The Genealogy of Matthew

I had written a post to put in my church newsletter, I always post them here also, but I Lost the USB drive I had it saved on. Well I finally found it. So here is the post that was supposed to appear on Mother's Day.

The Genealogy of Jesus
Matthew 1:1-16
The Bible is full of Genealogies, Those lists of names that seem to go on forever and appear to serve no purpose but to lull us to sleep. It is amazing how many times I have asked someone have you ever read the Bible and they tell me, “I tried but it got to where everyone was begating somebody and I just couldn‟t read it.”
These genealogies are pretty amazing when we slow down and read them though. God stuck little nuggets in there to see if we were still paying attention. Like the story of a cursed man who simply prayed that God would bless him and God did exactly that (1 Chronicles 4:10) or little tidbits of information such as when the Earth was divided (1 Chronicles 1:19).
Matthews‟s genealogy of Jesus is like that. If we slow down and read it we will notice that in this list of 39 fathers four mothers are mentioned. Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba were important to God. He wanted us to see these four mothers that led to Christ. So what makes these four mothers so important?
Tamar prostituted herself to have an incestuous relationship, Rahab was a prostitute herself, Ruth was a pagan, and Bathsheba strolled around nude and had an affair that led to the death of her husband. In some churches these ladies wouldn‟t even be allowed in the door. Yet Matthew, through the divine inspiration of the Holy Ghost, wanted us to see that not only where these ladies allowed in the door, they were seated at the right hand of God. They were placed on a pedestal to be admired. Rahab even made it into the Hebrews Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11:31).
So why is that? First I think we should realize that no matter what we have done in our past God can use us. Just as these ladies lead to Christ, we also can leave our past behind and lead people to Christ. Each of these women, with the exception of Ruth, when we hear their names the bad they did immediately comes to mind. Yet, let‟s look the type of children they raised.
After Genesis 38 it seems Tamar simply disappears until Matthew chooses to bring her up again. But that isn‟t true. Not only is she mentioned, she is in some mighty fine company. In Ruth 4:11-12 the elders of Bethlehem are giving the marriage of Boaz to Ruth their blessing and they say to him, “May your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.” Sounds like the elders felt Tamar did a good job raising her boys.
Rahab not only gets mentioned in Hebrews but James also mentioned her in James 2:25. After Jericho was destroyed she was accepted and lived among the Jews. She met a man named Salmon whose father was the leader of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:10). They were married and raised a son together. Again we can see that Rahab made a fine mother and raised a fine gentleman of a son by the name of Boaz.
Ruth, as we see by God allowing her to be the only Gentile with a book of the Bible named after her, was a woman after God‟s own heart. While not a lot is said about her children in the bible, the book of Ruth says tons about her character. Ruth gave up what she thought would be her only chance to marry (Ruth 1:11-13) after becoming a widow so that she could take care of her mother-in-law. (Ruth 1:16-17). She went to a completely different culture to serve God and be faithful to Him and His Laws.
Last but not least we have Bathsheba, who so easily betrayed her marriage bed and allowed the death of her husband. But look at the son she raised. Solomon became the wisest and richest man alive. Yes, God granted this to Solomon but it was because Solomon only asked for a discerning heart so that he could rule God‟s people justly. God told Solomon, “I‟ll give you whatever you want.” Solomon could have asked for anything. Yet all he wanted was to be able to discern between good and evil.
Moms, you are important. God entrusts you with the care, keeping, and teaching of „His children‟. Be diligent in raising them in Christ‟s love.
MSW

My First Sermon

I preached my first sermon on Sunday morning. It was unexpected since I received a call at about 8:45 that morning to see if I could do it. It's from John 14:1-7 with the Scripture reading pertaining to the first part of the sermon . The scripture reading was from Matthew 7:13-23
Click here to hear it. I would love to hear some opinions on it.

Staying Near Sin

What an interesting story we have in Genesis 19. Two angels show up to warn Lot to flee. Lot offers them a place to sleep and they turn him down saying, "We will just sleep here in the square." I can imagine the panic on Lot's face. He knows that he is in a sinful place, and he must protect these two angels, but imagine the embarrassment of having to tell God, “Yes I love you and follow you, but I’m eyeball deep in sin right here and it really isn’t good for you to be here.” I believe sometimes many of us find ourselves in that same situation.
So Lot convinces the angels to stay at his house and that night the men of the village show up to rape the angels. “Lot steps outside and tries to persuade the men not to do this thing, even offers his daughters up for these men to do whatever they want. Lot has allowed sin to take such a hold on his life that as he tries to flee from it, he is willing to sacrifice those whom he should feel he needs to protect.
God saves Lot, gives him the means to escape from this sin and as Lot is fleeing, he begs God not to make him go to far away form his sin. (Genesis 19:20) Lot’s not wanting to turn fully to God and abandon the sin that has a hold on him. This leads to the destruction of his wife and moral destruction of his daughters.
How many of us can relate to what this story says. As we come to know Jesus we refuse to turn from the sins that have sway over us. As we claim to be a Christian we allow sin to still control us and lead to the destruction of those we love. We allow sin to ruin our lives, when we know that it is not necessary.
MSW

To Know Him

I was reading through Genesis today in the NKJV and I came to 18:19. The verse just seemed to jump out at me and speak. It says, “For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and household in the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and Justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him."
God knew Abraham so that he could spread the word. God expected Abraham to teach his children and his household, those that are around him everyday, that there is a Lord and savior, and this Lord is going to watch over and take care of His children.
This verse applies to us today as much as it did to Abraham 4,000 years ago. When Jesus is revealed to us, He doesn’t want us to keep it a secret. He wants us to go out and proclaim it loudly. He wants us to tell everyone around us that there is a Lord and savior that can truly change your life. After Andrew met Jesus the first thing he did was go and tell (John1:41). When they were standing amongst a crowd of 5,000 Andrew jumped up, grabbed a kid and said, "come here I want to show you something amazing. (John 6:9) Watch what this guy can do with that fish you have there. Oh, by the way His name is Jesus."
We should be like Andrew, get to know the people around us and when God gives us an opening say, “Hey kid, watch what this guy can do for you.” “Oh, by the way did you know that he died on a cross so that you may live. Yeah let me tell you about that.”
MSW

The Great Escape

As you sit in your prison cell awaiting your execution. You look at your two accomplices and know that all three of you are about to die for your crimes. Robbery, murder, inciting others to violence, the list goes on and on. You were tried and convicted and you know you deserve to die for what you did.
Suddenly outside you hear loud angry voices, are they here to take you? The voices keep getting louder and angrier. A guard shows up and takes you from your cell. Where are we going, you think to yourself? Am I about to be beaten some more? You calm yourself knowing you deserve whatever they are about to do to you.
They push you out in front of the crowd. You stare into the angry faces. You look and there is another man standing there with you. He has been beaten and stands there bloody and bruised. Then you recognize him. This is that Jesus I’ve heard everyone talk about. Why is he here, he hasn’t done anything wrong? From what you hear he does nothing but help people.
You realize the crowd is calling your name. What are they saying? Release Barabbas! What? This is where they release the prisoner! Why are they releasing you when you deserve your punishment? As they release you and you try to leave before they change their mind. You look up and stare into the eyes of this other man. All you can see is the love pouring out from Him. This Jesus is about to take the punishment in your place. He is going to suffer for your sins as you go free.
And so it is with us. We are Barabbas deserving our death and punishment, but Jesus took that punishment for us. His sinless life will cover for all the sins we have committed. Lord, thank You for the grace You have given us. Amen.

Let No Man Separate

The other day I was drug into a conversation about divorce. A friend was trying to convince another friend to divorce his wife after discovering an affair. He told the other friend that the bible said a man could divorce a woman if she had an affair. He looked at me expecting me to confirm what he said. I told him it actually said that if a man divorced his wife and married another woman he would be committing adultery also, even if she had already had an adulterous affair.
After he told me I must have misunderstood what I read, we turned to Mark 10:11 He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her." He stared at me for a minute and asked if it was in another Gospel, so I turned to Matthew 5:32 and read "But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery." My friend informed me he liked that version better. I told him that he is making the bible say what he wants it to say.
God Created humans man and woman. The woman, as symbolized by the taking of Adams rib, is a part of her husband. Genesis 2:24 tells us that for his wife a man will leave his parents and become united in a Holy marital covenant and the two will become one flesh. Jesus tells us in Mark 10:9, “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” In Malachi 2:10-16 God shows us that he sees our faithfulness in marriage, in direct relationship to our faithfulness to Him.
It is no coincidence that Jesus referred to Himself as the Bridegroom (Matthew 9:15) and the church is his bride. Just as Jesus wants us to be faithful to Him, He wants us to be faithful to our wives. Jesus does not turn His back on us when we sin. Divorce and adultery or awful things that have become common and promoted in our society, but that is not what God wants.

“I hate divorce,” says the LORD God of Israel, “and I hate it when people clothe themselves with injustice,” says the LORD Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful. Malachi 2:16 TNIV

"It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied. "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.''For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." Mark :10:5-9

Accepting the Blame For Our Sin, Part 2

This is part two in a two part post

In 2 Samuel 11 we learn of David’s adultery. As David strolls about the top of his palace he sees Bathsheba bathing on her roof. He stares lustfully at her and asks one of his servants to find out who she is. Upon finding out that her husband is gone David gives in to his desires and sends for her. The sleep together and she becomes pregnant.
David trying to cover up his sin calls for her husband Uriah. David thinks that Uriah will go home and sleep with his wife and believe that he is the father of the child. But Uriah is more honorable than David and refuses to go to his wife, when all the other men are still away at war. So David plots his death, orders his generals to set it up, and then brought Bathsheba to him as his wife.
So Nathan comes to David and tells him a parable of a poor man who has nothing but one little sheep, he raised it from a baby lamb. It eats with him, sleeps with him and he treats it as a daughter. But there is a rich man with many cattle and many sheep in this town. This rich man gets a visit from a traveler and instead of killing one of his own sheep for the meal, he steals the poor mans lamb and kills it.
David burns with anger. He says this man must pay for this lamb and must die, because he shows no pity! As David stews in his anger at this injustice, Nathan says “you are that man!” Realization of his sin sinks in as David drops to his knees broken and repentative.
David looks at Nathan and says “I have sinned against the Lord.” David could have said “If she hadn’t been on bathing on her roof this wouldn’t have happened.”
He could have blamed Uriah for not sleeping with her when he gave him the chance. David said “I have sinned against the Lord”
Then David went into prayer and as you read Psalm 51 notice how David takes all the blame on himself. He admits his sin. He asks God to forgive him and cleanse him. He declares that God is right in his judgment.
In Psalm 51:17 He says my sacrifice is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart. God does not want a ritual or for us to put on an act of sorrow. God wants us to realize our sin and for our hearts to be grieved over failing him. He wants us to realize our brokenness and call on Jesus to save us from it. Only through Jesus can we find that relief from our guilt (v.14). Only thorough Jesus can we be cleansed of our sins( v.7).

Adam and Eve tried to pass the blame for their sins off on others. David shows us how we should accept the blame ourselves.

MSW

Psalm 51
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.

5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.

14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.

16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.

18 In your good pleasure make Zion prosper;
build up the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then there will be righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings to delight you;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Accepting the Blame For Our Sin, Part 1

I did this as a lesson on accepting the responsibility for our sins. I’m posting it in two parts here. The second part will be posted tomorrow.

The Bible starts off jumping right into man and sin. The third chapter of Genesis tells us of the Fall. God placed Adam and Eve in His garden. He told them that everything there was for them except for one tree (Genesis 2:16-17), placed in the center of the garden and next to another special tree. (Genesis 2:9) “Did God really say you can’t eat from any trees”, the serpent asked.
“Oh no, Eve replied we can eat of all the trees except one.” I can almost picture Eve looking at the serpent, getting that serious look in her eyes and saying. “God said we would die if we ate from it.”
I can imagine the serpent pulling back “surely you want die!” “No, you want die you’ll become like God. You’ll get wisdom and understanding; your eyes will be open to everything.”
Eve looks at the fruit of the tree and touches it. “Wow it’s so beautiful!” and she bites into it. She hands her husband some of the fruit and he takes a bite. Then everything changes they realize they’re naked. The pure and loving attraction they felt is replaced by a dirty lust. They don’t understand what has happened. They cover themselves with leaves and then they hear the Lord coming. Ashamed and realizing their sinful nature at the approach of a Holy God, they hide.
But the Lord calls to Adam. “Where are you?”
Adam responds broken and sinful, “I heard you and was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”
And God asks “How did you know you were naked did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from.”

Did Adam drop to his knees and say “Lord, I have sinned! I did! I ate the fruit! Lord I have defied your authority. Forgive me, Lord Please.”?

No, Adam responded “The Women You put here…” Adam yelled “She did it!” He also went so far as to blame God for his sin. “You put her here” “If You had not put her here this wouldn’t have happened!”

Eve could have taken the high road and when God asked her “What have you done”, she could have said “I ate the fruit and I gave it to my husband.” She didn’t, she placed the blame on the serpent. Neither one of them said I did it.
How many times do we fall into this same category? We know we are not living as God has commanded us. We commit sin and instead of confessing it (1 John 1:9) we try to hide it from God. We can’t hide from God (Job 34:22) He knows what we have done.
Or worse we try to justify our sin by blaming it on God. How many times have you heard someone say if God didn’t want me to be this way, He wouldn’t have made me this way.
We can’t justify ourselves. The only justification we can get comes from our savior Jesus Christ. We must call on him, confess our sins to him, and repent of our sin. We still will struggle with our old flesh. We still will stumble but through the Holy Spirit and by pursuing God, we can finish just like the runner who keeps his eyes on the goal at hand

MSW

Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ²Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

YEC 2009

I and 5 other adult leaders carried 18 youth to YEC in Nashville TN last weekend. It truly was an amazing weekend. We had a young lady that was invited by one of our youth get saved. I had another young lady tell me Sunday night that she went home read her bible and prayed which she told us she doesn't do very often. I just got done reading a post by Clayton King saying that 2000 got saved that night, including a chaperonne, a youth pastor and three security guards. The part that has me so excited though is that Saturday morning we were asked to pray for someone we thought needed to know Jesus. I challenged our youth and entire church to go out this week and witness to the person they prayed for.

Well monday morning I prayed that God would give me that oppurtunity and the courage to do it. God did His part and I got my chance to witness to them and they are starting to read the book of John. I ask that every one pray for me as I to continue witnessing to this person and especially that this person will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Today I played Lecrae for a friend. (Lecrae is a Christian rap artist.) Well in the process of this I had two people come up and ask who this music was by. I'm thrilled that there will be two people listening to music that will proudly proclaim that Jesus is Lord. I pray that they lead many more to listen to music that can attract a group that usually listen tto music that promotes sex, drugs and violence.
MSW

The Way, The Truth, The Life: Part 3

This is the third of three post.

Part 3
I am the way and the truth and the life
The life

In the beginning God created the heavens and earth and on the sixth day God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, in our likeness, (Genesis 1:26)

(Genesis 1:27) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Since we have been discussing the Trinity I want to take a second to stop and look at these two verses. Right here at the very beginning of the first book of the bible, first chapter, God reveals to us the trinity. In the Beginning we have God, Genesis 1:2 we have the Spirit. Then Genesis 1:26 we have Jesus. In vs1 God says let Us make in Our image. Then vs27 says in God’s image. To me this first book demonstrates the Trinity as clear as can be.


John 3:16 KJV “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.”

John 5:26 “For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself.”

John 6:33 “For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

Revelation 11:11 “But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them.”

Notice all of these verses have God giving Life. Life is given by God. God is the orchestrator of life and we are granted eternal Spiritual life by God through the Son’s sacrifice on the cross.

I am the way and the truth and the life
Jesus is the way to the truth that the Holy Spirit brings to give us eternal life by and with God.

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. I John 5:7 KJV

The Way, The Truth, The Life: Part Two

This is the second post of three. The first is here if you haven’t read it yet.


Part two
I am the way and the truth

The truth
During the trial of Jesus, Pilate asks Jesus “What is truth”

John uses the word truth 26 times in his Gospel compared to
Matthew who uses it once
Luke who uses it once and
Mark who uses it twice
John then uses the word truth 20 more times in his Epistles. Obviously John wanted us to see what the truth was.

Webster tells us that truth is sincerity in action, character, and utterance

Scripture tells us that our sinful mind is hostile to God (Romans 8:7)

Genesis 6:5 The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.

Genesis 8:21 The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.

How can we be sincere in action, character, and utterance if our every desire is evil?

John 1:17 “grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
Christ gives us that truth! Through Christ we can walk in truth and light. (1 John 1:7; 3 John 1:4) But how does He do that? How does Christ turn our every evil desire truth and sincerity?

John 4:23 “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.”

John 4:24 “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
We worship in spirit and truth! What is this spirit and truth we worship in?

The Spirit of Truth
(John 14:15-17) “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”

John 16:13 “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.”

The truth is the Holy Spirit and the message it proclaims. This Spirit of truth comes through Jesus Christ, and we are to worship in this Spirit of truth. For through this truth we will be set free from sin and the damnation that sin brings.

John 8:32 “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The Way,The Truth,The Life

I was preparing a lesson the other day from John 14:6 and it went in a direction I wasn’t expecting so I thought I’d share it. It seems I have seen the Trinity represented in several things I have studied lately and it also appeared to me that it was represented in John 14:6
It was suggested that instead of this being one edited for length post I post it in a series.

I want to start out by looking at where we are at before discussing the verses in John 14. Jesus has already entered Jerusalem and is at the last supper. He washes the disciples feet and informs them that one of them will betray him Judas leaves the room. Jesus tells His disciples that where He is going they cannot go. He tells Peter that he will deny Him. Jesus tells them that He is going to prepare a place for them and that they know the way to where He is going. Thomas asks how they can know the way, when they don’t know where he is going. During this dialogue Phillip asks Jesus to show them the Father.
Jesus replies to Philipp that anyone who has seen me has seen the father. Then Jesus asks “Don’t you know that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?”

John 14:5-7
"Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

John 14:9 b
Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
It is easy to see the father and the son in this dialogue but upon a closer inspection its easy to see the Father, Son, and Spirit.

First Let’s look at the statement I am the way. The way to what? The way to Heaven? Simply put, yes! But there is much more to be found in that phrase.
When Jacob was at Bethel he had a dream of a ladder. (Genesis 28:10-15) And this Ladder went up to Heaven. The angels ascended and descended on it. Jacob’s ladder is Jesus Christ. Jesus is the mediator! He is the way that all God’s blessings come to us and that our prayers make it to the Father. He is the way that we make it to heaven.

1 John 5:11-12
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
This eternal life is in His Son. It is through Jesus Christ that we find our way to eternal life.


In Leviticus Chapter 4 God’s word tells us of the Sin offering. When someone sins they are to bring their offering which must be without defect. The Priest after sprinkling the blood will burn the offering. Now Listen to the last part of v35 “In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.”
In this way the Priest will make atonement. This Way! But that is no longer the way. We have Jesus as our Priest, and as our Lamb, and as our way.

The blood of these lambs and bulls and Goats was not what caused forgiveness for these people. It was the Faith they showed God by Obeying Him.

(Hebrews 10:4) “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”
The offering did not take away their sins. It was just a way to make them realize they were sinners. It was a way to make them realize they needed forgiveness and that forgiveness could only be granted by God.

(Hebrews 10:14) “because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”
Jesus is our perfect lamb and our one sacrifice. Through Him we have found a way to heaven and God.

The Least of These

"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' Matthew 25:44-45


I wanted to share an experience I had right before Christmas. I say this not shame or criticize, but as a reminder for us all as to how we as Christians should act toward our brothers. I also realize my grief was caused by my own actions. Even if you don’t want to listen to me whine about my bad day please read the last three paragraphs because it’s something we as Christians should never forget. I drive or should say drove an older car with a lot of miles on it, and due to my negligence it was a little past due for servicing. It was my last day to work before being off for Christmas. It was a really rough 12 hour day. I probably looked pretty rough from working all day and I know I did not smell all that great from sweating all day. By the way it was a Sunday. My job requires me to work every other Sunday and my bill collectors assure me that it is in my best interest to do that.
So I get off work and at 7:00 pm and it’s 15 degrees outside (for any northern readers that I may have 15 degrees will translate to painfully cold here in the south). I live about 50 minutes away out in the middle of nowhere. My commute this day was along back roads and was going fine until my car overheated, blew a head gasket, and spit water (and defiantly not enough antifreeze) all over my windshield. Knowing that there was a small country church up the road where I could park, I limped my car along for about another half mile. Church was still going on so I sat in my dead car which was extremely cold due to having to drive with the window down to see. Oh and my dumb self left with a sweater but no coat that morning.
After about 30 minutes which felt more like an hour to the then shivering me I managed to get a hold of my wife on my cell phone and ask her to come and get me. She is still about 30 minutes away and had to finish cleaning up the church after a play and dinner before she could come get me. I tell her I’m fine and didn’t have any where else to go to at the moment.
Then I see some hope, church lets out and people are going out to their cars. One couple pulls over and asks me if I need any help. I tell them my car has broken down and I wanted to make sure it was alright to leave it there till morning when I could get someone to come and help me tow it. They tell me the pastor is still in the church and to go and talk to him.
I take off my cap and head in the church. I want to remind everyone I look like a man who has worked for twelve hours in a hot and sweaty factory. There were about ten people in the church and I ask where their pastor is. They point me to an office down a hall, and I go to ask if I can leave my car. I asked the pastor and he said that was fine and then he went back to watching a football game on the TV in his office. I stood there for a second and he did not say anything else so I went back outside. Okay I realize I could have asked if I could wait inside, but in my eyes that would have been rude on my behalf.
As I waited outside the rest of the congregation came out and left, nobody saying a thing to me. When the pastor left he stopped and asked if somebody was coming to get me. I said yes and he said have a good night and drove off. A little while later my wife and father in law showed up and carried me home.

I sat in a car for about 2 hours with no coat and no heat in 15 degree weather. I couldn’t feel my fingers and was shivering uncontrollably when I got into my wife’s heated truck. I realize I should have carried a coat that morning and I should have taken better care of my car. I even realize that I could have asked to stay in the church or sit in someone’s car.
The more I thought about it though, the more I thought about what would have happened if it had happened at my church. If a stranger walked in and needed help would no one stop to see if there was anything they could do to help. Would no one offer to sit there and talk with this person? I started to think, what if that person who broke down in my church parking lot did not know Jesus? Would I not invite them into the church and share the gospel with them. What if that person died that night and I was the last person God chose to share the news of His Sons sacrifice with them? I think it bothered me more than nobody asked if I knew Jesus than the fact that no one would help me with warmth. Comfort is temporary souls are eternal.
We never know when God is going to send us someone who needs us or needs to meet Him. Let’s all keep that in mind and be found faithful.

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' Matthew 25:34-36
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I want to say again that I’m not judging this church but it caused me to judge myself and how I treat others. Maybe that was the reason it happened is so God could open my eyes a little better.

Light in the Darkness

A friend came up this morning and told me I need to post something. Apparently I have been quiet for too long. I told him I’ve been too stressed to write lately. Let me just say I hope January is not what the rest of the year is going to be like for me. Twenty six days into the year and it seems like everything is crashing down. The last week of December my car broke down and it would be cheaper to replace it than to fix it. God came through and found a very affordable replacement for me, but the unexpected coming up with enough cash to replace a vehicle put a little strain (stress) on the finances.
I’m starting online classes. The last two weeks have been nothing but a big stressball as I tried finding out what books were needed, getting the cash to get them, and praying that they arrived in time for me to read them before the reading assignments were due. Then my DVD lectures didn’t arrive, so I have to get that handled. Plus worrying about how I’m going to do in school and how I’m going to balance time between family, work, school and church.
I had a lot of unexpected extra responsibilities come up at church and a strain in a close friendship at the same time. Needless to say the last three weeks have been hectic.
Now I’m done with my sob story and will move on to the important stuff. Where does Jesus fit into all this? As we go through our lives, many times we seem to get overwhelmed by the world. Jobs, school, family, hobbies even church and religion in itself will come between our time with Jesus. We have to remember that Jesus promised to take care of us. Matthew 6:26 ask us are we not more than the birds of the sky and our Lord takes care of them? If we seek first the kingdom of God, God will take care of everything else.(Matthew 6:33)
Yet when we feel that the sky is falling down on top of us, what can we do? As the stress has built up I have deepened my prayer life. As I talk to Jesus and give my burdens to Him, He reminds me of the many blessings he has given to me. The blessings always outnumber the trouble. Once you pray and thank God for all your blessings you realize the treasure you truly have. When you ask the Lord to help you through the problems you are facing, you feel relief knowing that He will live up to His promise to take care of you.
The other thing that has helped me is starting a very aggressive reading of the bible. Everyday as I read and study the bible God shows me something to help me. For example yesterday as I read 2 Samuel 22:29-37 God spoke to me and reminded me He was there and would never forsake me (Hebrews 13:5-6)
So hopefully I will be back to posting more regularly soon.
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And I leave you with 2 Samuel 22:29-37

29 You are my lamp, O LORD;

the LORD turns my darkness into light.

30 With your help I can advance against a troop;

with my God I can scale a wall.

31 "As for God, his way is perfect;

the word of the LORD is flawless.

He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

32 For who is God besides the LORD ?

And who is the Rock except our God?

33 It is God who arms me with strength

and makes my way perfect.

34 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;

he enables me to stand on the heights.

35 He trains my hands for battle;

my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

36 You give me your shield of victory;

you stoop down to make me great.

37 You broaden the path beneath me,

so that my ankles do not turn.

Everything

I love this video. I cry every time I watch it. I have found hundreds of skit versions and three video versions of this skit. It starts with our walk with Jesus then it shows how we let relationships come between us and Christ. Then it moves on to money, status, alcohol, depression and finally we run back to Jesus who will help us fight off the evils that tempt us. I Hope you enjoy this version. I'll also post the lyrics below the video.
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Find me here, speak to me
I want to feel you, I need to hear you
You are the light that's leading me to the place
Where I find peace again
You are the strength that keeps me walking
You are the hope that keeps me trusting
You are the light to my soul
You are my purpose
You're everything
And how can I stand here with you
And not be moved by you
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this
You calm the storms and you give me rest
You hold me in your hands
You won't let me fall
You still my heart, and you take my breath away
Would you take me in take me deeper now
And how can I stand here with you
And not be moved by you
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this
And how can I stand here with you
And not be moved by you
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this
Cause you're all I want,
You're all I need
You're everything.. everything
You're all I want
You're all I need
You're everything.. everything
You're all I want
You're all I need
You're everything.. everything
You're all I want
You're all I need
Everything.. everything
And how can I stand here with you
And not be moved by you
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this
And how can I stand here with you
And not be moved by you
Would you tell me how could it be any better any better than this
And how can I stand here with you
And not be moved by you
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this

The Punishment Due Us

What is the worst punishment a man can have for doing wrong? Our criminal Justice system has many punishments in it. They range from community service, fines, jail time all the way up to even capital punishment. Let’s think about the jail time for a minute. You have done wrong and now you must be punished. You are locked up and separated from your friends and family. You can no longer see the ones you love whenever you want.
Even worse than that is the punishment that is due all of us. In Genesis 4:13-14 we are told of Cain’s punishment for slaying his brother. Cain tells God his punishment is more than he can bear. What is his punishment? He is to be put out of the presence of God. Cain can not stand the thought of no longer being in the presence of God. While Cain gave into flesh and did not give God the offering he should he still loved and worshipped God. Now because of his sin he is lost and sent out of God’s presence.
You and I are on that same trail 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:19-21, and Revelation 21:8 all give a list of those who will not inherit the kingdom of God. We all fall somewhere on those lists. The alternative to the kingdom of God is hell and eternal separation from God.
Think about that for a minute. We all have times we fail and feel we are separated from God. Now imagine that separation is eternal. Cain said my punishment is too much for me to bear.
We do not have to suffer the same fate as Cain though. We can be forgiven and not only have an eternity with God, we can have a personal relationship with Him through Jesus. All we have to do is admit to God that we are a sinner, understand that through the blood of His Son we have been washed and sanctified. Completely forgiven of our sins, we can live a life walking with Jesus and knowing that we will never be separated from God.
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The Rooster

Yesterday I was lying in bed thinking about a discussion on freewill that had been going on. That got me thinking about my grandmother. I know my mind works weird.
Anyways, my grandma Cill used to have a pet rooster. It would ride on her shoulder as she worked in the yard. This rooster trusted and loved her. Most roosters are mean and see humans as trying to control THEIR barnyard. It is their natural tendency to either attack or run from humans, but this rooster, after learning that my grandmother cared for it, would come to her and trust her.
We are like that rooster. Our natural tendency is to do everything for ourselves and if someone tries to control our lives we get defensive and attack or we run the other way. Yet when we learn that Jesus loves and cares for us, many of us will choose to obey. Then through the help of the Holy Spirit, we come too fully and trust and obey. Even though it goes against our nature to ask for help we choose to ask for God’s guidance.
Our choice to go against our very nature and worship God and follow Jesus brings Glory to God. By freely choosing Jesus over our sin nature we lead an example to those who have not yet conquered the world’s hold over them. Plus when we turn our lives over to Jesus He then helps us to overcome the world through His Holy Spirit.
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By the way I’m not sure if the chicken escaped the dumplings or not. Maybe one of my aunts or uncles will see this and let me know.

LORD, You have treated Your servant well,
just as You promised.

Teach me good judgment and discernment,

for I rely on Your commands.

Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I keep Your word.

You are good, and You do what is good;
teach me Your statutes.
Psalm 119:65-68 HCSB

Lord Prop Us Up

I received this in an email yesterday and thought I would share it here


Every time I am asked to pray, I think of the old deacon who always prayed, 'Lord, prop us up on our leanin' side.' After hearing him pray that prayer many times, someone asked him why he prayed that prayer so fervently.

He answered, 'Well sir, you see, it's like this... I got an old barn out back. It's been there a long time; it's withstood a lot of weather; it's gone through a lot of storms, and it's stood for many years.

It's still standing. But one day I noticed it was leaning to one side a bit.

So I went and got some pine poles and propped it up on its leaning side so it wouldn't fall.

Then I got to thinking about that and how much I was like that old barn. I've been around a long time.

I've withstood a lot of life's storms. I've withstood a lot of bad weather in life, I've withstood a lot of hard times, and I'm still standing too. But I find myself leaning to one side from time to time, so I like to ask the Lord to prop us up on our leaning side, 'cause I figure a lot of us get to leaning at times.

Sometimes we get to leaning toward anger, leaning toward bitterness, leaning toward hatred, leaning toward cussing, leaning toward a lot of things that we shouldn't . So we need to pray, 'Lord, prop us up on our leaning side, so we will stand straight and tall again, to glorify the Lord. ''

It's so wonderful that we have Jesus to lean on.

Hamas

While Israel is fighting Hamas, it is nice to know God is still at work converting people to Christianity.
Voice of the Martyrs' Persecution Blog pointed me to a Fox News story about Mosab Hassan Yousef, The son of one of Hamas Founding members. It tells a little about his conversion to christianity.
Praise God on how he is working on some in the Middle East. In David Jeremiahs' Book What in the World is Going On he tells of a Muslim who had Jesus appear to him in a dream. This then led him to an Egyptian Christian who gave him a bible. The authorities found out and sentenced him to die. On the day he was to be executed no one showed up. They came to him later and said away you demon and set him free. He later learned on the day he was to be executed the executioners son died.
Jesus is still working on lost souls in the Middle East.
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New Year Prayer

It's 2009, Happy New Year! For the second year in a row I brought in the year with the youth of my church. A minute before midnight we knelt before the altar and prayed in the new year. This is such a powerful way to bring in the year. Talking with God about the last year and the upcoming year. It was extra special for me this year as I have two of my own girls in the yourh and my wife came to the church with my son to join us for praying in the new year. So I got to bring in the new year worshipping God with the youth and my family. Thank You Lord for that blessing.

Lord I thank You for the blessings You have given me in the last year. Father I thank You for the trials and lessons You have given me. Some of them Lord, I did not think I could make it through, but You were always there proving the promises You gave in Your Word. I realize now they strengthened me and prepared me for the plans You have in the future. Father I pray You will be there in the next year to lead me and show me the way. I pray that when You call I will move with out hesitation. Father thank You for allowing me to bring in the year with the youth and with my family at Your altar. May we all serve you faithfully in the upcoming year. I pray these things in Your Sons name .In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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