Conspiracy From Hell

Just what was said among the demons of hell right after Christ rose from the dead? This is probably a good estimation of a conspiracy discussion of how they would help man corrupt the truth and thus himself.

It's not easy to watch....mainly because you will begin to feel duped by your own mindset.



Somehow, stepping on toes just doesn't bother me any more...

It’s about relationship, not religion

The following video shows a beautiful relationship that gets interrupted by other deadly relationships. Even though ALL sin is equally deadly, the representation of ALL sin in the shown deadly sins is well expressed. Watch to the end. It is absolutely worth it.

a wake up call from almost 50 years ago!

In 1961, an episode of Rod Serling's Twilight Zone aired that has such a ring of truth to it that I had to blog it here. Actually, my fascination with it now started yesterday while discussing it on Blog Talk Radio with the Political Postachio himself, Douglas V. Gibbs. It is his revelation and fascination that has sparked mine. We had a remarkable discussion that lasted until about 1:30am for me and they were still going when I signed off. Running the board for Doug was our good buddy, Josh Allem. Wild Phil, Andrea, and Brian were there as well. The most remarkable thing came when we actually started talking about the things of God. This led to some impromptu witnessing in which God was absolutely glorified.

The episode, "The Obsolete Man," is presented here in three parts:Part 1

Read the opening narrative as it is spoken by Serling:You walk into this room at your own risk, because it leads to the future; not a future that will be, but one that might be. This is not a new world: It is simply an extension of what began in the old one. It has patterned itself after every dictator who has ever planted the ripping imprint of a boot on the pages of history since the beginning of time. It has refinements, technological advancements, and a more sophisticated approach to the destruction of human freedom. But like every one of the super states that preceded it, it has one iron rule: Logic is an enemy, and truth is a menace. This is Mr. Romney Wordsworth, in his last forty-eight hours on Earth. He's a citizen of the State, but will soon have to be eliminated, because he's built out of flesh and because he has a mind. Mr. Romney Wordsworth, who will draw his last breaths in the Twilight Zone.

Part 2


Part 3

Read the closing narrative as it is spoken by Serling:The chancellor, the late chancellor, was only partly correct. He was obsolete, but so is the State, the entity he worshipped. Any state, any entity, any ideology that fails to recognize the worth, the dignity, the rights of man, that state is obsolete. A case to be filed under "M" for mankind—in the Twilight Zone.The references to Nazi Germany and the Soviet State are all throughout. The wardrobe reckons back to the SS of the Nazis. In fact, the Chancellor even mentions Hitler and Stalin by name as men of vision who are to be reveered. Serling new how to write and new that words...and names MEAN things. Let's look at the title of "chancellor." We can relate it to the head of state or leader. However, because of the Christian overtones, I believe this is more in reference to the Old English definition which based on a chancellor in Roman times. >cancellarius< - "keeper of the barrier, secretary, usher of a law court," so called because he worked behind a lattice at a basilica or law court. In the Roman Empire this was a sort of court usher. This makes more sense in terms of the character in the show. After all, it wasn't a palace or office room but a court room that is the judgement place in the episode. I believe that Serling intended this to be a reference to the courts of the Pharisees that seem to be the model for the one world government and religion prophesied in the New Tastament. And that goes along with the liberal trends of our society and activist judges.As far as the main character, Serling really put it perfectly in the name. Romney Wordsworth says enough by his name alone. Wordsworth is a perfect name for a librarian and even better for a religious man who finds WORTH in the WORDS of the bible. The first name, Romney is a Welsh name which mean "dwells by the river." This can mean one or both of two things. The river refers to the river Jordan in which Jesus was baptized, or in Revelation 22, it refers to the River of Life.In a nutshell, this episode really cries against fascism, authoritarianism, and the atheist state. Jonah Goldberg, in his book, "Liberal Fascism" lays out the best relation between modern liberalism and the totalitarian government of the episode. Furthermore, Wordsworth was killed for his convictions which he held to the last. This is a solid homage to the Christian martyrs who are tortured and die for their beliefs.Just for the record, the bible verses Wordsworth read are:Psalm 23, Psalm 59, Psalm 14, and Psalm 130 As we approach the upcoming general election, if you favor what was presented in the episode, vote to the left. and keep voting that way.

Thanks to Doug, and the guests of this show. but most of all, praise God for His love for all of us.

My favorite Frazier episode

This was the first episode of "Frazier" I had seen. I laughed my rear end off. Frazier tried to direct an old style radio murder mystery and everything goes wrong...HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Emjoy!

And you thought Josh had something foro sci-fi lovers

And you thought "Heroes" was good sci-fi
I had heard this story before but hadn't found a way to share it with everyone. Just remember not to hate the person but hate his sin.



DO NOT believe a mormon when he tells you that the god he worships is the same as the one true God of Christianity.

Seperation of Church and State??????

I don't think so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your teachers and professors are lying to you...

Psalm 33:12: "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance."

James Madison, the fourth president, known as "The Father of Our Constitution" made the following statement: "We have staked the whole of all our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government, upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God."

Patrick Henry, that patriot and Founding Father of our country said: "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists but by Christians, not on religions but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ".
The very first Supreme Court Justice, John Jay, said:"Americans should select and prefer Christians as their rulers."
- - - And it isn't just the nation….
Preambles to State Constitutions Based on reverence to God. The dates are that of ratification of the respective constitutions
1. ALABAMA 1901: We, the people of the State of Alabama, in order to establish justice, insure domestic tranquility and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution and form of government for the State of Alabama.
2. ALASKA 1959: We the people of Alaska, grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land, in order to secure and transmit to succeeding generations our heritage of political, civil, and religious liberty within the Union of States, do ordain and establish this constitution for the State of Alaska.
3. ARIZONA 1912: We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution.
4. ARKANSAS 1874 : We, the people of the State of Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own forms of government, for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings and secure the same to ourselves and posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
5. CALIFORNIA 1879: We, the people of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure and perpetuate its blessings, do establish this Constitution.
6. COLORADO 1876: We, the people of Colorado, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, in order to form a more independent and perfect government; establish justice; insure tranquility; provide for the common defense; promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity; do ordain and establish this Constitution for the "State of Colorado."
7. CONNECTICUT 1818: The people of Connecticut acknowledging with gratitude, the good providence of God, in having permitted them to enjoy a free government, do, in order more effectual to define, secure, and perpetuate the liberties, rights and privileges which they have derived from their ancestors, hereby, after a careful consideration and revision, ordain and establish the following Constitution and form of civil government.
8. DELAWARE 1897: Through Divine goodness, all men have by nature the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences, of enjoying and defending life and liberty, of acquiring and protecting reputation and property, and in general of obtaining objects suitable to their condition, without injury by one to another; and as these rights are essential to their welfare, for the due exercise thereof, power is inherent in them; and therefore all just authority in the institutions of political society is derived from the people, and established with their consent, to advance their happiness; and they may for this end, as circumstances require, from time to time after their Constitution of governments.
9. FLORIDA 1887: We, the people of the State of Florida, grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, in order to secure its blessings and to form a more perfect government, insuring domestic tranquility, maintaining public order, and guaranteeing equal civil and political rights to all, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
10. GEORGIA 1887: To perpetuate the principles of free government, insure justice to all, preserve peace, promote the interest and happiness of the citizen, and transmit to posterity the enjoyment of liberty, we, the people of Georgia, relying upon the protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
11. HAWAII 1978: We, the people of Hawaii, grateful for Divine Guidance, and mindful of our Hawaiian heritage and uniqueness as an island State, dedicate our efforts to fulfill the philosophy decreed by the Hawaii State motto, "Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono." We reserve the right to control our destiny, to nurture the integrity of our people and culture, and to preserve the quality of life that we desire. We reaffirm our belief in a government of the people, by the people and for the people, and with an understanding and compassionate heart toward all the peoples of the earth, do hereby ordain and establish this constitution for the State of Hawaii.
12. IDAHO 1890: We, the people of the State of Idaho, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and promote our common welfare, do establish this Constitution.
13. ILLINOIS 1870: We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing upon our endeavors to secure and transmit the same unimpaired to succeeding generations in order to form a more perfect government, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessing of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the State of Illinois.
14. INDIANA 1851: To the end that justice be established, public order maintained, and liberty perpetuated: We, the people of the State of Indiana, grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to choose our own form of government, do ordain this Constitution.
15. IOWA 1857: We, the people of the State of Iowa, grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of those blessings, do ordain and establish a free and independent government, by the name of the State of Iowa, the boundaries whereof shall be as follows:
16. KANSAS 1863: We, the people of Kansas, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges, in order to insure the full enjoyment of our rights as American citizens, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the State of Kansas, with the following boundaries, to wit:
17. KENTUCKY 1891: We, the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy, and invoking the continuance of these blessings, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
18. LOUISIANA 1974: We, the people of Louisiana, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political, economic, and religious liberties we enjoy, and desiring to protect individual rights to life, liberty, and property; afford opportunity for the fullest development of the individual; assure equality of rights; promote the health, safety, education, and welfare of the people; maintain a representative and orderly government; ensure domestic tranquility; provide for the common defense; and secure the blessings of freedom and justice to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution.
19. MAINE 1820 and 1876: We, the people of Maine, in order to establish justice, insure tranquility, provide for our mutual defense, promote our common welfare, and secure to ourselves and our posterity the blessings of liberty, acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity, so favorable to the design; and imploring His aid and direction in its accomplishment, do agree to form ourselves into a free and independent State, by the style and title of the State of Maine, and do ordain and establish the following Constitution for the government of the same.
20. MARYLAND 1867: We, the people of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty, and taking into our serious consideration best means of establishing a good Constitution in this State for the sure foundation and more permanent security thereof, declare:
21. MASSACHUSETTS 1790: We, therefore, the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging, with grateful hearts, the goodness of the great Legislator of the universe, in affording us, in the course of His providence, an opportunity, deliberately and peaceably, without fraud, violence, or surprise, of entering into an original, explicit and solemn compact with each other; and for forming a new Constitution of civil government, for ourselves and posterity; and devoutly imploring His direction in so interesting a design, do agree upon, ordain, and establish the following Declaration of Rights, and Frame of Government, as the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
22. MICHIGAN 1909: We, the people of the State of
Michigan, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom, and earnestly desiring to secure these blessings undiminished to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
23. MINNESOTA 1857: We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty and desiring to perpetuate its blessings and secure the same to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
24. MISSISSIPPI 1890: We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
25. MISSOURI 1945: We, the people of Missouri, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness, do establish this Constitution for the better government of the State.
26. MONTANA 1889: We, the people of Montana, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty, in order to secure the advantages of a State government, do in accordance with the provisions of the enabling act of Congress, approve the twenty second of February AD 1889, ordain and establish this Constitution.
27. NEBRASKA 1875: We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, do ordain and establish the following declaration of rights and frame of government, as the Constitution of the State of Nebraska.
28. NEVADA 1864: We, the people of the State of Nevada, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings, insure domestic tranquility, and form a more perfect government, do establish this Constitution.
29. NEW HAMPSHIRE 1784: Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience, and reason, morality and piety, rightly grounded on evangelical principles, will give the best and greatest security to government, and will lay, in the hearts of men, the strongest obligations to due subjection; and the knowledge of these is most likely to be propagated through society by the institutions of the public worship of the Deity.
30. NEW JERSEY 1947: We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing upon our endeavors to secure and transmit the same unimpaired to succeeding generations, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
31. NEW MEXICO 1912: We, the people of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty, in order to secure the advantages of a State government, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
32. NEW YORK 1895: We, the people of the State of New York, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings, do establish this Constitution.
33. NORTH CAROLINA 1876: We, the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for the preservation of the American Union and the existence of our civil, political and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of these blessings to us and our posterity, do, for the more certain security thereof and for the better government of this State, ordain and establish this Constitution.
34. NORTH DAKOTA 1889: We, the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
35. OHIO 1851: We, the people of the State of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and promote our common welfare, do establish this Constitution.
36. OKLAHOMA 1907: Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty; to secure just and rightful government; to promote our mutual welfare and happiness, we the people of the State of Oklahoma, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
37. OREGON 1859: We, the people of the State of Oregon, to the end that justice be established, order maintained, and liberty perpetuated, do ordain this Constitution.
38. PENNSYLVANIA 1874: We, the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
39. RHODE ISLAND 1843: We, the people of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing upon our endeavors to secure and to transmit the same unimpaired to succeeding generations do ordain and establish this Constitution of Governments.
40. SOUTH CAROLINA 1895: We, the people of the State of South Carolina, in convention assembled, grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the preservation and perpetuation of the same.
41. SOUTH DAKOTA 1889: We, the people of South Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties, in order to form a more perfect and independent government, establish justice, insure tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and preserve to ourselves and to our posterity the blessings of liberty, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the State of South Dakota.
42. TENNESSEE 1870: That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own conscience; that no man can of right, be compelled to attend, erect, or support any
43. TEXAS 1876: Humbly invoking the blessings of Almighty God, the people of the State of Texas, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
44. UTAH 1895: Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we the people of Utah, in order to secure and perpetuate the principles of free government, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
45. VERMONT 1793: That all men have a natural and unalienable right, to worship Almighty God, according to the dictates of their own consciences and understandings as in their opinion shall be regulated by the word of God: and that no man ought to or of right can be compelled to attend any religious worship, or erect or support any place of worship, or maintain any minister, contrary to the dictates of his conscience, nor can any man be justly deprived or abridged of any civil right as a citizen, on account of his religious sentiments, or peculiar mode of religious worship; and that no authority can or ought to be vested in, or assumed by, any power whatever, that shall in any case interfere with, or in any manner control the rights of conscience, in the free exercise of religious worship. Nevertheless, every sect or denomination of Christians ought to observe the Sabbath or Lord's day, and keep up some sort of religious worship, which to them shall seem most agreeable to the revealed will of God.
46. VIRGINIA 1902: That religion or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and, therefore, all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love and charity towards each other.
47. WASHINGTON 1889 We, the people of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution.
48. WEST VIRGINIA ????: Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia, in and through the provisions of this Constitution, reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God and seek diligently to promote, preserve and perpetuate good government in the State of West Virginia for the common welfare, freedom and security of ourselves and our posterity.
49. WISCONSIN 1848: We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings, forms a more perfect government, insure domestic tranquility and promote the general welfare, do establish this Constitution.
50. WYOMING 1889: We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to God for our civil, political and religious liberties, and desiring to secure them to ourselves and perpetuate them to our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution.

Your history teachers and professors are lying if they say that God was never meant to be involved or invoked in our government.

Denial - Not as simple as it seems

From my MySpace Blog originally posted Thursday 07/06/2007

* With all due credit to John MacArthur
I have seen way too many of these "forward/repost this if you love Jesus" messages – especially with the misquoted "If you deny me before man, I will deny you before my father." I even saw one that really slaughtered it, "If you deny me before my friends, I will deny you before my enemys." Why would Christians deny Christ before His "friends" (other Christians)? And what is up with "enemys?"

I have also seen stuff like "Satan wasn't just smiling, he was laughing when Christ was nailed to the cross."

While I sincerely agree that we Christians need to spread God's word. Stuff like this takes it a bit far. I am not blaming anyone in particular as there are way too many that have sent these out to keep track of. I have also seen these things in other forms before. What it comes down to is man placing judgment and temptation on man based on improper contextual doctrine. God isn't going to judge Christians if they do or don't forward a message like this. God's requirement from us is obedience and worship for the ultimate purpose of glorifying Him. And we really have to ask ourselves if this type of message glorifies God. I can't see where it does. It ultimately seems to come from someone playing a prank to see how many people will forward the message, or from someone who doesn't understand God's word.

The bible says:

"Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven" – Matthew 10:32-33 NKJV

The promise, power, and protection of God should make a person willing to confess Jesus Christ before men without fear. That kind of confession is a natural response to the true Christian. Correct doctrine naturally produces proper action. Paul said, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes" - Romans 1:16 NIV. Paul wasn't ashamed because he knew the promise, power, and protection of God.

The Greek word translated "confess" (homologeo) means "to affirm," "acknowledge," or "agree." In verse 32 it refers to making a statement of identification, faith, confidence, trust, and belief in Jesus as Lord, and living one's life in accordance with that confession. That confession is displayed by what one says, "…if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" - Romans 10:9 NASB, and does, "Anyone who loves [Jesus] will obey [His] teaching. [His] Father will love him'" - John 14:23 NIRV; "But those who do what God wants them to do live forever" - 1 John 2:17 NIRV.

Because God is the ultimate judge of the earth, there's no excuse for shrinking from our duty to confess Christ in times of persecution as well as times of peace. All true Christians will confess Christ regardless of the consequences.

Confession of Christ is to take place before men. That literally means "in front of men." Confession of Christ is to be public--not in some secret place. A person unwilling to publicly confess Christ is not a Christian. Romans 10:10 affirms that "it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved" – NLT.

Scripture affirms that salvation is all of God, "God's grace has saved you because of your faith in Christ. Your salvation doesn't come from anything you do. It is God's gift. It is not based on anything you have done" - Ephesians 2:8-10 NIRV, and that Christians must confess Christ verbally (Rom. 10:10), confession must be the work of God.

"All who proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God" - 1 John 4:15 NLT. A person who once walked down the aisle after an evangelistic service and says he believes but doesn't confess Christ publicly is not a genuine disciple.

Jesus said to the church at Pergamum, "I see where you live, right under the shadow of Satan's throne. But you continue boldly in my Name; you never once denied my Name, even when the pressure was worst" - Revelation 2:13 MSG. True believers will confess Christ even to the point of death.

We need to examine ourselves. We may find ourselves ashamed to confess Christ before our families or among friends. If that is our attitude, what will we be like during severe persecution? We need to be willing to confess Christ under ALL circumstances.

Jesus said, "Whosever ... shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father, who is in heaven" - Matt. 10:32 NKJV. That means on the day of judgment Christ will acknowledge that those who had confessed Him are His. He will affirm His loyalty to us just as we had affirmed our loyalty to Him. That is the result of true discipleship. The Lord's words probably pierced deep into the heart of Judas Iscariot just as they do to many false disciples today.

Imagine the thrill of someday standing before God and having Jesus say, "This one belongs to Me." It means the Lord of the universe has pledged His loyalty to us. When we are loyal to confess the Lord Jesus in the midst of any situation He has pledged to speak our name in the Father's presence.

ALSO, at the crucifixion of Christ, Satan wasn't smiling, laughing or celebrating in any way. Satan was trembling in fear. For he knew that for God to let His son be tortured and die on the cross, or for Jesus Himself to let all that happen, it meant trouble for Satan. Until Christ died on the cross, all it took for Satan to win was for people to disobey God's law. On that fateful day, Satan was trembling in fear. He knew that once a person accepted God's grace through the saving death of Jesus Christ, then there was no chance for him to win them over to his side. Satan laughs and celebrates when we take our focus off of God to do things that do not glorify Him…..like lie, steal, hate, lust, want, etc. Satan laughs a lot. Is he laughing because of you?

So, the next time you decide to forward something talking about denying Jesus or about being tested by God, really think about it. Remember that it isn't about denying anything but confessing. And only God can't determine when to test you…..and you WILL KNOW when.

Further bible verses:


"If we reject the Son, we reject the Father. But if we say that we accept the Son, we have the Father" – 1 John 2:23 CEV

"Here's how you test for the genuine Spirit of God. Everyone who confesses openly his faith in Jesus Christ—the Son of God, who came as an actual flesh-and-blood person—comes from God and belongs to God. And everyone who refuses to confess faith in Jesus has nothing in common with God" – 1 John 4:2-3 MSG

Have you ever been confused about the Holy Trinity?

From my MySpace Blog originally posted Friday 23/03/2007

I am sure most of you have heard about the Holy Trinity, or at the least have heard of God being referred to as the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. I get a lot of questions from believers and non of all ages and backgrounds to try to explain how God can be one God and we call Jesus God or the Holy Spirit God.

Perry Stone showed me a way to explain it that hopefully will clear it up and also bless you. I give ultimate credit to God through and with great appreciate to Brother Stone.

In Romans, Paul calls it the mystery of the Godhead.

"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse" - Romans 1:20 (New King James Version)

The Holy Trinity isn't something that came about with the death of Jesus on the cross. Nor did it come about with the writing of the New Testament. Nor did it come about with the birth of Jesus. The concept of the Holy Trinity goes back to the beginning of time. But for the sake of definition, it is actually mentioned in the very first three verses in the Bible.

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, `Let there be light'; and there was light." - Genesis 1:1-3 (New King James Version)

(v.1) "God created the heavens and the earth." This refers to God the Father.

(v.2) "…the Spirit of God was…" This refers to the Holy Spirit.

Easy enough, right? But where is The Son? I'm getting to that.

(v.3) [the WORD of] "…God said, `Let there be light'." Is about Jesus, the Son.

HUH?!!?!?!?!?!!?!??!! I know, I know. Just trust me here.

Remember that the sun, moon and stars were not created and there was darkness until day four. Why then does God call for light on day one?

It really isn't the primeval mystery so many think it is.

Let's take it from the time of Jesus earthly life.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. - John 1:1,5 (New King James Version)

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world." - John 9:5 (New King James Version)

Get the connection? In the beginning of Genesis we are exposed to God and the Holy Spirit by name. In Genesis 1:3, God speaks and makes light. God's Word becomes Light.

Genesis 1:3 is the revelation of the Word who was Christ.

We absolutely saw two of the three in the Holy Trinity by name. Because there is mention of a third faction, this completes the triune concept. Therefore, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are right there from the beginning as God. Yes, God is not just one thing but three parts of one divine being. Even God refers to Himself in the plural in Genesis:

"Then God said, `Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness'" - Genesis 1:26 (New King James Version)

"Come, let Us go" - Genesis 11:7 (New King James Version)

In fact, one of the main names for God, ELOHIM, is actually a plural noun referring to ONE supreme divine being. That is why we naturally think of God as just a singular thing.

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD" - Deuteronomy 6:4 (King James Version)

Like a man and wife, God can be separate parts of a whole.

"This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one." - Genesis 2:24 (New Living Translation)

TWO ARE UNITED INTO ONE. Just like God is ONE union of THREE parts.

I'll be you are still wondering how I make the connection between Genesis 1:3 and Jesus….Well, here goes!

"And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth." - John 1:14 (Amplified Bible)

"The WORD became flesh." In other words, God's Word has been Christ Jesus from the beginning.

In the beginning was the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Trinity was already established on day one of creation.

Surrenderring My Commitments

When I bow my head
Are the words I've said
Alive or dead

Do I surrender
To all the splendor
That His love does render

When He does forgive
To Him will I give
And begin to live

Do I live for God
Or is beneath a façade
Hiding a fraud

Yet beneath this doubt
Within and without
My heart does shout

To my God above
Who is the perfection of
Holy grace and love

Through Him I win
From my depths within
Victory over sin


I often do a lot of introspection regarding my relationship with God. And I have recently learned a lesson that has hit me very, very hard. I hope I can adequately express this to you to help you further strengthen your relationship with God.

I have taken the word commitment for granted. This word is a modern era word. It is almost a PC word.

In my men's bible study, we have been working together in "The Incredible Power of Kingdom Authority" by Adrian Rogers. In his interviews with Romanian Evangelist Josef T'son, it is discussed that the word commitment didn't become regularly used until the 1960s. In fact, when a word becomes popular in society, it usually replaces and old word. Research shows that the word replaced by commitment is surrender.

What's the difference?

It's in the control and this has been where my personal conflict has been keen focused as of late.

When you commit to something, great or small, you are still in control. You can very easily be committed to doing things. You can commit to praying, reading your bible, spending more time with your family, New Year's resolutions, etc. Being in control of them means that you can choose not to do them. YOU CAN CHOOSE! If you think about it, how many things that you commit to are actually fulfilled? Whether it's losing weight or giving more time, most people don't fully follow through on their commitments. Including me.

Surrender is a very different thing! Think about things that you would be obligated to surrender to: a burglar holding a gun to your head or a knife to your throat, an airplane you are on that plummets from the sky, or a surgical procedure being performed on you. In those cases, you have absolutely no choice but to surrender to their particular circumstances.

When I really looked at this, I began to ache. Even though there are things I have unconditionally surrendered to God, I found myself in an almost panic about the things that I have only committed to God. Yes, they may have been very noble and worthwhile things, but by only committing them, I maintained the control. Who am I to think that I actually have the right to control? ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE THINGS OF GOD!!!! I even thanked God for leading me to commit things to Him!

I began to take inventory of my physical and spiritual life to see what I should be surrendering to God. My prayer life is improving, my marriage is improving, my relationships with family and friends are improving. I find it much more satisfying to be in His holy Word. My desire to follow Jesus grows deeper and deeper every day

I am still taking inventory, still aching, and yet still praising and thanking God because even through all of this, He loves me unconditionally. To Him be all the honor and glory. Amen.

Love is...

From my MySpace Blog originally posted Monday 05/03/2007

"LOVE IS"- Scott Ashley Kingsmore (3/5/07)

In a garden long ago
Of a tree He told them no
Love was not something He said
Love is

Sold away as a slave
Obedience to Him he gave
Love was not something He had
Love is

In a land far away
She risked her life to say
Love was not something He won
Love is

Words he wrote so wise
For generations to advise
Love was not something He taught
Love is

From His favor in a girl
A babe was born to save the world
Love was not something He bestowed
Love is

From the Father to the Son
His children to be won
Love was not something He did
Love is

In His death upon the cross
There was gain, not loss
Love was not something He showed
Love is

At the Midnight Cry
When we are gathered to the sky
Love is not something He gives
Love is

From, to, of and through Adam and Eve, Joseph, Esther, Solomon, and Mary, and especially Jesus, God consistently and faithfully loved. There was no qualification, justification or condition He required. He loves. He loves. He loves. Don't let yourself be blinded by what the world today calls love. True love is bound in God and it is eternal. All of His children He has loved in the past is also a way He shows you love. God is love. That's why you can't go beyond saying simply that "love is." No adjective could ever equal to such a powerful noun and verb. LOVE IS!

"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him." - 1 John 4:16

The truth about stem cell research

Although most of you do not live in Missouri or Maryland, where the topic is a hot button issue for this year's election, This WILL affect you. Watch and know the truth.

For Mature Readers Only

From my MySpace Blog originally posted Monday 18/09/2006

Here’s a question I would get a lot as a youth leader at out church:

Does the Bible say anything about dating?

No, it doesn’t specifically mention dating or really anything close to that type of relationship. Therefore, dating is not necessarily biblical. The bible does describe relationships. And that is what is addressed here. Maybe this can help clear up the whole “dating” thing.

If "dating" is defined as two single friends of the opposite sex doing things together for fun without any attraction or romantic desire or intimacy involved at all, there is no issue to discuss regarding dating. They are spending time as friends. The Bible describes and gives directions concerning friendship. But for most, the issue of dating involves "romantic attraction and desire." Therefore "dating" must be approached by what the Scripture says regarding romantic desire and marriage, the only relationship in which romantic desire is to be fully expressed. Also, in our culture, through "dating" people will often find a life partner and marry. How men and women view a "date" and "dating" can have a profound effect on their future. "Dating" is not a relationship; it is a method people employ in our culture to get to know others of the opposite sex that was not employed in Biblical times. The Bible does not talk about "dating," but it does talk about relationships. However, the Bible does describe three kinds of relationships with the opposite sex and gives certain characteristics of each relationship (there are others such as parent/child and sibling, but they don't clarify the issues of dating).

One kind of relationship the Bible describes is friendship.

Proverbs gives several characteristics of friends and friendships. Proverbs 17:17 says, "A friend loves at all times" (NKJV). Proverbs 18:24 says, "…a true friend is closer than your own family" (CEV). Proverbs 27:6 says, "You can trust a friend who corrects you" (CEV). Proverbs.27:9 says, "The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense" (NLT). Proverbs 27:10 says, "Never abandon a friend" (NLT). These verses bring out the fact that the Lord blesses friendship and encourages us to develop them. Friendship involves three foundational elements, commitment to fulfill the responsibility of a friend, care and concern for the welfare of your friend, and affection. The word "friend" means someone you like who also likes you. This liking involves a "friendship kind of" affection based often on personality and common likes and interests.

A second kind of relationship is "brother/sister in Christ."

If we have accepted Christ as our Savior we have become children of God. God is our Father and other Christians are our brothers and sisters in Christ. We should treat other Christians as such. Our Father deeply loves and desires that we show love to each other, that is seeking each other's highest spiritual good. 1 John 3:1 says, "What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we're called children of God! That's who we really are" (MSG). Galatians 5:13 says, "Through love serve one another" (NKJV). Hebrews 10:24 says, "Let us help each other to love others and to do good" (NLV). God desires that we serve one another in love by giving of ourselves to help each other grow in Christ as fellow-believers. This love is based on our relationship with Christ and is not dependent on feelings we may or may not have for a fellow believer. Brother-sister relationships in Christ involve two foundational elements, commitment to fulfill the responsibility of a fellow-believer in Christ and care and concern a believer is to have toward other believers. It can involve affection as we work together in Christ, but affection is not a necessary element. We are commanded in the Scriptures to show love to all believers, but we are not commanded to make all believers our friends.

A third relationship God describes in the Bible is marriage.

Marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman that binds them together for life. Genesis 2:24 says, "That's why a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. The two of them will become one" (NIRV). This verse tells us that marriage involves the husband and wife severing ties of intimate relationships with parents to cleave to each other. It involves coming together into a permanent bond of unity. It means becoming physically intimate with each other as one flesh. Marriage involves three elements, commitment, care and concern, and emotion. When a Christian marries, he or she is making a commitment to fulfill the responsibility God ordains for the husband or wife to fulfill. He or she is making a commitment to have care and concern for the spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental welfare of his or her marriage partner. It also involves the joy of romantic desire/attraction and intimacy and sexual desire/attraction and intimacy. The Song of Songs, the dialogue between King Solomon and his bride, is a celebration of the romantic and physical love between a husband and wife. It shows that God desires that they enjoy the blessings of the union He created. Song of Songs 1:2 says "Kiss me—full on the mouth! Yes! For your love is better than wine" (MSG). Husbands and wives are to rejoice in each other's love both romantically and sexually.

Each of these three relationships have two common characteristics, a commitment to the responsibilities of that particular kind of relationship and a genuine care and concern for the other person in a particular kind of relationship. Friendship and marriage have a third characteristic - affection and attraction, although the nature of the affection and attraction is different. Of these three relationships, the Scriptures only speak of romantic attraction and desire being expressed in marriage. Song of Songs gives a beautiful picture of the feelings and expression of romantic desire and attraction. Song of Songs 4:10 says "How sweet is your love, my treasure, my bride! How much better it is than wine! Your perfume is more fragrant than the richest of spices" (NLT). Only in marriage may a man and woman enjoy expressing their romantic and sexual desires toward each other.

What about a romantic relationship without moving toward marriage?

Isn't there another kind of relationship described in Scripture where a man and woman can share romantic intimacy with some physical intimacy without moving toward marriage? No. This kind of relationship does not exist in the Scriptures. What is the difference between romantic desire and romantic intimacy? Romantic desire and attraction is the feeling and desire one has when he or she is attracted to someone of the opposite sex. Romantic intimacy is when those desires are expressed and shared with someone else with the same desires through dating experiences that develop a romantic closeness usually with some physical intimacy expressed. Where does romantic intimacy fit into these relationships God has described? The purpose for romantic intimacy and romantic expression is for marriage and that is where it is to come into full bloom. It is like a flower bud that exists before marriage and is only opened up in a full way when it is time for it to bloom (in marriage). Why? Romantic intimacy involves the most fragile part of our being - our hearts. Once our feelings are expressed and shared, the deepest part of us becomes vulnerable to another.

Song of Songs 4:9 describes the vulnerability of expressing romantic desire to another when it says, "You've captured my heart, dear friend. You looked at me, and I fell in love. One look my way and I was hopelessly in love" (MSG). When romantic desire and attraction are expressed and reciprocated it captures the heart and makes it vulnerable. Without the commitment and resultant security of marriage, our hearts can easily be crushed.

The bride of Solomon in the Song of Songs celebrates the unity of romantic and physical intimacy as she proclaims in 1:2 "Kiss me—full on the mouth! Yes! For your love is better than wine" (MSG). The Hebrew word translated "love" in that verse is literally "lovemaking," - showing love sexually.
In God's beautiful plan for man and woman, romantic intimacy and physical intimacy come to full expression together ONLY within the protective bond of marriage.

Based on the Scriptures we have seen thus far, we can draw some important conclusions that can give you guidance regarding dating:

1. God desires for you to experience friendships with others before marriage. And it is a friendship-type relationship (with romantic desire, but NOT romantic intimacy) with a believer of the opposite sex that moves directly into engagement (preparation for marriage).
2. In the Scriptures, no relationships are moved to the engagement/marriage stage unless the person is mature enough to be married. In Genesis 28:1-3, Isaac calls for his son Jacob when he is mature enough to fulfill his responsibilities as a husband and commands him to seek a wife.
3. Romantic intimacy should not be experienced without the commitment of marriage to go with it. Romantic and physical intimacy is to be expressed only in marriage between a husband and wife. The Song of Songs shows us that romantic intimacy and physical intimacy are expressed together in marriage.

This brings us to how "dating" fits into God's Word. It all depends on one's definition and purpose of a "date."

What is a "date"?

The term "dating" is such a powerful one in our culture which needs to be dealt with. Dating can be defined in two ways depending on the purpose and focus of the time spent together:
1. "Relationship dating" is where two people of the opposite sex who are attracted to each other (romantic desire) get together with the focus on getting to know each other to build a solid relationship without involvement in romantic intimacy.
2. "Romantic dating" is where two people of the opposite sex who are attracted to each other (romantic desire) get together with the focus on building romantic intimacy with each other and also getting to know each other.

Which of these two fits within the Biblical Guidelines? The kind of relationship where you focus on getting to know each other as you would in a friendship, which is called "Relationship Dating." Two people who are attracted to each other (romantic desire) should develop and maintain a friendship-type relationship and be careful at first not to focus on their attraction and romantic desire and allow it to drive their relationship. They should focus on getting to know each other and relating together in a healthy way, giving their relationship time to develop and themselves time to grow in their care and concern for each other. They should spend time together in activities that promote them getting to know each other and enjoying each other as friends rather than activities that fuel their romantic desires and/or express them. They drive their relationship by their mutual care and concern for each other rather than their romantic feelings for each other.

Question: If I "relationship date" and not focus our relationship on romantic intimacy, will I be able to build a solid foundation for marriage if we grow to love each other and want to get married?
Answer: Absolutely yes. How does "relationship dating" establish a Biblical foundation for marriage? It allows you the time and opportunity to develop the kind of love that God desires in marriage if that is where the relationship leads.

Loving one's spouse according to the Scriptures involves four elements:

1. A genuine care and concern resulting in self-sacrificial attitudes and actions to meet the needs of your spouse
2. A commitment to fulfill your God-ordained marriage responsibility to your wife or husband
3. A romantic and sexual desire and attraction
4. A commitment to separate oneself from others of the opposite sex for exclusive and permanent romantic and physical intimacy

"Being in love" is a phrase our culture uses for the romantic and sexual attraction that a man can feel for a woman (or a woman for a man) mixed in with care and concern which drives him or her to want to marry the other person. True Biblical love is much more balanced and focused on genuine care and concern and faithful fulfillment of marriage responsibility. A key question for those wondering if they have real "love" (as God defines it) that will last a lifetime in marriage is:

"Am I ready to commit myself to this person to sacrifice myself for this person, to care for and be concerned about this person, to be exclusive with and united to this person, and fulfill my God-ordained responsibility to this person for life?"

If a couple is ready to do this, then they are ready to love each other for a lifetime. To come to this commitment, a couple needs to focus their energy on developing this kind of love for each other based of a strong care and concern for each other and a commitment to fulfill their responsibilities in marriage rather than on strong passionate romantic feelings which eventually calm down and change after marriage. Often a couple will make a marriage commitment based on very powerful romantic feelings fueled by romantic intimacy experienced in dating (with or without sex), rather than a strong and healthy loving relationship based upon a solid knowledge of each other. If they have built a foundation of genuine care and concern, they will have a solid foundation on which to build a marriage and drive their changing feelings.

How one views "dating" and how one "dates" a potential marriage partner establishes either a weak foundation or a strong foundation for a relationship that one wants to last for a lifetime. The focus should be on "how a Christian man and woman develop the kind of love relationship which will lead to and make a strong marriage and thus last a lifetime" If they are going to use "dating" as a method, then they need to "relationship date."

These principles should be considered for those who are in their college years and beyond. Young teens should primarily focus on their relationship with God through Christ first with obedience to God's word and their parents' guidance as ordained by God.

- Paraphrased from Pastor Ron Jones, D.D. of the Titus Institute

Are You On Fire for God?

From my MySpace Blog originally posted Monday 14/08/2006

Do we really know what it means to be on fire for God?

I'll bet most of us are thinking that being "on fire" means that we are excited or "revved up." And while this can be esoterically true, it really doesn’t begin to scratch the surface of what it means to be on fire for God.

A beautiful song by the Christian band, Among Thorns:

"Start a Fire" as recorded by Among Thorns

Start a fire in me
Let the flames run free
Burn away the dross
Holy fire of God So let it begin
Let it be new
Let me be used for Your sake
Giving glory to Your name
I can live Knowing that You
Reside in my heart
Oh Lord You are a fire

Let's look at the "fire" in question. Truly, in the context of the song, "fire" refers to a refiner's fire. So, what is that? According to the bible and history, a refiner's fire is a flame used by metal smiths to purify the metal they are working with, particularly gold and silver.

"But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire" - Malachi 3:2 (NKJV)

A modern translation reads: "But who can live through the day of His coming? Who can stand when He shows Himself? For He is like a fire for making gold pure" - Malachi 3:2 (NLV)

In Malachi 3, he is speaking of the coming day of judgment.

God IS so very pure, perfect, holy and righteous that there is no way we can even hope to come close to His grand, supreme, wonderful, and eternal existence. A pitiful example would be to compare a worn, tattered, white shirt, riddled with holes and stains that it looks irreparably grimy next to a never fading, pristine, perfectly white shirt, that is so bright, it almost glows in sunlight.

When we go before God on the day of judgment, it will not matter what good we have done, we are still just like filthy clothes or like a piece of metal that hasn’t been refined and left a dull, rough mess.

Sounds pretty dismal, huh?

There is good news here. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and trust in Him as our master, the refiner's fire starts to burn away all those nasty stains and that filthy dross (impurities, imperfections, superfluous and useless stuff) in our lives.

Yes, being on fire can mean having a gung-ho attitude about God and our Christian faith. But a more beautiful thing is for God to be that fire in us that constantly renews us in His plan, honor and glory. His fire helps us cope with our "dross" and burns it away as we grow as Christians.

I am very blessed to be "on fire" for God.

The words we speak may get us into deeper trouble than we know!!!!!!!!!!!

From my MySpace Blog originally posted Thursday 06/07/2006

Our friends in the entertainment industry have done it again!

I have been paying attention to this for quite a while and am just now starting to perceive of what is actually happening. It is about blasphemy. Please bear with me as you read the following from the bible. It is important to understand just how serious this is.

From the New International Version

You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. Exodus 20:7 (the 3rd Commandment)

Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:12

Do not profane my holy name. Leviticus 22:32

If anyone curses his God, he will be held responsible; anyone who blasphemes the name of the LORD must be put to death. Leviticus 24:15-16

That is a pretty high standard to follow but it IS what God commands.

To blatantly misuse, make light of, or substitute for a filthy four-letter word, the Holy name of the One who created everything and gave us life is just outrageous.

But in our pop culture, we let this sin slide right by us without even noticing.

I was watching a cable channel the other day where a movie deliberately edited out the sound what an actress said “Jesus Christ.” Granted it was used as an expression of frustration which would have qualified it as blasphemy. I thought that it was a good sign that maybe the programmers and that particular channel didnt want to offend people by using the Lords name in vain. The very next day there was a move where a male actor used GD as an adjective. This time is was in full audio and I was getting upset about it being repeated various times throughout the movie. I have started to really pay attention to TV dialog lately and have noticed that they edit out the name of our Savior all together and yet allow the Name of God to be treated as garbage. I have seen many times where Jesus Christ or Jesus is edited out but yet GD is all over the place.

Then it dawned on me! The media, mainly controlled by people who dont even have a connection to God, is doing its best to minimize God as a trivial reference. AND at the same time eliminating the existence of our savior, Jesus Christ by silencing ANY mention of His name.

And we are following right in line behind this trend. There are too many uses of the names of God being casually thrown into our messages and bulletins. And yes, gawd, lawdy, omg, and even the despicable omfg qualify as blasphemy.

If you are a believer, dont get sucked into the pop cultures trend of blasphemy… the price is WAY TOO high!

Everyone Is WOrth Knowing

From my MySpace Blog originally posted Thursday 13/09/2007

O. Henry's Holiday is a Jewish tradition, enacted every year on Rosh Hashhanah, the Jewish New Year, of casting sins, misdeeds, faults, whatever you want to call them, into a body of water. The tradition is that by casting away these things you are creating a clean slate for the coming year. For Jews this is the culmination of a day of prayer and ritual. It prepares a person for the coming 10 days of self-recrimination, along with the Day of Atonement which ends the holiest time of the Jewish year.

We should be introspective in our faith and worship of God all the time but taking stock of ourselves once a year can be beneficial and ultimately very effective. But introspection shouldn’t be the only thing we practice. We should make a point of trying to be more conscious of other people as well. But we can also combine the two. I look back and wonder if I've caused anyone any harm. I also take stock of my life and its direction (or lack thereof) and try to determine if the course needs to be altered. I even chastise myself for my sins and pray to God fro forgiveness.

I have not always been as patient with people as I could have been. I shot my mouth off when I could have just as easily kept silent. I sought arguments instead of reconciliations. All in all, things I am rather upset at myself about.

I really get upset with commercial marketing for putting forth the message that we are all too ugly, fat and dirty and therefore need an expensive remedy that only they can provide. I also should have told them that I feel insulted and demoralized when I think that corporate America seems to be comfortable bathing us in global sorrow but continues at the same time to skim a healthy profit off of the whole human misery.

Sadly, I sincerely regret that I have failed to live up to the lesson of O. Henry.

O. Henry was the pen name of American writer William Sydney Porter, whose clever use of twist endings in his stories popularized the term "O. Henry Ending".

In 1906, the attendants of society published their roster of The Four Hundred Most Important People in New York. O. Henry was outraged. So much so that he wrote a story called "The Four Million." In it O. Henry made a point that I have never forgotten. He said that everyone is worth knowing. The four million that he wrote about were the four million people living in New York at the time. On the inside cover of one edition of that story has a picture of a busy street in New York in 1906, and throngs of pedestrian traffic on it. The caption reads The Four Million on Parade. It also made me think.

Perhaps the biggest transgression that I would need to cast away is that I have ignored people --- ESPECIALLY IN MY CHRISTIAN WITNESS. Of course, some people can be irritating and easy to ignore. After thirty seven years of living the list of irritating people grows longer and longer. So many people that we meet seem so irrational, immoral, so narrow-minded, that the thought of learning anything more about them than what appears on the surface makes me sweat.

This is terribly unfair but most of us would ignore these people. In fact, I know from personal experience that when someone finds someone else unpleasant or too different from themselves, they do their best TO avoid them.

But, I think that what O. Henry was getting at is that it makes very little difference, in the long run, if people are not always quite what we expect or want them to be. All people cannot be all things.

The more you think about it the more you realize that there are more similarities than differences between people. We are not all wealthy, we are not all of the same race or ethnicity, we are not all heterosexual, we are not all male. Some of us are not what the dictionary or Calvin Klein define as beautiful but the more you get to know a person the more beautiful they become.

The idea here is that we all have something to offer. We won't always agree, we won't always like one another, but everyone is worth knowing.

And that fact is telling in how we can evangelize. The Great Commission is just a start, albeit an important one. And if you think about it, everyone is not only worth knowing, but also worth keeping out of hell. The amazing juxtaposition we find ourselves in is that when we become friends with someone, we find it harder and harder to tell them about Jesus. However this should not keep us from getting to know people or sharing our faith. We can actually do both concurrently!

As you meet new people, take the chance and give them a chance. They may seem like someone you wouldn’t want around, but remember that Jesus didn’t just associate with Hs friends. He put Himself right, smack-dab in the middle of those that traditional society found unworthy and unwanted: lepers, prostitutes, tax collectors, the poor, etc. Jesus found them worth knowing and worth keeping out of hell. He merely left it to them. That is what we have to do. Provide them with loving kindness, inform them of Gods law, tell them of Gods love through Jesus sacrifice, and leave the choice with them. If they have questions, answer them, if they don’t want to talk about it, don’t force it. But know them, love them, and witness through your words and actions.

Everyone is worth knowing AND worth keeping out of hell!

Mark 5, Mark 10:46-52, Luke 17:11-19

Set a Different Standard...

Originally posted at my MySpace blog Saturday 10/06/2006

We as Christians need to be in tune with our fellow Christians. Do you realize the impact we can make in the Kingdom just building up those fellow Christians? Over the years I have heard more Christians that have been so hurt by fellow Christians. We can either lift each other up or tear each other down. The Lord is impressing on me the urgency to be the kind of individual that looks for an opportunity to minister or to be in uplifting fellowship with my brothers and sister in Christ.

Uplifting and encouraging others are worthwhile disciplines. This is especially true in a world where negative feedback prevails. I sincerely challenge each of you to set a goal to go through the next week seeking to encourage and uplift people. Set a rule that negative comments are not allowed. Identify specific people you plan to encourage over the next few days. Don’t just let it rest with one note or comment. Follow up with that person a few days later, with a reminder about special they are. Remember this: the people you encourage will have a better week because of God’s grace through your uplifting actions. You will have made a difference to someone.

It really isn’t that hard to be nice and caring. In fact, you have to work much harder at being mean and hateful, and it takes a toll on both the target and the source. Stop making negative comments about other people or the things related to them. Be happy for them in the things they are involved in that are positive in their lives.

Don’t be upset when a friend of yours is friends with someone you don’t like. Be happy and try to get to know the other person and what is special about them to your friend. You may discover something you didn’t know that mean something to you.

Then next time you feel you need to be negative or hurtful of others, remember the following:

What miserable comforters you are! Won't you ever stop your flow of foolish words? I could say the same things if you were in my place. I could spout off my criticisms against you and shake my head at you. But that's not what I would do. I would speak in a way that helps you. - Job 16:2-5 (NLT)

Both of us need help. I can help make your faith strong and you can do the same for me. We need each other. - Romans 1:12 (NLV)

When we speak to each other or of each other in a negative way, we are really committing murder. Jesus said: "You're familiar with the command to the ancients, 'Do not murder.' I'm telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother 'idiot!' and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell 'stupid!' at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill. Matthew 5:21-22 (MSG)

If you are not a Christian, seek your conscience about this, it will tell you the same thing. Being negative or hurtful to someone is just plain wrong. If you are a Christian and claim to follow Jesus, then do so by following His wonderful example that you know from scriptures. Be willing to truly follow Christ. [Jesus] said to them, If anyone wants to be My follower, he must give up himself and his own desires. He must take up his cross and follow Me. Mark 8:34 (NLV).

TAKE A STAND TO BE POSITIVE AND COMMIT TO IT. SOMETHING GREAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU IF YOU COMMIT YOURSELF TO ENCOURAGING OTHERS RATHER THAT TEARING THEM DOWN!!!!!

Further bible verses to consider:

Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Proverbs 18:2 (TNIV)

Those who talk about others tell secrets. But those who can be trusted keep things to themselves. Proverbs 11:13 (NIRV)

A twisted person stirs up fights. Anyone who talks about others comes between close friends. Proverbs 16:28 (NIRV)

The north wind brings rain, and a tongue that hurts people brings angry looks. Proverbs 25:23 (NLV)

Put out of your life all these things: bad feelings about other people, anger, temper, loud talk, bad talk which hurts other people, and bad feelings which hurt other people. You must be kind to each other. Ephesians 4:31-32 (NLV)

Good people do good things because of the good in their hearts. Bad people do bad things because of the evil in their hearts. Your words show what is in your heart. LUKE 6:45 (CEV)

Dishonest people use gossip to destroy their neighbors; good people are protected by their own good sense. Proverbs 11:9 (CEV)

Welcome to my new blog!!!!

Hi all,

I just moved my blog from http://blog/myspace.com/sax_man_for_christ

I will repost my previous blogs soon and then start adding more as I go along.

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