to be ready. We need to be watching. We need to be living 100% true, 100% committed, 100% repentant, 100% obedient lives. We need to spend regular time in prayer with God, and regular time in His word. And we need to live all the time, day and night, as if we are expecting the immenent return of our Lord. He may come today, or tomorrow. He may return in this very hour.

Will you be found watching and waiting, ready and prepared for His return?

He may not even return in your lifetime, but the hour of death might come upon you without warning, and you may find yourself with the books closed and prepared to stand in judgment. Our lives are like a vapor.

James 4:14
For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a
little time and then vanishes away.

Are you living a life of discipleship like you mean it? Are you living a life of submission and obedience to God's Word and God's Will?

Revelation 22: 10b - 17

for the time is at hand. He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

Are you Hot, Cold, or Lukewarm in Your Service to God?

2005-10-14T14:54:00.000-07:00

“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’”

Revelation 3:14-22 (New King James Version)

Psalm 103:12

2005-10-08T18:07:00.000-07:00

As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:12 (New King James Version)

Psalm 32:1-2

2005-10-08T18:02:00.000-07:00

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit.

Psalm 32:1-2 (New King James Version)

Psalm 118 (v19 - ff, excerpts)

2005-10-08T12:35:00.000-07:00

Open to me the gates of righteousness;
I will go through them,
And I will praise the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD,
Through which the righteous shall enter.

I will praise You,
For You have answered me,
And have become my salvation.

The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the LORD's doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

You are my God, and I will praise You;
You are my God, I will exalt You.

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

Psalms 118 (excerpts, v19 - ff)

O God, You are my God!

2005-10-08T12:25:00.000-07:00

O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
Psalms 63:1 (NKJV)

Study to show THYSELF Approved!

2005-10-08T11:02:00.000-07:00

I was reading the bible the other day and read in Second Timothy, where it says:

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
2 Timothy 2:15 (King James Version)

The New King James says to "be diligent to present yourself approved to God".

An important reminder that we all need to spend regular time in careful and diligent study of God's Word for our own edification, learning, and comparing the reality of our own selves and lives to what God's Will is as revealed in His Word.

A preacher told the story in a bible study class the other day of a new preacher who wanted to save everyone in the town in which he had begun his work as an evangelist, preacher and teacher. Eventually after long and hard labor, and some level of discouragement, he decided he needed to focus just on the souls within his local congregation, and just doing all he could to see that as many of them made it to heaven as possible. After another long period of time he gradually grew discouraged in that effort to some degree. He then decided that what he absolutely needed to do was focus on his own immediate family and ensuring that he did everything possible and worked as hard as possible to make sure that they all made it to heaven. And finally when even that proved to be discouraging, he finally decided that what he needed to do was focus on himself, and trying to make sure that in the end, that he made it to heaven.

I think that in the end if we all focus on ourselves first, get the planks out of our own eyes, repair and repent from the wrongs that we do in our lives, and make our own hearts and lives right with God, we may be properly equipped to help our families, local congregations, and those round and about us in the world.

We need to spend time in study, prayer, and worship before God. We need to examine ourselves with a high degree of careful and critical review against the commandments, judgments, precepts, and wisdom of God's perfect Word. In the end what matters is that we ourselves do not hear those words "Depart from me, I never knew you" in the day of judgment.

In James 3:1-2, it says:
"My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things..."

and in James 1:21-27 it says:
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Online??!! Christian (Huh!)

2005-10-08T10:58:00.000-07:00

It's sad to say, but true. The "Online" Christian has been spending very little time online lately as work and family and church and sleep and life events have consumed what little time I have had. I have meant to get back to this time and again, but everytime I think I will, something else comes along and devours my time.

I am going to try to do better - but bear with me as I work to post more regularly.

- OC

"Lord, Lord..."

2005-05-30T19:09:00.000-07:00

The posting following this one contains a selection of verses from the Book of Matthew that are interesting today.

Many folks seeking the truth use all the wrong benchmarks to find a "good church" for their family to assemble with, and to worship with. Or to find a place to learn the truth and teach their children the truth - from God's word. They sometimes seek to enter by the "wide gate", for example, when Jesus told us to enter by the narrow gate.

They look for the biggest church buildings with the largest groups of people. They look for churches with varied and large social programs. They look for the church with the best social standing in the community. For the most charismatic and engaging speaker. Or for the church that is the most accepting of the most people, regardless of their situation. In fact, those entering through the "wide gate" probably is inclusive of many folks who don't go to church at all.

Some are looking for the most demonstrative examples of God's power - healings, and perhaps other miraculous things. Or for members that cry out, "Lord, Lord" in impressive speach that declares their service to and submission to God.

Jesus said that many will call to Him in the day of judgement, "Lord, Lord", and will talk about all the things they have done in His name. Jesus shows us here that it is not enough to call Him "Lord, Lord...", nor is it necessarily important that you have done wonderful miraculous works in His name.

What Jesus says next is really striking to me. He says, "I never knew you" and "depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!". So by God's word, His judgement is that calling Him Lord in name only, and practicing lawlessness at the same time is a recipe for disaster. These people indicate that they thought they knew God, practiced great works in His name, yet Jesus didn't know them and rejected them.

What actually is important is to (1) hear these sayings of His and to (2) do them. And it is important that God recognizes us and knows us.

The VERY NEXT thought presented by Jesus starts out saying "Therefore,..." or in consideration of this horrible state that some may find themselves in at the day of judgement - "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them..." will have built their house (or perhaps a metaphor for our life) on a solid rock.

In the epistle of first John, there is a similar thought...

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
1 John 1:5-10

And in 1 John 2:3-6 it says:

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

SO, what I have learned from this is that if I want to assemble and worship with "True Christians" it is not the most important thing to find those with the most impressive church building, or those with the most striking religious speech or manner, or the most demonstrative works in the Lord's name, but to find those that are willing to hear God's word and to do it.

And so in my life (and in your life too) the most important thing if we want to live as "True Christians" is to pay attention to the things that really matter. Hearing what God's word says, and doing it.

And if I do this, I will not be likely with the crowd (entering in by the wide gate), but will probably be with the few (entering in by the narrow gate). I may or may not always be following after the religion of my father or mother, or grandparents. Or the religion of my boss, or of the folks with the highest social standing in town. Or attending necessarily the largest and fanciest church with the best features and most people.

And it is not the creeds of man, the traditions of my forefathers, or the precepts of any particular church that matter most. It is God's word that matters. Jesus outlines the two things we need to do: (1) Hear it. Sometimes we don't want to hear it. Sometimes we may think we know better. Maybe we don't even want to take the time to "listen" to God's word, in our busy schedules. (2) Do it. As it says in 1 John 2, if we say "I know Him" and do not keep His commandments, we are "a liar".

By hearing and doing God's word, and by seeking those who do the same, I will be truely taking "the road less traveled". And only in true submission of our will before Him, to hear His word and to do it, do we truely declare Him Lord of our lives. And only in obedient living do we experience true Christian living.

Enter by the Narrow Gate - Build Your House on Solid Ground

2005-05-30T18:36:00.000-07:00

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

"Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

"But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Matthew 7:13-29

Not Willing that Any Should Perish

2005-05-30T11:40:00.000-07:00

For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? Luke 9:25

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 2 Peter 3:8-10

Everything is Just About the Same, Right?

2005-05-30T10:06:00.000-07:00

I have heard many people suggest that all faiths and beliefs are about equal and that we should hold and respect what everyone believes in equal standing. It is as if they are saying that there are many paths to find God, and none is any better than the other, or that they all work about the same.

So in essence what they are saying is that no matter what you believe, if you are Muslim, Hindu, a Buddhist, or other believing person (irregardless of the beliefs - and some would include the belief systems of an atheist or agnostic,) that all are equivalent in their beliefs, and that none is superior or inferior to the other. Others have a variation on this theme, believing that only various Christian religions or denominations are o.k., but those who believe otherwise are not o.k. Some take it so far as to say that only those of their particular denomination or faith are o.k., and all others are not o.k.

The thinking goes along the lines that God is good, and full of love, and He loves each of us, and a good God couldn't condemn those whom He loved to any type of damnation, punishment, etc.

Well, we can't all be right? Can we? For if we all are correct, in believing different things including things that are in opposition to one another, then there is no such thing as a right path or a wrong path or a right belief or wrong belief, or right articles of faith or wrong articles of faith.

How do we learn then what the truth is? I suggest that we look at the scriptures and see what God has to say about this.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

So from this we learn that we HAVE to have faith in order to please Him (God). And that if we who want to come to God MUST believe that He Is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. God is not going to leave you hanging, desperately seeking the answers but unable to find them! But you cannot come to God nor please Him without faith, without believing that He is, and that He will reward you if you seek after Him.

What else does the Bible say about this? Can we all be right? Are there many ways or paths to God?

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6

So in this verse Jesus himself claimed that He was the way and the truth and the life. You cannot come to the Father except through Him. There are no other paths. Period. There are no other methods that will work, no solutions outside of Jesus. If you simply believe that Jesus was a prophet, you must consider these words. If you believe that the scriptures are God's inspired word you must also consider these words.

That kind-of limits things a bit, doesn't it? O.k., so now we must therefore consider that if Jesus spoke the truth, and if the scriptures are true, than this is true. That all other paths that are outside of Jesus are not effective, practical, or true.

So, is it possible to have a Loving, Kind, and Good God, that would limit or put prerequisites on the paths and ways in which one can come to God? Evidently it is.

What else does the scriptures have to say? How do we know if we are approved of God?

For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
2 Corinthians 10:12,18

Here we learn that we are not to compare ourselves or measure ourselves amongst ourselves, or against those who commend themselves and think that they are in good shape. We learn that the one who commends himself is Not approved, but only those whom the Lord commends.

So we cannot look at one another and measure ourselves that way. We cannot say to ourselves "I'm alright," either, and commend ourselves, because it is not our commendation that matters, only the commendation and approval of God. No one else is going to approve you or commend you either. If you do it - if you commend yourself or seek the approval of others - you are not in line with how God says things are, and you are "not wise" (that's God's judgement, and what He calls it).

So to wrap up, we need to believe that He (God) is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (diligence mentioned here in this context implies that God does not expect some lackadaisical, half-hearted effort). We have also learned that there is only one way to the Father - through Jesus. We also learned that we cannot approve of ourselves, compare ourselves to others, or seek the approval of others as if that is what matters, for these do not. Only God's approval matters.

Psalm 73:22-28 (NKJV)

2005-05-16T23:52:00.000-07:00

I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.

Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry. But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, That I may declare all Your works.

A Christian Online

2005-05-16T22:13:00.000-07:00

I am a Christian.

Main Entry: 1Chris·tian
Pronunciation: 'kris-ch&n, 'krish-
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin christianus, adjective & n., from Greek christianos, from Christos
1 a : one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ b (1) : DISCIPLE 2 (2) : a member of one of the Churches of Christ separating from the Disciples of Christ in 1906 (3) : a member of the Christian denomination having part in the union of the United Church of Christ concluded in 19612 : the hero in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress

What does that mean? The Merriam Websters dictionary definition above lists a some of the definintions of the word. In its most common use, it generally means that a Christian is someone who attends a "Christian" church, perhaps as opposed to a place where Muslims, Buddists, Hindus, or others of other religions worship God, or as opposed to perhaps athiests or agnostics who don't believe in God at all (or just aren't sure) about that.

This weblog is my opportunity to discuss what it means to be a Christian. I hope to post frequently in the future on this and related topics, and on my attempts to live a Christian life in general, thoughts about doctrine, tenants of my belief, and what I have learned from Gods word.

I hope to share about my life, musings, thoughts - rambling or well defined. I hope to find others who are like minded online to discuss and share ideas. I would like to debate my beliefs with others, even and especially if we disagree. If only for the purpose of being sure what I believe, and knowing with confidence why I believe what I believe, and exploring that with others. Something that makes the difference between having faith and blind faith. I would hope to learn to rightly divide the word of truth, and to bear God's word more effectively now and in the future.

I would hope to develop some online resources that can help other Christians in understanding the bible, learning and applying God's word to our lives in real and practical ways, etc. Maybe some online bible studies, resources for teachers of bible classes and preachers and teachers of God's word.

So, hopefully if you are reading this... you might come along on this journey with me, share some with me and others, explore God's word together with me, and find some encouragement together, some amusement, and some fellowship with a like minded believer.