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THOUGHTS & COMMENTS
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6I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. (Gal 1:7)

SUNDAY SANCTIMONY

"Praise the Lord, Hallelujah, Raise your hands on High and Sing to the Lord!!"

There they are, every Sunday, down in the first row and a sight to behold. No one sings louder, or prays longer or better, or knows the Scriptures more fully.

When you think of church, you can't help but think of them, they have become such a fixture one wonders if a service could be held properly should they be unable to attend.

Yep, that's what Sunday go-to-meetin' is all about, and always has been. And they are what fledgling Christians aspire to be like.

But! Where are they after church? Where are the songs? And the Hallelujahs? What happened to the gratuitous prayers?

Some church members can be found at hospitals helping the physically wounded. Others can be seen in homes helping the emotionally wounded. And still others, who are unable to get about, are on their knees, or on the phone interceding for those in distress.

Very often these humble people are found sitting quietly in the rear pews in church; their work is performed on the front lines of God's battle during the week, and on Sundays they rest with their brothers and sister in the Lord.

They do not come to church to be with the Lord, they are with Him every moment of every day.

But what of the leaders? What of the howlers? What of the makers of a joyful noise?

Some of them, no doubt, are also doing their part of the Lord's battle. And some of these make sure everyone knows just what they have done come Sunday morning.

But others disappear from the war. They are not necessarily doing worldly things; they just aren't remembering to do Godly things.

Storing up energy for their battle on Sunday morning no doubt.

SEARCH FOR CONTENTMENT

I have wondered at times why people who appear to be Christians, and claim to be Christians, cannot find Jesus.

Claiming comes easy. Any two year old can do it, and in fact does it all the time ("Mine!!). And if you don't know how to lay your claim, there are plenty of "name it and claim it; blab it and grab it" churches out there willing to teach you how to do it.

Unfortunately going to those churches is like going to a bar in search of a descent, God fearing wife or husband-to-be.

These "Christians" are not looking for Jesus, they are looking for Santa Clause; they are looking for someone to fill their wants, or their needs, or their desire for purpose in life.

People are looking for contentment.

It surprises me that a lot of people who are Christians are not even looking for Morality, or Integrity, any more than those of the World are.

They just want to be self-satisfied.

What they are looking for is what the World offers; it's what the Cults offer; it's what the Religions offer.

And it is now what the church offers.

KILLING JESUS

The words have an ugly ring to them, don't they?

But that is precisely what is happening in the church today.

Jesus said that He is the Word of God. Jesus came down here to our level and sacrificed Himself so we could have that Word. He then sent out His best Ambassadors to spread that Word in order for us to hear it.

And we destroy that Word.

Oh, we don't scribble on it. We don't even necessarily change the Word.

We Nullify the Word;

The Pharisees nullified the Word by smearing it with Traditions.

And so do we.

We have the Word funneled into our ears, like school children in the World's school system, instead of being instructed by the True Teacher, the Holy Spirit.

And by doing so, we crucify Jesus afresh, and don't even know it.

YOU ARE THERE

That is what we are taught in just about every church. When you walk into a church building you are told that you are in the right place; and when you walk down to the front of the church (or even sit in your pew) and say a few words, you are told that you have arrived.

There is no where else to go.

You are Heaven Bound, and there is nothing you can do about it.

"You're hired, young man. Here is your pension, thanks for coming in, and enjoy your retirement."

Why aren't people looking for God in the church? For the same reason people in cults, and the religions, and the world aren't looking for Him.....

They are told that they have already found Him.

BLIND LEADERS

When I was first converted, I don't mean when I fist sought God as a teenager, or when I was called at age 36, but when I turned my life over to Jesus at age 66, I was very angry at the preachers for not telling me about the Holy Spirit and what He can do for us.

And as I began to be instructed by the Spirit as to the Truth of the Bible, I became more angry at the preachers for not only hiding the Truth, but for covering them over with fables and lies.

My website began to display this anger, and I recognized that I was lambasting all preachers and churches, so I withdrew many of my stories until I could rewrite them and soften them a bit.

Now, though I can see I am not doing such a good job of it, I try not to include all preachers (but still include all denominations) in my lambasting.

As I grow in the Lord, I see more clearly why the Preachers, and the Commentators, and the Theologians do not teach the Truth and the Holy Spirit in depth.

They don't know the Holy Spirit.

They don't know the Truth.

"But, why don't you show them what you're showing me?" I ask of the Lord. "They have a wide influence. They seem so righteous. And they seem to be seeking the truth." (Referring to a few of the many I read and hear.) "No one is going to listen to me, and no one is going to even see my website or read what I write. So, Why me!?"

I haven't received an answer yet. But I have some ideas, which I will share with you here.

I believe that some of the preachers, etc are truly Christians (most, or at least many aren't) but they are listening to one another rather than asking the Holy Spirit for the Truth. I believe that they think all Understanding of the Scriptures has been revealed and so all they have to do is pick and choose which one they want to believe (out of hundreds of theories) and they will have the Truth.

I find it difficult to understand how anyone can think this way with all the theories there are floating around, and the ever increasing number materializing day-by day. And if they figure that it is only those theories that are hundreds of years old that count, they still have hundreds of contradictory theories to wade through; and they have to answer the obvious question; "Why did God wait hundreds of years before telling anyone the Truth they decided to accept?"

My suspicion is that Truth has always been there, but everyone has (and has had) their own agenda, so therefore they could not hear the Holy Ghost who was trying to instruct them.

Oh, many have heard a word or two of the Truth, then they combined it with their own doctrine or agenda, made a Doctrine of the whole mess, and created a Denomination or a cult to enclose and protect it.

A searcher of Truth, who has some understanding, finds a jewel of Truth, recognizes it as Truth, and therefore believes the holder of that truth (Doctrine) must have all Truth, and blindly accepts everything else that person says.

Thus is formed Denominations, Cults and Religions.

Another person will recognize a Truth set forth by some Theologian or Doctrine, but also sees a fallacy in his reasoning in one area or another, which is answered by another Theologian. He, unable to incorporate this Truth into his own church Doctrine and still remain in that church he belongs to, breaks off and forms his own Denomination, taking part of the congregation with him.

Do I have the Truth? I know it came from the Holy Ghost, and I know it is supported by the Holy Scriptures (not just bits and pieces here and there);

But if you take it (even if it is absolute Truth Itself) and believe you have the Truth - then you have nothing more than Traditions like all the others I have spoken of.

You may have the perfect medicine to heal a life-threatening illness right there in your hands - but if you don't know when to take it, and in what proportions, than it is nothing but poison.

Truth comes from the Holy Spirit. If you receive Truth from any other source, than you are just another Blind Follower of the Blind.

FALLEN SHORT

There are a lot of Preachers out there, but very few shepherds.

You have the TV preacher, and the Radio preacher. You even have preachers that only publish books or preach on the radio. (And you have preachers who preach over the web.)

Any of these will preach their little heart out at you. And if you want, they will even pray for you. And the more money you send, the more they will pray for you.

But do any of them even know the God to whom they say they are praying?

It isn't far different with many of the local churches.

You go to church every Sunday for years and listen to the sermons. Chances are he's a fine preacher, if you are still attending that church.

But is he a Pastor?

"Pastor" comes from the fact that the Pastor is in charge of a flock of sheep. He does not own the sheep, but he is to care for the sheep, feed them, tend to their wounds, and protect them.

And something more, that I think few Pastors realize - they will be held responsible by the Owner of the sheep if anything happens to the sheep in his care (Heb 13:17).

A Pastor who does not care for his sheep is no more than a preacher. And if he has been given, or accepted, the position of shepherd, but is not caring for the sheep, then the sheep are in grave danger.

Talking to the flock is not caring for the flock.

Some flocks have become so large that a Pastor does not know but a very few of his sheep; nor do many of the sheep even know the name of their Pastor.

This is not a picture of a flock of sheep; but of a herd of lemmings headed for the sea.

Even in small churches I have witnessed little better.

As an example, I know of one wherein a man's father, mother and brother all died within a very short period - and there was never even a word of recognition by the Pastor or his staff.

Another situation I witnessed was of a Pastor who when told by one of the congregation that she was feeling suicidal said; "Let's pray for you," offering nothing more.

There are a lot of Preachers out there. It's a good, relatively safe and prestigious position to seek. But few are Pastors.

And, I'm afraid, many who are Pastors have fallen short of their responsibilities.

BURNING BUILDING

It's popularly accepted that believing Jesus is God will get you to Heaven. And it's also popular to believe that Jesus is part of a "Godhead" called the Trinity. Those denominations who believe this are called Fundamental Faiths and you have to believe this in order to be considered part of the Fundamental Family of Denominations.

I disagree.

But, as anyone who has read very much of what I have written knows, I disagree with a great deal, if not just about everything any of the churches teach (Traditions).

A story: you are on the fifth floor of a building consumed with fire. You are standing on a window ledge with no hope of surviving except to jump into a net that a group of men are holding just below you.

Do you jump?

Let's say you choose not to jump.

Why?

"Jump!" they all yell, "Jump!"

You just stand there looking down at the net shaking your head.

"Don't you believe the net will hold you?" they ask.

You nod that you indeed believe the net will hold you.

"Don't you believe there's a fire that will destroy you?" the men ask.

Again you nod that you fully believe in the fire raging behind and below you.

"Don't you believe we are really firemen and can handle this net?"

Yes, you affirm, you are absolutely convinced that the men below are really firemen and can handle the net.

Then, why don't you jump?

Perhaps you are afraid of missing the net. Perhaps you have a fear of heights. It may even be that you do not feel worthy of being rescued.

Or maybe it is one of a dozen other reasons, or even no reason at all.

But whatever the reason, you do not jump.

Excuses (reasons) do not save you. Believing does not save you. And fear prevents you from doing that which you must do in order to be saved.

Faith does not save you. All the faith in the world is not going to prevent you from being burned to death in that building on which you stand.

Then, if Belief, or Faith will not save you, what will save you?

Jump.

FABLE DANGERS

What danger could possibly come from believing a fable, as long as the Fundamental Truths are present and believed? What difference could it make if a one person's doctrine is a little off, as long as that person believes that Jesus is the Savior of the World, believes in the Trinity, and that Jesus is going to return for His saints?
And why am I so persistent in my condemnation of Fables?

Bypassing the first questions, I will ask those who wonder why I believe knowing the Truth is important: Why did Jesus? Why did the Apostles? Why did Jesus make such an effort to tear down the doctrines of the Pharisees since all they were doing was calling for people to be extra clean and extra careful not to break the Sabbath?

Why was Paul so adamant that the Churches of his day avoid Fables and Old Wive's Tales if simple things like that were not important?

Fables cover up and misdirect the Truth. When we look at Fairy Tales, we miss the importance of the True Message, and may very likely miss the Message altogether.

Say I was to tell you to wait on such-and-such a corner at such-and-such a time and I would be by to pick you up in a red Ford coming from the East heading West and take you to your appointed heart surgery.

At the appointed time you wait on the specified corner and watch Eastward for a red Ford. You wait an hour for the red Ford, but it never comes. However there is a green Chevy that has been circling the block heading East for the past hour.

You miss your ride, and maybe even lose your life. Why? Because you had been misinformed. The lack of correct information was a small thing - just a matter of color, car model and direction. What difference could a little thing like that make?

Jesus told the Pharisees, and His disciples, to forget about washing cups and hands, which they believed would keep them in good stead with God, and to wash their hearts and their mouths instead.

The Jews were so busy watching pots, that they missed their appointment with God and their hearts.

Now, I know that you firmly believe what you preach, or that you hear preached. You are not just choosing to believe a Fable any more than were the Pharisees.

And maybe you are precisely right, and I am way off base. If you believe that, you will be agreeing with the experts, and be part of the huge majority.

But try, if you are able, to set aside your beliefs and see if what I am saying makes any sense to you.

I am going to look briefly at just one popular doctrine; the Rapture of the Church.

There are three popular views of the rapture (none that I agree with, by the way) held by the Fundamental churches. The least popular is the view that Jesus will return at the end of the Tribulation and take the Saints to Heaven. Not too many people believe in this version because it forces the Church to be here on earth during the Tribulation; and who would want to be here for that?

The second most popular is the "Mid-Trib" doctrine that states that the Church will be taken away from earth just before the Beast starts causing trouble here on earth. This view, too, is not very popular because it doesn't allow for the "surprise" of the rapture that Jesus spoke of.

By far the most popular of the doctrines is the "Pre-Trib" rapture that says Jesus will come and take His Saints to Heaven on a cloud, secretly and unbeknownst to the rest of the world.

It is not my purpose to try and prove my point of view at this time, I have done that elsewhere. I just wish to point out potential dangers of having such a view, if, perchance, this view proves to be wrong.

Thirty some-odd years ago (and certainly even now in many countries) the Christians were told not to worry because before persecution began they would be "taken" into Heaven.

They were (and are) "taken" ok - taken to jail and to their deaths.

We hear almost daily of Christians being "taken." Last week we read of (in the Christian news, not the media of the world) 200 missionaries being "taken."

Here is the first of my questions: Why are these faithful-to-death Christians so much more inferior in the eyes of the Lord than those of "Civilized" counties like America who are doing nothing but sitting on couches, watching TV while eating pizza, and waiting to be raptured off to Heaven?

But this aside, let me paint yet another picture.

You, as a believer, are waiting to find yourself suddenly floating into the air where you will disappear into the clouds and from that point on pluck a harp in your mansion that brick-layer Jesus is building for you.

Let's say something happened and you find yourself in a situation that looks an awful lot like how the Tribulation is described. Lets say you find world-wide famine and plages going on all around you. People are dying by the millions. But you know that it can't be the Tribulation - because you are still here.

You ask your Pastor about the distress you see. He tells you not to worry because Jesus will be here soon to rapture you and the rest of your "worthy" church members before the real trouble starts.

And what else could he say? Even though you can easily see that he is just as worried as you are.

Now you are finding yourself in the midst of wars, and earthquakes, and you are finding it harder to get a decent drink of water because most of it is bitter or poison.

And you hear on the news that a new system is being implemented whereby everyone must take a mark or else they cannot buy or sell.

You again ask your Pastor about this; and again he assures you that it can't be the "mark of the Beast" because you haven't been raptured yet.

Meanwhile, the church down the block from you seems to be weathering the storm quite well. They don't seem to have as many problems as the rest of the churches. You ask one of them why that is.

You are informed that her Pastor had not been preaching a "fly-away" rapture, but rather he had been teaching them Paul's admonition to put on the Armor of God, and to "stand" in the Day of Trouble. He had been telling them that the True Church would undergo great persecution and that many of them would die for their Faith; but because of this they would be greatly rewarded by God in Heaven.

This person also tells you that they had been told that the Church would be "protected" from the Tribulation with the "seal" of the Holy Spirit, just as were the Hebrews when the Death Angel passed over Egypt. That like them, all who had partaken of the Lamb, and had spread the Blood on their doorpost (of their mind and heart) would be spared.

Then you learn that from this "prepared" Church there is a group coming forth that will be spreading the Gospel to the world. You hear that there is something like 144,000 of them, gathering themselves together, and all issuing forth from Churches like the one down the block from yours.

Again you ask your Pastor to explain your situation.

Again he struggles to assure you that you must be patient, that the Bible doesn't lie, and that Jesus will be here soon to take you away.

Meanwhile, you hear a knock at the door - and it is the police, who have come to "take you away."

Of course, you don't have to worry about such a thing happening. You know all too well that such a thing will never happen. Not to you.

A half a lifetime ago I used to organize and lead a youth group on long bicycle tours around the country. In the beginning very few people believed that I meant what I said when I told them that these youngsters could ride a thousand miles carrying their own gear and doing their own cooking, etc.

The first group I took on tour there were only seven who took me seriously. These seven learned to completely take their bicycle apart and repair it, to make their own saddlebags, to cook, and to take care of themselves and each other.

For months they took ever-expanding trips to condition themselves and to get used to traveling in all types of weather. They rode in the snow, the heat, and the rain.

By the set time for the tour, they were ready.

And there were many more now who wanted very much to go.

But they were unprepared, and were flatly refused.

One group firmly believed in my intention and ability to lead them on such a tour.

And the other group believed just as strongly that I had no full intention of taking any of them. They had heard people promise similar things before, so they were unprepared to believe the "truth" when it came their way.

"You're too late" is what they heard when they were willing and anxious to go.

Jesus told several parables which related similar situations. He spoke of virgins who had not prepared. He spoke of vineyard keepers who were not prepared. He spoke of grains of "corn" that landed on "soil" (hearts) that were not properly prepared.

And He condemned the Pharisees, and the Scribes, and the Sadducees, who were the Theologians of Jesus' day, for not being prepared for Him even though He had sent many prophets, and had written them Books (the Old Testament) warning them of His coming.

They misinterpreted the warnings of His first coming.

But, somehow, we consider ourselves too smart to misinterpret the Word today.

If that is so; then why are there thousands of interpretations of the same Bible?

And finally, one more question.

There, obviously, is no Protestant church that goes back further than the fifteenth century. But there are those churches that do. The Catholic church, of course, being one, and the Orthodox church being another. And let us not forget the Lutheran church which was the first Rebellious....I mean Protestant Denomination.

Why is it that, since the Rapture Doctrine is so sound, it is not believed by the Catholic church? Or for that matter, the cults who aren't even convinced of the Divine Inspiration of the Gospels? In fact, even the Islamic Faiths, and the Buddhists teach they will have to go through the Tribulation in one form or another.

Many influential and knowledgeable people firmly believed in the unsinkability of the Titanic.

This is but one "dangerous" Fable I challenge. And why I believe they are dangerous.

VERBAL CONSENT

During the Depression when jobs were very scarce, my father would apply for work, any kind of work, and when asked if he knew how to do the job, he would acknowledge that he did. His hope was that by the time they found out he didn't know a thing about that kind of work, he would.

Einstein explaining his theory of relativity to a class of grade school kids as they sit nodding their heads in agreement, indicating that they understand just what he is talking about, and giving their approval to his presentation.

I suspect that maybe one out of a thousand people who read what I have to say will understand it. If there are that many who understand, I know it will not be because I have expressed my view well, or that my literary expertise was evident. Nor will it be because I have such a deep understanding of the subject that it just bubbled to the top of my writing.

As I have stated, I know I have very little skill as a writer. My understanding of much of what I write is given to me piecemeal and incompletely, which is the way I present it.

Whatever is grasped or understood from my writing can only be attributed to two things.

The first is the ability of the reader to wade through my poor writings. That is a skill all of its own. I know because I proof read my work several times before I publish it, and every time I find areas I stumble over, lose interest in, and at times can't figure out what I was talking about at the time of writing.

The second thing (if it is a Spiritual matter, which most of my writings are in this section), that can cause understanding of what I have written is that the reader of the study already knows what I am talking about, therefore has no real need to have read it in the first place. My hope is that these readers find a glimmer or two of insight they hadn't considered, or that helps connect pieces of information they already had, but was unclear about.

Those readers who have such information, no doubt received it from the same source I did, and that is the Holy Spirit. If this is the case, then they, too, doubtless feel no pride for having attained the knowledge because it came from a Source outside them self.

In fact, from my experience, if a person hasn't had their Ego beat out of them, the Holy Spirit can not (or will not) provide understanding of the Scriptures.

The above is to say, whether you like what I say, or hate it. Whether you agree, or think it is all bunk; it does not matter to me. That is not to say that I wouldn't very much enjoy knowing that what I say is well received, or at least enjoyed; but agreement is not what I expect at all.

And agreement is what I receive little of, and those who do express a bit of agreement in some area, do not see the need to apply what I have said to their own lives.

In this same way, I believe, God does not look for verbal consent or agreement. He wants full control and obedience from His people. If He does not receive this, then His rewards are withheld.

And it will not be God who is the loser.

What I am essentially saying is that I hope everyone grasps the importance of what I have to say. I would love it if the whole world dropped their ego and followed the Lord. If this was to occur because of my website, I would be delighted - and I doubtless would receive crowns for my effort.

But I doubt any of this will happen through any of my doing. But the result is not for me to concern myself with; only to do the job presented to me to the best of my ability.

In the construction of a great building there are three people who get acclaim and recognition, though thousands may work, even risk their lives for it: The one who Designs the building, the one who turns the first spade of dirt for the cornerstone, and the one who paints the sign acknowledging its completion.

[ The Alpha and the Omega; the Author and the Finisher of our Faith.]

I am a laborer. I suspect there are thousands of others out there given the same information I have, and perhaps more than has been given to me. And I suspect there are many who have huge chunks of the Puzzle (Mystery) that I don't have that will help complete Knowledge.

And I suspect out there somewhere there is someone (or many people) who are intended to receive all this information whose job it will be to put it all together, and further, put it into practice.

In the meantime, we will have to be content to receive Truth: Here a little, there a little, line upon line - and hope we do not fall over backwards and be "taken" in by the traditions that are now being used to fill in all the blank spots.

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THOUGHTS & COMMENTS
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19Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Mat 5:)

MELTING POT

Place a variety of objects into a pot, heat up that pot to sufficient temperature, and all the objects melt and blend into one.

If the right materials are placed into the pot, in the right proportions, and heated to the right temperature, a high quality product will be the result.

Glass is one example. Glass is made up of sand, soda and lime. None of these materials in itself will produce anything like glass. And if one element is left out, or of poor quality, or is contaminated, the result is likely to be disastrous. A sheet of glass with an impurity is very likely to be unsightly at best, and brittle (easily broken) at worst.

There are times when altering the formula is desirable. For instance; impurities and deformation is sometimes intentionally added in effort to produce a piece of glass that will be used for a unique vase, but you are unlikely to use the resulting glass to make a window. For a window you want a glass that's as clear as, as...... glass.

Steel is another example of the necessity to utilize only the best of materials. A poor mixture, or less than adequate temperature will result in an inferior product. A high quality knife will withstand abuse and hold a good, sharp edge, while a poor quality knife will bend, chip and will not cut well or straight.

If what you are cutting is a piece of cheese, or even a steak, the quality of the knife you use won't be of much consequence. Ease of cutting and the minimizing of frustration is the most that is at risk. However, if the knife is being held by a surgeon, and it is you on the operating table....!

Consider the consequences if the perfect balance of methods and materials are not maintained in the production of parts intended to make up an airplane or a space shuttle.

Gold and other precious metals are another example of a need for quality. If that gold is intended to be used for a ring or other such jewelry, the quality and purity is not particularly important. That is, if it just how a thing looks that is important, then all that is needed is a ultra thin piece of gold glued to a cheap piece of plastic.

This country was founded on the principal of a Melting Pot. The intention, as I see it, was to allow a great variety of peoples to come to one place where they can blend together and work to produce a high quality nation. A place where people could escape the bondage of the rest of the world and live in freedom and plenty.

The motto of this country, that is, the advertisements sent out to the world intended to encourage people to come to this land called for the best of humanity. It reads; "Give us your poor, your worthless, your drunkards, your criminals....."

And that is what we got, what the rest of the world was trying to get rid of. This nation became the trash dump of the world.

Does it sound like I am putting down this country? Not at all! I would be foolish to do so since I am one of those the world would wish to be rid of. And as for this nation; with all its disadvantages, I believe it has done very well. I just wish it would continue to do so.

This nation took what would be considered the worst of circumstances, the lowest forms of humanity; and created the finest of nations that the rest of the world struggles to emulate.

And now that it has reached the top, and considers its citizens (at least its citizens do) to be the best of humanity, it is taking a nosedive into corruption.

Nature, that is God's Creation, has a way of weeding out the poor and inferior so that nature can survive and prosper. We call that process "Survival of the Fittest."

And in Nature, that principal works.

Unfortunately, when Man gets hold of a good principal he distorts it and proves its fallibility.

For instance, Hitler attempted to utilize this principal; and we see what a mess he made of it. Would it have worked if he had the chance to continue? Perhaps. But the best he would have been able to produce is an ugly weed. I use as an example that which he considered a "target" mold. Himself; And his inner circle (who he also killed when they no longer served his purpose).

We now have cloning. What will be the result? Will clones be People? Individuals? Will they be extensions of the persons they are cloned from? Will they be subject to the laws of the land? To the Laws of God? Will they be created in God's Image? Will they be facing the possibility of Heaven? Of hell?

What would have happened if Hitler had gotten his hands on cloning?

Would life have any meaning? Does it now, since we all came from bugs?

Is life valued now any more than it was under Hitler?

If so, explain abortion, if you please.

That's the World. But I, and supposedly those of you who are reading this, are not of this World.

We are of the World of God.

Or are we?

Man's way is to confuse, distort, misuse and destroy.

Is this God's way as well?

Of course not. So, why then do we use the World's thinking in God's Church? Why do we magnify God, and minimize His Word and intentions?

Man takes the best he has available and makes a shambles of it.

Why do we think God is going to take the worst of us to magnify His Glory?

Man, that is the World, works hard to abuse and destroy that which it has been given by God.

Yet we expect, as the Church of God, the Body of Christ, the Temple of the Living God to do nothing toward perfecting ourselves, and that God will respect this and reward us for doing so.

God said He will reward us....accordingly.

How many of you employers reward the slack worker?

How many of you parents pat your child on the back when he comes home drunk.

"But we're Sons of God. We're in the Family. God is too loving to kick us out even if we are bad children. We're still His children!"

Is that so? Just keep remembering that when your 50 year old drunk, convict son comes home with a car load of buddies at 2:00 in the morning. And remember also; "Do unto others," and "Judge not and you shall be not judged."

Love goes two ways. A loving son would not do anything to disobey or hurt his parent. A loving child will do all he or she can to make their parent (as well as brothers and sisters) happy and fulfilled. A loving child would sacrifice their own well being, and their life if needs be, if it will benefit others in the family.

Are you a loving child? Then you are part of the Family of God. If you are not a loving child, then you are not part of the family, and therefore cannot expect the same treatment as those who are.

5And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. (Heb 12:)

You may call yourself Christian. Your Pastor may tell you that you are a Christian. You may read passages in the Bible that says you are a Christian.

But if you do not strive to be all that Jesus was (and is), in other words, if your last name isn't "Christ," then you are not part of the Family of Christ.

7Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Gal 6:)

Like this country, Jesus called for the beggarly, the wretched and the sinner. And like this country, the reason Jesus called for the lowest of humanity is because they are the only ones who would come!

During early America ocean travel was not like it is today. Travel was very harsh at times, and very dangerous. It was not a trip a person would want to take unless there was something to gain worth the risk.

America was not considered a desirable place to visit, leastwise to live. America was uncivilized, the weather was often harsh and there was no (or very little) housing. The Government was unstable, and business opportunities were few and risky.

For people with nothing to lose, or having capital to risk; the prospects were well worth the trip. But if a person had a good life going in another country, why would he bother?

Jesus came to this earth (a foreign land) to call "whosoever will" to His Land of Plenty." It is a Land unseen, and untried as far as any here on earth is concerned. We only have the Bible and Jesus' Word that such a place exists. It takes Faith to even imagine taking such a journey since we can't just ask our neighbor what it is like, because no one we know has been to Heaven, then returned.

Those who came to America had to sell all they had and come with, essentially, the shirt on their back, because the ships were small and overcrowded with people.

Since the trip was expensive, and certainly at times, difficult to obtain transportation, those who came to America had to leave their families behind, with the hope of their following later.

Jesus said the only way to see His Promised Land was to sell everything and follow Him. This was not difficult for those who had nothing, or very little to sell.

But a rich man? Why would someone who has plenty of tangible wealth want to give it up for something that is intangible and future? If a man is rich, it is most likely he has worked hard to earn that which he has, and his lifelong direction is the opposite of poverty. It is also very likely that he is a speculator, a gambler of sorts (as is evident today) and will not take the gamble.

Jesus also said that He would put families at variance one against another; and that anyone who followed Him would have to leave their family behind.

Family members rarely all become converted at one time. If one is Born Again, and others in the family reject the Faith; then the Believer must leave the others behind, with hopes that they will follow later.

Man, as we have seen, can take the poorest of humanity, and turn it into splendor; then take the "finest of humanity," and produce junk.

Jesus is reaching deep in the pits for the most pliable of humanity, with the purpose of lifting them high above the world where He will place them on His Throne.

Those who rule and rein (in their own little kingdom) God will cast down. Those who are cast down in this world, and will sever their ties with this world and their fleshly pursuits He will lift up.

To put it in the vernacular: if you lift yourself up by your own bootstraps, you will stumble. If you don't have any bootstraps, you will be able to walk straight.

Man uses the finest of materials to produce the finest of products.

And so does God.

To find the best of materials, you look for the lowliest of raw materials.

For instance; if you want a pearl, you do not look for pearls, you look for clams.

If you are looking for gold, you look for ugly green flecks in a rock. And the chances are, if you find a shiny gold nugget, it will be a worthless piece of fool's gold.

Then when you get all your raw, worthless (looking) resources together, you bring out the hammer.

In the case of gold (as a for instance) all the none-gold particles must be beaten away from the gold, and then washed to rid the gold of fine particles of impurities.

Once the gold has been separated from its stone encasement, and it has been washed of the fine impurities that remain; it is then tried, that is, put to the fire.

A low flame will not produce a valuable piece of gold. The fire has to be sufficient to separate it from all impurities, and to melt it so it can be formed into a usable product. A perfect piece of gold is nothing but a pretty rock, if it not fashioned into something usable.

God tries His "children" in the same manner. He takes a worthless piece of rock (our heart, and the best of Man is nothing but a chunk of clay in God's eyes) and separates our dirty flesh from His valuable Spirit (which only those who have truly received Jesus possess).

Once we are clean, He tries us with fire (tribulation and trials) which further separates the pure gold from the dross.

The Bible uses many examples to describe the processes God uses to purify His "Jewels" with which He will bedeck His Bride, the Church, the Temple, the New Jerusalem. He describes this process as; the separating of chaff and wheat; of tares and wheat; of unproductive branches pruned from the Vine; and from the chastisement of His children.

And Peter clarifies it this way:

12Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. (1Pet 4:12)

BOTTOM LINE

I find it a tragedy that it has come to a point in this world that to find Morality being taught we must turn to the cults; That while the media, the government, the family and the schools point at one another with the finger of blame for the poor upbringing of our youth, the children have to search for their moral guidance from places where it is least expected or respected.

Do cults have the answers? Of course not. But they claim to have the answers. And they have an appearance of having the answers. And like the gold plated ring, if you don't dig too deep, the cults will, for a time, satisfy the needs of those who seek morality and a sense of self worth.

"But, wait a minute!" you say. "You forgot the church. It's the church that has the responsibility for the morality of the people. It's the church that has the answers, as well as the avenue to God and Eternal Life."

And that's true; the church should be the place a person goes to find God and Morality. And a child should be able to go to his or her parents for love and instruction; but the parents no longer have the time, nor the ability to fulfill their obligations.

And a child should be able to appeal to the government for assistance in this matter; but the government, though it has taken over the authority of the family, it has not (nor will it) taken over the responsibility of the family. The government has done with the family the same is it does with the laws of the land; it passes new and ever burdening laws on the many, hoping to curb the wrongdoing of the few who are making every effort to avoid any law and its consequence. Meanwhile the law-abiding must suffer the burden of the laws not intended for them. On top of this, while the law books grow fatter, the means and methods for carrying out those laws grow thinner. An old lion with no teeth or claws, and a meow in place of a roar. Punishing the class because the teacher doesn't know what to do with the troublemaker. Kicking the cat because the boss won't do what you want him to do.

[ The principals upon which this nation was founded are quickly vanishing while we become more like the countries we wish to avoid, and even far worse than they could ever dream of becoming.]

A parent should be able to depend on the schools for the moral instruction of their child. And in the past, this was essentially so. And in the past a child was taught to respect (and feel proud of) their Nation to which they pledged allegiance. In the past God was at least highly respected and known as the purpose and sustainer of this country. In the past we were a Christian nation. In the past we were an English speaking nation.

We are now, and becoming ever more, a nation without resources, without morals, without a native tongue, without pride, without a God to lead and sustain us, and without a vision or focus.

Rather than a Melting Pot, we have become an explosion. Instead of looking toward the center by which to unite and bond with the acceptable; we wish to escape into our own little worlds of abstract and abandon.

Though the "Big Bang" theory is a myth, it has proven itself culpable.

The media, in its innocent stage, was self-governing and made every effort to instruct and provide information to the public, keeping in mind the good of the people. The media was at the same time informative, entertaining, and inspiring.

Now the media is self-serving and debasing.

"Censor" has become a bad word.

Disney is a good example. Walt Disney would have rather his business fold than to compromise his principals. He wanted top quality, and at the same time a high degree of morality in his subjects. He risked failure by venturing into unknown and avoided areas, like a full length animation that the world said no one would accept. (I believe it was Snow White, but don't quote me on that.)

Immediately after the death of Walt, Disney Productions (Walt's brother and the founding money behind Disney) produced a movie designed for the World, and having a great draw for small children (about a baby dinosaur) with strong language and sexual situations.

The last bastion of morality had fallen. The World and the devil flooded over the wall.

In the past the media was a safe place to leave your child; a place where you knew he or she would only receive that which was clean and wholesome.

Now the practice still persists, but the end result is disastrous.

Even PBS, the Safe channel has displayed movies and programs that embarrassed even me. Consider Marlow, House of Cards (trilogy) and, Equus (spelling). And the danger of obscene commercials hidden amongst the cartoons is frightening.

"But the church, the church is safety for everyone. In the church none of this exists. The church has the Word of Truth. The church has not altered its stance as has the World."

Is that true? Is the church still firm in its convictions?

Five hundred years ago there was essentially one church.

And then there were two.

Now there are over thirty three thousand with the number growing rapidly.

The "Big Bang" theory proving itself viable.

Point to one of the churches and tell me it hasn't changed since its beginning. The closest to being unchanged is the Catholic church, or maybe the Seventh Day Adventist or the Moonies.

"My church hasn't changed. It is still the same as it was from the beginning!"

Good for you. And what was your church from the beginning?

Everything looks the same. The building is still the same. The songs may be the same (though I can't tell the new church music from the World's unless I listen closely to the words). Even the message preached may be the same.

The gold plating over the plastic form.

But there has been some fine print added to the bottom of the church Doctrines, that I fear no one notices, which was written by the World.

"Son," a father says to his firstborn, "I have something very important to tell you. It is of vital importance, so listen carefully and do not fail to obey every word."

"Ok, Dad, I'll do whatever you tell me to do. Lay it on me."

"The World out there is a dangerous place. There are many traps and sink holes hidden in places with no other purpose than to snare a young and adventurous person as yourself. Avoid them at all cost. And to help you avoid them, I have made up a list of potential dangers and ways to recognize them. I want you to study them and follow them closely. All you need to know is on this sheet of paper. Memorize it and follow it exactly.
Listen to no one else, and do not seek or believe what any one tells you. All truth is on this sheet of paper. Do you understand?"

"I gotcha' Daddy-o. Whatever you say to do, that I do, 'cause I know you knows the truth and wouldn't steer my wrong."

"Good boy. And as long as you stay on the straight and narrow, you will find a ton of future happiness; but if you stray from that path, you will get the worst thrashing of your life. Do you understand what I'm saying, Son?"

"Every word is stored up here in my noggin, Pops. Don't you fret yourself none."

"Ok, as long as we understand each other. Now I have just one more word for you. Don't tell your mother that I told you so, but from my lips to your ears, I want you to know this. Come close so I can whisper it to you."

"What 'cha got for me, Pops? I'm all ears."

"Well, you know I told you about the blessings of doing what I told you to do?"

"Yep, I followed you close there."

"And I told you about the trashing you would get if you disobeyed?"

"Uh huh. I was shakin' in my boots."

"Well, between you and me, since you are my son, and since I have so much love for you, and since we've had this little talk; you don't have to worry about any punishment."

"You mean I don't have to memorize all this stuff on this here paper? I don't have to read it?"

"I didn't say that, but you get the picture."

"You mean if I go out there and fall in them there quagmires you was warning about I don't have to worry about gettin' a licken' or nothing like that?"

"I didn't say that, but that's pretty well the bottom line."

"You mean you won't nag at me about what I do if I gets into trouble?"

"Oh, I'll nag at you plenty, after all, that's my job. But don't concern yourself too much about it, what I want most for you is your happiness."

"You mean to tell me that no matter what I do, or how much trouble I gets myself into, you will rescue me and give me rewards because I'm your son who you love no matter how bad I get?"

"You learn well, my Son. But I want you to keep in mind what I told you. Keep your nose clean, and don't let me catch you getting off the straight and narrow."

"I'll do my best, Daddy-o. You won't catch me if I can help it."

Does this scenario sound familiar to you?

What do you think the son is going to do? He has been given two messages; one that sounds like it has teeth, and the other toothless and lazy and "loving."

Is permissiveness "loving?" Is the church permissive? Do you believe God is permissive? Was God permissive with the Jews? Was God permissive with the Apostles? With the early Christians?

When I was young, talking in church or not wearing a tie would put you in real danger of Damnation. And smoking was a sure path to smoking forever in the Pit. The bottom line was in big, bold letters at the top of the page.

What is the bottom line of your church Doctrine?

Page 3 References

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS
page 3

REFERENCES

12To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. 13But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. (Isa 28:13)

9Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. 10For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. 11And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: 12And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. 13Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: 14Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. 15Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us? 16Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding? (Isa 29:16)

6But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. 7And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. 8But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. (Isa 64:6)

1The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. 3Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. 4And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. 5Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 6O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. (Jer 18:)

19Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Mat 6:)

11He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. (Mat 13:12)

44Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. (Mat 13:)

1Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Mat 15:3-6)

23Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. (Mat 19:)

9Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Mat 24:)

21His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Mat 25:)

5Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? 6He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. 10For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 11But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. 12And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. (Mark 5:)

14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Mark 5:)

35And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. 36And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, 37Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me. (Mark 9:35)

11Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. (Luke 8:11-13)

33No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light. 34The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. 35Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. 36If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light. (Luke 11:)

12For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say. (Luke 12:)

11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 18:)

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not (John 1:)

5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6)

15If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (John 14:15)

23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. (John 14:23-24)

26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)

9As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. 16Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17These things I command you, that ye love one another. (John 15:9-10)

31Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? 32Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me (John 16:31-33)

36Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 37Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. (John 18:)

15But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. (Acts 9:)

22For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24For we are saved by hope (Rom 8:)

20Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, (Rom 9:)

27And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Rom 8:29)

16For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches (Rom 11:16)

13Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. 14And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. 15Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, 16That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. (Rom 15:13-16)

9But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1Cor 2:)

16What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 17But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1Cor 6:)

18Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. (1Cor 3:)

20But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. (1Cor 15:)

42So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (1Cor 15:49)

6For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (2Cor 4:)

1For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. (2Cor 5:)

9For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. (2Cor 8:)

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. (Gal 5:)

7Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. (Gal 6:)

2For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: (1Thes 4:)

3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (2Thes 2:)

11Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: 12That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2Thes 2:)

13Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 14That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. (2Tim 1:)

19Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. (2Tim 2:)

4But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; (Titus 3:)

10Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. 11Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 12For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Heb 5:)

4For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: 5Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount. (Heb 8:)

1Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3And this will we do, if God permit. 4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 7For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 8But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. (Heb 6:)

17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. 19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (James 2:)

1Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 3Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. (James 5:)

10Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. (James 5:)

3And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

7Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 8Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 9He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. (1John 2:)

15Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1John 2:15)

1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. (1John 4:)

14And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19We love him, because he first loved us. 20If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. (1John 4:)

19We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2Pet 1:)

21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: (1Pet 2:)

3And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. (Rev 14:)

4And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Rev 20:)

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THOUGHTS & COMMENTS

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19In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul. (Psalm 94:19)

JESUS LOVES ME

As a child we sing this little song; "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so."

On the surface it seems simple enough, who couldn't understand what the song is saying?

And who couldn't understand what the Bible is saying?

Me, for one.

It just flashed on me what the Bible is saying when it says that God loves us.

I have had an underlying confusion regarding love; and now I am finding an ever expanding understanding of the word.

Jesus (God) loves me.

Impossible. God can't love me, because I am unlovable.

I'm not putting myself down. I suppose I'm about as lovable as most other people (if that is saying anything in particular). It's just that this old, ugly, decaying body is becoming less and less useful and desirable to me, or to anyone else.

In my 30's and 40's I was vital and energetic; and in my own estimation, not an unappealing man.

Time has changed all that.

In my childhood and my 20's I saw myself as unlovable and worthless. My parents had a hand in teaching me that it was so.

My story is not mine alone. I have heard many people tell nearly the same with one variation or another.

And those of us with such a story would likely say: "How can Jesus, or anyone love me?"

We don't love ourself.

We look at others and say; "If only I had his looks, then I would be lovable. If only I had her talent, then people could love me. If only I had his personality, then the world would love me and I could love myself. If only I could pray like the Pastor and knew the Bible like he does, then God could love me."

That's our view. But it isn't God's view.

If we had all the Bible knowledge, all the money, all the talent, and all the looks - we would be appealing in the eyes of the world, but not in God's.

Looks fade, money vanishes, skills lay to the wayside, knowledge disappears with disuse.

What we find appealing, God sees as rubbish. Our best efforts are as "filthy rags." (Isa 64:6)

And yet we make strong efforts to try and appear lovable to others, our self, and to God.

Nothing we do will satisfy others, except for a moment or two. Nothing we do will make us feel lovable, because we know it is a facade. Nothing we can do will make God love us, because we are unlovable.

The Hebrew spies sent into Canaan reported that the people in the land were unbeatable and in their eyes they were as grasshoppers (Goliath is an example at 9 feet tall). That's our perspective. And we judge everything by our perspective, and think God does the same.

In God's eyes the Giants of the Land are but a speck of dust.

When we were five years old, our older brother, who was eight years old, was a big man, strong and fearsome. While to his twelve year old sister he was but a wimpy child. And the twelve year old to her father....?

You get the picture. No matter where you stand, there is someone already standing where you want to be.

We will always be worthless in our own eyes.

And that is just what God wants. Consider the Rich Man and the Pharisees. They had attained a position in their own eyes that was high above the masses. They were content with themselves and knew they were on the right track. (Luke 18:12)

Jesus said they were not only worthless, but were going the wrong way.

Rather than listen to hear if Jesus, who could obviously do the impossible and had something they did not have (even if they didn't believe He was from Heaven), had something of value to say, they tried to kill the source of their frustration.

Jesus said that only the worthless were worthwhile.

Why?

What is there about a ragged old beggar, or a shifty-eyed thief that makes him have more value than a rich, ultra clean religious zealot?

Obviously it was not the chunk of clay we call a body that made the difference. Nor could it have been their position in the community, because they had none, and if they had, then they would have been the ones cast down in Jesus' eyes.

Something is missing. Something that we just accept as true because the Bible seems to tell us so is standing in the way of our understanding what God loves about us, the Great Unwashed.

"For God so loved the World."

Why?

What about the World does God love?

Is it me?

Of course not. I'm just a ball of clay rolling around this planet trying to get bigger. And the bigger I get in my own eyes, the smaller I am in God's eyes.

Is it the World itself that God loves?

I have no doubt but that He does. He put a lot of effort into His creation. I know the more I work on a project, the more I care for it. And if I happen to shed some blood because of it...?

But even with all the effort God has put forth in making this world, it is still just a table on which to place His main project.

Is that project He is working on these vessels of clay we try so hard to perfect, only to have it wither and die before our very eyes?

I doubt it. Whatever God's primary purpose in Creation is, He would want us to work diligently at it as well. If it were our bodies, or any aspect of ourselves, that God is interested in, He would want us to take an interest in it also.

God obviously is not interested in our bodies, or our skills, or our "wealth," or our adoration. High praise from the lowly and the unlearned means nothing. And God says he hates our sacrifices, and will not hear our prayers (Prov 21.27; 28:9; Isaiah 1:13)

What is it that God wants us to concentrate on?

The Old Testament is a picture and a portrayal of the New Testament. That is, it is a foreshadowing, explanation, and a prophesy of what was to come. And what was to come was Jesus.

The New Testament is centered around, and filled with almost nothing but Jesus. And those parts that are not about Jesus is telling us we are to be like Jesus, and how we are to accomplish this goal.

How we are to be like Jesus is through the Holy Ghost. Without the Holy Ghost we can neither understand the Scriptures that tell us what God wants us to know, nor can we fulfill that which God has in mind for us. (Luke 12:12; John 14:26; Rom 15:13-16; 1Cor 2:13; 6:19: 2Tim 1:14; Titus 3:5; Heb 6:4; 2Pet 1:21).

Jesus is the example; the Holy Spirit is the means.

And Love is the ultimate goal.

LOVE?

We talk about love all the time. And the Bible is filled with references to love. But just what is love?

To some love is sex. And that is as far as they can see. In the Bible sex is to be between a married couple, and to be a shared experience, that is, it is not just to satisfy oneself, but also (and foremost) one's partner.

That is not the kind of "love" we are looking for.

The Epistles of John explain what love is (or more pointedly, what love is not.) So by reading John, we know that love is not what we do. What we do might be an indication of that which we love; that is, what we spend our time and effort and resources on is likely to be that which we love.

But not necessarily.

Some people spend a great deal of time at their job, but they hate their job. They may perhaps love the money they make, or believe they will make if they keep at the job. Yet they may not ever see the money, just let it be a number that grows on a bank statement, that will eventually end up in the hands of the government, or a squandering child.

Some people may spend most of their time at their hobby. And they may actually love their hobby. But then again it might be because they are bored and have nothing better to do.

Almost everybody spends a great deal on themself; primping, spending money on clothing and cars, attracting attention, and anything else they can think of to glorify themself.

But is that love? In the article above it should be clear that those who spend the most time on themselves, usually think the least about their own self worth.

Some people spend a great deal of time and effort on the poor, or the abused, or the children, or the starving, or as missionaries into dangerous places. These would appear to be those who know the most about love. And, I suppose that is true. I can't say.

People used to ask me: "What do you love?" or "Who do you love?" and other such questions. My reply has been; "I don't even know what love is."

I was not referring to some intellectual understanding of love. Nor was I talking about some feeling of love that we experience for someone close to us. I knew what they are.

But I knew there was something missing. I knew that I was missing something in my nature.
I assumed it was because of the lack of love I felt for myself, and because of the lack of love I received from others. I figured that since I had no example to follow, nor a feeling of being lovable; that I had not learned what love was about.

And I assumed that other people, that is normal people (in other words, everybody in the world but me) had learned about love.

I was wrong.

Nobody knows what love is. Everybody thinks they know what love is, and on this earthly plane they may be dead-on correct (surely farther along than I had, or would have been).

But this is not the love that the Bible speaks of. The love God wants us to have is not something that Man is capable of. No matter how hard we try to generate love, we can not do it. John makes this clear, although without the love he speaks of, his explanation cannot be comprehended.

"Those who have will receive more; and those who have not will lose even that which he has." (Mat 13:12)

One of Man's biggest problems is he thinks he has it all. He thinks he knows it all. That anything he does not have, or does not do, or does not know is of no value and not worth having. This attitude keeps us from growing, or searching for the source of that which we need to become complete (1Cor 3:18) (John 14:15; 23:24; 15:9-10; Rom 8:29; 1Cor 15:49; Gal 5:22; 1John 2:5; 15-17).

God.

"God is Love" (1John 4:7,8,16).

We are not love, nor are we capable of love.

"Let us make man in our image." (Gen 1:26)

Man is not complete. We think we are. And since we think we are already in God's Image, we read everything about Man accordingly.

But that is like reading the instructions for a Mixmaster, when you are trying to repair a Television set.

We are in the process of becoming like God. We are but a vessel, a pot into which God can place Himself in order to make us like Himself.

This is where we go wrong, and lose the message of God toward us.

Man thinks he is complete. And since he considers himself complete, he looks to himself for guidance and perfection.

The ultimate of such an attitude is Humanism. But the rest of us, especially the church, is not far behind the Humanists, and is catching up by the hour.

If we consider ourself as a full vessel, ready to be carried up out of the Well of Learning; then we will not receive any more of that which is needed to complete us.

And such is the state of the church today. We think because we are Christians that we have it all, and that we are in God's perfect will and purpose.

14And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17Because 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: 18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Rev 3:)

Of course we assume that Jesus is talking to someone else, not to us. After all, we carry a badge that says we are Christians, therefore we are complete in Christ. We are an Overcomer. We are covered by the Blood. We are it in God's eyes. We are King's sons and daughters.

In other words; we are Rich!

And what did Jesus have to say about those who are rich? Something about the eye of a needle? (Mat 19:24)

A full pot is worthless to God.

If someone gave you a gift of the perfect cooking vessel, but it was filled with dirt and slime, would you accept it? Maybe, if you felt you could wash it out and sterilize it.

But what if the person who gave it to you said that the only way you can have it is if you do not dump it out or cleanse it? What if they said you could cover the mess with a blanket of pure white if you want, but leave the crude in it. What would you do with that pot?

Such a pot is what we are offering to Jesus. And the churches are telling us that this is what Jesus wants.

The Bible is filled with Scripture saying just the opposite; but we are so content with ourself that we will not listen to what we do not want to hear.

We are too rich for that.

God is love.

God is looking for vessels in which to place His love.

But the vessel must be perfect (finished) before He will do so. (Ex 39:32; 40:33-38; 2Chron 5:1, 13-14; 7:1-2; Luke 13:32; 1John 4:12; Mat 5:48; 2Cor 12:9).

There has been only one Vessel in all of creation that has proven Himself worthy to receive the Love of God. One Vessel that God could say: "This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Rom 11:16; 8:23; 1Cor 15:23; Rev 14:4)

If Jesus had one single flaw, He could have not been used, and we would all die in our sins.

And Satan, along with his angels (who are still at work today, even active in the church) tried hard to find a flaw in Jesus into which they could insert a wedge and split it open.

Fortunately Jesus was poor; and not rich with flaws as the rest of us are (2Cor 8:9).

The World is the table upon which God is molding His project.

Man, as a vessel, is the container for His project.

If the vessel (clay) is pliable, then it is usable. If it is ridged and resistant (rich in impurities and ego) then it must be cast out as so much dust. (Isa 29:16; Jer 18:4-6; Rom 9:21)

Into the vessel God plants that which is His Project; the part of His creation that He loves; the part of His creation that is Love. (1John 4:16)

Himself.

HEAVENLY CITIZENSHIP

We have heard it said that we are just sojourners on this earth, that we are foreigners here, waiting to be taken home.

Of course we know that such a reference is to those who are truly in the Lord, and not those of the World.

Others of the World also believe they are passing through, and will do so over and over until they reach Perfection.

We know otherwise; that is, that there is but one shot at Perfection.

It is true that we are just passing through - in a sense.

It is not as if, like reincarnation teaches, we have a pre-existing spirit that sits restlessly on this earth.

We start and finish here on earth; In this earth (body).

We walk around in a tent, an old rag that is filthy and falling apart.

Those who have received the Holy Spirit have become a Citizen of Heaven living within this old rag, seeking to cleanse the contents of it in order to make it acceptable to enter its final destination.

But the rag, that is the tent (body) will never be adequate for Heaven. It is the Spirit which God has placed in us that is growing, maturing and perfecting us in readiness for Heaven that is important (John 3:6; 1Cor 15:50).

Yet we, supposedly beyond carnality, continue to beautify and patch this old tent. We worry and fret over a rag that will eventually wither away no matter how much time and effort we spend on it. We live in this world, not as voyagers and emissaries (missionaries), but as egotistic royalty expecting the world to treat us accordingly. We act as if we have a special pipeline to Santa Clause that the World does not have, and we are upset when Santa doesn't jump when we holler.

Just like spoiled brats.

Jesus said we should avoid and disdain the Worldly. He said we should be striving for the Spiritual and laying up Spiritual treasures in Heaven (our real home) rather than looking for value in this worthless sod. (Mat 6:20; 13:44; 19:23; Acts 9:15; 2Cor 4:7; 1Thes 4:4; 2Tim 2:21; James 5:3)

Jesus said that those who are His disciples should be servants to all, wash the feet of others - and not expect others to bow down and wash our feet (Mark 9:35).

Jesus gave up all that He had (and was) in order to give to others (us).

He expects us to do the same (1Pet 2:21).

Jesus is a Citizen of Heaven. He has set the example of what a Citizen of Heaven is like.

If a Citizen of Heaven is like Jesus. If a Citizen of Heaven is a servant. If a Citizen of Heaven is filled with, and led by the Holy Ghost. If a Citizen of Heaven is a Missionary, as Jesus and the Apostles were Missionaries. If a Citizen of Heaven disregards this old rag we wear and is truly anxious to be recalled from the Mission Field.... (John 18:37; 1:7; 2Cor 5:6-8: Rev 1:5; 20:4)

Do you qualify as a Citizen of Heaven?

TURN AROUND [ The Ragged Edge ]

I lived my life on the edge. I don't mean that as it is commonly expressed. My life was lived standing on the edge of a great, dark pit, trying to keep from falling in.

One day I cried out to God; "Why! Why is life like this? Why do you keep me here in this fearful position? Why don't you do something about this?"

And God said to me: "Turn around."

I did. I turned around.

And then I saw the bright, clear sky that God intended for me. I saw His Purpose for Mankind.
I saw God instead of my own corrupt self.

If you are experiencing worry, or fear, or pain - turn around. You may be facing the wrong direction.

LINE UPON LINE

Once I drove down a short street that dead-ended at the beach. At the end of the street, and on either side were official signs saying; No Parking, and No "U" Turns, and No Backing Out.

No matter what I did, even if I did nothing, I would be breaking the law.

Doctrine is much the same way. But rather than a lovely beach which to view at the end of the road, it is blind alleys and dark secrets that we encounter.

The Bible tells us that Scripture is like a lamp unto our feet. It is not a huge spot light showing us the way to go for miles up the road. It is but a step by step process. And where you stop, that is all you will see.

We are to be a lamp, a small flame on a hill. Our light is to be seen by many who are near to us, but we are not to try and outshine Jesus who is Light Itself, and the source of our tiny light. (Luke 11:36; John 1:1-3)

Scripture is learned "Line upon line and precept upon precept." If you do not understand the first line, then the lines that follow will either be unclear, or misinterpreted. (Isa 28:13; Mat 15:3-6).

There are some groups that take a few lines and build a Doctrine and a wall around them. And if they cannot easily pull the verses from the Bible, they either rewrite the Bible, or write other books that "supercede" or "explain" the Bible ("What God really meant to say was....").

The extreme of these groups we call "Cults."

However the cults are not the only ones who run up blind alleys and believe they are at the end of Understanding. There is another very large group that does the same thing, though to a lesser degree (in varying degrees) which we call "Denominations."

If that were not so, and if Denominational Doctrines were correct then there would be but one Denomination, would there not?

"Precept upon precept." Dead-ends are very common in Doctrines. And to explain away the reason for the dead ends, the Denominations utilize the same explanation as do the cults. They just say that it is a "Mystery" we are not to understand yet.

But there is a more common method of dealing with these "Mysteries" used by both cults and Denominations, called "Fables" (though you would never hear them call it that) (2Tim 4:4).

Fables are something that appeal to our emotions instead of our intellect. That is why we tell children Fables instead of Fact. Fables are used to explain the unexplainable while still keeping the attention of the hearer.

Schools now do this by means of such Fables as Evolution, Humanism, and Sex-Ed.

The World explains away God by saying that the entire Bible, or at least huge chunks of it, is one big Fable.

Many churches do much the same by saying that portions of the Bible, especially the Old Testament, is but a parable and is only there to demonstrate a point (and more often than not they cannot tell you what the point of the Fable is).

This technique is especially popular when trying to explain Jonah, Job, Samson, Creation, and the miracles of Moses.

I would say that anyone who tries to explain away any portion of the Bible is putting himself in the place of God, and I would be very careful not to believe anything that person says. In fact, I believe I would keep a great distance from that fellow for fear of suffering his consequences when his time comes.

There are other Theologians and Commentators who are earnestly trying to give others an honest explanation of God's Word. But in all too many fields they fall into the same trap as the cults. All too often they run into a situation where the light has ended, and instead of turning around to look elsewhere, they search for bits and pieces of scripture with which to prove the direction they have taken.

Like a man lost on the road who refuses to admit that he may be wrong, yet his ego will not let him ask for directions or check a map.

Scripture does not conflict. And if a Scripture is not clear, do like Jesus and the Apostles did - look for types and shadows and prophesies in the Old Testament.

Line upon Line, Precept upon Precept.

Let the Holy Spirit guide you without running ahead of Him. Doing otherwise can only lead to trouble.

THE GI'ME's

One of the first things a mother has to break a child of is the "Gi'me's" (Give me).

Somehow that sweet little baby laying in a crib grows from "Goo goo," then "Momma," to a "Gi'me" monster. From that point on it's "I want," and "Mine," and "Me first!"

A parent who does not break that toddler of such an attitude real quick is setting both the child, and themself up for a lifetime of heartache and trouble.

1The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. (Prov 10:1)

17Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul. (Prov 29:17)

6Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (Prov 22:6)

24He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. (Prov 13:24)

18Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. (Prov 19:18)

A lifetime ago I was a youth leader. One of the most frustrating aspects of dealing with the children was their lack of consideration.

Those of us (the adults) who worked to set up an activity for the kids, often at our own expense, would stand back and let the kids enjoy themselves. It rarely worked out as smoothly as we had hoped. More likely than not we would have to spend time breaking up arguments and settling quarrels.

This was never more evident than at mealtimes. We, the adults, would set a table for the kids, only to have them argue and push to see who could get the most, and to get theirs first.

They talk about the "Me Generation." There is a lot of truth to that. However, I wonder if there was ever a time when it was otherwise. I see that same attitude all through the Bible, and history books; and, isn't that the attitude that got Adam and Eve kicked out of the Garden?

I found a cure for the problem, at least where the dinner table is concerned. And it is a Biblical Principal, though I am certain that I have misapplied it.

35And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. (Mark 9:)

16So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. (Mat 20:)

Once the kids had fought and elbowed one another in order to get to the front of the line; I reversed the line. In other words, the harder a kid worked to bully himself to the front, the farther behind he ended up.

And they never knew when I would do this (usually when they showed such inconsideration).

I rewarded the most considerate with the most authority. This often meant the youngest would "rule" over the older, until the older ones caught on to the fact that age and size meant nothing in that club.

You would be amazed at what a change it made. The "Gi'me's" disappeared, and consideration reigned.

I wonder if Jesus had this in mind at all when He said "The first shall be last, and the last, first"?

Paul had to deal with the problem of babies in the church. His reference to babies were those who required milk instead of the Banquet of information God has provided for the mature. Paul was referring to those old timers in the Faith that were not moving on, but continued in the fundamentals of Christianity.

Jesus had to deal with babies as well. The babies Jesus dealt with did not continue to drink milk. No indeed. These babies considered themselves far beyond the bottle, and to prove it, they polluted their milk until it was undrinkable, then they tried to force it down everyone's throat. Jesus called this polluted drink "Traditions."

The church of today has Traditions as did the "Church" of Jesus' time. And the church also has milk to serve, called Fundamentals, as did the Church of Paul's time.

Milk and Traditions are needed in the Church as they serve an important function; especially for "Babes" in Christ. It's when Milk is all that's served in the church; and when Fundamental Doctrines (milk) and Traditions are forced down the throat of those maturing Christians who wish to grow in the Lord that the trouble arises.

The Pharisees and the Elders would rather have killed those who wanted to grow than to look at themselves for possible shortcomings.

The church today is much the same; the result of which is polluted water replacing even the Milk of the Word.

The "Gi'me's," instead of being c-ondemned by the church, is becoming more and more encouraged by the church, and even exemplified by the church.

Before our eyes strong, moral churches are beginning to flounder in the nets of Worldly Doctrine. The clergy, who sets the Doctrine and the example for the churches are being unveiled as unconverted sinners, and even flaunting the fact in some cases. And the congregation of these churches herald and applaud the misbehavior of their clergy.

"But that's them, it's not us!"

Not yet.

Nor was it them, or even in the realm of possibility for them just a very short time ago.

Apostasy will abound in the End Times. We know that. What we don't know is that we are the Apostate Church! (2Thes 2:3)

"When the going gets tough, the Tough get going."

The World is taking over the church; and the church is just sitting back thinking that it doesn't effect them.

And, in fact it doesn't effect them. They are part of the World, but they have been told by the churches that they are better than the World merely because of a name tag they have been given.

If a flood was coming my way, and the World was frantically running about trying to save themselves, but I sat peacefully by waiting for a helicopter to rescue me because I am a Christian; I deceive myself.

For if I am not, from my heart, actively and frantically trying to rescue all the "lost souls" standing before the flood, then the helicopter I am waiting for is not coming for me. The helicopter will be for those who have the Spirit of God within them. And those with the Spirit will be about their Father's business - which is Rescuing lost souls, as did Jesus and the Apostles.

"Be not deceived, God is not mocked." (Gal 6:7)

When the arrows get bigger, when the battle grows hotter; our armor must become stronger and our fight more intense.

Is the church preparing strong warriors for battle? Or is it encouraging couch potatoes?

Where is the church during the Tribulation?

The church is either under the sofa hiding from the Tribulation; or it is on the sofa eating chips watching it on TV. (Mat 15:6; 24:12; Mark 7:5-13; Gal 6:7; 2Thes 2:3; Heb 5:12-13)

A MINISTER'S RESPONSIBILITY

"Look, Pa, Junior just took his first baby steps!"

"Good! Give him the keys to the car, show him where the pots and pans are so he can fix his own breakfast, and you 'n me will go out and get him a job right quick."

In my experience the church's efforts have been to get people into the doors of the church. I can't think of a time when this hasn't been so (in my lifetime).

But it appears to me that they are now satisfied if they get the people into their parking lot.

In fact, with television and the computer, many of the churches are content to get people in front of the screen, just as long as they remember to send in their tithes and offerings (Penthouses and Mercedes don't come free you know).

This is not true of every church, of course. Most, to one degree or another, try to get their congregation as far as the Alter of Incense, that is, prayer. What they have the people pray for is plenty of money in order to have the means so they can send in their tithes and offerings.

And there are even churches who try to get people to their knees at the foot of their podium. I think that is where they keep their tithes and offerings basket.

Occasionally, not often mind you, I have even heard Pastors try to get people to come to the foot of the Alter of Sacrifice. It's risky for a church to advocate such a thing because that does not appeal to the soul of man. And if the soul of a man is offended, he is likely to leave the church, and take his wallet with him.

What I rarely (if ever) hear is a call for converts to empty themselves (instead of their wallets) and crawl humbly up on the Alter of Sacrifice. And those times I do hear such a thing, it is accompanied by a ticket that frees them from actually having to do so (Grace covers it all).

I believe, and it is my effort, that our Lord wants, and demands that His disciples not only crawl on the Alter of Sacrifice, but lay prostrate, and remain there until taken home.

I believe anything short of this is failure, and is not acceptable to God.

I believe that this is precisely what Jesus exemplified, and was again demonstrated by the Apostles and all the early Christians.

And I believe, that to believe otherwise is to cut the heart out of the Gospels, mangling the Scriptures and nullifying the very work of our Lord.

This I believe; my experience is why I believe it, and the following is a brief of where God has said it:

34And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. (Mark 8:34)

26If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? (Luke 14:)

1Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? (1John 5:)

9I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. 10Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. (Rev 2:)

10Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 12Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 13He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Rev 3:)

7He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Rev 21:)

[ Grace Alone blends comfortably with Endurance Scripture, but Endurance Scriptures do not meld with Grace Alone.]

Tumbleweed