Jesus Paid 1 Time

Disobedience or Ignorance

2009-12-15T11:57:00.000-08:00

From a dear brother....

Have you ever wondered why the bible says sin entered the world through one "MAN" - when "Eve" was the first human to actually transgress the commandment of God not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Why then did Paul say that "sin entered the world" through "one MAN" (Adam) rather than through one woman, Eve????

Eve's role is not altogether forgotten, for Paul mentions her part also! I Timothy 2:14 highlights the difference between Adam's and Eve's actions. "And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression." If Eve was the one who was deceived, and she transgressed the command first, before Adam, why isn't she fingered as the entry point of sin into the world?

Are you beginning to get it already? What's the difference stated so far? That's right! Eve was deceived and transgressed; Adam was not deceived and transgressed. Do you see the difference? It is HUGE!

Paul saw it by revelation and described it in his letter to the Romans in chapter 5. "Therefore, just as through one man, sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned. - For until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam..."

Aha! If we can understand what is the "likeness of Adam's transgression, we will be nourished by the fresh bread being offered today. We already know what Adam's trangression was not like; it was not like Eve's - because she was deceived and HE WAS NOT! THAT'S IT!!!!!!! Do you see it now? Eve transgressed because she was deceived into doing so, but Adam sinned fully knowing what he was doing!

That is why Paul wrote this, which underscores the truth we need to lay hold of. " For as by one man's disobedience many were made [were constituted] sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made [will be constituted] righteous." The likeness of Adam's sin is described here as DISOBEDIENCE not as having been deceived. The Greek language makes it even more clear by Paul's use of the word "para + akouo". This word literally means to "hear - aside". The Greek word for "obedience" is to "hear + under". The difference between Adam who "heard aside" and Jesus who "heard under" is this; the first Adam constituted many men sinners by his hearing aside and the last Adam constituted many righteous by His hearing under.

Eve was deceived by the serpent and transgressed God's commandment; Adam was not deceived by the Serpent but chose to IGNORE God's commandment. He "refused" to hear the commandment, and he did so without being deceived in any way. This word "para + akouo" (disobedience/hearing aside) is also used in Matthew 18 in this way: "But if he will "NOT HEAR" [parakouo/hears aside], take with you one or two more....And if he "REFUSES TO HEAR" [parakouo/hears aside] the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector."

How crucial it is for us to understand the difference between Eve's and Adam's transgressions. The action was the same - Eve -"she took some and ate it" - Adam -"and he ate it" but the heart behind the action is altogether different. There are several Greek words used to describe the full grown attitude of "hearing aside" [parakouo]. One of them is "ungodliness" from the Greek word [a (negative) + sebo - to revere (literally "to refuse to fall back")]. Refusing to "fall back", to recognize the authority and sovereignty of God is to become "ungodly/asebia." This word describes more of the heart attitude of defiance towards submitting onesself to God by falling back, "hearing under" [obeying] His word rather than "hearing aside" [disobeying] it. The other Greek word used to describe parakouo, "hearing aside", in its adult stage is "Lawlessness"! Lawlessness is a description of the relationship with the defiant individual to The Law of God which he so disregards that he defiantly transgresses it without repentance or remorse.

Transgressions may look the same from the standpoint of an external observation, but the difference internally is one of life and death. There is a sin not unto death, and there is a sin unto death. They may not look all that different on the outside, but that's not where God is looking is it? "The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

The difference between Adam's and Eve's transgression can be seen in several other places as well. "If we sin willfully after having received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no sacrifice, but a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the adversaries." In the same book of Hebrews we also read "For if the message spoken by angels proved steadfast and every transgression AND DISOBEDIENCE [parakouo] received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation."

God will forgive the sinner who transgresses a command, then repents, confesses his transgressions, and begins to "hear under" (obey). God will never forgive the sinner who transgresses one command after another because he continues to "hear aside" (disobeys) without repentance unto the "obedience/hearing under" of faith.
It was Adam's "hearing aside" that constitutes men sinners after the likeness of his transgression. We should learn to appreciate the difference; it is a matter of life and death!

makrothumia

Things, Things, Things

2009-09-28T20:18:00.000-07:00

Things, Things, Things – Samuel Chadwick

Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

I have ceased to wonder that Jesus Christ was crucified. For many years it was impossible to imagine how men could so misunderstand and hate Him . But a fuller understanding of His teaching and wider knowledge of the world have led me to the conclusion that there is only one end to a ministry like His – and that is a Cross.

There are woes enough in these two chapters to account for all that happened. He unmasked iniquity where it was least suspected, and attacked the vices of the wealthy and powerful in terms of liquid fire;
He shocked and angered the most religious people of his time; called them ’whited sepulchers’, and defied their traditions; He hurled woe upon woe in all directions. His own friends understood Him but little better than His enemies.

A man, perhaps a follower, has been wronged by his brother, and appeals to this preacher of righteousness to secure him his rights. Instead, He rebukes the petitioner, and asks, Who made Me a judge or a divider over you? Disappointment was inevitable. To preach sternly and then refuse the responsibility of practical application to particular cases always brings provocation.

The explanation of His attitude is plain enough now. He came to establish a world-wide spiritual kingdom. He laid down principles that are universal, not precepts which were local. He sought to correct the dispositions of men rather than to secure their rights. He would destroy wrong, not by direct attacks upon vice, but by saving the sinner. That is His method. A new world through a renewed humanity. So here, instead of interfering in the quarrel, He reads the motive behind the appeal, and warns against covetousness. He detects the undue eagerness to gain possessions, and corrects the false estimate of the things of this world. And in so doing incidentally states one of the profoundest truths concerning the true philosophy of life. ’A man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth.’

To the world things are everything. It longs for them, works for them, fights for them, lies for them, lives for them. Its one ambition is to possess abundance of things. To secure them it will pay any price, endure any hardship, suffer any obloquy, sacrifice any thing. Its homage and its envy are reserved for those who have the most things. It never troubles about how they got them, nor what they do with them, it is enough that they have won for themselves piles of things!

The cry of the world is for things. Things, things; always more things. This is a purely pagan view of life. After these things do the heathen seek. Pagan philosophy is based upon the supposed supremacy of things. Heathen religions find their heaven in the abundance of things. And, alas, most of us are pure pagan. We live for the things. We toil and strive for the possession of things. Our only idea of heaven is a place where we shall have undreamed abundance of glorified things. We call ourselves Christian, but our lives are heathen.

Christ’s teaching concerning things declares that true life does not depend upon things at all. Indeed the only way into life is by the renunciation of things. We must forsake them, sacrifice them, die to them if we would live. Not only He, but all the world’s greatest have proved that life is not measured by the possession of the world’s things. The greatest of all had not where to lay His head. Things are an encumbrance to the man who would rise.

He who wins the world loses his soul. To live for things is to die to all that is spiritual and divine. Life is being, not having. It is what a man is, not what he has that really matters. What you have will perish, what you are abides forever. Seek not things. They perish, they corrupt, they pass away. Seek to BE manly, honest, brave and good. “Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.” Seek God first, always first. In Him only is the true life.

They Crucified Him - Art Katz quote

2009-09-27T19:26:00.000-07:00

The following is a long quote from an excerpt of an Art Katz message which I heard on the Brave Hearted Gospel website. If you have not been there you should check it out and watch / listen to some of the compilations they have put together. A great blessing.

This is from the newest message with the same name as this blog entry. I do hope that this encourages and strengthens you as you see the true gospel of Jesus Christ being lifted up. This may be one of those messages that makes you leap with joy and say, "Alright, it's not just me that sees these things" or it may cause you to be stirred to repentance. Either way, I will rejoice in the fruit!

Art Katz : And They Crucified Him

I think we, every one of us, ought to be humiliated or humbled every time we pick up the book of Acts and read the glory that attended the life of that first church. By contrast the most successful kind of Christianity that we know, the most charismatic, the most to be lauded and applauded is utterly anemic and does not bear comparison.

How is it that these rude men, fishermen and louts who had no advantage of the kind that we have enjoyed, were able to turn cities upside down and shake the earth? Why is it we have not had a corresponding affect in our own generation? The answer, in my opinion is, that in missing the cross we have missed the power of the resurrection, we have sidestepped the cross as a subject let alone as experience because we have no tolerance or sympathy for suffering. The denial of self in any form is suffering. And we have not been encouraged to that.

We have overindulged and spoiled our youth, compromised truth in our marriages, suffered causalities and losses among our ministers, and given ground to the spirit of independence and rebellion in the churches. All because we cannot stand pain. We parents who indulge our kids rather than chasten them, are we being loving or self-indulgent? We pastors who condescend to placate men, rather than speak the truth to them in love, why are we so sparing? We saints who see the defects and things that need to be corrected in each other, why are we silent? Where are the Pauls in our generation who will confront the Peters, who have compromised the Gospel by being one thing with one group and another thing with another? Paul said he would not entertain that situation to go on beyond the moment for the purity of the Gospel’s sake.

I call that love. But you know that kind of love as an act is painful and it’s humiliating. It’s easy to be misunderstood. For which reason we prefer to keep quiet. For which reason the world is running amuck with us and for which reason we move into increasing carnality, not being corrected by one another.

The avoidance of pain is a costly avoidance. And the symbol of the cross at the heart of the faith is an invitation to share in His sufferings. In a word our Christianity is degenerating into a middle class culture. A sanctifying cover-up for the status quo. A vacuous praise club, an equating of gain as Godliness, a comfortable religiosity that leaves our real interests unchallenged and undisturbed in the avoidance of the cross of Christ Jesus. Somehow am I naïve to think we ought to look different, speak differently, act differently – that there ought to be such a savor and fragrance about us of Christ that it is a savor of death unto death to self and life unto life to others. The fact the world can so easily tolerate us, the fact of the almost complete absence of reproach, let alone of persecution, is itself a shameful testimony that we are so like the world that we cannot be distinguished from it.

We have lost even the difference, the sense of the difference, between that which is sacred and that which is profane. I believe that God could lay at the door of the church the full responsibility for the present condition of the world. And the things over which we cluck our tongues and point our fingers and look distain down our noses about are the things which can be attributed to us for we have not established in the earth a standard and an alternative to which a dying world might have turned. They simply did not know that there is such a thing as that which is holy and that which is sacred. For we ourselves are wallowing in the things that are earthly, common, unclean, and profane. The only alternative to that which is earthly, carnal, sensual and devilish is that which is heavenly. And there is no way to attain to that which is heavenly independent of the cross of Christ Jesus.

If the prophet Isaiah seeing the Lord high and lifted up cried out “Woe is me, I am undone! I am a man of unclean lips and I live in the midst of a people of unclean lips.” What then shall we say who are not prophets and oracles of God. We need to have our vision and our sight corrected. We need to address our lives to the plumb line of God. The standard of God to the cross of Christ Jesus. Not academically, religiously, or superficially – but in the actual experience of our lives as those who have come wiling to abandon everything.

Paul said “I am determined to know nothing but Christ and Him crucified.” We desperately and urgently need to know Him – exactly as He is.

Women on Skid Row

2009-09-25T20:44:00.000-07:00

Please take a few minutes to watch the video about the women on skid row in Los Angeles, CA. This video was put together by some people from the Jonah Project. There should be some caution in watching this as some of the matters discussed are of adult nature.

I do hope that this finds you prayerful for their ministry and how the Lord would have you to help. We certainly don't want to be humanistic nor intervene in the work that God may be doing in lives through trials but we don't want to callously turn a blind eye to these things either. Pray that God would give you discernment on how He would have you help them and that He would guide their every step that they might be led of the Spirit to glorify Christ in all things. That certainly appears to be their hearts from all that I can tell.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

Please note, the video is on Youtube, so a disclaimer as to the rest of the stuff that happens to be there...

19 Signs You Are Becoming A Part Of The Great Apostasy

2009-09-16T07:29:00.000-07:00

From Pure Life Ministries – I have not personally reviewed their website, I do understand a bit about what they are about but don’t know whether I can support them whole-heartedly yet. I only say that as there are many that turn holiness into a work of the flesh or some “steps” that one can walk in order to be holy when in reality it is the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in conjunction with the will of man that allows this to come to pass. Grace becomes effectual!

Regardless, I was very blessed by this exhortation. Please read and heed.

Anytime a person falls, gravity creates a force that drives the person to the ground. This momentum is not easily reversed.

So it is with the "Great Falling Away" predicted for the Last Days. Scripture gives every indication that many professing Christians will move in increasing velocity away from the things of God and toward the things of the world. In the days ahead, it will be increasingly difficult to swim against this powerful current.

The following list is provided to allow people to examine which direction their ongoing lifestyles are taking them:

1. Prayer is either nonexistent or mechanical.

2. You know the Word but you don't really live it.

3. Earnest thoughts about eternal matters no long grip your heart.

4. You can indulge in inward and outward sin without feeling devastated.

5. A longing for holiness is no longer a predominant passion of your life.

6. The pursuit of money and possessions are an important part of your life.

7. You can sing worship songs without really meaning what they express.

8. You can hear people treating eternal issues flippantly without becoming upset.

9. Your main concerns are of your temporal, earthly life.

10. Conflicts in your relationships with others are not a major concern to you.

11. You no longer hunger for a deeper life in God.

12. You don't live with a full and grateful heart.

13. You have little concern over and make little effort to meet the needs of others.

14. You always see your level of spirituality in positive terms.

15. You are more concerned about your pet doctrines than people's souls.

16. Sports, entertainment and pleasure are important aspects of your life.

17. You are more concerned with your image than with the reality of your life with God.

18. You are full of bitterness, or criticism, or pride, or covetousness, or lust.

19. You have a head full of knowledge and a heart made of stone.

How Will We Come?

2009-08-28T11:51:00.000-07:00

This was sent to me a while ago by a dear brother. I hope that you are as blessed as I was by this writing.

“Then the kingdom of the heavens 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.” The Greek word for “wise” is φρονιμοι, the same word Jesus used in the parable of the “wise” and “foolish” builders. Jesus described the wise builder as one who not only hears the word of God, but after hearing, puts what he has heard into practice. Conversely, the same word for “foolish” is used in both parables; it is the Geek word μωραι, meaning dull or stupid. Jesus described the “foolish” builder as one who hears the word of God but fails to put what he has heard into practice.

Applying this understanding to the ten virgins, we have five whose habit was to hear the word of God and put it into practice and five whose habit was to hear the word of God without practicing the doing of it. In this parable, however, the distinction is indicated in another manner. Jesus first mentions that the “foolish” virgins took lamps but did not take vessels of oil along with their lamps.

The “wise” He said, took oil in their vessels with their lamps. The Holy Spirit would have us to see that it is in the practicing of what we hear that we secure the oil for our vessels. Peter even said so while speaking to the Sanhedrin: “We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit Whom God has given to those obeying Him.” Paul indicated that God gives His Spirit and works miracles among us through the “hearing of faith.” He certainly meant the “hearing under” of faith, for this is what he called all the Gentiles to, “the hearing under (obedience) of the faith.”

The parable continues to unfold illustrating that all ten virgins experienced the same conditions.

They all experienced a time of waiting, a long delay. They all experienced becoming drowsy and they all fell asleep. They were all awakened with a start in the middle of the night by a cry that the Bridegroom was coming and it was time to go out to meet him. They all awakened to the same urgent need for something – for light! It was the middle of the night, thick darkness, and they needed light in order to be able to make their way to the meeting place without stumbling. Can you imagine waking up in the pitch blackness and attempting to make your way without a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path? Their lamps were simply an earthen vessel with an oiled wick aflame that had to be carried delicately. There was a great danger of stumbling over unseen rocks, roots, or uneven ground, dropping or jostling the lamp and suddenly finding oneself with a snuffed out lamp in pitch darkness.

It is in the middle of the darkness that the wisdom of the prudent became apparent, for during the long delay the oil in all the lamps had been used up. Flames must be kept burning to have light and be able to light other lamps, but to have continuous flame one must have continuous oil. This is where the “foolish” virgins had been short-sighted. Like those in II Peter who have not given all diligence to add to their faith, virtue, knowledge, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. Not having those things in an abounding measure, Peter warns will result in our becoming near-sighted and blind. Thus was the state of the “foolish” virgins as they go to trim their lamps and discover the problem is not with the wick, they have run out of oil, their wick is nearly dried out. Wicks that burn need to be trimmed, that is they need the burnt, brittle area clipped off so that a brighter flame can become a brighter light. The “foolish” virgins first assumed that the problem was with their wicks, but became alarmed to discover that their oil had run out. A trimmed wick, in a good vessel, is completely useless without “the oil.”

The reaction of the “foolish” virgins was predictable and common among far too many believers today. They turned to their “wise” fellow virgins and begged their help. Seeing the vessels of oil in their sisters hands they asked them to share from their supply. The answer they received was not what they had hoped for: “Not ever!” That's right, it was not a simple no, for there was a Greek word for simply no; the answer here was “Not ever!” How could a fellow virgin be so calloused as to give such an answer for such an earnest request for help? The answer was not callous, simply “wise;” because, the prudent virgins realized that it would take all the oil in their vessel to bring their own wicks back to full light. The answer was “Not ever, lest there not be enough for us and you.”

If you have ever used an oil lamp, you will understand that an oil lamp will not work unless it contains a sufficient amount of oil. The “wise” virgins realized that the oil in their lamps was so low it would take all the oil they had brought along to re-kindle a full flame upon their own lamp. There was no point sharing, for it would likely take all the oil on hand just to keep five lamps burning. Five burning lamps are better than ten partially filled useless lamps; they wisely refused to risk otherwise.

There was no other answer to give in the situation but for the “wise” to instruct their “foolish” companions to hurry to the ones selling oil and buy for themselves. Reluctantly and remorsefully, the “foolish” virgins had no other choice but to go back by the very way they had previously come. Moreover, they had to do so without the benefit of a good light from their lamp. It is difficult enough to carry a good lamp, fully alight; how much harder was it for them to attempt to retrace their journey while attempting to preserve the dying flame on their empty lamps. The difficulty must have been nearly unbearable, for their progress would necessarily be slow and arduous, all the while filled with the anxious thoughts of would they be in time. Moreover, in the back of their minds, would they not all have been convicted for the missed opportunities they had to purchase extra oil while it was near and readily available. Now it was midnight, no stores were open, visibility was extremely limited, and yet they were forced to press on in their dim hope.

While the journey for the “foolish” became tedious, anxious, and somber, the journey for the “wise” virgins became a joyful celebration in the presence of the bridegroom and the bounties of the wedding feast. Isn't that the way it is today with many fellow virgins? We all have trials, we all have to wait, we all find ourselves in a crisis needing light to make our way. Those with the oil of the Holy Spirit are the over-comers. The “wise” virgins who hear the word of God and put it into practice are purchasing the anointing oil of the Holy Spirit in due season and their vessels are full. Jesus called them the “ready” ones – a word which comes from the Greek word meaning “fit.”

Only believers full of the Holy Spirit are “ready” and “fit” for the marriage feast of the Lamb. They are the only ones experiencing the fullness of the abundant life of Jesus. They are the ones who are counting it all joy, whose weaknesses are becoming those areas where Christ strength is being perfected. They are the ones feasting on the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Their joy is full, Christ's peace is guarding their hearts and minds, and they have entered into His rest. They are living in the righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

While the “wise” virgins are celebrating, the “foolish” virgins have had to retrace their journey, going backwards to purchase the oil that they had neglected to buy when the time was right. Notice, that the voice of the bridegroom will awaken all virgins, but it will not fill all their lamps with oil. The oil of the Holy Spirit will be given to everyone who asks, but the voice of the bridegroom does not make up for the choice of not asking. The consequences for not being “fit”, not being a “ready” one, are the whole point of this parable. “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation!” “Be very careful then how you hear, with the measure you meet, it will be measured to you. Whoever has he will be given more and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.” Have we checked our oil lately? Do we actually have oil, or could we be those who think we have, only to be shocked to discover our lamps are going out?

The “foolish” virgins eventually came. The actual wording of the Greek expresses it this way, “falling short they came.” Yes, the same word used in Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The same word used in Hebrews 12:15 “Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God.” The same word found in Hebrews 4:1 “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have fallen short of it.”

May the grace of God lead us to carefully examine ourselves to see the true condition of our waiting for His return. There is not a doubt that He will come, and there is not a doubt that we will come. The question is HOW will we come? Will we be “fit”, the “ready” ones, or our coming “fall short?”

My Goal Is God Himself

2009-08-10T16:10:00.000-07:00

My goal is God Himself, not joy, nor peace,

Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God;
'Tis His to lead me there - not mine, but His—
At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.

So faith bounds forward to its goal in God,
And love can trust her Lord to lead her there;
Upheld by Him, my soul is following hard
Till God hath full fulfilled my deepest prayer.

No matter if the way be sometimes dark,
No matter though the cost be oft-times great,
He knoweth how I best shall reach the mark;
The way that leads to Him must needs be strait.

One thing I know, I cannot say Him nay;
One thing I do, I press towards my Lord;
My God, my glory here, from day to day,
And in the glory there my great Reward.

—F. Brook

Characteristics of the Self Life

2009-08-09T04:46:00.000-07:00

I pulled this from the following site. I have really appreciated this since the first time i saw it about 9 years ago and will typically re-read it periodically. I hope you find it a blessing as well. Please note, while I do appreciate the site I don't approve of all that is there. http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/selflife.htm

Characteristics of the Self Life

A secret spirit of pride or an exalted feeling in view of your success or position-because of your good training or appearance because of your natural gifts or abilities- an important independent spirit? Prov. 16:18, 20:6; Rom. 12:3; James 4:6-8.

Love of human praise; a secret fondness to be noticed; love of supremacy, drawing attention to self in conversation; a swelling out of self when you have had a special open door in speaking or praying? Jn. 5:44, 12:42-43; I Cor. 13:4.

The stirrings of anger or impatience which, worst of all, you call nervousness or holy indignation; a touchy, sensitive spirit; a disposition to resent and retaliate when dissaproved of or contradicted; a desire to throw sharp, heated remarks at another? Psalms 37:8; Eccl. 7:9; Luke 21:19; James 1:19: Rom. 5:3.

Self-will; a stubborn unteachable spirit; an arguing, talkative spirit; harsh, sarcastic expressions; an unyielding, headstrong disposition; a driving, commanding spirit; a disposition to criticize and pick flaws when set aside and unnoticed; a pevish fretful spirit; a disposition that loves to be coaxed and humored? Deut. 1:43; Mal. 2:2; James 3:17; II Peter 2:10.

Carnal fear; a man-fearing spirit; a shrinking from reproach and duty; reasoning around your cross; a shrinking from doing your whole duty to those of wealth or position; a fearfulness that someone will offend and drive some prominate person away; a comprimising spirit? I Sam. 15:24; Prov. 29:25; Gal. 2:12; I John 4:18.

A jealous disposition; a secret envy in your heart; an unpleasant sensation in view of the great prosperity and success of others; a disposition to speak of the faults and failings rather that the gifts and virtues of those more talented and appreciated than yourself? Gen. 26:12-16; I Sam. 18:8-9; Prov. 6:34,14:30; Mt. 21:15; Rom. 12:9-10.

A dishonest and deceitful disposition; the evading and covering of the truth; the covering up of your real faults; leaving a better impression of yourself than is strictly true; false humility; exageration straining the truth? Ps. 15:2-3; Isa. 29:13; Jer. 17:9; Mt. 23:28; Lk. 22:48; Acts 5:2-3; I Tim. 4:2.

Unbelief; a spirit of discouragement in times of pressure and opposition; lack of quietness and confidence in God; lack of faith and trust in God; a disposition to worry and complain in the midst of pain, poverty, or at the dispensations of divine Providence; an overanxoius feeling whether everything will come out all right? Is. 7:9; Lk. 12:28-30; I Cor. 2:14; II Cor. 5:6; Heb. 11:6; I Pet.S:7,

Formality and deadness; lack of compassion and concern for lost souls; dryness and indifference; lack of power with God? Mt. 15:14; II Tim. 3:5; Rev. 2:4, 3:1.

Selfishness; love of ease; love of money; love of your own time? Lk. 12:19-21; I Tim. 6:10-11; Amos 6:1-6.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me..." Psalms 139:23-24

Who will Jesus be to you?

2009-07-29T23:01:00.000-07:00

This was written by a dear brother. I hope this encourages and challenges you.

Who will Jesus BE to ME?

Is Jesus the same to everyone? There are those who believe He is and those who would disagree. What does the bible say? We know that Jesus is the same today, yesterday and forever – but the question most relevant to us is – Who will Jesus BE to Me? Does our walk have anything to do with how He will be to us? Is Jesus one way to some men and a different way to others? Knowing that Jesus will be what He has been, I urge you to read carefully what the record will clearly indicate.

Let’s begin by looking at how Jesus introduces Himself to four of the churches in Revelation. To each of the seven churches Jesus takes a portion of the full revelation of Himself that He had shown John and begins His word to that particular church with the aspect of Himself most relevant to the church He is addressing. Note first His introduction to the church of Pergamos, which had some among them who held to the teachings of Balaam and others who held to the doctrines of the Nicolaitans. To this church He introduces Himself as “He who has the sharp two-edged sword.” To the church of Thyatira that was tolerating the woman Jezebel and her evil influences, Jesus introduces Himself as “The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire….” To the church of Laodicea who saw themselves as wealthy, rich, and having need of nothing, while in fact they were wretched, poor, miserable and blind, Jesus introduces Himself as “The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness….” Not all is negative though, for to the church of Smyrna for whom there is no rebuke, Jesus begins His word to them by introducing Himself as “The First and the Last, who was dead and came to life….”

Jesus will not appear the same to everyone and He will not give the same reward to everyone; “each man will be rewarded according to his own works.” Consider His warning to some in the church of Sardis – “Remember therefore how you have received and heard: hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.” How Jesus will come to us depends entirely upon our walk. This is amply illustrated in Jesus’ words found in Luke 12:35-48: “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Then Peter said to Him, Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people? And the Lord said, ‘Who then is that faithful and wise steward, who his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, My master is delaying his coming, and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when his is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.’ “

The same Jesus will be two different masters to two different servants. To the faithful servant who prepares himself and is found watching and serving, Jesus will be the benevolent master who rewards with kindness. However, to the unfaithful servant, who neither prepares himself, nor is found watching and serving, Jesus will come like a thief to seize that one, cut him in two with his own sword and assign him his place with the unbelievers. Jesus is not the same to everyone. This should be no surprising revelation, but it is often forgotten when we fail to understand why Jesus would appear to be stern to some and kind to others. Have we fully comprehended these words? – “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Even in the parable of the talents we can see that the same master appears as two different men to his servants. To the faithful servants who put what he had entrusted to them to good use, he was the gracious rewarder of their diligence; but to the self-centered, lazy servant, he appeared as a judge sentencing a criminal. Many of us forget the end of the parable that Luke alone records foreshadowing the end for all who do not joyfully serve the man whom God has appointed Lord of heaven and earth. Luke records the last act of the recently returned, newly crowned King, with these words – “But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.” The same Lord who is kind to some is severe to others.

This is no new revelation, for David the man after God’s own heart clearly understood and recorded this in Psalm 18:25-27 “To the faithful You show Yourself faithful, to the blameless You show Yourself blameless, to the pure You show Yourself pure, but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd. You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.”

God is the same - He does not change – this is plain to see

But this does not answer the most crucial question

Who will He BE to ME?

Michael Sattler's Trial

2009-07-29T05:09:00.000-07:00

A beloved brother from the 1500's as found in Martyr's Mirror. I do wonder if many that name the name of Christ today would be able to stand AND answer during such times as this....

Michael Sattler, AD 1527

After a long trial on the day of his departure from this world, the articles being many, Michael Sattler requested that they would be read to him again and that he should have another hearing. This the bailiff, as the governor of his lord, opposed and would not consent to it.

Michael Sattler then requested permission to speak. After a consultation, the judges returned as their answer, that if his opponents would allow it, they (the judges) would consent. Thereupon the town clerk of Ensisheim, as the attorney of said Governor spoke thus: "Prudent, honorable and wise Sirs, He has boasted of the Holy Ghost. Now, if his boast is true, it seems to me, it is unnecessary to grant him this; for if he has the Holy Ghost, as he boasts, the same will tell him what has been done here." To this Michael Sattler replied: "Ye servants of God, I hope my request will not be denied; for said articles are as yet unknown to me." The town clerk responded: "Prudent, honorable and wise Sirs, Though we are not bound to do this, yet in order to give satisfaction, we will grant him his request that it may not be thought that injustice is done him in his heresy, or that we desire to wrong him; hence let the articles be read to him.

Articles or Charges Against Michael Sattler

First, that he and his adherents have acted contrary to the mandate of the Emperor.

Secondly, he has taught, held and believed that the body and blood of Christ are not present in the sacrament.

Thirdly, he has taught and believed that infant baptism does not conduce to salvation.

Fourthly, they have rejected the sacrament of extreme unction.

Fifthly, they have despised and condemned the mother of God and the saints.

Sixthly, he has declared that men are not to swear before the authorities.

Seventhly, he has commenced a new an unheard of custom in regard to the Lord's Supper, placing the bread and wine on a plate, and eating and drinking the same.

Eighthly, he has left the order, and married a wife.

Ninthly, he has said that if the Turks should invade the country, no resistance ought to be offered them; and if it were right to wage war, he would rather take the field against the Christians than against the Turks; and it is certainly a great matter, to set the greatest enemies of our holy faith against us.

Thereupon Michael Sattler requested permission to confer with his brethren and sisters, which was granted him. Having conferred with them for a little while, he began and undauntingly answered thus: "In regard to the articles relating to me and my brethren and sisters, hear this brief answer:

First, That we have acted contrary to the imperial mandate, we do not admit; for the same says that the Lutheran doctrine and delusion is not to be adhered to, but only the Gospel and Word of God. This we have kept; for I am not aware that we have acted contrary to the Gospel and the Word of God; I appeal to the words of Christ.

Secondly, That the real body of Christ the Lord is not present in the sacrament, we admit; for the Scripture says: Christ ascended into heaven and, sitteth on the right hand of His heavenly Father whence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead; from which it follows, that if He is in heaven, and not in the bread, He may not be eaten bodily. Mark 16:19; Acts 1:9; Col. 3:1; Acts 10:42; II Tim. 4:1.

Thirdly, As to baptism we say: Infant baptism is of no avail to salvation; for it is written that we live by faith alone. Again: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. Peter likewise says: The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Romans 1:17; Mark 16:16; I Pet. 3:21.

Fourthly, We have not rejected the oil; for it is a creature of God, and what God has made is good and not to be refused; but that the pope, the bishops, monks and priests can make it better, we do not believe; for the pope never made anything good. That of which the epistle of James speaks is not the pope's oil. Gen. 1:11; I Tim. 4:4; James 5:14.

Fifthly, We have not condemned the mother of God and the saints; for the mother of Christ is to be blessed among all women; for to her was accorded the favor of giving birth to the Saviour of the whole world. But that she is a mediatress and advocatess, of this the Scriptures know nothing; for she must with us await the judgment. Paul said to Timothy: Christ is our Mediator and Advocate with God. As regards the saints; we say that we who live and believe are the saints; which I prove by the epistles of Paul to the Romans, Corinthians, Ephesians; and in other places where he always writes: To the beloved saints. Hence we that believe are the saints; but those who have died in faith we regard as the blessed. Luke 1:28; Matthew 1:21; I Tim. 2:5; I Cor. 1:2; Eph. 1:1; Rev. 14:13.

Sixthly, We hold, that we are not to swear before the authorities: For the Lord says: Swear not; but let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay. Matt. 5:34; James 5:12.

Seventhly, When God called me to testify of His Word, and I had read Paul, and also considered the unchristian and perilous state in which I was; beholding the pomp, pride, usury, and great whoredom of the monks and priests, I went and took unto me a wife, according to the command of God; for Paul well prophesies concerning this to Timothy: In the latter time it shall come to pass that men shall forbid to marry, and command to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving. I Cor. 7:2; I Tim. 4:3.

Eighthly, If the Turks should come, we ought not to resist them; for it is written: Thou shalt not kill. We must not defend ourselves against the Turks and others of our persecutors, but are to beseech God with earnest prayer to repel and resist them. But that I said, that if warring were right, I would rather take the field against the so-called Christians, who persecute, apprehend and kill pious Christians, than against the Turks, was for this reason: The Turk is a true Turk, knows nothing of the Christian faith; and is a Turk after the flesh; but you, who would be Christians, and who make your boast of Christ, persecute the pious witnesses of Christ, and are Turks after the spirit.

In conclusion: Ye ministers of God, I admonish you to consider the end for which God has appointed you, to punish the evil, and to defend and protect the pious. Whereas, then, we have not acted contrary to God and the Gospel, you will find that neither I nor my brethren and sisters have offended in word or deed against any authority. Therefore, ye ministers of God, if ye have not heard or read the Word of God, send for the most learned, and for the sacred books of the Bible, of whatsoever language they may be, and let them confer with us in the Word of God; and if they prove to us with the Holy Scriptures, that we err and are in the wrong, we will gladly desist and recant and also willingly suffer the sentence and punishment for that of which we have been accused, but if no error is proven to us, I hope to God, that you will be converted, and receive instruction." Wisd. 6:4; Acts 25:8; Rom. 13:4; Acts 25:11.

Upon this speech the judges laughed and put their heads together, and the town clerk of Ensisheim said: "O you infamous, desperate villain and monk, shall we dispute with you? The hangman shall dispute with you, I assure you."

Michael said: "God's will be done."

The town clerk said: "It were well if you had never been born."

Michael replied: "God knows what is good."

Town Clerk: "You arch-heretic, you have seduced the pious; if they would only now forsake their error, and accept grace."

Michael: "Grace is with God alone."

One of the prisoners also said: "We must not depart from the truth."

Town Clerk: "You desperate villain and arch-heretic, I tell you if there were no hangman here, I would hang you myself, and think that I had done God service."

Michael: "God will judge aright."

Thereupon the town clerk said a few words to him in Latin, what we do not know.

Michael Sattler answered him Judica.

The town clerk then admonished the judges and said: "He will not cease from this talk today; therefore my Lord Judge, proceed with the sentence; I will commit it to the law."

The judge asked Michael Sattler whether he also committed it to the law.

He replied: "Ye ministers of God, I am not sent to judge the Word of God; we are sent to bear witness of it, and, hence, cannot consent to any law, since we have no command from God concerning it; but if we can not be discharged from the law, we are ready to suffer for the Word of God whatever sufferings are, or may be imposed upon us all for the sake of the faith in Christ Jesus our Saviour, as long as we have breath within us; unless we be dissuaded from it by the Scriptures."

The town clerk said: "The hangman shall convince you; he shall dispute with you, arch-heretic."

Michael: "I appeal to the Scriptures."

Then the judges arose, and went into another room, where they remained for an hour and a half, and determined on the sentence. Matt. 6:10; John 16:2; I Cor. 4:5; John 1:8; Job 27:3; Acts 25:11.

In the meantime, some in the room treated Michael Sattler most unmercifully, heaping reproach upon him. One of them said: "What have you in expectation for yourself and the others, that you have so seduced them?" With this, he also drew forth a sword which lay upon the table, saying: "See, with this shall they dispute with thee." But Michael did not answer upon a single word concerning his person, but willingly endured it all. One of the prisoners said: "We must not cast pearls before swine." Matt. 27:14; 7:6.

Being also asked, why he had not remained a lord in the convent, Michael answered: "According to the flesh I was a lord; but it is better so." He did not say more than what is recorded here, and this he spoke fearlessly.

The judges having returned to the room, the sentence was read. It was as follows: "In the case of the Governor of his Imperial Majesty versus Michael Sattler, judgment is passed, that Michael Sattler shall be delivered to the executioner, who shall lead him to the place of execution, and cut out his tongue; then throw him upon a wagon, and there tear his body twice with red hot tongs; and after he has been brought without the gate, he shall be pinched five times in the same manner."

After this had been done in the manner prescribed, he was burned to ashes as a heretic. His fellow brethren were executed with the sword, and the sisters drowned. His wife, also, after being subjected to many entreaties, admonitions and threats, under which she remained very steadfast, was drowned a few days afterwards. Done the 21st day of May, A. D. 1527.

-- Martyr's Mirror, Thieleman J. van Braght,
Herald Press, 1987, pp. 416-418.

Some Quotes

2009-07-28T20:48:00.000-07:00

These were some quotes that other brothers pasted on Facebook that I thought were pretty encouraging / challenging.

Much of our difficulty as seeking Christians stems from our unwillingness to take God as He is and adjust our lives accordingly. We insist upon trying to modify Him and bring Him nearer to our own image. -- A. W. Tozer

"The friends of God are always grieved when they see a church asleep and doing nothing for the salvation of sinners. Those who have other objectives in view may think things are going on very well. They are not grieved when they see professed people of God going after show and folly." - Charles Finney

Mal 1:6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? It's heartbreaking to see how casually God's house is treated.

"Help me to understand Your Word. If I’m a friend of this world. It’s hatred towards my God." - Christ Our Life www.ChristOurLife.ca

"There's two safe places for someone God will use, one is in heaven and the other one is in the dust." -Keith Daniel

Revival Conference Meetings

2009-07-27T19:20:00.000-07:00

Brother Greg Gordon has put together another set of Revival Conferences with one here in the US in Indianapolis Indiana, one in Ireland and the final one in Wales. Check out the web page - http://revival.sermonindex.net/

I sincerely appreciate the vision that is had for revival and these meetings and I do encourage all to pray for these gatherings and consider whether the Lord would have them to be there. I am including the vision that Brother Greg has on the website below;

"There are over 10,000 conferences that happen every year. The 'Revival Conference' is not to be just another conference but a honest, sincere, earnest plea for the desperate need of revival. There is no cost to attend the event. No materials will be sold. There will be no big bands. The conference will have the chief object to be God-glorifying. The speakers will come on their own accord trusting God for provision. There will be no emphasis on money during the event. The event will be a simple, apostolic, yearning for a genuine biblical revival in our day. The conference is hosted by the ministry ofSermonIndex.net and is a inter-denominational event."

Those that know me know that I am not necessarily a big proponent of meetings, especially when it is something that we just "do" and then walk away unchanged. I do know that the people that attend these meetings are sincere in their desire to see God stir the hearts of all believers in this land that He might be glorified in His church. May it be so!

Thought provoking quote

2009-06-29T09:36:00.000-07:00

A quote for all to consider. I would love to hear any thoughts that people have on this.

"There seems to be a voice out there that raises the question, " but isn't there a place in heaven for the less than full hearted?" It seems that some have forgotten the "evil" of willful neglect, and humanized the love of God down to the degraded level of a loving grandpa who although might be disappointed with our lack of progress, never really had any intention of rejecting any of those who made some kind of attempt to do what is right. It frightens me when I consider the stark reality that awaits countless multitudes who will awake to an eternal separation from God and see their self deluded dream of heaven vanish into the flaming judgment of Hell. They will be shocked that their self created fantasy of what an acceptable walk with God so utterly deceived themselves." - Unknown Author

Oswald Chambers Devotional Thought

2009-05-06T10:24:00.000-07:00

From "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers;

LIBERTY ON THE ABYSS OF THE GOSPEL

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free." Galatians 5:1

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

A spiritually minded man will never come to you with the demand - "Believe this and that;" but with the demand that you square your life with the standards of Jesus. We are not asked to believe the Bible, but to believe the One Whom the Bible reveals (cf. John 5:39-40). We are called to present liberty of conscience, not liberty of view. If we are free with the liberty of Christ, others will be brought into that same liberty - the liberty of realizing the dominance of Jesus Christ.

Always keep your life measured by the standards of Jesus. Bow your neck to His yoke alone, and to no other yoke whatever; and be careful to see that you never bind a yoke on others that is not placed by Jesus Christ. It takes God a long time to get us out of the way of thinking that unless everyone sees as we do, they must be wrong. That is never God's view. There is only one liberty, the liberty of Jesus at work in our conscience enabling us to do what is right.

Don't get impatient, remember how God dealt with you - with patience and with gentleness; but never water down the truth of God. Let it have its way and never apologize for it. Jesus said, "Go and make disciples," not "make converts to your opinions."

Personal addition:

As I was discussing this with my family I had to strongly state that if there is ever a message we need to let get embedded in our hearts it is this one. That Jesus Christ is life and life can only be found in Him. I do pray that we all seek to let this become so clear, so real, so vibrant in our lives that a filter by the Spirit of God would be in place to provide discernment when ANYTHING outside of that enters in and someone tries to bring us into bondage, no matter how well intended they may be. In thinking about this, it does lead me back to a consideration that I had on edification that I will post up soon. Also makes me think of a message called "The Real Jesus" by Zac Poonen which I listened to just the other day. A critical message for us all to hear in this day.

Be blessed in the Lord Jesus Christ,

David

Zac Poonen Meetings Summer 2009

2009-05-06T04:43:00.000-07:00

I am copying out the LINK as well as the content below from Sermonindex for the upcoming Zac Poonen meetings. I am not typically one to promote meetings but I also know that this dear brother will point people to Christ. Schedule as follows;

Zac Poonen will be speaking at the following places in USA in July/August 2009:

July 17 - 19 - Austin, TX - Contact: Benoy James: 512-694-6089;ravensministry@gmail.com
July 25 - 5.30 pm - Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, Mountain View, CA - 650-625-1500; www.alcf.net
July 26 - 8.30 am and 11 am - Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, Mountain View, CA - - 650-625-1500; www.alcf.net
August 14 to 16 - Loveland, CO - Contact: Phil Lapp: 970-567-3032;phil@rlcfchurch.org
or Santosh Poonen: 970-744-8653; santosh@rlcfchurch.org
August 21 to 23 - Beaver Springs, PA - Contact: Dan Shetler: 717-320-3000;dshetler60@gmail.com

The request on the sermonindex site is that if you are planning on attending the meetings to contact those listed if you are planning on attending.

Overcoming Sin

2009-04-17T12:53:00.000-07:00

I am posting this quote from Zac Poonen from a message that he preached a while back titled “Faith When We Have Failed” (Look under Sermons, Zac Poonen). I appreciate the quote and want to make sure that the context is clear. He is not, in any way, allowing for sin in the statement but rather showing that God is doing a work of bringing people to the end of themselves, where they will learn to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit and not be proud walking in their own strength. It is when we are in total humility that we can then receive the true power of the Holy Spirit and it is there that grace can be received.

James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Quote as follows;

“I don’t think that Peter ever forgot that he denied the Lord three times. And when God breaks a man that’s what He does. And that’s when such a person gets victory over sin, he can never be proud of it, number one, and he can never despise another person who doesn’t have victory. I know in my own pursuit of victory the Lord had to take me through failure, failure, failure; bring me to rock bottom. And I never knew the reason for that. I thought all hope was gone at one point in my life. But now I see that God had to take me there, so that, when he did give me victory, when he did keep me from falling, I could never be proud of it. I could never think that I did this. I could never think that it was through some effort of mine that I could overcome depression and “rejoice in the Lord always”. That it was in some spirituality of my own that I overcame bad moods, or anger… No. He keeps me from falling. I could never think that it was me. Even the ministry of the word; I know that if the grace of God departs from me, my tongue will be dumb, I will fall into the most horrible sins the next moment, no matter how many years I have overcome. See that recognition comes because God has allowed me to fail so many times in the years that I was seeking for victory. So, dear brothers and sisters, if you’re failing, don’t get discouraged. Let God do a thorough work. He’s trying to bring you down to 0. It took 20 years with Jacob. It took 40 years with Moses. It doesn’t have to take so long. It can be a very quick work as it was with Peter and Paul. But we can’t dictate that period because it is different with different people. “

Hope you find this to be an encouragement.

David

Beholding Him

2009-04-06T13:17:00.000-07:00

Heard this hymn and thought I would share it. Not a too popular one but this was written by John Newton and is called "How tedious and tasteless the hours". Hope you are blessed by this. Consider as you read this whether these things are true in your life. If not, consider that faith needs to be perfected.

John Newton, 1779, from Olney Hymns, vol. 1, hymn 46

How tedious and tasteless the hours,
When Jesus no longer I see;
Sweet prospects, sweet birds, and sweet flow'rs,
Have lost all their sweetness with me:
The mid-summer sun shines but dim,
The fields strive in vain to look gay;
But when I am happy in Him,
December's as pleasant as May.

2. His name yields the richest perfume,
And sweeter than music his voice;
His presence disperses my gloom,
And makes all within me rejoice:
I should, were he always thus nigh,
Have nothing to wish or to fear;
No mortal so happy as I,
My summer would last all the year.

3. Content with beholding his face,
My all to his pleasure resigned;
No changes of season or place,
Would make any change in my mind:
While blessed with a sense of his love,
A palace a toy would appear;
And prisons would palaces prove,
If Jesus would dwell with me there.

4. Dear Lord, if indeed I am thine,
If thou art my sun and my song;
Say, why do I languish and pine,
And why are my winters so long?
O drive these dark clouds from my sky,
Thy soul-cheering presence restore;
Or take me unto thee on high,
Where winter and clouds are no more.

I believe?

2009-04-01T12:11:00.001-07:00

Ok, a bit of a picky blog but something that has always bothered me is the use of "I believe" and "I think" in preaching and teaching today.

First of all, lets look at a couple of verses surrounding the use of these two phrases to see if the use so often heard today fits with Scripture;

Mark 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

John 9:38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

John 11:27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Acts 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Acts 27:25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

Just to be sure I did a search on "I think" and found that there was nothing implying anyone writing Scriputre based on knowledge. The closest thing you could find in that regard is that of Paul speaking in 1 Corinthians 7:40 where he states "and I think also that I have the Spirit of God" which by no means implies that Paul is basing his understanding of whether he is filled with the Spirit on his own human reasoning but is rather stating that the things which he spoke can be safely taken due to the fact that he is filled with the Spirit. Verses are (Job 31:1; Jer 29:11; Ac 26:2; 1Co 4:9; 7:40; 2Co 10:2; 2Pe 1:13)

Ok, me being picky. How often do we hear someone expounding on some Scripture followed by "I believe" which really tells me that I am getting something that has been derived from their mind rather than having revelation from the Lord on this verse or section of Scripture. If this is based on reasoning, why then is it being stated?

Oh dear brothers and sisters please let us be careful that we don't try to present things outside of what the Lord has made clear to us. AND for those of you who are listening to these things being spoken, please be careful that these things that are spoken from the intellect of man are not held as authority from God.

It would be good for us to consider a writing by Watchman Nee called "The Latent Power of the Soul".

Open to correction on this as well as any other thing that is posted here.

Spiritual Education

2009-03-31T14:34:00.000-07:00

I was reading the book "The Ultimate Issue of the Universe" from T. Austin Sparks and there were a couple paragraphs that really stood out to me. The first one is as follows;

"What lies behind spiritual education? Look at every fragment and phase of your spiritual education, the way the Lord deals with you, and leads you; the history that there is with God lying behind. What is the outcome of it all? Suffering, trial, perplexity, adversity, and all that which goes to make up our Christian experience - and there is so much of it - what is the outcome of it all - God has His way? Let us look at ourselves, the way we have with God, the way He has taken us through the depths; through suffering, affliction, trial and difficulty, sometimes to the point almost of despair, like Paul, despairing of life, having the sentence of death. But what is the result? If the Lord has His way, is it not that He has a larger place, and the enemy a much smaller place through it all? That is the marvel of it all. Sometimes when you are going through it, you come to a rock-bottom experience, as you think, and you feel the devil is going to gain, the Lord is losing. But when you come up out of it, the Lord has much more ground, He has something more that He can work upon. What He has done is to get rid of a lot that was in His way. Suffering is a great purger. Christian experience is all with one object in view, where the Lord is concerned, in His dealing with us as He does. It is worship, worship in this sense, that God is coming into His own and Satan is losing ground. We have often feared that it would be just the opposite, while we were going through it, but God is faithful and it does work out to a larger measure of the Lord."

The whole book can be read HERE.

Hope that you are encouraged by this.

Persecution

2009-03-21T05:42:00.000-07:00

This is an excerpt from a message by Art Katz. You can listen to this segment along with other pieces of other messages by others by listening to this link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsaINMpnvww

The above link is definitely worth watching and is safe. Quote as follows;

"The greater number of Christians will not be able to be satisfied with conventional Christendom. That merely to sit in a church that speaks a correct word or doctrine is not enough. Things that are merely correct are not enough. Merely to be phraseologically correct is not enough. There needs to be an awesome, a power, an authenticity in our words and in our life. And there is going to be a restlessness in many Christians who have been able to be satisfied this long in situations like that. But the very issues that are taking place in the world will be a factor that will move saints to look for a deeper quality of faith and relationship than what they now know in their conventional and predictable "Christian" situations.

And so we have the very formative factors by which a minority of the Spirit will increasingly be called out to be the remnant people of God who are willing to pay the price of true relationship and true faith. Whereas the majority who do not see the need or have not the stomach for the cost and the sacrifice of it and who remain in these normative "Christian" situations will be increasingly deceived, having the words that are appropriate to the faith but not the power thereof. But what's more, they will be irritated by that minority of the Spirit who have moved on to a more authentic existential quality of faith and look upon them not only as being strange but perhaps even being heretical and even threatening to what is considered normal or a normative Christian.

In a word, we are going to see formed the very elements that make up the church that is persecuted and the church that is its persecutor. And we need to know now that we are moving toward the one or the other. There will not be as I said before a neutral ground. That the logic of true faith is persecution and that the Scriptures will be fulfilled that says "and they will kill us and claim that they are doing God a service". We are going to see the re-enactment of the persecution of the Anabaptists in the 16th century, even persecuted by the major reformation churches. Again to be the distinguishing character of the struggle at the end of the age again. "

The Word becoming flesh

2009-03-09T15:57:00.000-07:00

"The tragedy today in Christendom is that the vast majority of Christians cannot discern between what is religious and what is spiritual. A lot of people think that if they have a lot of Bible knowledge they are spiritual. No, they are not, they're just religious. The devil is the most religious person in the universe, he knows more of the Bible than anyone else. It doesn't make him spiritual. We need to know this brothers and sisters. I see so many Christians meeting together for Bible studies and if that Bible study doesn't make you overcome your nature all that Bible study, I tell you in Jesus name, will only make you more like the devil. You can sit with your weekly Bible study meetings, Study Romans, Ephesians, Philippians, Hebrews, everything, study the Old Testament tabernacle, everything and you will only become more like the devil. You will still have a long way to go because he will still know more than you. The Word has to become flesh and I would rather have one word of Scripture become flesh in me than know all the scriptures and know where this reference is and that reference is and what this Old Testament thing symbolizes and the deeper meaning of Romans and Ephesians. That's not what I am interested in. It's Christ! The whole Scripture is meant to show me Jesus. And the Holy Spirit is come to make me like Him. Unless that becomes the passion of our heart we are not going to be able to build the type of church that God wants."

Quoted from a message titled "Secure in God our Father" by Zac Poonen that can be downloaded from this site. Look under Sermons and the series titled "A Heavenly Church".

The thought is clear and I can only say Amen!

He that believeth

2009-03-04T07:15:00.000-08:00

All things are possible

Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Is not condemned

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Hath everlasting life

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

Shall never hunger and shall never thirst

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Shall live

John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Believes not only on Him, Jesus Christ, but on the Father which sent Him

John 12:44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.

Hath no part with unrighteousness

2 Corinthians 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

Shall not be confounded

1 Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Overcomes the world

1 John 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

….and now comes the hard part. The other stuff most will say, Amen to pretty readily. However, we really should look at all of Scripture to see what the promises are to those who believe.

Out of his belly shall flow RIVERS of living water

John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Shall do greater works….

John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

You see, we need to ask ourselves the question, if God has given all grace unto us, if He has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, if His desire is to redeem a people, a holy people, a bride for His Son; is this being manifest, or made plain, in our lives? If not, let us ask the question why and be honest about it before God, in repentance and turning in faith to believe the promises that He has for us and abide in Jesus Christ wherein, and only in Him, will fruit abound.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Learning under the anointing

2009-03-03T06:39:00.000-08:00

Reading: Matt 11:29; John 1:51; Matt 3:16; John 1:4; Rom 8:2; 2 Cor 3:16-18.

The School of Christ; that is, the School where Christ is the great Lesson and the Spirit the great Teacher; in the School where the teaching is not objective but subjective, where the teaching is not of things but an inward making of Christ a part of us by experience—that is the nature of this School.

THE MEANING OF THE ANOINTING

"Ye shall see the heaven opened." "He saw the heavens opened and the Spirit of God descending upon him." What is the meaning of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. It is nothing less and nothing other than the Holy Spirit taking His place as absolute Lord. The anointing carries with it the absolute lordship of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit as Lord. That means that all other lordships have been deposed and set aside; the lordship of our own lives; the lordship of our own minds, our own wills, our own desires; the lordship of others. The lordship of every interest and every influence is regarded as having given place to the undivided and unreserved lordship of the Holy Spirit, and the anointing can never be known, enjoyed, unless that has taken place. That is why the Lord Jesus went down into Jordan's waters, into death and burial, in type, taking the place of man in representation, from that moment not to be under the government of His own life in any respect as He worked out the will of God, but to be wholly and utterly subject to the Spirit of God in every detail. Jordan's grave set forth the setting aside of every independent lordship, every other lordship, every other influence, and if you will read the spiritual life of Christ in the Gospels you will see that it was to that position that He was every moment adhering. Many and powerful were the influences which were brought to bear upon Him to affect Him and govern His movements. Sometimes it was the full force of Satan's open assault, to the effect that it was necessary that He should do certain things for His cause, or for His very continuance in life physically. Sometimes it was Satan clothing himself with the arguments and suasions of beloved associates, in their seeking to hold Him back from certain courses, or to influence Him to prolong His life by sparing Himself certain sufferings. In various ways influences were brought to bear upon Him from all directions, and many of the counsels were seemingly so wise and good. For example, with regard to His going up to the feast, it was urged, in effect: It is the thing that everybody is doing: if you do not go up you will prejudice your cause. If you really want to further this cause, you must fall into line with the accepted thing religiously, and you only stand to lose if you do not do that; you will curtail your influence, you will narrow your sphere of usefulness! And what an appeal that is if you have something very much at heart, some cause for God at heart, the success of which is of the greatest importance. Such then were the influences that were beating upon Him. But whether it be Satan coming in all the directness of his cunning, his wit, his insinuation, or whether it be through beloved and most intimate disciples and associates, whatever the kind of argument, that Man cannot be caused to deflect a hairsbreadth from His principle. 'I am under the anointing; I am committed to the absolute sovereignty of the Holy Spirit, and I cannot move, whatever it costs. Cost it my life, cost it my influence, cost it my reputation, cost it everything that I hold dear, I cannot move unless I know from the Holy Spirit that that is the Father's mind and not another mind, the Father's will and not another will, that this thing comes from the Father.' Thus He put back everything until He knew in His spirit what the Spirit of God witnessed. He lived up to this law, this principle, of the absolute authority, government, lordship of the anointing, and it was for that that the anointing had come.

That is the meaning of the anointing. Do you ask for the anointing of the Holy Spirit? Why do you ask for the anointing of the Holy Spirit? Is the anointing something that you crave? To what end? That you may be used, may have power, may have influence, may be able to do a lot of wonderful things? The first and pre-eminent thing the anointing means is that we can do nothing but what the anointing teaches and leads to do. The anointing takes everything out of our hands. The anointing takes charge of the reputation. The anointing takes charge of the very purpose of God. The anointing takes complete control of everything and all is from that moment in the hands of the Holy Spirit, and we must remember that if we are going to learn Christ, that learning Christ is by the Holy Spirit's dealing with us, and that means that we have to go exactly the same way as Christ went in principle and in law.

So we find we are not far into the Gospel of John, which is particularly the Gospel of the spiritual School of Christ, before we hear even such as He saying, "The Son can do nothing of himself". "The words that I say unto you I speak not from myself." The works that I do are not Mine; "the Father abiding in me doeth his works".

"The Son can do nothing out from himself." You see, there is the negative side of the anointing; while the positive side can be summed up in one word—the Father only. Perhaps that is a little different idea of the anointing from what we have had. Oh, to be anointed of the Holy Spirit! What wonders will follow; how wonderful that life will be! The first and the abiding thing about the anointing is that we are imprisoned into the lordship of the Spirit of God, so that there can be nothing if He does not do it. Nothing! That is not a pleasant experience, if the natural life is strong and in any way in the ascendant. Therefore Jordan must be there before there can be an anointing. The putting aside of that natural strength and self-life is a necessity, for the anointing does carry with it essentially the absolute lordship of the Spirit.

You notice the issue of that in 2 Cor 3:16. "When it shall turn to the Lord", when the Lord is the object in view, "the veil is taken away, and we all with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord are transformed into the same image . . . even as from the Lord the Spirit", or "the Spirit which is the Lord". You are in the School and you can see Christ and learn Christ; which is being transformed into the image of Christ under the lordship of the Spirit. "When it shall turn to the Lord", when the Lord is our object in view! But with us, with us Christians, with us very devoted, very earnest Christians, what a long time it takes to get the Lord as the sole object. Is that saying a terrible thing? We say we love the Lord; yes, but we do love to have our own way as well, and we do not love to have our way thwarted. Have any of us yet reached that point of spiritual attainment where we never have a bad time at all with the Lord? Oh no, we are still found at the place where we so often think it is in the interests of the Lord that our hearts go out in a certain direction, and the Lord does not let us do it, and we have a bad time; and that has betrayed us absolutely. Our hearts were in it. It was not easy, absolutely easy and simple for us to say, Very well, Lord, I am just as pleased as though you let me do it, I delight always to do Thy will! We are disappointed the Lord does not let us do it; or if the Lord delays it, what a time we go through. Oh, if we could only get at it and do it! The time is finding us out. Is that not true of most of us? Yes, it is true. We do come into this picture, and that just does mean that, after all, the Lord is not as verily our object as we thought He was. We have another object alongside and associated with the Lord; that is, something that we want to be or to do, somewhere we want to go, something we want to have. It is all there, and the Holy Spirit knows all about it. In this School of Christ, where God's objective is Christ, only Christ, utterly Christ, the very anointing means that it has to be Christ as Lord by the Spirit. The anointing takes that position. Well, so much for the moment for the meaning of the anointing. It was true in Him, and it has to be true in us.

http://www.austin-sparks.net/english/books/001039.html

Crucified to the Religious World

2009-02-25T14:43:00.000-08:00

Posting the following from T. Austin Sparks and the original can be found at this site.

Crucified to the Religious World – T. Austin Sparks

"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Galatians 6:14).

It is interesting to notice the particular way in which the Apostle speaks of the world here. That term is a very comprehensive term and includes a very great deal. Here Paul gets right down to the spirit of the thing. You notice the context; it is well for us to take account of it:

"For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh" (Galatians 6:13).

What does the Apostle mean? They want to say, "See how many proselytes we are making! See how many followers and disciples we are getting! See how successful our movement is! See what a power we are becoming in the world! See all the marks of Divine blessing resting upon us!" The Apostle says that is worldliness in principle and spirit; thatis the world. He sets over against this his own clear spiritual position. Do I seek glory of men? Do I seek to be well-pleasing to men? No! The world is crucified to me, and I to the world.

All that sort of thing does not weigh with me. What weighs with me is not whether my movement is successful, whether I am getting a lot of followers, whether there are all the manifestations outwardly of success; what weighs with me is the measure of Christ in those with whom I have to do: "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you" (Galatians 4:19). Christ formed in you — that is my concern, he says that is what weighs with me... not extensiveness, not bigness, not popularity, not keeping in with the world, so that it is said that this is a successful ministry and a successful movement. That is worldliness. I am dead to all that; I am crucified with Christ to all that. The thing that matters is Christ — the measure of Christ in you.

You see how the world can creep in... and how worldly we can become almost imperceptibly by taking account of things outwardly — of how men will think and talk, what they will say, the attitude they will take; of the measure of our popularity, the talk of our success. That is all the world, says the Apostle, the spirit of the world; that is how the world talks. Those are the values in the eyes of the world, but not in the eyes of the risen Christ. In the new creation, on the resurrection side of the Cross, one thing alone determines value... and that is the measure of Christ in everything. Nothing else is of value at all, however big the thing may be, however popular it may be, however men talk favorably of it; on the resurrection side that does not count a little bit. What counts is how much of Christ there is.

You and I in the Cross of the Lord Jesus must come to the place where we are crucified to all those other elements. Ah, you may be unpopular, and the work be very small; there may be no applause, and the world may despise; but in it all there may be something which is of Christ, and that is the thing upon which our hearts must be set. The Lord gives us grace for that crucifixion. There are few things more difficult to bear than being despised; but He was despised and rejected of men. What a thing is in God’s sight must be our standard. That is a resurrection standard. Now that is the victory of the Cross: "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world".

What will God do next?

2009-01-23T06:07:00.000-08:00

Most who have ever read T Austin Sparks either come away with glassy eyes or with wide eyes in wonder as they consider the things of Christ that he has so eloquently layed out before our eyes. I just stumbled across this post from a blog site that apparently honors his writings and posts clips on a periodic basis. It is a very good read and requires some meditation. Think on the things that he is stating, specifically at the bottom of the post.

May you be blessed as you seek to know the Lord Jesus Christ and the Eternal Purpose of God in His Son.

http://austinsparks.wordpress.com/2009/01/17/what-will-god-do-next/

David

Darwin Awards - David Style

2008-12-16T09:33:00.001-08:00

Not sure if you have ever heard of the "Darwin Awards" but they are typically awarded to people that do something really stupid during the year. I would recommend you look at them BUT there are some things on there that are not good in the eyes of the Lord so, I wouldn't.

Anyway, here is my submission for myself:

Yesterday I was kind and made some hard boiled eggs for my son, and one extra for me to enjoy. He was kind enough to peel them and then he put them in the Microwave to "warm" them a bit. When I went to take one he warned me and said "Daddy, be careful those are hot". To which I replied in a manly tone, "Don't worry, I won't get burned". Well, he was right, they were hot, even to the touch which I have rather hard fingertips so, that is saying a good bit.

So, in my wisdom I promptly walked over to the sink and proceeded to sprinkle some salt on this hot egg thinking that I would take a small bite and then blow on it so that I could cool it down a bit. So, I opened my mouth and proceeded to bite into this egg only to have it explode in my mouth, and I mean explode. It actually made a "BOOM" sound when it exploded. So, here I am standing at the sink with half an egg, a face that feels like I just got punched and a whole lot of egg yolk sprayed down the wall of the kitchen. In looking around I had egg yolk as far as 10 - 15 feet from where I stood and the pieces that were closer hit so hard that they were mashed into whatever they struck. Fortunately it was all in one direction so that the cleanup was reasonable.

So, lessons learned are as follows;

1. When my son tells me that something is hot, I need to listen.
2. When something is microwaved it needs to be punctured (yes, even when the shell is off)
3. Exploding eggs hurt your face, or in my case my lip (very thankful that it was only my lip)
4. Evolution really can't be true because I wouldn't be that stupid after millions and millions of years of evolving... :)

Hope you enjoy from my lessons learned.

David

The world

2008-12-02T18:44:00.000-08:00

...is corrupt, it is deceitful and it is desirous of nothing less than your death. Spiritually. I have been very blessed with some things that the Lord has been teaching me but they are not at a point that I can share them fully as they are not worked through my heart yet however, I can share a little bit about some of the things that He has made clear to me.

In my previous post I commented about my experience in Seattle and I have had some other things that have added to this idea of being blind and not seeing. I am in the middle of reading a book to my family called "Henry and the Great Society". If you have never read it, you should, matter of fact I will send you my copy when I am complete if you are interested. The story is about a man, Henry, who lives a very quiet and peaceable life that in their understanding is that which is mentioned in 1 Timothy 6:6 "But godliness with contentment is great gain". The first part of the story is about this simple life that they lived but it rapidly turns as "progress" comes to their community. The picture that is painted by the changes that come in is very scary and really makes you start to think. The book is something that everyone should read, just to have a mirror held up to the ways and things of this world.

I am by no means promoting the ultra-simple lifestyle but I can say that we need to be very careful about the affects that things and goings to and fro have on our time and more importantly on our relationships. Most importantly we need to be careful about that one relationship with our Saviour which is, after all, most important. It is in that relationship where we are changed, it is in that relationship that we can learn of our Lord Jesus (take His yoke upon you and learn of Him...). Isn't that the desire that we should have, to become more like Him, Jesus? That can come through no other means than time with Him and I will say that all of hell stands against that. Everything in this world is meant to do all that it can to pull you away from Him. Much more on this at a later time but, to provide a quick thought, the very testimony of Jesus Christ, the Church, is what hangs in the balance. It can only be represented in fulness when it is represented by those that are truly being changed into His image. That can't happen unless there is a rich relationship where we are beholding Him.

Take some time today and weigh all things in the balance of that relationship with Jesus Christ and ask whether this thing, event, etc is something that is going to draw you closer to Him, to behold Him more clearly or is it going to pull you away. There really is nothing neutral. Don't believe the lie.

David

Seeing

2008-11-21T20:32:00.000-08:00

So, what does "seeing" mean?

Matthew 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

I am in Seattle right now after spending a week at a the SQL Server PASS 2008 conference, away from my family, and I have to admit that I have seen many things over the last few days. Not in the sense of "seeing" things but having things revealed to me in a deeper way. The conference that I attended was for work purposes and it was for the most part very good, especially from the technical perspective. However, it is also very revealing to me just how far those things are away from Christ. You may not understand that, especially if you are not having to do many things with the world, but I can honestly see why there is not even a looking to God in the midst of this world. I had a 1.2 mile walk to and from the conference every day and if you have never been to Seattle, it is a really unique city with a mix of the "earthy" crowd, and the posh crowd, all mixed in with people that are poverty stricken and living on the streets. And here I am going about to this conference, in the midst of people that are only concerned about the stock market and making their server more reliable (if you don't understand that consider yourself blessed). I'm not trying to bring about an attitude of humanism but rather trying to paint a picture of why people don't think they have a need for God. The irony is, without their realizing this, the people that I was "mingling" with, were the ones who are in need, they are the poor, the blind, the lame the halt, the beggars so to speak and yet, they think they are doing great, especially when they compare themselves to those they see on the street. Ultimately my friends, the enemy has done a really good job of blinding people. There was no shortage whatsoever with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life eminating from the midst of this "congregation". Not in rampant open "sin" or I would have left but it was evident in all the fruit of their lives.

If you are reading this you may be saying, brother I know these things, why are you stating them. That may be true but I don't know that we see the stark reality of it or there would be some different fruit in our lives over these things. Just consider Abraham when God was preparing to send destruction to Sodom. The pleading that went on between Abraham and God. Are we pleading like that or are we too blind to the fact that destruction is going to come. I'm not trying to get everyone all "Ra Ra'd" up to go evangelize the world, I know that can be as much a work of the flesh as anything but I am asking what the fruit is in our lives in relation to the FACT that God is going to unleash judgment on the world in the future and most likely the near future.

I guess ultimately, I am really just thinking about what a strong contrast there is between what went on in the New Testament to what is seen today in "Christianity". A verse to consider as follows;

1 John 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

So, having said all this, the reason why I am able to write so freely in this is that I honestly feel like it is for me. These are all the questions that God has been asking me all week. ...and I share it with you to ask yourself.

I apologize, this was not well thought out, just an outpouring of the heart.

David

Prayer Update

2008-10-01T13:37:00.000-07:00

Thank you for praying! We have been really blessed with health, in that both I and Emma are feeling much better. Aside from feeling like I just ran a marathon with my muscles aching, I feel fine and Emma appears to be back to her normal energy level. Many blessings there.

In addition to that we also received news this morning that we are going to close on the house on October 9th. So, we are VERY thankful for that news and rejoicing that all this happened without us having to lift a finger toward getting this done. God has just continually showed us how much He desires to act on our behalf if we will only trust Him. Thank you Father!

We will keep you updated as things progress on this site.

Great blessings to you all as you abide in Christ Jesus Our Lord.

David

A Prayer request

2008-09-30T18:05:00.000-07:00

Over the course of the past nine months we have used our blog to share many things. We have used it to share with you where we have come from carnally (our testimonies), where we were at in our journeys(our trip out west), we have shared things of a spiritual mind and where we are at physically.

So now I come to explain where we are and ask for your help and prayers... God’s word tells us in the book of JAMES that "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Hence my plea. We are currently all (all but me) sick with the stomach flu. David and Lee Anna are through with most of it, but now it is Emma and Dave's turn. Emma is young and resilient, Dave on the other hand is not doing well and on top of everything associated with the stomach flu he now has a fever.... So please pray in this regard for healing for everyone and that I will not get it. (Keep in mind that we are still in the camper)

Next... When we came back to NY we asked the LORD to be very clear with us. If HE wanted us here then HE had to give us a house. When we came back we looked at one house (It was a house that had much of what both of us was looking for) and made a non-contingent offer that was accepted. (The house had been on the market since May 2008) The people that are selling the house were attempting to purchase another home in Lockport, NY. Our closing date has now come and gone (should have been Sept. 23) and the sellers are still not ready. We have been told that there is now something that they need to "satisfy" with regards to the mortgage company they are using to purchase the house in Lockport. Here in lies the problem for us, (and again, keep in mind that we are still in the camper) The campground we are staying in as well as most of the campgrounds in the north east U.S. will close for the season on or around October 15, so we are running out of time. Tomorrow Dave will tell our attorney to give a "Time is of the Essence" Order, which means that the sellers will have 10 days to close or we retract our offer. This will put us at October 10th and give us 5 days to make a decision as to what we need to do. If this is the case please pray for us, pray that GOD will endow us with the Wisdom of Solomon.

The Lord has allowed for much improved communications with our oldest child Rachael and with my parents, and strangely I have received communication from Dave's biological Mother... (through no effort on our part) We also have very dear and precious friends and wish to be close to them as well. We want to be here! However if this is not where the LORD would have us then, as I am sure you will understand, we want to be in HIS will.

Please pray that the LORDS will be done. And peace!

Robin

Movie Review

2008-09-27T05:13:00.000-07:00

Yes, I went to see a movie. At the theatre even. The movie we went to see as a family was called "Fireproof" (www.fireproofthemovie.com) and was the latest in the releases from the Kendrick brothers. We had seen the previews on the internet and were pretty excited as it deals with marriage which is in a sad state in the world and something that has become a huge problem in Christianity.

The writers and makers of the movie did a wonderful job presenting the problem and even better presenting the resolution. The best thing about all this was they dealt with another large issue directly, as a part of this movie which I won't give away as it is another cornerstone of the plot.

The real blessing to me about this movie was that there was a full theater (and I mean full - hardly a few seats empty) AND they presented the gospel relentlessly throughout the movie. The scene where the main character, Caleb, comes to Christ is such a beautiful portrayal of man that I was in awe. It truly was beautiful.

I would highly recommend people to see this movie, to support their efforts as long as they are glorifying Christ, and to encourage those that don't know the Lord to see this movie. You won't be disappointed.

David

Living water?

2008-09-07T03:59:00.000-07:00

I have thought about this a good bit lately as this is a point that Jesus was sure to make on more than one occasion that there is living water available to us as His followers, that this living water will be available in bountiful supply and that it should be a fountain or a flow coming from within.

John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

In thinking about this the Lord pointed me to another point in Scripture, 1 John 2:6;

1 John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

There is a key word in this verse and I believe more and more that this is the foundation of understanding 1 John, and that is the theme of abiding. The same holds true in the area of living water, as it has to come from a source and that source can only be found in the vine.

I think too often we explain away Scripture, say that is for the elite few, or that this is something that was only available for a certain time however, I hope that you would all agree with me that this is false. These are facts that Jesus was stating to all that would call on His name and follow Him.

I was reading this devotional from Oswald Chambers this morning and it really blessed as it touches on some things that the Lord has placed dearly in my heart. Please read as you see fit. http://www.myutmost.org/09/0907.html The important point that he makes is that this flow should be there and if not find out why. He also makes the point however that we may not always see it but "that it has started from the obscure, the unknown, the ignored, but the steadfastly true to Jesus Christ".

Let us covet to find ourselves in that place that when our Lord comes by He doesn't find a tree empty of fruit that should be laden with figs. Remember, He stated that if we are to abide in Him that we would bring forth much fruit and that without Him we could do nothing.

I ask the same question that brother Chambers asked, is there something hindering that today? Let us check the flow and see what that may be. More on this later.....

In the world?

2008-08-14T10:05:00.000-07:00

I have been meditating on this for a while and I still believe I have much to learn about this, I do believe that the Lord has given me some thoughts to share on this, mainly in one area.

There are many today, I used to be one of them, who will not go certain places, or will be wary of allowing themselves to be exposed to certain things because they don't want to become defiled, or to be tempted. I don't know if that is the exact terms that they would use or if that is the way they would state things but, I believe I have the gist of it down. Again, I used to be one of them so, I believe I know the heart of it. Ultimately, this really sounds good. We want to be pure, we want to have our thoughts captive on Christ and not on the things of the world and if we can remove ourselves from the temptation then we are ultimately victorious in this area. Right? Wrong! This really is a handy trick of the devil. Consider the following verses;

John 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

John 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

John 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

John 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

So, based on what Jesus is saying, we can see that first of all He was not praying that we would be taken out of the world (yes, I know that the prayer wasn't directed at US yet but, He does pray that we ALL may be one, even as He and His Father are one...) but that the Father would keep us from the evil. He then boldly states that they (we too) are not of the world, EVEN AS HE IS NOT OF THE WORLD. If we are not of the world then why would it be an attraction to us? It shouldn't be.

He then goes on to pray for our sanctification and then desires that we would be sent out into the world. And it is in this verse 18, that I believe we come into most of the conflict with the philosophy described above (yes, philosophy, not theology: the one is man's reasoning the other is God's reasoning). You see, Jesus wasn't worried about us being in the world, His desire was for us to be sanctified, set apart in all manner of thinking, affection and action, i.e. that our conversation, our life and behavior, would be something that would be glorifying to Him at all times.

So, with all that being said, we shouldn't be worried when we go to the grocery store and there are magazines with half-naked women on them unless we aren't walking in the Spirit. We shouldn't be worried about being in a place where there is bad music on unless we are not walking in the Spirit. We shouldn't be afraid to go to the beach because people are going to be immodest there. My goodness, how in the world do you ever expect to witness to young women today unless you can walk in the Spirit and learn to deny your flesh. Are you going to put on blinders every time you walk out the door, and then put on earmuffs because you realize that isn't enough. How about this then, are you then going to eliminate the smelling from your nose so that you can't smell the food that you so enjoy? Where does it end. Living on a farm in the middle of nowhere so that you don't see anyone, don't hear from anyone, don't talk to anyone because they might affect you adversely.

You may find what I am about to say somewhat hard but since I really don't believe anyone reads this anyway I am going to write it. Can you imagine if Jesus wasn't walking in the Spirit, having a woman sit there and wash his feet with tears and then dry them with her hair. Many would say that to touch a woman is sin according to 1 Corinthians 7:1 and to think that Jesus was sitting there allowing her to wash His feet with her tears and dry His feet with her hair. There was obviously physical contact going on here. Let me ask honestly, would you be as the Pharisee that was sitting there, saying "if Jesus knew who that woman was" or would we say something like this "if Jesus knew that the Scripture says....". Either way, we are in the same boat.

So what is the difference, why is it that we are not like our Saviour Jesus Christ so often? I believe it is because we miss His heart. Jesus saw her as a soul and His love was perfect towards her in that His one and only desire towards her was that of reconciliation. Shouldn't that be our heart as well? If that is our heart, can't it allow us to overcome the temptations of this world and allow us to go out into it and be salt and light to those that are in need?

You see, we can't walk around with the idea of touch not, taste not, handle not...

Colossians 2:20-23 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

The world will never see Christ in all that. He didn't resurrect a people to go off and hide in the desert, He resurrected a people to be a mighty army, a city that can be set on a hill, a fountain for people to come to and drink.

Am I off in what I am saying? Please let me know if you think so. If not then consider what I am sharing.

May the Lord bless you!

David

Am I a soldier of the cross?

2008-08-09T07:16:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across a tract I have from C.T. Studd called "Chocolate Soldiers" - http://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/msctserm.html - and decided to read it again yesterday. This tract is truly a blessing and should be read by all who name the name of Jesus Christ and we should consider whether we truly are laying our lives down and living for Him completely. It is a bit of a lengthy read but well worth it. I am including the last part for those who don't want to take the time and read the whole thing (again, please take the time).

From the tract:

"You sought in time past for Jesus to be king over you. NOW THEN DO IT! (Compare 1 Chronicles 12:8, 33, 38, and 2 Samuel 3:17-18). Shall we not reply, "We are Yours, Jesus, and on Your side. May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if I do not do what the Father promised You on oath, and transfer the kingdom from the house of Satan and establish Your throne over all the world." (Compare 1 Chronicles 12:18, and 2 Samuel 3:9-10).

Come then, let us restore the 'lost chord' of Christianity - HEROISM - to the world, and the crown of the world to Christ. Christ Himself asks you, "Will you be a malingerer or a militant?"
To your knees, man! And to your Bible! Decide at once! Don't hedge! Time flies! Cease your insults to God. Quit consulting flesh and blood. Stop your lame lying and cowardly excuses.
Enlist! Here are your papers and oath of allegiance. Scratch out one side and sign the other in the presence of God and the recording angel. Mark God's endorsements underneath.

HENCEFORTH...
For me

To live is ChristTo die is gain

I'll be a militant or

A man of God

A gambler for Christ

A Hero

For me

Chocolate my name

Tepidity my temperature

A malingerer, I

A child of men

A self-excuser

A humbug

God's promises are sure in either case:

"I am with you always."

- or -
"I will spit you out of my mouth."

In the famous words of Isaac Watts;

Am I a soldier of the cross,

A follower of the Lamb,

And shall I fear to own His cause,

Or blush to speak His Name?

Must I be carried to the skies

On flowery beds of ease,

While others fought to win the prize,

And sailed through bloody seas?

Are there no foes for me to face?

Must I not stem the flood?

Is this vile world a friend to grace,

To help me on to God?

Sure I must fight if I would reign;

Increase my courage, Lord.

I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,

Supported by Thy Word.

Thy saints in all this glorious war

Shall conquer, though they die;

They see the triumph from afar,

By faith's discerning eye

When that illustrious day shall rise,

And all Thy armies shine

In robes of victory through skies,

The glory shall be Thine.

David

New Music from Saints in MO

2008-08-03T11:41:00.000-07:00

There is a dear brother, Joe, who has recently been given a couple of new songs from the Lord. I would highly recommend listening to them if you get the chance. The link to the music is http://www.godlychristianmusic.com/group_artist.aspx?id=12&groups=0&name=Joe%20and%20Angela%20Garrity

Check out the songs titled "Desperation", "Feelings are feelings" and "Suffering first, then glory".

All downloads from this site are free. Enjoy and continue to worship the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart, mind, soul and strength!

David

...but Jesus sent him away

2008-07-21T19:17:00.000-07:00

Reading Luke 8:26 - 40 to the children tonight and this passage really jumped out at me.

Here we have this dear man tormented of devils and in bondage and finally healing and deliverance comes. People are amazed and in fear as he sits with Jesus "clothed and in his right mind". Then all the people beseech Jesus to leave the country because they were "taken with great fear". So as Jesus starts to leave, this beloved man who was now delivered beseeches Jesus that he might go with him, but instead of taking him into the number, Jesus sends him away.

In looking at this from our perspective it seems wrong. Really, who would tell someone that just came to Christ today to go away and stay with family that has just rejected Jesus Christ. This man was the only man in the whole country that got it. Everyone else was afraid of Jesus and they sent Jesus away. You would think that Jesus would have told the man, "Hey, come with me, I will get you established in your faith and teach you all the things you need to know so that you can go back and be an effective minister to those people back there". But no, that is not what He said. Notice that Jesus told him to "Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee." Is there any better foundation than that to tell anyone. We are always looking to find something better to tell people intead of just telling them the wonderful things that God has done for us. Sometimes I wonder if this is the case because God really hasn't wrought wonderful things in us. I don't say that to be harsh or critical. God knows. But we should desire reality with Christ and a reality of a changed life, something that people will take note of. This is to me that I ask these things but we should all consider them.

Consider finally, the work that this man does with just a testimony of a changed life. The Bible says that he "published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him". And what was there the next time Jesus came back? "And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were ALL WAITING for Him." Amazing!

Jesus knew the pefect plan for this man. He knew that His testimony would change the hearts of those people and He knew that if He removed him from his home, these people would still be afraid of Jesus. There are some many things to consider with this but let us just consider this one for tonight, that we can shine in a place where Jesus is not wanted and by showing forth the true testimony of a changed life we can help people come to the place where they too will be waiting for Jesus when He returns. And, hopefully it will be ALL of them that will be waiting.

David

Walking

2008-07-20T05:40:00.000-07:00

Walking seems like the very basic thing for a child to learn to do in order to be able to continue on in growth. As parents we are always so excited to see our child take their first steps. Being a father of a special needs child, I remember clearly the great excitement that came when my child started walking. Doors open for them, a new world is now available. It truly is a wonderful thing.

How much more in the realm of our Spiritual life? I was reading this devotional from Oswald Chambers http://www.myutmost.org/07/0720.html and I really appreciate his consideration on this. The interesting thing that he brings forth is that it is not just in the ability to walk but it is in the contentment of walking where we are strong and where we are found in a place where we can be directed. There is a walking with Christ that we need to learn.

...And, it is in that area, walking, that I see the Lord doing today more than anything, in my own life and in the life of so many others. There is such a work to return to the very foundational things of this life in Christ, of returning to Him and Him alone for life, and as an outflow of this there is a learning to walk. Day by day, minute by minute, hour by hour. To walk with the living head, individually and hopefully at some point corporately. He is alive! He is wanting to walk this life out with us. He does desire to be intimate with us and commune with us. This is real, not just words. I remember when I used to read books by Andrew Murray, Watchman Nee and others and I would read of this reality that they would speak of and think to myself, "is this reality really possible". Hey, just being honest here. Tired of pretending. However, I can say that as the Lord has brought me back to the foundation of what this life of being a Christian is, He has shown me that this is indeed real. I don't claim in this statement to have attained fully but I speak as one who has tasted more and desires to continue to go deeper in this relationship. This is where life is. This is where Jesus will be glorified and this is where Jesus will build his church.

If you are not experiencing these things, then stop where you are and get honest with God. Go back to the foundation. This life should be real with a real Saviour. Remember, as one dear brother wrote in a song about John 14:6, "if You (Jesus) are the truth, then without you I'm lied to". Don't accept anything less than the real Truth, the real Jesus!

May God bless you this day!

David

Friends

2008-07-15T03:42:00.000-07:00

Jesus said "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." and he is the friend that "sticketh closer than a brother" (Prov 18:24). How important that intimacy is, not only with Jesus Christ, but also with the brethren.

I woke with the following verse in mind after a sweet night of fellowship with some dear brethren;

Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

As with all the Word of God, it's true! There is great joy and encouragement that we receive one from another as we can also receive this from Jesus. In considering why, I have come to the conclusion that is the life of Christ shining forth from that person which allows for us to be sharpened, comforted, encouraged, challenged and probably many other things. It is a taste of what we will see in fullness when we come face to face.

David

Trust in the Lord

2008-06-14T07:49:00.000-07:00

Something has been weighing on my heart for a while now and I just thought I would share some thoughts on this.

Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

2 Corinthians 5:6-11 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

Psalms 118:8-9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

Psalms 25:12-14 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth. The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

Psalms 128:1-2 Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

Jeremiah 17:5-8 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

It is really clear that those that trust in men are cursed and those that trust in the Lord are blessed. Additionally, the fear of the Lord, being the beginning of wisdom, is where we start looking to the Lord rather than trusting in men. Consider the implications of trusting in men, or ourselves, God will not lead them. He can't (Prov 3, Psalm 25). So, what does that mean to us. Here we are in a day of such confusion with the church of Jesus Christ and many are running here and there looking to see what the Lord is going to do with this people or with that people. What are we doing? Are we not looking to men? Many will say, including myself, that we are going to see what God is doing with those people. That may be true to a certain extent but aren't we still trying to see with the eyes of our flesh rather than the eyes of faith. The eyes of faith speaketh on this wise, that the Lord is building His church in the lives of all those that love Him and that depart from iniquity. All those that are willing to trust in Him with all their heart and not lean on their own understanding. This is one of the most desperate things about our times. I am very concerned. However, I have hope. Hope for all that are willing to repent of seeking to find refuge in man but instead find their only refuge in the Lord Jesus Christ. He will therein get glory.

May He be blessed in your faith today!

David

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

2008-05-21T05:46:00.000-07:00

Matthew 7:1-5
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

What ??? Judge not, that ye be not judged

Luke 6:37-39
37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: 38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. 39 And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?

What ??? Judge not

John 7:24-27
24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. 25 Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill?26 But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? 27 Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.

What ??? Judge not

John 12:37-50
37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: 38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? 39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. 41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of Him. 42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. 44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. 45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. 46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. 47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. 49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

What??? if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

So often when we read the Bible we see only those things that we like. It's like going to a spiritual smorgasbord. We choose all the things we like, things that perhaps in this case allow us to keep our foot in two Kingdoms. It allows us to be “saved” but not be offensive to the world. Remember Mt 6:24 and Lu 16:13. Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

A very wise man once told me that all scriptures have to be read with in the context of their chapter and to know the audience that was being addressed. So I have included these scripture within the context of the chapters.

If we examine the first three verses within their context we can see that all three scriptures are actually addressing our own hearts. We judge everything that others do from the perspective of our own wicked hearts. That is the Beam in our eye. Not necessarily, for example we have committed a sin in secret and cast public judgments about another that has committed the same sin….. These scriptures address something far more every day… For example if we were blessed enough to see money pass between two man and in our wicked judgmental heart we say to ourselves “man #1 must have borrowed money from man #2 and is paying it back” and we begin to make other various assumptions based on our own heart. “man #1 is in debt… doesn’t he know Romans 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” Or “ I wonder if man #2 charged him interest… doesn’t he know Leviticus 25:37 Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase.”

Remember Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

In the last verse CHRIST says And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. CHRIST had not come at that point in time to judge, HE had come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.) However, that does not mean that we walk along keeping silent while those around us are knowingly sinning. In knowing their fate, have you no compassion, have you no love for your brother, for your sister, for mankind…. Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. It is the fear on man that prevents us from doing what GOD commands us to do. And again, Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. Remember their blood will be on our hands. Ezekiel 3:18 – 19 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

On the Judgment Day His word says that He will sift us as wheat…. (HE will judge us.) The sheep on the right and the goats on the left. His sheep will inherit His Kingdom Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: but the goats… (the sheep being a picture allegory of the children of HIS Kingdom and the goats being a picture allegory of the world and the people in it) He says Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Think on these things…. And read HIS WORD!

March 14, 2008

2008-03-14T11:48:00.000-07:00

Well, we are on the road again after spending several blessed days with many saints in Missouri.

We were very blessed to be able to partake of the Wednesday evening teachings. Thursday evening David was able to share his heart on the present state of the Church. As a few of the young brothers there have just come out from amongst a group that was teaching and preaching corrupted doctrines, they greatly wanted to know what we had come through (as we have been part of a similar group). What a blessing!!! (if we learn to look to Christ)

We were also very blessed to share meals and fellowship with a few saints that have been believers for many years.... This was an immense joy as they had shared time with a few of the "hero's" of our faith.

We are now heading to VA, and will meditate and pray about what the LORD has in all of this for us. FATHER please give us your direction!

03/07/2008

2008-03-07T18:44:00.000-08:00

Well we are regretfully migrating our way back east.... We are certainly looking forward to seeing those that we love in Christ but I have to admit, I love the west. It is still very wild in most parts and the weather, well, it's not snow. : ) We have just spent a couple of days in the northern Phoenix area and then Las Cruces, New Mexico again. We are now in Northern New Mexico and are migrating East on US 40 if you want to follow our progress on the map. As of now our plans are to head to Oklahoma tomorrow then on to Missouri after that where we will spend some time with some folks out there and hopefully catch up with my sister in Northern Missouri.

Please pray for our trip to OK as I will be visiting with some friends from my past and my hope is that there hearts will be open to hear of what the Lord has done in me.

To all reading, we miss you all and look forward to seeing you soon!

David

03/03/2008

2008-03-03T23:14:00.000-08:00

Well, I was finally able to make contact with some of the people that I had known when I lived in CA many years ago (see my testimony for further details). We had made a really strong attempt to find some people in Bakersfield on Friday only to find out that they had moved back to Oklahoma where they were from about 6 years earlier. That trip ended up with a really long trip across a mountain range in the dark with bad brakes (the back brakes on the van started giving us trouble - again). Regardless, Friday left us pretty discouraged as I had really hoped to make contact with these people.

However, this morning just before I left to go get the van worked on my wife encouraged me to look for them in the Yahoo white pages and I was able to get a phone number. First try and I had them. I made the call and was able to speak to them for about 20 minutes. They appear to be doing really well from the worlds perspective and I hope that we can continue conversation further and eventually I can share my testimony with them. We may end up stopping in OK on the way so that we could at least spend a little bit of time face to face with them.

I was able to get the van fixed which is really a longer story than I am able to type and explain but it wasn't cheap. Some labor that was supposedly done by another brake repair station in Batavia really wasn't done and so we were still using parts that were quite old, hence the problem (that and our lovely NY rust). At this point our van seems ready to hit the road again and we are planning an early departure for Phoenix, AZ tomorrow and probably leaving there on Thursday for a strong push towards OK and Missouri.

Please keep us in prayer as we travel and please pray that the Lords direction continues to be clear.

David

03/02/2008 - Sunday

2008-03-03T07:02:00.000-08:00

We were really blessed this morning with the opportunity to fellowship with some believers in Los Angeles. I had come across these people as a result of a God Tube video that Chris Smith from Old Paths had sent us. The video was titled, "The Spiritual Famine in America". I had actually forwarded this on to a couple of folks so you may remember the group that I am referring to. I had pulled the address and meeting time off of one of their videos and we as a family decided to make our trip into downtown LA to meet with them on Sunday morning.

When we arrived near our destination we soon found that we were being blocked from crossing East toward where they meet by the Los Angeles Marathon. Bad morning to choose to come I guess.... However, we did find parking and we as a family ran through the Boston Marathon which I later found out was a bad thing to do. We tried to avoid the people and I think we did for the most part. Hopefully we didn't break anyone's stride. : (

We made our way to the address where they meet about 2 blocks away and when we got there we found a door with the numbers on it but nothing else, no indication of a church meeting there, no name, nothing. It was right in the middle of garment district in downtown and there were all sorts of merchants selling wares but here was this place, or more appropriately a door with a number, that we were going into. Regardless, we went in and up the stairs. Thankfully as we went up the stairs we started to hear conversation and there was a real feeling of safety there so we continued on. When we reached the top of the stairs there they were gathered together, not in a way that we would have normally experienced but different, still blessed. Many people came and introduced themselves to us and we were welcomed very openly. Again, very blessed. We were able to meet a man named Minister Facey (not sure of the spelling) and Pastor Cox (whom I knew from the video, his first name is Justin). This gets a bit interesting now....

Before we left Virginia, Ben had taken a few brothers out to breakfast and when I told him that I wanted to meet with these brothers in LA, he told me that he met a couple of brothers from LA when they went to help out at some meetings in Michigan. He provided me with the number of a man named Chris. I questioned him then wondering if it might be the same group of people but he was unsure. During our time here I had not felt led to call this man, not sure why. I guess in my heart I was pretty confident that he would be part of this group but also really hadn't had the time as we had some other things we set out to accomplish.

So, here we are in the gathering of these dear saints and the Lord starts poking at my heart saying "Chris is minister Facey". So, during a period of greeting I had the brief opportunity to ask and when I asked his first name, he said "Chris". Glad the Lord is right or I would have felt foolish. So, I quickly explained my reason for asking and told him that I had his cell phone number on a piece of paper in my pocket. We both rejoiced for a moment and he went back to let Pastor Cox know who we were. I don't know if I am explaining this in writing but I am so often in awe at how God works in our lives, especially in the realm of bringing people together.

We ended up having a wonderful time of sharing and getting to know these people. It ended a bit too early for me as I had hoped to spend a good bit more time with them but His ways are better than my ways. I would highly recommend checking out some of their videos, specifically the one I mentioned earlier in this post at www.p4cm.com. I would however recommend that you not watch it with children present as some of the things they present are pretty harsh.

I am very thankful to find others preaching the true gospel of Jesus Christ. It seems there are so few out there today and there is so much deception that to see another group is a breath of fresh air. Some people may consider me a bit too strong on this area and say that there are a whole bunch of people presenting the gospel in truth but quite honestly, if there is any watering down, any slight deception in the area of the true gospel, then the enemy will use it to deceive people. We need to stand opposed to that. Strongly. Otherwise people will be deceived and will be led to Hell. The path is narrow and there will be few. We NEED to stand firm presenting the full truth in this day.

Please keep these brothers in prayer that they will continue on and that God's hand of protection will be strong for them. They are a bright light in a dark land. Glory to God!

We ended the day by going to Venice beach to watch the sunset and let the children play in the ocean for a few minutes. They had a wonderful time and we were able to watch a beautiful sunset and watch the tide come in. A wonderful way to spend the waning hours of daylight. Almost seemed as if the Lord painted the sky for us directly. We were truly thankful for the picture He painted for us and all those there.

2/23/2008

2008-02-29T08:01:00.000-08:00

The weather up on the Mesa's on the Hopi reservation is not very nice and everything here is covered with a serious layer of mud. Makes for some really messy times. We have been enjoying more fellowship with the Toews family and have even been blessed with our first traditional Hopi meal, a soup, some bread and some blue corn tortilla's that are very thin. The soup is something that they would typically make for their "bean dance" ceremony (the women that made it would not be participating as she has put these things behind her) and consisted of bean sprouts, hominy and some other vegetables. All of it was very good and it was a real blessing to receive all this provision.

We spent the day in fellowship, learning more about the Hopi people and getting to know some of the people on the reservation. Truly a blessing.

I went bouldering with Nathan (first real attempt in 13 years) and found that the weight and the age really have affected me.... : ) Also made the big mistake of taking my glasses off and leaving them to lay on a rock where we had our gear. Needless to say, they got broken. Really broken. Glad that I can see for the most part without them as there is not a glasses store anywhere near by (about 100 miles to the nearest shopping).

We spent the evening with a family praying through the house and asking God to provide His protection for this family as they had been feeling the attacks of the enemy. The Hopi people are probably the most spiritual of the native americans and the time of the bean festival which is happening right now is a strong time of spiritual activity. I had already prayed through our trailer on the first night that we were there as we were warned that the activity would be high. I'm not sure that I can describe their festivals, beliefs, and spiritism in writing and I'm not sure how much of it I am at liberty to discuss on the internet so, I will have to keep the information pretty vague, however, I can say that the battle is raging here and the souls of men are the prize. Pray that the Lamb that was Slain would truly receive the reward of His suffering from the Hopi people.

2/22/2008

2008-02-22T09:12:00.000-08:00

We started the day in Grants, NM with the temperature about 34 degrees and the skies threatening to snow on us. Before we were too far up the road this was fully realized. Much of our travel today was slated to be on Indian reservation land and a good part of it was at high altitude which culminated with us going across a pass which was higher than 7,000 feet above sea level. Not exactly the way you want to travel when you have 7,000 pound of trailer stuck to your bumper but we really felt that we needed to keep going. As we proceeded into the Navajo reservation the weather didn't improve and by the time we reached the Hopi reservation we were experiencing near white out conditions at some points. The really interesting thing about traveling on the Hopi reservation is that they mostly live on Mesa's. If you have never seen a Mesa, they are high flat pieces of land which are almost like islands. They are really beautiful to look at from ground level but the idea of driving up them in blowing snow is not too appealing. To make matters a little worse, the people we were going to see, The Toews family (pronounced Taves), live on the 3rd mesa and yes, in order to get to the 3rd mesa you have to go up the first mesa, down the first mesa, up the second mesa, down the second mesa, up the third mesa.... Again, all in snowy conditions. When we arrived we found the church road to be quite muddy and we ended up getting the van and trailer stuck on the way up the driveway. Russ and his son Nathaniel hooked up their 4 wheel drive Suburban and pulled the Van and Camper far enough up the driveway that we were able to get the camper set up so that we could stay in it. It was quite an eventful day of travel. However, our time there became quite restful right away.

Upon arriving we were warmly greeted by the Toews family. The welcome and the warmth of their home was truly appreciated and we were immediately put at ease. I can't begin to praise God enough for the rest He brings in the home of those that love Him. We spent the rest of the day talking and getting to know one another and later that evening we were introduced to the Hayah family. This family is a real blessing from the Lord Jesus in so many ways. They are from the reservation and became Christians only about 4 years ago but God has been graciously growing them so abundantly! Their testimonies are a real joy to hear and it is even more of a joy to see that they are on a real solid path.

Colossians 1:3-6 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

More on our time here in the next couple of posts.

David

2/21/2008

2008-02-21T22:29:00.000-08:00

We started out in Las Cruces, New Mexico and ended our day in Grants, NM. A total of 280 miles. Not exactly a hard days drive but the winds were horrible and we have a 32.5 foot trailer along with a 12 foot long van all stuck together with a very heavy duty hitch. In short we are pushed about like a sail on the sea.

For about 30 miles we actually traveled on the old Route 66. It was quite a desolate drive.

By the end of the day we discovered that the passes we had just driven through had either been closed due to high winds or there was a travel advisory issued against traveling in these passes (gusts of 55 mph). The Lord as been so merciful to us in protecting us.

It was our original intent to drive onto the Hopi Indian Reservation in North eastern Arizona to visit and encourage our friends there, but the winds slowed us down. We thought we should stop in Gallup, NM, for the night but were advised against it by our friends in Arizona as the neighboring Navajo Indian Reservation is a dry reservation (no alcohol / no liquor). The town of Gallop, NM is quit a wild place and can be dangerous to outsiders. (A town that definitely is not dependant on the tourist industry)

Please pray for our protection from the spirits throughout the reservations (there are many of them, spirits and reservations).

Lord, Please illuminate our path that we would have your sure footing. Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Robin

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I may be over spiritualizing things a bit but I have likened our trailer to being that of our flesh and our van as being that of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

They fight one against another and our driving when it is windy is often like that. So far the flesh has been bucking us the whole trip but the Spirit is overcoming! Glory!

Just a simple man with an eye on Jesus!

David

2/20/2008 Rockhounding!

2008-02-21T22:22:00.000-08:00

Today was a trip to Rouckhound State Park in New Mexico. This park is know for its geodes. For those of you who don't know their rocks they are formed by valcanic activity. They look like large mud balls, but inside are crystal formations. We didn't find anything but had a nice day of digging.

Memories...

Robin

2/19/2008 Mexico

2008-02-21T22:03:00.000-08:00

Today is a day that will not be forgotten…. Leaving the trailer at the KOA in Las Cruces, New Mexico we kind of back tracked a little and went to El Paso, Texas. Now I’m sure you are asking yourself “now why did they go back?” Well we went to Juarez, Mexico. We were only there for a few hours but what we saw will not soon be forgotten. We parked our van in a small lot just outside the immigration checkpoint and walked into a different world. By the way, the immigration checkpoint is surrounded by 8 foot fences topped with razor wire. David and I had no idea what we were walking into.

Most of the cars are taxis and looked like junk yard reject. There were people everywhere and within just a few minutes David noticed a man that he thought was following us…. This man would walk past us and then cross the street well in front of us and back down the opposite side of the street, cross the street behind us and pass us again…. We went around the corner and down the street towards to the Mercado (market), this man was never to be seen again. Again just down the street there was a space of about 15 to 20 feet between David and I and two men stepped out from a small street shop right behind David, one motioning to the other where David had his wallet. (which was in a pocket on the front of his pant leg) While maintaining the same distance one man turned to look over his shoulder and realized that David was not alone…. Perhaps my cover made them think I was a nun (the Catholic Church is a very ominous presents) helping this poor man with his children….. but both men stopped dead in their tracks and smiled at me while giving me a pleasant nod…. We were grateful for the protection our Lord gave us. While walking along the streets we all noticed a very high number of handicapped people and many of them were begging…. One woman with two small children sat on the sidewalk begging for money…. Lord please forgive my gluttony… we are a very fat country. We also found a street preacher in the square preaching the Lords word…. Bible and megaphone in hand. I am sure our friends at OPBBC would be delighted.

As you walk along the street many people will walk up to you trying to sell their wears… that could be anything from a balloon animal to razors to a blanket… but we encountered a woman selling small bags of assorted candy. Her name was Sylvia and she was a non-using heroin addict. She told us that she had been clean for 8 months and was selling candy to raise monies for the drug house she lives at. They are helped for free and in return are asked to make fund raising their job. The house gives them the bags of candy they just have to pay for the bags at the end of the day or turn in what she doesn’t sell. She also introduced us to her husband Thomas. They both say that God has helped them… but we don’t know to what extent they believe… (language barrier) Before we parted ways we prayed with them for protection and that they would seek everything from Him. Please pray for Sylvia and Thomas, the world is against them…

On our way back we walked back over the Rio Grande River and into the United States. As we walked over the bridge I saw below a man with a large paper cone. The man stood there with that cone yelling to the people crossing over the bridge. His yells were consistently the same “ Hey help, Hey help”. He wanted the people transversing that bridge to throw him money and he would catch it with the large paper cone.

I believe I have left a part of my heart with these people and in this city and would love to go back. God’s will be done. Please pray for this city and its people, they are shockingly poor and the Church here is only getting fatter. God help us!

Robin

2/18/2008

2008-02-21T21:07:00.000-08:00

We got up and on the road with little effort. One note…. We have one for the Guiness record books, the smallest Walmart exists in Pacos, Texas. I have seen gas stations along the way that are bigger than the Walmart here.

Anyway, the day was uneventful…. We drove from Pecos, Texas, to Las Cruces, New Mexico. A total of 254 miles…. Not a lot of driving but a relaxing day.

We pulled into a very nice KOA and had dinner at a highly recommended Mexican restaurant. David and I both like Mexican food so this is a real treat. With bellies full we went back to the KOA and enjoyed a restful evening.

Robin

2/17/2008 "West of the Pecos"

2008-02-21T19:49:00.000-08:00

Well with the tornado warnings behind us and the sun and a new day before us we were up bright and early to see, so to speak, two of our hero’s of the faith. In the town of Garden Valley, Texas, there is a small and humble cemetery where you will find the graves of both Keith Green and Leonard Ravenhill. Lord please allow us to make a mark for you as they did. On Leonard Ravenhill stone he asks all that visit a question that everyone should ponder. “Are the things you are living for worth Christ dying for?”

There were many very large estates in the area of the cemetery and farms. One of the estates we saw was the estate of David Wilkerson… (ever heard of the book The Cross and The Switchblade) We also got a good look at the local longhorn cattle that Texas is so famous for.

As we got back on the highway we say many things that I am sure the Lord is very grieved over. We came into the highway loop that surrounds the Dallas / Fort Worth area and saw two mega churches right off the bat. One with a large sign facing the highway that said “Your Tithes At Work”. With the starving and homeless people that exist everywhere I am sure Our Lord would have spent those tithes to feed the poor….

Lord, please forgive me / us for our perspective on money. Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

Our drive out of the Dallas / Fort Worth area opens into the desert and there you see a new world. It is not the moon scape of sand that I had expected. It is an environment with cactus, small green bushes, oil derricks, oil pumps, and off in the distance are mountains that are unimaginable. This is big oil country. This life blood of this country.

We finally ended our driving that day in a small town called Pecos, Texas, for a total of 617 miles driven and we will call Wal-Mart home for the night. When we first entered the town I really didn’t think too much of it but was soon enlightened. Have you ever heard the old cowboy movies say “there ain’t no law west of the Pecos”? Well this is the town…. We are now “West of the Pecos”.

Robin

*****************************************************************************

Our trip to see the graves of Keith Green and Leonard Ravenhill has to be one of my highlights from this trip so far. While I know that these spots are nothing, they do remind me of what God can do and wants to do with men. If you have never heard anything from either of these men of God then I would recommend you search them out on www.sermonindex.net and listen to some of their messages. They were truly men that had a message to the church for their day as well as ours. I would also strongly recommend that you watch the Keith Green Story (the link is shown in our favorites) and read the Biography of Keith Green, "No Compromise", written by his wife which is far more indepth into the life of this man. Truly humbling. You may not agree with the music but you can't deny what the Spirit of God was doing.

David

February 16, 2008 TORNADO!

2008-02-16T18:10:00.000-08:00

Well, today has been an other adventure. We woke this morning in Pearl, MS to temperatures of about 55. Wasn't exactly Miami but there was no snow (just rain). We drove through Louisiana with little to speak of. It was generally overcast but was increasingly warm.... At one point we actually had the venting on in the van. We had a nice stop along the boarder of Louisiana and Texas to see the "big muddy" Mississippi River. It was quite impressive! Rumor has it that my Great Great..... (many time Great) Uncle is responsible for the discovery of the source of this great and mighty river. His name is Captain Willard Glazier and I have one of his books (he was quite a charactor). The source of the river is named after him, Lake Glazier.

Anyway, getting back on the road the skys continued to darken and after about an hour David asked me to check the National Weather Service for current weather conditions. (We have the ability to connect to internet while on the road and have GPS) After pulling up the weather service we discovered that we were right in the middle of TORNADO WARNINGS. We immediately headed for cover to a small town called Lindale, TX. We were about 25 miles out and came over the rise of a gentle hill and right into the face of a wall of rain and wind. Everyone came to a stop! We sat still for what seemed to be about 10 minutes. I gave the children instructions that if told they were to run from the van and into the ditch just outside the van... The rain began to ease slightly and David decided to start moving out of a fear that we were sitting ducks... As we progressed on the road we saw many police vehicles going in the other direction but nothing in our direction.... (perhaps that gave me a false sense of security) We weren't down the road very far and here on the median was a police car with a car that had apparently flipped over many times.... no driver visible. (we assume the driver was in the police car and ok.)

We are now in the camp ground in Lindale and the tornado warning will be lifted by 9:00pm. By the time we got here I was so scared I could hardly talk straight. The local weather man says the conditions are now wrong for a tornado to occur as it is only 44 degrees... Praise Jesus!!!! (Hey Laura, remember that dream about the tornado... thought I was going to see it come true.)

We drove 323 miles today.

Please pray for me as I have very little faith and much fear...

Matthew 14:28-31 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Robin

February 15, 2008

2008-02-15T19:23:00.000-08:00

Well, we have had a couple of pretty eventful days specifically in the area of the trailer and getting it to perform correctly. First we had a problem with the electric brake system. We finally ran a new power wire to get that working - found the old one was broken about half way back. Then we had some pretty exciting problems with the hitch / sway controller configuration which made the handling really exciting, especially when tractor trailers went by. I think my forearms look like Popeye from trying to keep the van / trailer on the road a couple of times. : ) I believe we have this sorted out finally as well. Very glad about that.

After leaving Stuarts Draft, VA yesterday, we drove 357 miles to Lenoir City, Tennessee. We spent last night in a Walmart parking lot and things got pretty cold without running the furnace but everyone stayed really warm under the many down blankets. I think the temperature in the trailer dropped down to about 40 according to the thermometer.

Today we have driven approxamitely 680 miles and are now in Pearl, MS. (just on the banks of the Mississippi River)

Thinking about the last 2 days we could really find many things to complain about but in reality we are all very blessed. The Lord is showing us some things that we really need to work on as a family and is allowing us to be in a place were we can draw very close together. Additionally, He is showing us how to rejoice in times of trial and to still find joy when things are a bit rough. Due to our problems, specifically with the handling of the trailer, we have seen a great outbreak of spontaneous prayer. : )

I believe that we have our itenerary fairly nailed down as well. We are going to go to Texas first and see a couple of tourist sites there. Then hopefully visit with some bretheren there. Then to Mexico for a brief over-the-boarder visit. After that Arizona to visit Russ Toews and Jim Miller on the Hoppi Indian reservation for a few days. Out to CA for a multi-person visit including Robins Grandmother and hopefully some other brethren in LA. After that we may take a "quick" trip to British Columbia to see the brothers from "Christ Our Life" and hopefully Greg Gordon. Finally we are going to head back East to see Alan Martin and the brethren in Missouri. We decided to make MO our last stop as I am sure that we will need some rest and encouragment at that point. : )

Ok, time to rest....

February 11, 2008

2008-02-11T09:47:00.000-08:00

Well, I (David) am now working remotely and things are going well. The work on the trailer is progressing nicely and we are hoping on a departure time for the West sometime around Wednesday or Thursday. Unfortunately Robin fell sick and ended up having to go to the ER on Sunday where she was diagnosed with Strep. My wife hardly ever gets sick and it was hard for me to see her in such pain / discomfort. She is a real blessing to the family and having her "out of commission" for a day was pretty difficult for me. Now that she is on medication she is getting better and should be recovered fully shortly. Please continue to pray for our health as a family as it seems like a period of sickness has been on our heels for some time.

**********************************************

What started out to be a mild sore throat on Friday morning evolved into something unbelievable. (David arrived home on Saturday morning, Amen and Amen!) The pain in my throat and ears became unbearable by Sunday morning and I had about 2 hours of sleep. I am sure that that played into my teariness, but I was in pain that aside from childbirth I only recall from my childhood. After a trip into the ER the young resident doctor boldly announced that I did indeed have a strep infection and the start of a lovely ear infection in my right ear, but he was very quick to point out that the perscription he was giving me would "kill just about anything". He also told me that the infection in my throat was bad enough that I would probably not feel any relief for about 48 hours. He was just about right, it was 36 hours before I could swallow with the aid of motrin and aleve and not cry. Anyway..... this has started out as some trip...... please keep us in your prayers.

A verse I have been meditating on.

John 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will him he heareth.

Think about this paradox and ask yourself "Does HE hear my prayers?" Any thoughts?

Robin

February 8, 2008

2008-02-08T18:18:00.000-08:00

Well it started on Wednesday evening..... Emma announced that she didn't feel good sooo the organizing and repacking of the trailer has come to a screeching halt. The "I don't feel good" evolved into "I'm going to get sick" and then she did.... many times. Now yesterday I began to think that perhaps she was on the mend and Lee Anna started, (poor thing doesn't understand what her body is trying to do, she gets very scared) only to discover that Emma wasn't quite done. Yes folks that’s right they were both getting sick at the same time.... By this time Emma was telling me that her throat was hurting so we tried a little Tylenol which didn't set well, but I tried.... Anyway, by last night I began with a sore throat and by bed time last night my throat hurt so bad that if I were a betting woman I would have thought I had strep. That coupled with all over body aches I felt like I had been hit by a train. The children were in bed by 8:30pm and I was in bed by 9:00. None of us woke up until 8:00am this morning. I felt a little better this morning with the help of some Aleve and Motrin. This evening we are all back at it with sore throats and Emma and Lee Anna still have up-set stomachs..... Oh the joy.... We do have a friend that will come from Harrisonburg tomarrow to help me if needed, please pray that we are well and she does not need to come. David is still at Leadership meetings and I pray that the Lord fills him with much love, wisdom, and understanding. Also please pray for his safe travels back to us. Please pray that the Lord strengthens me so that I can be a good servent to the children. Please also pray that he give me patience...

Much Love!
Robin

February 5, 2008

2008-02-07T06:44:00.000-08:00

Today is Lee Anna's 7th birthday. She's a child with many challanges and has the strength and determination of a giant. (she is my hero) What a beautiful blessing. The Lord chose to bless her and us with a beautiful day. We enjoyed temps in the 70's today and many friends to play with. She was blessed with a birthday song sung by Grandma and Grandpa G. and a very choppy phone call. She also got a phone call from her big sister Rachael. (what wonderful blessings) In addition to that we were blessed to share dinner and a birthday cake with many many friends including some of the Nesbitt family and Nathan and Marci Lapp and their children.....

On an another note I am still plugging away at trying to organize the trailer. I finally found the coffee at around 1:00pm and saw the floor before we left to go to Nathan and Marci's. The Lord is surely teaching me patience and diligents. Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

Robin

February 3, 2008

2008-02-07T06:40:00.000-08:00

After arriving at 8:30am, parking the trailer and lighting the furnace, David was kindly informed by the brothers here that they were leaving for the Leadership Meetings at 10:30am. Soooo he prompty began packing his belongings for a journey north.... After the car load of men hit the road it left Ben and Erin, their children and the Hardiski siblings. (Their journey north to the meetings began at 1:00pm). This left Missy Nesbitt along with some of her children and me and my children.... (a season of quiet). I began the daunting job of organizing the trailer, which by the way was a mess.... shoes, school books, pots and pans, groceries, clothes, bedding, two cats, and a dozen fish.... e i e i 00000. The first thing I did was make beds.

Robin

February 2, 2008

2008-02-07T06:36:00.000-08:00

Well, Everything is packed into storage or our trailer and we are now on the road. (A day and a half later than planned.) We decided to travel east on the Rt 90 and pick up Rt 81 near Syracuse as that route is far smoother that Rt 15 south. (important given that we were pulling the trailer). It was about 3:30pm by the time we finally got on the road. Thank you to Don and Laura for storing our trailer for us. We would also ask that everyone keep our oldest, Rachael, in your prayers. She has dicided to stay in NY ..... After stopping for something to eat, we finally hit the NY / PA boarder around 8:30 pm. The first thing we noticed was that the price of gas was $2.99 per gallon. Once we got south of Scranton, PA, I realized why the Lord had us driving at night. The Ice storm we had on January 31, 2008 was still very evident (even in the dark). Most of the lovely white birch trees along Rt 81 were still bent to the ground and given that it was dark I am most confident that we didn't get the full picture of what it all looked like..... scarry! After stopping twice to rest, we arrived in Stuarts Draft, VA at about 8:30am. By the way the gas prices here are around $2.75, nice.

Thank you Lord for safe travel.
Robin

January 26, 2008 - Moving Day

2008-02-06T06:02:00.000-08:00

Well, the move has begun officially. Today with the help of many brothers we were able to get all our large possessions loaded on the truck in short order. A huge blessing to us from those that we love. We were additionally blessed with the help of Doug and Chad as they continued on to help us unload in storage. I have posted a pictures of storage now that it is full that I took from my phone. So, the quality is not great but I think it will give you an idea of what it is beginning to look like. Now, it is on to moving the rest of the things over in boxes and trying to find the space for them all. : ) David

Robin's Testimony

2008-02-05T22:53:00.000-08:00

I met Jesus in May 2005, and as the scales fell from my eyes and I did see…. Acts 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. In May 2005, I became joint-heirs with Christ Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. I am no longer a child of Adam, through adoption I am now made joint-heirs with Christ. Amen! And Halleluiah!!

I was raised in a family that did not attend church or practice any particular religion. As a young girl of perhaps 8 or 9 I remember attending church with a little girl that lived down the street from us. On one occasion I recall a Sunday School worker say to me “You don’t want to go to hell do you?” And of course being the intelligent person that I am I said “noooooo”. The Sunday School worker promptly had me recite the “sinners prayer” and zap, I was saved. (I had no concept of sin or repentance, how could I possibly be saved.) IF YOU ARE A SUNDAY SCHOOL WORKER PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS TO THE CHILDREN YOU WORK WITH, there are NO scriptural references to children being saved, baptized, or filled with the Holy Spirit. As I stated earlier, my parents didn’t attend church so even if I had really been saved, there was no one to disciple me. Although I will say that I had a great hunger to have a bible and recall quite vividly that I memorized a bible verse to win my first bible. And believe it or not I had that very same bible until I was 34 years old…. By the time I put it to rest it was well read and very will worn (yes I even read my bible).

As I grew up I always had a sense of God and that there were things that people (including myself) did that God didn’t like. (I don’t recall really having the label “sin” to put on those things). When I was a young teen I became involved with a boy that attended church (only because it was what his family did, he was not born again). As a result I began attending with him and was asked at about the age of 17 if I had ever been baptized. (which I had not) Soooo I was baptized. Again, the church that I was now attending never discipled or taught me. (not that I was really saved). Just a side note, my parents had grave reservations about this young man and his family but I was a rebellious young lady and didn’t heed the warnings they offered me. Choices I made in regards to this relationship brought about much misery and woe, not only for me but for my parents, siblings and perhaps even my grandparents…. I pray that some day they can forgive me. Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Had I obeyed my parents and submitted myself to them, their life experience, and wisdom I would have avoided much hurt and suffering.

In my early 20’s I became involved again in a relationship that I knew was wrong in Gods sight and in the eyes of my parents, a relationship that would result in the birth of my first child, Rachael. Please know that as much as I regret the sin, I do not regret my child. I walked through her early life seeing the world for the first time, through her eyes. Again I do not recall the word sin being thought of in regards to these situations, I do however remember at one point in time being introduced to the phrase “ETERNAL SECURITY”. I stumbled through years of my life feeling as though there was a great lacking in my life. I can only describe it as if it were a great puzzle…. You get a big box puzzle and the first thing you do is put all the pieces face up. The second thing you do is look for all the pieces that have a flat side. (those are generally the sides of the puzzle, or the frame) Well, as far as I was concerned my puzzle frame was complete. I had a good job, a nice car, by the worlds standards I had nice friends….. I had it all. I can even recall praying and crying out to God to take away this emptiness…. John 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will him he heareth. Yet the emptiness continued…. Something was missing and I could never quite put my finger on it. Over the years I tried (in my flesh) to fill that void. At times it was with sinful relationships, alcohol, drugs, the list goes on. I was a classic 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11. I never physically murdered anyone but I am confident that I murdered many with my tongue. All the while feeling the utmost confident that through eternal security God loved me because I was saved (after all, I had said the sinners prayer) and I would still go to heaven…..

In June 1996, I began to “date” the brother of my best friend. By October of that same year we were married and now were a family of three. Mt 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. By July 1997 David and I were expecting our second child. In January 1998 we saw an advertisement in our local town paper that a church was being built in our area, so we thought it a good idea to check them out. Shortly after we began attending David got saved / born again, but I continued to stager through life feeling that void. Our son David was born in April 1998, in September 1999, we had Emma, and in February 2001 we had Lee Anna.

Finally in May of 2005 David had gone out of town to see a very special friend in Vermont become ordained. (what a blessing) For weeks prior to this the Lord had been working on my heart in regards to my salvation (or lack thereof) and chose that weekend to bring it all to a head. I was still so confused about the teachings of eternal security and yet wondered how someone could openly and boldly sin and still go to heaven….. And as I sat at my kitchen table that day I became so overwhelmed with the realization that eternal security was a lie…. I realized that I could not just go through life as I had in the past, knowing that the love of this world makes me God’s enemy; James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. God also says; 1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. We can go through life telling ourselves that we know Him but unless He know us (unless there is a relationship with Him… a daily walking with Him as He and Enoch did… as He and Abraham did….) If He does not know us then He will tell us Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. I was overwhelmed with the realty that had I not sinned he would not have had to die for me, that I had killed Christ as surely as if I have hammered the nails. (I now realize what repentance meant)! Thank you God for loving me! John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Now as far as salvation and eternal security are concerned I do believe that we as the scripture says can not be “plucked from his hand”. John 10:28, 29 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I do however believe that we can throw our salvation away as stated in Provers 26:11, 2 Peter 2:22, and Luke 9:62 (that is, if we were truly saved / born again in the first place). Similar in nature to any gift, the gift giver says “I am giving you this gift, It can never be taken from you”. However that does not preclude me from casting that gift away.

I also realized that according to scripture People don’t remain the same after they meet Jesus, Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly,… 2 Peter 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire,….. Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. People can’t remain the same after they truly meet Jesus. Mary Magdalene didn’t remain a harlot, Zacchaeus repented of being a publican and told Christ he would give half is belongings to the poor and that if he took anything falsely he would return it fourfold, Paul didn’t remain a murder and persecutor of Christians. People do not remain the same after they truly meet Christ. There was only one person that came to Christ and walked away disappointed and unchanged. It was the rich young ruler. He couldn’t bare to part with his worldly possessions. Luke 18:18-23

Gods word tells us that this life is but a vapor James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. But our souls, your soul is eternal. Ro 6:22. If I say nothing, then before God I will be held accountable. Ezekiel 3:18 – 19 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. 1 Corinthians 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

For those of you who have known me for years, If I have ever done or said anything that has caused you to turn from Christ, I know that God is grieved and I ask for your forgiveness. Luke 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. I also know that I can’t pick and choose what is truth and what is not, based on my likes and dislike… based on what I feel comfortable with… based on what the world now views as acceptable. (fornication, adultry, sodomy /homosexuality, effeminate, covetousness, drunkards, ....) 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 One MUST have faith that God Spoke the world into existence in 6 literal days Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.; in order to believe that one will inherit heaven Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: And if one believes in heaven then one must also believe in hell Matthew 13:50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. If you can’t get past Genesis in faith then how can you in faith believe that HE IS Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that HE IS, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

On the Judgment Day His word says that He will sift us as wheat…. The sheep on the right and the goats on the left. His sheep will inherit His Kingdom Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: but the goats… (a picture allegory of the world and the people in it) He says Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Please think on these things….

I do pray that you will meet Jesus Christ as I have and as Jesus told Zacchaeus … Luke 19:9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

David's Testimony

2008-02-05T22:38:00.000-08:00

Not sure how to begin with my testimony as some of the information that is part of my testimony can be somewhat sensitive and hurt some people so, I am certain that I will have to eliminate parts or limit them so that they can be appropriate for all audiences.

My life as a child was not always what you would desire for a child to have. I don't say this to bring excuses to the way I ended up living but to say that some of these things truly do bring forward fruit in the lives of our children.

When I was a young child, about 7, my parents ended up separating and later divorced. There was a time that I lived with my mother and things didn't go well in that situation due to a myriad of circumstances. My father determined that we needed a change and assumed the responsibility of raising my 3 sisters and I. Shortly after that determination was made my father remarried and our life was pretty normal. We moved to a great little town and actually lived on a farm with 10 acres of land, had farm work to do; grew and harvested hay, had 3 horses that I didn't like (my sisters - somehow I had the chore of cleaning stalls), and other chores. Also had much to do there including fishing in the creek right next to our house (salmon run every fall). Overall, it was a great place to grow up. However I determined that I was going to seek out trouble. Not sure why and I don't want to try to do the psychology that some might as I don't believe it is really relevant.

Following my fathers remarriage we became involved in an American Baptist Church. As I grew up in this church group I actually had a desire to know the Lord spring up within me but when I asked questions and wanted to know more I was told that I needed to be baptized. I was obedient but this brought about no change in my life. Ironically, and something I often forget to mention, I dated a girl when I was 14 whose parents got radically saved and I remember them witnessing to me quite extensively. I actually even went to their church one time and was convicted by the word that was brought forth. Not enough to do something about it or not enough that I understood what I needed to do but enough that I remember it.

In spite of my involvement with family and "church", I seemed to be bent on destruction. At a very young age I became involved in drugs, alcohol, womanizing and any other sin that you can think of. Sadly enough, I was able to maintain a fairly normal lifestyle. I did have some problems in 11th grade almost failing the whole year and eventually leaving home due to my sinful rebellion towards my father. However, even in that I ended up staying with a very nice family that allowed me to sow to my flesh as I desired. I did do a bit of recovery during my senior year of high-school and did well enough that I was able to enlist in the US Navy in Feb of 1985 for an enlistment start of June 1985. All went off uneventfully and I went into the Navy as scheduled.

My time in the military was a great blessing to me from the perspective of teaching me to grow up to be a man and learn to work diligently. I was able to earn perfect evaluations (4.0) throughout the 4 year term in the military and actually achieved the rank of E-5 in 3 years which is pretty significant. However, despite all this, I still found time to use drugs "recreationally". The fact that the military performed checks on their service members did keep me in check to a large degree but not completely. Sadly, I became exposed to a new drug, methamphetamine, which became the primary focus over the next 5 - 6 years of my life.

Following my time in the military I took a civilian job working for the military and became involved in a wonderful pastime, rock-climbing. This passion was something that required a great deal of practice and focus and so, much of my life became driven by that. However, many that I knew that climbed also partied very hard also using drugs. Sounds really crazy when you look at it but that is the facts of it. Not saying that all rock-climbers did, probably most did not, but the group that I was with did. The wild lifestyle seemed to be a continuation of who I was and added to my desire for thrill.

The desire that I gained for thrill became later enhanced as after several disastrous relationships, I found that I could get involved in the sale and distribution of drugs. The adrenaline and the power behind this was amazing and it really consumed me. I became a primary distributor of drugs to the area that I lived in and was even arrested for the distribution of the drugs. Charges were later dropped as I moved out of state and worked with a lawyer in NY to get the charges dropped. However, during that time I actually spent 3 days in jail and suffered the loss of all things. Maybe this was all preparation for what was later to come. Regardless, as things continue to go poorly I decided that I needed to leave this lifestyle and I eventually moved back to NY with the help of my father.

When I moved back to NY I moved in with my second oldest sister, Bonnie, and was very blessed as I was re-introduced to a woman that was a friend of hers from high school. Little did I know at that time that this woman would become my wife, Robin. My wife already had a beautiful daughter, Rachael, from a previous relationship. In 1996 we were married and in 1997 we became pregnant for our second child. The stirrings of what it means to be a parent were more and more becoming a reality to me and we discussed how it would be important to bring them up in a church setting, so the "good morals" could be instilled in them. This is what I was taught about church up until now. As God would have it though, we found a church that was building just down the road and so we went to visit them at their old building and I immediately knew that this group was different. Everyone, and I mean everyone, was carrying Bibles into the building. When the service started, the pastor actually got up and preached from the Bible. I was shocked. Immediately, the Lord started working on me. I knew that this man was speaking truth and that he was speaking in love for my soul. I knew I had to come back the next weekend. This time the message was the pure gospel and I was ready. I had been getting worked on all week by the Holy Spirit and when the call was given to give my life to the Lord, I jumped. My life was changed! I was one of those radically saved Christians. My world became NEW. Actually, isn't this the only way that one is reborn?

It wasn't long after this that we moved to a new home and it was there that the Lord really started to move in me. He had already given me a love for His Word and through that He started drawing me deeper and I believe called me to be prepared for His use, as He does with all of us. Through that He showed me that the Holy Spirit would teach me all things yet, being a good baptist boy, I decided that I needed to attend a Bible Institute. Through the next 4 - 5 years I attended Bible Institute regularly. It was only later that the encouraging message from a dear brother in Vermont to seek the Kingdom of God that the Lord brought me back to show me that I had received some erroneous teaching and that the Holy Spirit needed to teach me all things. I spent time in repentance and over the next several years I went through a reteaching of those things that pertain unto life and godliness. He indeed is able and will lead us into all truth. Through all this I have been led through pride, an attitude of being a Pharisee, condemnation and lack of hope unto a true walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. It is in Him that salvation is. It is in Him where we can find truth. It is in Him that we can find hope. It is in Him that we can find joy. Nowhere else. Nowhere! We need to get this through our hearts in a serious way and I am thankful that the Lord has found me faithful to receive it and to grow in it, even currently.

At this point in my life, I am continuing to live for Jesus Christ on a daily basis and learning more and more what it is to walk in the Spirit where we can fulfill the law (Rom 8:4) and bring forth glory to Him, who is worthy to receive all (Rom 11:36).

I do pray that if this is not the gospel that you have heard, to forsake all and follow Him, that you would search the Scriptures and see that they all point to one thing, a life lived wholly for the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no salvation anywhere else. Paul said that to KNOW HIM, in suffering and resurrection was his desire. Is that yours? I know that this will be mine until the day that He calls me home to be with Him.

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.