How Does He Know?
BY JOEL HANCOCK
My father was always there to greet me when I came home. I thought it was because he didn’t trust me.
I have lived on a small island off the North Carolina, USA, coast all my life. My home is protected from the open ocean by a barrier island that my family calls the Banks. This barrier island, populated by wild horses and waterfowl, was a summer wonderland to me as a boy—a natural theme park that charged no admission.
Most families who lived on the islands had some kind of boat. By the time I was a teenager, my parents allowed me to use a boat without adult supervision. I often went with my six older brothers to the Banks where we could play. We swam in the ocean, waterskied on the sound, chased after herds of wild horses, and dug for clams.
Each afternoon or early evening as we returned home to my father’s dock, I saw my father standing on the shore, awaiting our return. As we secured the boat, he asked about our day and inspected the boat to make sure it was okay. I thought he was just worried about his boat.
My brothers eventually bought boats of their own, and my father entrusted his boat to me alone when I took my friends and younger cousins to the Banks. One thing about my father stayed the same even as I grew older and matured. No matter the occasion or the amount of time we spent on the island, he was always there walking to the shore the very moment our boat came into view.
It seemed as though he had an internal tracking device that allowed him to know the very instant I headed for home. I could not elude him by staying later than usual or heading home early. He always knew exactly when I would approach the shore.
Even after I had a boat and a family of my own, my father was always there to welcome us back to the dock after we had gone out on the water. “How does he know?” I used to ask. “How can he tell exactly when I am headed for home?”
Eventually, having sons of my own who wanted to go boating alone revealed my father’s secret.
The first summer afternoon that my two sons headed out alone on the boat, my heart ached for their safety because I had a deeper understanding of how dangerous the water could be. From the moment my sons departed, I stared almost without respite toward the horizon, waiting for their return.
After a few long hours, I could see my sons in the distance as they made their way back. Then, just like my own father, I walked to the shore to reassure myself that all was well—not with my boat, but with my boys.
Every time I see my sons as they break the horizon for home in our small powerboat, I remember a specific verse in the Savior’s parable of the prodigal son. “And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him” (Luke 15:20).
Perhaps it wasn’t a chance circumstance that the worried father in the parable saw his wayward son returning home. I can imagine how long and how often the father might have watched that road in the weeks, months, or years since his son’s departure. Likewise, I understand better how our Heavenly Father stays on the lookout for each of us, especially when we have strayed.
My own father died five years ago, after a lifetime of looking after his children and grandchildren. I treasure the mental picture I have of my father waiting on the shoreline. There was a time when I thought his constant attention meant he didn’t trust me. But now, looking back, wisdom has shown me that he loved me enough to let me take the boat and to be anxious that I return safely. He was waiting for me because of how much he loved me.
A Thousand Years
6 Blessed 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.
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Revelations 20:6-7
The First Ressurection
What an interesting time that we live in! Not a good time as we see more and more persecution of the followers of Christ across the world. And yet a time that must occur in order to fulfill the prophecies laid out in the Bible. And yet with the horror of seeing those who are killed, we must as well remember the promise. Always looking to God and not to man, to the future and not to relive and renew the past. What has gone before is not what He has plans for in the future and it is the future that we desire to be a part of.
English: Resurrection of Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Revelation 20
Good News Translation (GNT)
4 Then I saw thrones, and those who sat on them were given the power to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been executed because they had proclaimed the truth that Jesus revealed and the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image, nor had they received the mark of the beast on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and ruled as kings with Christ for a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were over.) This is the first raising of the dead. 6 Happy and greatly blessed are those who are included in this first raising of the dead. The second death has no power over them; they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and they will rule with him for a thousand years.
UN urges people to eat insects to fight world hunger | KurzweilAI
While I admit that I am a bit of a coward when it comes to trying different foods, I am always amazed at evidence of God’s consideration in everything that exists on the earth. God provides in amazing ways and knowing that there are options like this for the hungry of the world just reinforces the word of God and His promise to provide for us. King James Version
But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Luke 12:6-8
UN urges people to eat insects to fight world hunger | KurzweilAI.
The report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organizationsays that eating insects could help boost nutrition and reduce pollution, BBC News reports.
It notes than over 2 billion people worldwide already supplement their diet with insects.
Wasps, beetles and other insects are currently “underutilized” as food for people and livestock, the report says.
The authors point out that insects are nutritious, with high protein, fat and mineral content. Read the rest at UN urges people to eat insects to fight world hunger | KurzweilAI.
A Surprise Attack before Dawn via American Minute
Bill Federer
They overran it in the early morning while the British sentry was sleeping.
Ethan Allen, whose statue is in the U.S. Capitol‘s Statuary Hall, demanded immediate surrender.
The bewildered British captain asked in whose name such a request was being made.
Ethan Allen hotly retorted:
“In the Name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress.”
Fort Ticonderoga’s 50 cannons were incredibly moved by 25-year-old Colonel Henry Knox over 200 miles from New York across Vermont and New Hampshire to a hill overlooking Boston Harbor, forcing British ships to evacuate.
Three weeks after the capture of Fort Ticonderoga, Harvard President Samuel Langdon told the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, May 31, 1775:
“If God be for us, who can be against us?..May our land be purged from all its sins! Then the Lord will be our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble, and we will have no reason to be afraid, though thousands of enemies set themselves against us.”
Update from Pastor Kerry Mauldin
Stained glass at St John the Baptist’s Anglican Church http://www.stjohnsashfield.org.au, Ashfield, New South Wales. Illustrates Jesus’ description of himself “I am the Good Shepherd” (from the Gospel of John, chapter 10, verse 11). This version of the image shows the detail of his face. The memorial window is also captioned: “To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of William Wright. Died 6th November, 1932. Aged 70 Yrs.” (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Your prayers are being answered in the villages!! Much more prayers needed!!
Below is a list of church plaques, we just got list today, to go on churches that we gave for in Feb-March.
We gave 59 Prayer Sheds and churches. We took offerings you gave and in some cases added to them with money that was given as a matching contribution of $25,000.
So many villages churches are being planted and growing! It is joy especially as we are teaching those in India to tithe and give and we join beside them to build and drill…
Thank you all so so much! These are just some of the 59 churches given. Please, now pray that churches be complete and we go in Oct to dedicate!
Prayer works and we count on your prayers!
Thank you all so so much for encouraging and standing beside us with investment! It is such a joy to work together and touch lives for Christ!! Urgency!!
Kerry and Melody Mauldin
PO Box 140402
Broken Arrow, Ok 74014
Dear Kerry sir
these are the information of plaques for Feb 2013. one church from Atipamula you told that you will send the plaque information for that you also said it is some Baptist Church so please send the information.
i thank you for all your prayers and encouragement
convey my greetings to Melody Madam.
with much of regards and prayers.
CHERLAGOURARAM
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
ALTUS AG & SNYDER AG & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
PITTALAGUDEM
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
STIGLER AG & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
GORENKALAPALI
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
ABUNDANT LIFE CHURCH & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
Z.V.GUDEM
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
PICKENS AG & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
DHERAVAT THANDA
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
PANAMA ASSEMBLY OF GOD & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
INDLURU
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
SOULS HARBOUR CHURCH & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
HALIYA
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
IN MEMORY OF PASTOR NOTCHIE TWIST & SHULTER AG& MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
SANTOSH NAGAR
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
HASKELL AG & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
MANDARAJAPALLI
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
BROKEN BOW AG & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
PALAVARAM THANDA
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
SPRIT LIFE CHURCH & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
NEREDCHERLA COLONY
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
MEEKER AG & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
VENGANAGUDEM
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
OOLAGAH AG & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
SALARJUNGPET
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
GROVE AG & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
ALAGNUR CHURCH
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
ROUND UP COW BOY CHURCH & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
NARAYANGUDEM
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
ROUND UP COW BOY CHURCH & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
KODAD X ROAD
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
OKEMA AG & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
DAIDA
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
WINSLOW AG & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
KESHVAPURAM
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
JUDY HENRY FAMILY& MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
NEREDCHERLA
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
MIAMI APOSTOLIC CHURCH & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
BOTHALAPALEM CHURCH
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
HOME STYLE ASSISTED LIVING & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
SAVALAGUDEM
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
THOMAS CHURCH & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
GUDIBANDA
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
TULA ROSA AG & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
NARSAPURAM CHURCH
BUILT FOR THE GOD
BY
TULA ROSA AG & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
ANTAGIRI CHURCH
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
POTEAU AG & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
UTHLAPALLY
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
VANITA AG & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
ENABAMULA CHURCH
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
FAITH AG & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
KOTHATHANDA CHURCH
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
MT. SHERMAN AG & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
DASARI NEMALLIPURAM
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
STIGLER AG & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
UPHALAPHAD
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
FAIR VIEW AG & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
MIDTANPALLI
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
CANYON DELORO AG & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
ARVAPALLY
BUILT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
RED OAK AG & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
ALFANAGAR
DRILL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
MOUNTAIN HOME AG & MAULDIN MINISTRIE
THRIPPRARAM
DRILL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
IN HONOUR OF HEROLD AND ROSE HULL 50TH ANNIVERSARY & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
SRINIVASA NAGAR
DRILL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
IN MEMORY OF OLEN TAYLOR & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
HAMU THANDA
DRILL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
IN MEMORY CF & OLLIE MAULDIN & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
AMBADKER NAGAR
DRILL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
BROKEN BOW AG & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
SAGAR
DRILL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
BY
WEBBERS FALLS AG & MAULDIN MINISTRIES.
Ministering
Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herid’s steward, reminds me of many women in the church today. These are the women that don’t have time to get out and actively minister but they minister in many other ways. Luke 8:1-3 tells us:
Luke 8
21st Century King James Version (KJ21)
8 And it came to pass afterward that He went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the Kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him,
2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who ministered unto Him from their substance.
So many women today spend so much of their time taking care of their children, working so that they may provide for the household, taking care of the physical aspects of the house, and yet still find time to minister in their church, either by teaching Sunday School, or helping in the Women’s Ministry, volunteering when their is a death to provide meals or support for the family, and in so many other ways. Even when they can not provide in any other way, they are often the ones that find the extra money to add to the offering when there are missionaries, or even provide them with a place to stay when they visit.
These are women that take the time to come in on days when they might rather be at home, often when they themselves are hurting, to organize for the choir, for benefits, for children’s projects or to greet visitors. Look around your own church and I am sure that you will find that there are many women who spend much more time taking care of the needs of the church than you realize.
We feed around a hundred to a hundred and fifty children at our church on Wed. nights, and we have a wonderful husband and wife team that is in charge of it. Both these people have regular jobs, and yet they find time to come in early, we start serving at 6pm, so they have to be there by 5pm at the latest, they fix the meal, feed the children, and then clean up afterwards. Usually we have other volunteer’s to help them but sometimes it is a challenge. There are also people who watch the children while they eat, check them in, watch them before and after the meal when they are on the playground and in the gym. And then there are the wonderful teachers who take the time to teach all of these children during the church service. Many of these are women who miss out on the lesson from the Pastor and from visiting missionaries. And most of them are Mother’s, or even Grandmother’s.
I would like to take this moment and say thank you to all of these who volunteer behind the scenes doing jobs that we often take for granted. If you have time, and are not already doing it, why not look around your church. There are always needs to be met. Perhaps this is something that God has in mind for you. A Minister is not just a formal job, but it is also an outreach to all who they come in contact with.
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Fair and Just
Psalm 19:9
9 Reverence for the Lord is good;
it will continue forever.
The judgments of the Lord are just;
they are always fair.
Do you ever stop to consider the words “fair” and “just”? We use them everyday, our children bring them to our attention when we reprimand them. How often have you heard “that’s not fair?” But what does it mean to be fair, or what does it mean to be just? We sometimes link them together, and in ways they have similar meanings, but they are not the same are they?
The dictionary tells us that Just means:
- Honorable and fair in one’s dealings and actions
- Consistent with what is morally right
- Law Valid within the law, lawful
- Suitable or proper in nature, fitting
- Based on fact or sound reason, well-founded
Some of the related words to Just, are:
- fair
- honorable
- right
- righteous
- impartial
- reasonable
Being Just leads to Justice and yet Justice does not always lead to Fair because justice is supposed to treat everyone equally. Treating everyone equally is to hold people accountable for their actions. Lawfully you are bound to obey, irregardless of the circumstances.
“Justice is a certain rectitude of mind, whereby a man does what he ought to do in the circumstances confronting him.” Thomas Aquinas
The definition of Justice is:
- the maintenance or administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments
- judge
- the administration of law; especially: the establishment or determination of rights according to the rules of law or equity
- the quality of being just, impartial, or fair
- the principle or ideal of just dealing or right action: conformity to this principle or ideal: righteousness
- conformity to truth, fact, or reason: correctness
When Solomon was confronted with the decision of who the baby belonged to in 1 Kings 3:16-27, the fairness of his decision was evident and justice prevailed.
1 Kings 3:16-27
King James Version (KJV)
16 Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.
17 And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.
18 And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.
19 And this woman’s child died in the night; because she overlaid it.
20 And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.
21 And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.
22 And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.
23 Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.
24 And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.
25 And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.
26 Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.
27 Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.
And yet unlike our children, most of us know that life itself is inherently unfair. The definition of fairness is:
The quality of making judgments that are free from discrimination.
And yet everything in our lives makes us biased to a degree. Sometimes to a degree that what we do is unfair to everyone involved. Take children’s games for instance. We don’t want to see one child hurt, so we decide that they all are winners. In doing this we encourage the idea that all life has to be fair. The child who wins, loses because he can not claim the mantle of winning, the child that loses, loses more than the race because he loses the ability to understand the value of trying hard and failing. Life is not perfect and what we don’t learn as children is much harder to accept as an adult. It breeds resentment on the part of the child who wins, and an attitude of being owed on the part of the child who lost.
It is neither fair nor just to teach our children that all must be winners and that all must be equal. I am not saying that we shouldn’t teach our children to try to be fair, or that we should not be as fair as possible ourselves. What I am saying is that we need to teach our children to handle life as it is and not as we would like it to be. Nothing on this earth is perfect and never will be until our Lord returns and ushers in His kingdom.
When the Lord comes to rule the earth. He will rule the peoples of the world with justice and fairness. Psalm 96:13
What we think of as fair is not always what is fair. In Matthew 20:1-16, Jesus gives us the parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
Matthew 20
King James Version (KJV)
20 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
This example of unequal work for equal pay would make heads spin today. And yet there is a valuable lesson here that is that value is not seen the same way by all, and what is valuable to the owner of the vineyard was getting the harvest in. People who think everything has to be fair would be very disappointed and yet it is one of the most important lessons that all of us need in life. The ones that come in last are just as important to the job getting done, as those who are there from the beginning. It is the same lesson that we learn in the Prodigal Son and many of the other parables.
True fairness and justice will not come into the world until He returns and we are being unfair and unjust to our children if we do not teach them this. I am not saying that we should not teach them to be fair and just, only that utopia on earth is impossible and that we must do our best, but that it is naive to expect that from others. We need to teach them that all men have free will and that there are those that choose to do evil. To expect them to believe that everyone is good and does there best is to expect them to believe in fairytales. We can not protect our children all the time, nor can we keep them ignorant. We need to teach them to protect themselves and to rely on God. We need to teach them to have the complete armor that God has given us.
Let me end with this:
“God has overlooked the times when people did not know him, but now He commands all of them everywhere to turn away from evil ways. For he has fixed a day in which He will judge the whole wold with justice by means of a man He has chose. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising this man from death!” Acts 17:30-31 GNT
― Dennis Wholey
― Svetlana Alexievich, Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster
Shame
Stained glass at St John the Baptist’s Anglican Church http://www.stjohnsashfield.org.au, Ashfield, New South Wales. Illustrates Jesus’ description of himself “I am the Good Shepherd” (from the Gospel of John, chapter 10, verse 11). This version of the image shows the detail of his face. The memorial window is also captioned: “To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of William Wright. Died 6th November, 1932. Aged 70 Yrs.” (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
To accept Jesus in our lives there is one requirement and that is to be ashamed of our past and to repent of our sins. If you go in with an attitude that you are inherently good and sinless and that you can go on with your life as before, you are fooling only yourselves and not Jesus. For those who teach that your salvation is their road to salvation and that therefore you must choose to follow what they teach, I only feel a great sadness. These will never truly know God because they are not sorry for their own actions, they are sorry for yours. Perhaps they truly believe that they can force you to be sinless and that they will profit in Jesus eyes because of that. That is not what Jesus teaches, nor is it anywhere in the Bible. Nothing that we do can get us into heaven except of accepting Jesus Christ into our lives and repenting of our actions, not the actions of others.
We can and should be ashamed of the actions of others that we see when they preach sin and ignorance and lead others astray. We should correct them when we can, and most of all we should pray that God reveals to them the error of their ways. Especially knowing that the final destination for those is coming with the judgment and return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Only with the support of Jesus and the armor provided by God can we withstand what is coming. Only with the blood of Jesus can we reach heaven and the sight of God. When we accept Jesus into our lives and repent of our sins, He enters in and it is His blood that redeems us. Not our own actions, not our effort, but the sacrifice that He made. But if we believe that we can continue to sin without regards to the sacrifice that He gave, we are denying that He was worthy and that we are new. Instead we are clinging to the old and it shows that we do not love Him.
How can we stop this deadly cycle? By continually immersing ourselves in Him. With prayer, with reading His word, with congregating with others who share our belief. Faith grows with practice, our armor is strengthened with use. Like the sword that is hardened with dipping it in fire and hammering it to withstand the blows of others. God bless you and please take time to open your Bible. If you don’t have one, check out sites like Bible Gateway, you can read online and there is no charge.
Hebrews 9:25-27
King James Version (KJV)
25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Hebrews 10:11-13
King James Version (KJV)
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
Hebrews 10:25-27
King James Version (KJV)
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
King James Bible (Photo credit: freefotouk)
U.S. Senate Chaplains via American Minute
U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry C. Black was elected in 2003.
Posted on the official U.S. Senate website is:
“Chaplain’s Office – Throughout the years, the United States Senate has honored the historic separation of Church and State, but not the separation of God and State.
The first Senate, meeting in New York City on APRIL 25, 1789, elected the Right Reverend Samuel Provost, the Episcopal Bishop of New York, as its first Chaplain.
During the past two hundred and seven years, all sessions of the Senate have been opened with prayer, strongly affirming the Senate’s faith in God as Sovereign Lord of our Nation.”
This was a continuation of the practice of the Continental Congress during the Revolution, as Ben Franklin remarked in 1787:
“In the beginning of the Contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room for Divine protection.”
The first Senate Chaplain was Bishop Samuel Provoost, who conducted George Washington’s Inaugural Service at New York’s St. Paul’s Chapel.
Bishop Samuel Provoost preached the first Episcopal ordination sermon in St. George’s Chapel, New York City, July 15, 1787:
“We are occupied in the…most important business that can possibly engage the human mind…that…in the Hands of God, we shall be made the happy instruments of turning many from Darkness to Light, and from the Power of Satan to the Knowledge and Love of the Truth…
Lay no other foundation than that which is already laid…upon the Doctrine of Jesus Christ, and him crucified…
Let us all unite our most strenuous endeavors, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ may run and be glorified, till the earth be filled with the Knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”
From 1789-2013, the 62 Senate Chaplains have been Christian:
Episcopalian 19,
Methodist 17,
Presbyterian 14,
Baptist 6,
Unitarian 2,
Congregational 1,
Lutheran 1,
Catholic 1,
Seventh-day Adventist 1.
Occasionally members of other faiths have been invited to offer prayers.
The U.S. Senate Chaplain after World War II was Peter Marshall, who prayed:
“Our liberty is under God and can be found nowhere else. May our faith be not merely stamped upon our coins, but expressed in our lives.”
Peter Marshall’s son, Peter Marshall, Jr., together with David Manuel, wrote the best-selling book, The Light and the Glory, which traced the Hand of Providence in the founding of America.
On February 7, 1984, President Reagan addressed the National Association of Secondary School Principals:
“God…should never have been expelled from America’s schools.
As we struggle to teach our children…we dare not forget that our civilization was built by men and women who placed their faith in a loving God.
If Congress can begin each day with a moment of prayer…so then can our sons and daughters.”
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Lawless
English: Jesus Christ – detail from Deesis mosaic, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
We are living in perilous times where it is becoming apparent that those who are currently in power seem to have an almost visceral hatred of people who believe in God and follow Christ. We see that hatred coming to the surface in so many different ways, from a disregard to the founders intentions to establish a country where freedom to practice our religion was the force and pursuit of the founding, to actually promoting the idea that government should have the right to decide who is appropriate to minister to people of faith.
We are beginning to see laws being made to trap believers into disobeying those very laws in order to both persecute them for breaking the law, and to hold them up as examples of lawbreakers. We are in a place where the laws of the country themselves are against sound doctrine. Where murder is justified, fornication is encouraged, and sodomy is promoted and if you are against any of these, you are labeled as the one who is wrong. Our leaders lie with straight faces and perjure themselves without regard to the law or the cost to the people.
If one takes time to keep up with some of the news, we find that killing of babies is okay, hurting the feelings of a homosexual is not. Using drones to kill children in foreign lands is acceptable, catching rainwater is a crime. Our schools promote all kinds of perversion and start as early as their beginning school, and yet we as parents and grandparents are told that our morals are the ones that are bad, because God is the one who leads children astray in their minds.
We are living in the same kind of time as Lot, where perversion is becoming the standard practice and children are only worth what the government can get out of them. We are selling ourselves and our children back into slavehood with the masters those who are the worst of the lawless. We have naively trusted those in power believing that they shared our values and wanted what was best for them. To our horror we have discovered that we have opened the door wide and let evil enter in.
Romans 1
King James Version (KJV)
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Our only hope lies in the Lord God and His Son Jesus Christ who sacrificed in order that we do not have to forever be part of this evil but instead with our acceptance of Him have the promise of a different future. Our hope lies in the return of Jesus and the judgment of the wicked and evil.
Ephesians 5:15-17
King James Version (KJV)
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Ephesians 6:10-12
King James Version (KJV)
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 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.
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Bicycle Missions
I posted the other day about Pastor Stephen McKay and put up a page to give you an idea of what he does and who he is. I would like to take the time today to tell you a little something about one of the things that he is raising money for. It is not for his own ministry, he has support for that, it is to help others in their ministry. He is doing that with bicycles.
Why bicycles? Pastor McKay explained it this way, last year when was in Tanzania he discovered that the local Pastors were having to walk 20 miles and more at times to spread the gospel. Either that or if they were blessed with a bicycle, travel that way. He decided that it would be his mission in part to provide them bicycles in order to spread the gospel easier and to be able to be a blessing to these Pastors. God has worked wonderfully. Pastor McKay was back in Tanzania a couple of weeks ago and reported this:
“We arrived at Assedi’s apartment where we will be staying, and fellowshipped for a while.We then headed to downtown mwanza to exchange money into Tanzanian shillings for the week stay we will be here, and also to purchase bicycles for the pastors here.
A few months before I left I began raising money to purchase bicycles for evangelists who travel and preach the Gospel. I was able to raise $1500 and with that we were able to purchase 17 bicycles in total for them. The brothers here told me that buying a pastor or an evangelist a bicycle is the equivalent of purchasing him a Cadillac. They value them greater than we can imagine, and use them to spread the Gospel far and wide. We walked into a small bike shop and negotiated with the owner on the price. She finally came to a final price of $81.00 each. Here’s a picture of a few partly assembled.
Because we ordered 17 of them, they will have to assemble them over the next day or so and then we will have them delivered on the last day of the conference. It’s going to be a great day!
“
Would you be interested in contributing to the spreading of the gospel through raising money for bicycles? If you would please contact Vessel Of Honor Ministries here: VOHM
This is a contact page and Pastor McKay will get back to you when he can, but I can assure you that it is a worthy ministry and you will be helping to spread the gospel in a part of the world that greatly needs it. God bless you!
The Curse of Blindness
Julije Klovi? – Elymas Struck Blind by St Paul before the Proconsul Sergius Paulus – WGA05091 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
So many times we wonder how someone can not see the reality of a situation. We wonder how they miss the obvious and twist reality into something totally different. In this world of craziness it is as if a fellow blogger said the other day, we are living in an upside down world. As if the Mad Hatter is in charge of the world and whatever we view is in their eyes something totally different.
According to wiki.answers.com In the King James version
- the word – blind – appears 82 times
- the word – blinded – appears 5 times
- the word – blindeth – appears once
- the word – blindfolded – appears once
- the word – blindness – appears 7 times
There is a physical blindness, a mental blindness, and a spiritual blindness. We see Jesus use blindness in ways to get His message across, whether it is healing, as in:
And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them:
Matthew 15:14Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:
7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.
10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
But one way that it is used is the way God uses a type of blindness in the days preceding the Day of the Lord:
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
King James Version (KJV)
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
God is not allowing some to see the truth and nothing we say or do will remove their blindness. At some point they made a deliberate decision to be unrighteous. To these whom the seed of faith and truth will never grow, they will only find the truth when it hits them in the face.
It is an object lesson to all of us to choose righteousness, if we willfully choose to do wrong, we will not be able to see the truth. My friends consider your actions carefully, understand that when you see someone who will not see the truth and takes reality and turns it into something totally different, that it is sometimes God’s will that they do not see. Prophecy has to be fulfilled in order for the Lord to return. What it shows us is that God’s word is true and that His will is being done!
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In the Shadow of Death
I can not imagine the horror and fear of those who were in Boston yesterday. Both those who were participants and those who had turned out to watch friends and family. Nor can I imagine the mindset of people who have no regard for the value of life. I do know two things, one that there will be acts of heroism and cowardly acts being learned of today.
The true mettle of a person can often come to the front when a person faces a crisis. When we are tested is when we find out who we are. As so many have said before, “it brings the best and the worst in people.”
Many will cry out and ask God “how can you let things like this happen?” They do so many times because it is the easy way, to think of God as a benevolent protector that should stand as a shield to prevent all from harm. Truly it is not that they are wrong in their desire, it is that do not understand that we lost that when Adam and Eve made the choice that they made.
Evil entered the world when they accepted the word of the great deceiver. Until the day that Jesus returns, evil will continue. Knowing that the time is getting nearer, those who serve evil are and will continue to be, more desperate. They do not realize that the war is already lost and so they are determined to do as much harm as possible.
God does protect those who serve him! Not from death because death entered in when evil did. What He does promise is to never allow more than we can bear to fall upon us.
Trials and tribulations are what we can expect until death takes us from this stage of existence or Jesus returns for the final judgment. Our promise is that we will have no more suffering and no more pain at that time. That death along with evil will no longer exist. That there will be a new heaven and a new earth.
As long as we walk the earth, we walk in the “shadow of death” and our only true comfort rests in our Lord.
Psalm 23:3-5
King James Version (KJV)
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
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Update from Pastor Kerry Mauldin
| I am so thankful for the many hearts that are coming to Christ in the villages of India. Thank you all for praying and standing with us to strengthen the men and women’s hands that daily reach out to lives, by travelling rough roads and daily looking for hearts to share Christ’s love with those who have not heard.Below is a daily report from Govinda Reddy and Isaiah, sharing some of their daily journey for Christ. Several of these days we were walking beside them to plant churches, and lead people to Christ!! These are some of the 59 villages we gave new churches in Feb-March this year…That we would all have an urgency and share Christ with someone every day…
Thank you all each for praying…literally, God moves only when we pray… With love, thanks and prayers, Kerry and Melody PO Box 140402, Broken Arrow, Ok 74014
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