Wednesday, August 31, 2011

THINK ON THESE THINGS - WEDNESDAY

THE ORG. CHART FROM HELL!

The late Pastor E.V. Hill used to say “if the devil ain’t bothering you, you ain’t bothering him!”
OUR VERSE TODAY:
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places…..Ephesians 6:12 KJV.


The devil is real, as we said, but he is also NOT Omnipresent like God! He wanted to be and this is how he fell, from the head angel to the pit of hell.  Therefore, because he is not God, he cannot be everywhere. Therefore, after 6000 years of trouble making, he has used the 1/3 of the angels who sided with him against Holy God to enlarge a demonic structure, on earth, which boggles the mind.

We are warned about this in the Bible. Yet the weak modern church plays ostrich! Tomorrow, I will talk about the WRESTLING against this Hierarchy from Hell. For now, here is IN ORDER, what God warns us about:

- Principalities (These are the main "hell's angels" The original word is "ARCHE" where we get the word arch and which also means "beginning". These demons were the arch enemies of the Living God, from the Beginning!!! God is telling us where these things came from...do not despise Truth!)

- Powers (now this is the same word for "authority" used in John 1:12 where God says Jesus delegated some of His Authority to "those whom He called as sons". Just as our Savior Christ the King authorized us to do His work.....the ANTICHRIST has delegated his evil deeds to his 2nd in command!)

- Rulers (the original word is "kosmokrator" ...referring to those who influence and control the lives of those who are completely walking in the flesh and this world. This applies not just to those who influence evil men like Hitler and Gaddafi, but anyone who breaks up marriages, leads children astray or destroys lives down the street!)

- Darkness of this World (...or "skotos" this "aion". This refers to the physical and moral degeneration of not just this age but the future slide into Sodom and Gomorrah of all mankind, before God puts an end to this nonsense for Good!!)

- Spiritual Wickedness (these words are derived from "pneuma" or 'spirit' and "poneria". It connotes a spiritual flood of evil, so vile and stomach-churning, it will cause literal pain and harm to those who are its victims!! Still believe there is no devil??!!)

- In High Places (or "epouraniois" meaning...all of the above combined have an impact which was intended by its ruler, who inhabits a sphere not of this world).

If we had supernatural eyes, we would be able to see all of this demonic activity! But if you're walking in the Light of Christ, you can also be like Elisha, who asked God to show Israel's enemies, what they really faced....and God showed them CHARIOTS OF FIRE!

So while we are up against an organizational structure of satanic evil, GREATER IS HE WHO IS IN US, THAN HE WHO IS IN THE WORLD!! AMEN!!

TOMORROW - THE WRESTLING FEDERATION & HOW TO WIN THE ROYAL RUMBLE

Image by Google Images
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Tuesday, August 30, 2011

THINK ON THESE THINGS - TUESDAY

SPIRITUAL WARFARE 
PART 1: WE ARE IN A WAR

When God saved us and called us to Salvation, He did not call us to a picanick (as Yogi Bear would say) . He called us to a fight! Now many Christians refuse to believe that as modern theology teaches "Jesus loves you, man...do what you want, live how you want...it's okay, you're saved!!!"


Or how about this one ...and this is both disturbing and unbiblical ..."It's your fault you're sick or got a terminal disease...YOU MUST HAVE SINNED"!...God came down hard on Job and his friends in Job 42 for speaking this same error against Him!


Then we have our favorite - the American Televangelist who says "sow a seed..."send in your best donation now....and God will pay your bills, you will have a nice house, 2 Rolex watches etc..


These two strains of "theology" are known as the Health and Wealth or Prosperity Gospel and they will get you in trouble! Big time! None of this is biblical.
What is Biblical are suffering and trials and tribulation and persecution. Christians are not YET treated here as they are in moslem countries or increasingly, in Western Europe leading Americans to a false sense of comfort which will not serve us well when the Tribulation comes.

Due to the incorrect theology of the “Pre-trib” rapture which was started in the early 18oo’s by a Margaret MacDonald’s dream, Christians here are of the notion that Jesus will rapture us out of here real soon, so everything will be nice, spice and apple pie. Nothing could be further from the truth. This false sense of security will land a lot of people in hell and hold leaders major seminaries from Dallas Theological to Moody Bible Institute to account, for preaching the error of pre-tribulation rapture.


This ease and comfort and false security have caused almost the entire body, minus the remnant, to let their guard down and let the devil in. Because spiritual warfare and demonic attacks are not nice sounding sermons, they don’t preach it in church, lest some people take their money and walk out the door.


But it is real…and so is judgment. In these last days, demonic activity and spiritual warfare have been stepped up. Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV) says here: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places”.


This is a demonic structure which rules the world, for this current age.




TOMORROW – PART 2: THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART FROM HELL.



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YOU TUBE TUESDAY!


Monday, August 29, 2011

THINK ON THESE THINGS - MONDAY

FIXING UP THE OLD SHACK!
GUEST DEVOTIONAL BY LYNN MOSHER

There once was a man who bought a lush piece of property with an old shack on it. He decided to renovate it and worked hard to fix it up, spending a lot of money in the process.


When he was almost finished, a windstorm came and blew most of it down. When the man thought he would rebuild it one more time, he sent for the inspector to check out the remains of the house.

The inspector said, “You should have called me to look at this before you wasted your time, effort, and money fixing up this old shack. I would have told you that it wasn’t worth the effort. You should have torn it down and started a new structure on a sure foundation. I wouldn’t try rebuilding this again.”

How well built is the dwelling place we give our Beloved Bridegroom? Is it built on Him, as our sure Rock-foundation? Does it come crashing down in a storm of affliction?


Paul said, “When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!” (2 Cor. 5:17 TLB) So, if the old dwelling place of our hearts is cleansed and created anew, do we keep it that way, or do we allow the winds of worry or the storms of strife to revert it back to the same ol’ rickety shack?


Here’s what I asked the Lord...

~Lord, my heart is Your home. Let’s build it together and keep it clean together.

* Clean out the closet of my hidden thoughts and throw away the trash of wrong attitudes.


* Dust behind the doors where preconceived ideas accumulate like cobwebs.


* Sweep out the corners of my heart where the soil of unwillingness piles up.


* Dig into those deep crevices of my soul where stubbornness plants its roots.


* Take down from the shelves of my mind all the negative thoughts I cling to and replace them with all Your promises that they may be readily available whenever I need them.


* Scrub down the walls littered with the graffiti of my words that have blemished Your Spirit and Your Word.


* Repair the cracks in the walls so that the enemy cannot ooze in with his unwanted ideas.


* Fix the holes in the roof where the rains of difficulties leak in and threaten to dampen my soul-rest.


* Seal up the broken windows where the winds of discontent blow in so easily.


* Clean out the soot of wrong burning desires that have blackened my chimney and allow the vapors of praise to rise heavenward.


* Rekindle the embers of my heart’s passion that have grown cold.


* Use my tears to mop the floor of my soul where it has been trampled upon with the muddy feet of those who would rather walk over me than to see the hurt and pain within me.


* Shine Your light into the dark cellar of my emotions so nothing can remain hidden from Your forgiveness.


* Help me erect that exterior that holds all else in place, as I use my obedience to cement Your bricks of truth in place. May I not leave them lying useless on the ground.


* Help me build on the one sure Foundation that is unshakable and can withstand all storms and disasters.

Lord, may my heart always be a temple in which You may reside and always feel proud to bring others to visit. May it be a monument to Your grace, Your forgiveness, and Your love.~~


What kind of home are you building for your precious Lord? Do you schedule regular maintenance projects? Do you allow the Master Craftsman to construct according to His divine plan?


“Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted.” (Ps. 127:1 NLT)

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Sunday, August 28, 2011

THINK ON THESE THINGS - SUNDAY MESSAGE

PART 4 - GLORY TO HIS NAME!


The chief end of man is to Glorify our Great God and enjoy Him forever! This is why He created those whom He has called by His Own Name. He knew us before the Foundation of the Earth and before time, as we know it, began. 


1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us to glorify Him (His Name) in all we do. 
This is why we say thanks before we eat and why we should thank Him when we get to our destinations safely, without accident or incident. 
This is why we acknowledge His Hands in the jobs we have and the paychecks we earn. 
This is why we should never disparage the homes we live in or the spouses He gave us. 
This is why we should never let our kids leave our homes without bringing them up in the Ways of the Lord. This is why we should be mindful of Him AT ALL TIMES, loving, praising and worshipping - never wanting to disappoint Him by the sinful things mankind is capable of!


The Name of the Lord is greatly to be praised!
The Name of the Lord is a strong tower - many run to it to be saved!
The Name of the Lord is Life
The Name of the Lord is a living water in the dry and thirsty land.


 
Jesus told the woman at the well in John 4:23 that the time is coming (and is now here) when Father God, Abba our Daddy, is looking for true worshippers - who will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth

In Spirit - meaning under the Power of the indwelling Spirit of God. He is only given to the redeemed. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!


In Truth- meaning under the Power of the infallible Word of God - the Bible. Though many disparage it - let it never be said of YOU that you blasphemed. Worship Him...WORSHIP HIM!! WORSHIP AND BOW DOWN!!



GLORIFY HIS NAME THUS, BY:


1. Acknowledging WHO He is! PRAY PSALM 95 VERSES 1-7
2. Appreciate WHO He is! While praying those verses, be in awe at His Power!
3. Adore His Majesty, Love and compassion! If He gave us justice, we would never survive but because He loved us so much, He sent Jesus, we must adore Him!
4. Affection - love Him! Just love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your might! Jesus' yoke was really easy. Unlike other religions - which are ALL FALSE  and EVIL and burdensome, Jesus gave us only two commandments! This one and love your neighbor as yourself! PRAY PSALM 29


If you do these four things daily...in any order....but JUST DO THEM, wherever you are...no matter what you're doing, in the silence of your heart and the company of others - He will be faithful and true to you! The more you love Him, glorify Him and surrender to the promptings and guiding of Holy Spirit - your best friend until we see Jesus face to Face....the more He will reveal and reveal and never conceal the Secret and great things of God to you!

I love the Lord....I can go on forever and write about His Glory and will one day...but for now, this brief exhortation is a full exercise in itself. Never leave it. Search me oh Lord and know my heart ....and lead me to Your Righteousness. Remove the dross from my life, oh Father...cleanse me this day, draw me close to you, never let me go - You are all I need. You are all I ever wanted..but didn't know it! 


Just thank you Lord! Thank you for saving me, loving me, pulling me out of the pit, freeing me from Egypt and for showing me I can keep Egypt out of me, if I become a true worshipper...AND can say: GLORY TO HIS NAME!!!

In the Name of Jesus, amen!


(Image by Bing Images)

Saturday, August 27, 2011

THINK ON THESE THINGS - SATURDAY

PART 3 - PRAY THE NAME

The dictionary definition of  "IN THE NAME OF" conveys authority....in both the secular AND religious sense. In the book of John 16:23, Jesus said whatever we ask our Father in Heaven, IN HIS (Jesus') Name, Abba Father will give it to us!

So when we pray in His Name, we are exercising the Authority give us in John 1:12 , where the great Apostle John wrote "but to all who received Him, believed in His  Name, He gave the right to become children of God"

The word "right" here is "exousia" or Kingdom Authority!


We have therefore established THE RIGHT we have pray in the Name of Jesus. Many have fought for that privilege and in fact, this has become a major point of debate in all societies now. The dying world fears the Name of Jesus so much, they have been banning even Christian Chaplains from so doing! Is this happening in Communist China? NO! The United States Department of Defense, which is under liberal command and control, for years now, has seen a rush to retire from many Chaplains who will not put up with the censorship, which many US Military personnel are dying for!


Did you know you can use the RIGHT to pray in the Name of Jesus, to actually PRAY His Name as well!! Yes! In the final chapter of my new book DANGER ZONE I provide a list of 177 actual names, from the Bible, of the Lord Jesus....and then briefly show how we can pray those names to have a mrore fruitful prayer life. This kind of praying also deepens the relationship with the One we love - the Messiah! AMEN!


One example is "The Radiance of His Glory" (from Hebrews 1:3)   One can take this short phrase and just Praise and Worship Jesus by magnifying Him through the brilliance of His Face....how He shines like the bright and morning star...brighter than the sun. We lift Him up and then praise His Glory which is seen in all creation and throughout the entire earth! You can find many psalms which do just that! Therefore, choose one...like Psalm 24....and pray EVERY verse like you mean it and thank Him for the Radiance of His Glory!

This is how we can then get up on Sunday morning, after praying the Name of Jesus through the Radiance of His Glory, and then sing "Oh, how I love Jesus"!!! AMEN!



(Courtesy Image from Google images / American Bible Society)
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Friday, August 26, 2011

THINK ON THESE THINGS - FRIDAY

The 24 Elders bowing down before the NAME - JESUS!
PART 2 - FEAR THE NAME!


Fear has been described as the absence of Faith...and you can also add absence of courage and hope to this particular definition.  This is the natural kind of Fear. It is completely within the bounds of reason for a human to fear the unknown.. However many today suffer from a lack of Fear of the Living God! We seem to fear everything and everybody else but Him!


It comes from incorrect preaching and teaching in churches, where we're ONLY told "Jesus loves you, man" or "God's not mad at you...He loves you" etc etc..  FIRST OF ALL - THIS IS ALL TRUE! Jesus DOES love us and more - HE DIED FOR US! BUT, God is completely mad at sin! We are NOT told that part of the story!


He may not be mad at us enough to zap us now, as we sin right in front of Him....like those "carnal christians". However, God is absolutely for His Holiness and against anything which contradicts it.


There are 27 specific verses which say "FEAR GOD" in the Bible. These are specific commands.  The believer, such as you and I, MUST FEAR THE LORD and THE NAME OF THE LORD. It is not the Fear which those who are perishing unto perdition will have. Our Fear of the Name is Reverence, Respect and Revealing His Royal Presence.


Romans 8:38-39 says nothing can separate us from the Love of God. If you have trusted Christ and accepted Him as Lord and Savior, you have nothing to fear on Judgment Day. Just respect and revere His Name daily as you go about your duties and daily life.  What the world should worry about is the Lord Jesus, Who Peter said, when He died, went down into the place of the dead - kicked the gates of death down - and told those quaking in their booths down in the Pit, what the Victory on the Cross really meant! Read 1 Peter 3:18-20.


The bottom line is this - the Name of the Lord is greatly to be praised....however, it is greatly to be Feared too! Demons quake at the Sound of His Voice. They know Him well because these same demons were once Angels in heaven, before Lucifer (their boss) thought He was bigger than God!


This verse is prophetic about what the Fear of the Name of the Lord, on that Glorious (and Scary) Day of Judgment is going to happen - Philippians 2:10 NASB 'so that at the Name of Jesus, EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in Heaven and on earth and on the earth and under the earth.'


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Thursday, August 25, 2011

THINK ON THESE THINGS - THURSDAY

WHAT'S IN A NAME,  PART 1


William Shakespeare wrote "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by another name, would smell as sweet!" (from Romeo and Juliet).

Webster's dictionary says that a name is "a word or phrase that constitutes the distinctive designation of a person or thing" or "a word or symbol used in logic to designate an entity".

If a cop tells you "Stop IN THE NAME OF the Law". You stop because there is authority attached to this command. The same thing applies if a person PRAYS IN THE NAME OF JESUS. Two things are involved - Jesus told us to and "by reason" of asking in THAT NAME, we have "exousia" authority to execute the prayer.

So the word "NAME" carries more than a punch for a simple four lettered word! There is a Name Which has caused heathens to fear, hell to tremble and hatred to abound for almost 2000 years and this NAME IS JESUS!

What's the NAME? - JESUS!!!!!

Why is the Name of Jesus both feared and hated by those in the secular world, and their deceived brethren inside Christianity? (Notice I did not say Christians!)
Why? It makes no sense to those of us who have been saved, sanctified and brought into the kingdom of Heaven by Jesus Himself!
Why do they not love my Jesus?!
Why do they profess to believe in and almost love God, but hate Jesus?

Let us face it, if you are not for Jesus, you are against Him. There are people who would celebrate the baby Jesus at Christmas and sing all the Christmas songs, but not give another thought to Him on December 26...until Easter, where Jesus becomes an Easter Bunny to them!

I am here to tell those people, my Jesus is NOT a baby anymore - that was one moment in time for one completed assigned task....and my Jesus is not an Easter Egg Carrying imaginary, overgrown, large-earred Easter Bunny.

King Jesus is the living,breathing Holy Son of God. He is the God of Creation and the First of All Eternity. He is the Alpha and Omega and the Judge of all. He is the Savior of mankind.....what's in The Name, well...join in here the next four days or so!! Amen!!

COMING UP IN THE NEXT FOUR DAYS:
PART 2 - TREMBLE AT THE NAME
PART 3 - PRAY THE NAME
PART 4 -  GLORY TO HIS NAME (Sunday Message).
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Wednesday, August 24, 2011

THINK ON THESE THINGS - WEDNESDAY

GUEST BLOG:: A VISION OF EARTH


BERNIE'S NOTE: The LORD is granting many, like Lynn and myself, visions upon visions of Himself and His work still to be done. Harvesting souls for the Kingdom of Heaven is like shooting fish in a barrel....however one still has to want to get proactive and seek after the Heart of God. It is only in this way, we can see just how HE SEES US HERE ON EARTH!  Now, be blessed by Lynn's piece:


Lynn Mosher

A few years ago, the Lord showed me a vision of man’s sin on earth. I now share it with you.

As a spectator looking down on the planet from outer space, I observed earth slowly shriveling like a prune, drying up for lack of sun and moisture. At the same time, humanity was withering in the same way, evaporating from the lack of the Son and dew of the Spirit.

Barely a division between those in the church and those outside the church existed. Man’s selfishness covered the earth.

Man’s sins - his inhumanity, pride, bloodshed, lust, perversion of what God intended to be pure, such as marriage and His relationship with His own children - rose up from the earth as thick, ebony smoke, constricting the planet, as if squeezing the life out of it. It ascended into the atmosphere as a dark veil, deflecting the light of God.

“Oh, God,” I cried. “How can this be reversed? What can man do to bring back Your light into the world?”

Without a verbal answer, He showed me men lying prostrate on the ground, all across the globe. Like little spikes sticking up out of a deflated ball, hands were thrust up in prayer. With a great breath, the Spirit exhaled a current that encircled the earth and broke through the veil.

The Spirit then began to move upon those with uplifted hands, sparking a revival of the church, and the influence spread to unbelievers who accepted God’s salvation. It brought to my mind creation in Genesis 1:2, as tohuw and bohuw, without form and void, as the Life of the Spirit hovered over the earth.

I said, “Lord, what will bring this about?”

He answered, “Prayer, prayer, and more prayer, and the hearts of My people longing to bring men into My Light and My salvation.”

Then, the earth and humanity’s darkness gradually became illuminated, growing brighter and brighter, as if released from the black of night to the brilliance of the noonday sun.

God said, “As men will cleanse themselves in the blood of My Son to rid themselves of the darkness within, My Light will shine, for I am Light and in Me there is no darkness, and if I, the Light of the World, live in you, there must be no darkness in you, for dark and Light cannot dwell together. Only when you shine as pure light will My Light be manifested to the world.”

Look around you!” the disciple John said. “Vast fields of human souls are ripening all around us, and are ready now for reaping.” (John 4:35 TLB)


Image by Google Images
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Tuesday, August 23, 2011

THINK ON THESE THINGS - TUESDAY

STAY THE COURSE...an exhortation
It has been a fun, yet insightful 3 plus weeks, since we started visiting Romans 14 - verse 
by verse up to Verse 16. Some amazing comments and interaction developed during this time. Romans 14 is the great guideline of guarding your conduct, so as not to bring shame to Christ and yourself!


A lot of this chapter involves food and eating. However these things are metaphors for a wide range conduct when we are under a magnifying glass. The world is forever monitoring us to see when we fail. Why prove them right?

Below are the remaining verses of Romans 14 (verses 17-23) which expands more on the issue of eating food (or visiting eating establishments) which can cause someone to stray....someone weaker. But as we end this series, I wish to encourage us to continue walking in the Light and walking the Talk (see yesterday's post). We love Dayspring and all its greetings cards etc, which are found in Christian bookstores. I have quoted Dayspring founder Roy Lessin, a number of times, in this blog.  He has a great encouragement for us today...the type of word, which you cannot find in one of his regular greeting cards!




Continue in the things that concern Him;
He will continue to take care of the things that concern you.



Continue to give Him all that is yours;
He will continue to give you all that is His.



Continue to wait upon Him;
He will continue to be faithful to you.



Continue to seek His highest;
He will continue to give you His best.

“Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!” Jeremiah 7:23 NLT
-Roy Lessin

THE REST OF ROMANS 14:
17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. 22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. 
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Monday, August 22, 2011

THINK ON THESE THINGS - MONDAY

WALK THE TALK
So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil.....Romans 14:16 ESV (we wrap up our 3 week daily look at Romans 14 tomorrow).


You know, sometimes,  a child of God can live in such a way as to bring dishonor to the things of God. We just had that discussion last week, when a post on church leaders drinking beer in pubs, caused major discussions in many circles nationwide, when one of our elders - Dr. John MacArthur, rebuked those guys who are involved in the practice.


It is not just alcohol, but I know of and have seen men and women, considered "Christians" by their peers, who cause non-believers to call them hypocrites. This is a great refrain among those who hate Jesus. Oh, they will say they do not have the Lord, but if they are not for Him, they are against Him! There is not gray area here - it is black or white!


If a man or woman engages in sexually flirtations, dresses inappropriately in the office, or is seen whooping it up on Friday night in pubs. We have a problem. There have been people who told me they don't like going to church because it is full of hypocrites! Let me ask you a question. 


If you drank some lousy city water in a fountain downtown...do you stop drinking water forever? 
If you eat a bad hamburger at a greasy spoon...do you stop going to Steak and Shake?....you get the point.


While those who mock Christ will be dealt with on judgment day, we have to be careful that our solid beliefs are not compromised by salacious behavior. Our walk is supposed to align with our talk.


So if the good we say we believe - AND IT IS ALL GOOD - is to be the standard in our homes, church, office, neighborhood and community...keep it clean!! Walk the straight and narrow and never give the world, which is constantly waiting for us to fall, call our Faith in Jesus, an evil thing. 


Amen.


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Sunday, August 21, 2011

THINK ON THESE THINGS - SUNDAY MESSAGE



IF YOU WERE A TREE.....?
(Barbara Walters once asked a guest that same thing....this essay is nothing like her question! (LOL))


The California Redwood Trees are amazing natural phenomena! They are the tallest and oldest trees in the world, ranging from 1200-1900 years old and over 370 feet in height! Officially a part of the Sequioa (or cypress family), these big old trees survive in all kinds of climates from extreme heat to rains.


The areas surrounding these Redwood forests are full of all kind of fauna and animals which somehow co-exist together. The foliage around the base are full of all kinds of natural mushrooms, ferns and mosses. They reproduce themselves from seeds, of course, and also from falling branches which just sprout up into new trees!


Redwoods are also called 'sempervirens' or Evergreens and get this - they always grow in a straight line! I was fortunate enough to walk INSIDE a piece of a Redwood log yesterday, that was built into this couple's house!!! The log is over 1900 years old and solid enough to hold the bedroom, living quarters and kitchen of this couple. It is obviously not their full time house, but what a beautifully unique 'abode'!


Most of us may never see a Redwood tree in person, so this was a delight. The fibers, the texture of the wood and the amazement of being inside an almost 2000 year old log which could have been around when Christ walked the earth boggles the mind.

There are two distinctive traits this tree shares with how we should live as Christians.


First of all the tree is called "sempervirens"- that is a rugged sounding name to begin with! Psalm 1 describes the person who walks in the Ways of the Lord -  this woman or man is like "a tree planted by water which gives forth FRUIT in its season" (verse 3). This always (semper) green (virens) should be the character trait we strive for ....meaning - we HAVE to bear fruit (see fruits of the Spirit) for the Kingdom, or we are useless to the King!



Secondly, the redwoods grow in a straight line - I love that!  Wide is which leads to destruction! Narrow is the pathway for the righteous. We have specific guidelines as Christians which we should never stray from. One of them is belief. There is NO grey area in our belief systems. Jesus said I am the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6), no one...and that means NO ONE (no belief in any other divine so-called systems) can approach Holy God EXCEPT through Jesus Christ as Savior, Master, Friend!


There is a reward for growing and going down the straight and narrow as a Believer or Follower in Christ. Here is what the Bible promises and prophesies in Isaiah 65:22 ESV "...for like the days of a tree, shall the days of My people be, and My chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands!!!"


Finally - do you know any other Promise, WRITTEN DOWN and confirmed by the Holy Spirit, than this one from verse 22 of Isaiah??!! I don't think so! Therefore think about this majestic tree and then meditate upon what kind of a tree or pillar in your own life and family, you are..and could be...as well as the legacy and fruit you can leave for others to enjoy, generations from now!
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Saturday, August 20, 2011

THINK ON THESE THINGS - SATURDAY

A popular fine 'eatery' at the Illinois State Fair!
'YOU'RE GONNA EAT... THAT?'


I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.....Romans 14:14 ESV....(as we roll towards the end of our 3 week long verse by verse look or Romans 14).


These past few weeks have been State Fair time across America. We have been eating food items at these Fairs (usually in State capitols) that should not only question our collective sanity but are heart attacks waiting to happen! Some of the food (and I use that word loosely) has gone plain weird!


Why do we need the latest for 2011 - fried stick of butter? It was bad enough someone came up with fried snickers bar a few years ago! The stick of butter, dipped in pancake batter and then covered in powered sugar after deep frying is just as "unique" as the friend Kool-Aid balls I witnessed before me own eyes! 


The Apostle Paul is telling us that nothing is unclean to eat, in the new Covenant. Before Jesus came to fulfill the Law, there were laws against eating  all kinds of food and animals. But since the Cross, we can enjoy a ham sandwich, bacon and pulled pork just as much as these gastronomic outrages at the state fairs!! 


When God sent Peter, a Jew, to minister to Cornelius - a hate Roman Gentile - Peter balked saying it was against the Torah (and unclean) for him to be in the house of a Gentile. The Lord gave Peter a vision which showed all kinds of animals he was supposed to eat and God told him that He had now made all animals clean to eat (Read the full account HERE ).


So if your brother or sister, to whom you are trying to lead to the Lord, or disciple or mentor or be an example to, wishes to eat bbq port, a fried stick of butter or fried Kool-Aid, well....do not look down your nose at them....in fact try it - at least once.....and I mean once....since fried snickers have about 2000 calories in one thing....about the average daily food intake for an adult!
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