Category Archives: Seriously

How Committed?

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Two men were standing outside the entrance to the Colosseum. One said, “This should be great today. I heard there were 13 of those worthless Christians who are going to feed the lions today. It was really good last week. One guy put up quite a fight, but he had no chance.”

Then he says to the other man, “Hey, we can go in now. Aren’t you going in?” 

“No I’ll be staying out here.” 

The other replied, “Don’t let a little blood bother you.” 

The other one replied soberly, “It was my dad’s last week, and it will be my mom and sister’s today.”

“He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight” (Psalms 72:14).

“And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration” (Revelation 17:6).

Changed or Not

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It seems like everyone has a favorite story to tell when talking with someone new. What’s yours? Recently, a brother in Christ told me that the Christian group he is a member of encourages them to polish and hone their personal testimony to make it interesting, clear, and less than 2 minutes long to be used when meeting people. I realized I was missing opportunities and began using my testimony more. 

Our testimonies should be incredibly powerful. Imagine someone being born again. Huh, what’s that? Seriously, are you for real? “. . . can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” (John 3:4b). 

Change should be the true response after encountering the Living God of the universe, much like the demoniac in Luke 5. He was a changed man after he encountered Jesus. Jesus then sent him to go home to his friends and tell them the great things that the Lord did for him (Mark 5:19).

 Paul had no demon, but after his encounter with Christ, he was a new person. The same was true for the Apostles. They were normal men, but then they were changed. 

Brothers, are you a changed person after receiving Jesus? If not, then the question is: Why not? First, make sure you are truly saved – no change without salvation. If you are saved, then are you living for Him who died for you? “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

Scary Times

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I’m not referring to the current wicked celebration where death, evil, and the devil are celebrated. Next week, our country will select leadership at almost every level. This could/should be highly concerning times for those who are god-fearing and value religious freedom. Yet, praise God that He is in control. “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will” (Proverbs 21:1).

Most of us haven’t lived through really difficult times such as the depression or the WW’s. We have been so blessed. Every type of food is on the grocery shelves. Most aren’t concerned for their day-to-day safety. Fuel and medical care are readily available. We are crazy blessed to live in this country during this time. 

I suppose that is part of the problem. People have what they want (far beyond needs), therefore “who needs God?” But during times of need, aren’t more people likely to turn to  Him? Might hard-times be what we need most? 

Also, I wonder if our country might be edging closer to a well-deserved chastening. When a country is chastened, it’s citizens suffer. Yet, should we be scared and worry? “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). 

What do we do? Pray. Pray for God to be glorified. Pray for the outcome that will yield the most souls saved. Pray that those who are truly saved will be busy about His business not the current fun and games pursuits. Brothers, repent, plead, pray that our wonderful, awesome, God will be glorified with many many souls coming to Him. May this be the beginning of the needed revival. 

“That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen” (1 Timothy 6:14-16).

My Brothers, be sure to vote. 

Don’t be Disappointed 

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I was on an errand to the drugstore yesterday. The item was hard to find so I asked a gal who was stocking shelves. She told me exactly were it was located. Then passing by her on my return, I thanked her and said maybe I could help her find something. With a slightly puzzled expression she questioned, “What?” I asked her if she was to die that night would she go to Heaven. She replied “Absolutely!” I then said, “May I ask why you are so confident?” 

“Sure. Because me and Him are super close. I talk to Him all the time.” I asked her a few more questions and didn’t hear answers that lined up with Scripture. She said she had a Bible but hadn’t read it in a while. I gave her a tract and encouraged her to read the tract and the Bible. I talk with so many who have what seems to be a false confidence. 

“And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it” (Matthew 7:26-27).

I’m not aware of any place in Scripture that says by merely talking to God you are saved. However verses like this one are indicative of salvation. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36).

Dads, I plead with you. Make sure you don’t have a false hope. Have you repented of your sin? Have you trusted in His death on the cross for total payment for your sin? Read His Word every morning. Believe what you read. Follow Him obediently. If you do, you will grow in sanctification, more like the Son and less like the world. 

Doesn’t Make Sense

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Why would someone choose to do something that is harmful to himself? Certainly we can understand if someone like the demoniac, who had an evil spirit, was injuring himself. “And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones” (Mark 5:5). 

Self harm isn’t supposed to be normal behavior. “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it,” (Ephesians 5:29a). For us the problem is when we think we are doing something good for our flesh (meaning what the flesh wants), and it is, in actuality, not good for us. Often we do know in the back of our minds, it is harmful, but we want it anyway. 

What “self” do we love and are we listening to – the new man in Christ or the old man of the flesh? Whatever man we love the most is the one we feed the most. The one we feed the most is the one who is stronger and “wins.” Clearly the demoniac had no new man and hence only did what his demon-controlled, sinful nature led him to.  

Desires Feeding

Christ-led new man, Time in the Word, Sharing Christ, Praying, Worshipping with the brethren, Discipling your children

The old man, Watching TV, Watching the world’s movies, Watching sports, Partying/drinking, Watching children in sports

My Brothers, what “man” are you feeding and hence is the one making the decisions in your life? Be Christ-led. 

Jesus said, “….Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given” (Mark 4:24).

“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24).

Forgotten

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Bobby is the picture-perfect definition of a good ole boy with a southern accent to boot. What a great guy. He’s happy, laughs a lot, and I’ve never seen him angry. He is so grateful for his upbringing. It seems like every conversation we have he says, “My daddy told me…..” Then he shares some “word of wisdom” that his dad told him growing up. He is very honoring of his dad.

Oh to remember our past and give proper honor to it. A sad opposite example is a Kansas City hospital which bears the name of a writer of one of the gospels. Their monthly magazine came which promotes health and the medical services they offer. That month they described the creation of the world in mystical, evolutionary terms. I was horrified. Frankly, I can’t imagine how any doctor with his studies of the human body could not be a committed believer. The wisdom that it took to design the body is staggering and simply impossible that it happened by chance.  “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:22).

“Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?”(Jeremiah 2:5). 

I pray you are in the Word yourself every morning and leading your family in the Word every night. Give God the glory in all you do with your family. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard “Our children love watching nature and science documentaries.” They may be entertaining, but I would be confident if it is on TV it is evolutionary. Consider all the damage that it is doing to a child’s mind. 

“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 6:5-7). 

Not What But Who

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In my previous years of corporate work, I often heard, “It isn’t what you know but who you know.” They weren’t promoting ignorance in our vocation but emphasizing the importance of business relationships. This has quite a correlation to the spiritual. 

Frequently I engage someone spiritually, and they say they believe Jesus is the Son of God. However, in speaking with them, it becomes obvious that they have never repented of their sin and surrendered to Him. Meaning they really don’t have a relationship with Him, but they know about HIm. Hence Jesus doesn’t know them either. To hear Jesus say, “Depart from Me. I never knew you,” is the worst news anyone could ever hear.

“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:22-23).

Oh, my Brothers, we live for Him Who died for us. May we draw closer to Him.

“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Corinthians 6:20).

Also, many are trusting in a religion which will yield disappointment. No religion died for you.

Also, many are trusting in themselves as being a good person. Again, disappointment headed their way. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Newly Unweds

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We met a sweet, young family with two cute littles a couple of years ago on our walking route when they were doing yard work. We loved seeing them in their happiness functioning as a family. Then, this spring we noticed there were no cars in the drive, the yard wasn’t being mowed, and there were no signs of life. We suspected the worst and asked their neighbor who was doing yard work, if he knew whether they were okay. He grimaced and shook his head “No.” 

Over time we observed furnishings, miscellaneous items, children’s toys, and books at the end of the drive for the taking. We stopped to look through the books in case we could use them with our grandkids. No way! There were little kiddos story books with dragons, witches, and magic. How sad to be filling the minds of children with such evil. It was an indication that the Lord Jesus likely had no place in that home, which is now up for sale. 

My brothers, we can’t expect the world not to fill their children’s minds with evil. But may it never be that anyone who names the name of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior would ever allow such evil things in their homes and certainly not around their children. Sadly, I’m confident that many believers consider these harmless children’s books, not putting up any safeguards to protect their children against them. Have they not read the Word? 

“Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked” (Psalms 97:10). There is no such thing as innocent evil. I plead with you. Cleanse your homes of anything evil. 

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16).

Also, make no assumptions about your marriage. Nurture it. Love and cherish your wife as a gift from God. She is. 

Help

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He was sitting on the back row of the church near the aisle and obviously not a member. Half the people in church at that moment had already walked by him, yet there he sat in silence. I dropped into the seat beside him and briefly got to know him. Later he told me how grateful he was that I took interest and spoke with him that day. That is an example of why Teri and I go to church early and seek out people who are new, alone, or simply look needy for someone to talk to. It is not an official role but a passion from the heart.

When I’m out and about, I’m always looking for people to engage. The grocery store, gas station, or Walmart are great places to go fishing. It is easy to begin a conversation, and I love to do it. Why?

“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.  And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31).

Yet, from my experience with many believers, they are reluctant to engage people they don’t know. Consider you are walking in a park by a lake and hear someone crying out for help and see them thrashing about in the water. Wouldn’t you do everything you could to help them? What if you didn’t know them? Would you be embarrassed to help them? Of course not. The problem is that most people on their way to hell don’t know it. If they did, they’d be screaming for help. We must see people we don’t know as if they were calling for help.

Let God’s command to love our neighbor and then seeing them headed for hell motivate us to reach out to everyone we can.

“…he that winneth souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30b).

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ …” (2 Corinthians 5:20a).

Maybe Great for Showers

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People have many names for it, but whatever the name, it brings back awful memories. No one likes it except dogs. Even the Lord Jesus used it as an example of great disgust. Vomit. What was so distasteful to our Lord that He used such a horrific metaphor? It was those who are lukewarm in their faith. 

“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16).

Might the Lord refer to the the current church (in general) as lukewarm? “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17).

Christianity has been vaporizing in our “post-Christian” era country. How could that be? Life with Jesus Christ is the most precious thing in all the world. Yet like the rich young ruler, other things are more important (Luke 18:18-24).

We love what we fill our minds with, and that is what our heart becomes. “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:4-5). Oh my brothers, abide in Christ.

“For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh” (Luke 6:44-45).

Eyes, ears => into the mind => into the heart => deeds/fruit