Another 4th of July and local church sanctuaries become shrines for the flag.
In observance we stand as the flag enters and is presented. Silent and still and somber as the choir sings The Star Spangled-Banner. The lyrics are periodically paused as a reader provides details of the writer’s motivation. And we demonstrate our religious heritage by pledging allegiance to the Stars and Strips god that waves before the Cross.
Forgetting that His word still stands, as one we express allegiance in equal parts to Caesar and Christ recognizing neither as jealous.1
==========================
Exodus 34:14 (KJV) For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
Joshua 24:20-23 (KJV) If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good. {21} And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD. {22} And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses. {23} Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Do your part as an American --- Conquer!
• America is great because of Her people.
• America is nothing apart from Her people. “America” is nothing more than a name, a title, a calling or designation of her people, an appellation, something we are called as a group or body.
• Although perhaps fewer than the combined number of those who profess serving some other god or do not truly serve Jesus, America has prospered because of the faith, prayers and actions of those who truly do serve Jesus.
• God’s grace to His people as promised in 2 Chronicles 7:141 is not based on their percentage of the national population. God can save and prosper large numbers within a population as well as small numbers. He can also prosper the entire population for the sake of His few within.
• It is therefore important that you depend on your relationship with Him, rather than your memberships or affiliations.
• As each of us does our part to serve Him, and accordingly become successful in all we do, we are individually and collectively successful. Which means, America will conquer all obstacles and return to greatness!
Now, more than ever before, America needs (we need) you to be all you can be --> Conquer!
• America is nothing apart from Her people. “America” is nothing more than a name, a title, a calling or designation of her people, an appellation, something we are called as a group or body.
• Although perhaps fewer than the combined number of those who profess serving some other god or do not truly serve Jesus, America has prospered because of the faith, prayers and actions of those who truly do serve Jesus.
• God’s grace to His people as promised in 2 Chronicles 7:141 is not based on their percentage of the national population. God can save and prosper large numbers within a population as well as small numbers. He can also prosper the entire population for the sake of His few within.
• It is therefore important that you depend on your relationship with Him, rather than your memberships or affiliations.
• As each of us does our part to serve Him, and accordingly become successful in all we do, we are individually and collectively successful. Which means, America will conquer all obstacles and return to greatness!
Now, more than ever before, America needs (we need) you to be all you can be --> Conquer!
===============
1(2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
The Benevolent King (1 Samuel 8:7-22)
There was a kingdom ruled by a king who had very many subjects, as many as the grains of sand on the seashores. And all of his subjects were pawns. He had no bishops or rooks or queens or kings. No corporals or sergeants or lieutenants or captains or majors or colonels--no generals of any kind. There were no rulers to guide the people or leaders to command the troops.
Each man received counsel and instruction directly from the king himself, because He was a benevolent king and would not suffer His pawns to be led astray by others less qualified. And his kingdom had no walls.
And the people of the benevolent kingdom prospered in all that they did. All of their needs were met, so much so that they could not imagine a desire. And the people were envied by those living in other kingdoms, the others.
The others, with their rulers, plotted against the benevolent kingdom. But it was to no avail as the benevolent king knew all and provided all that He knew to His people as it was needed. And with the wisdom of their benevolent king, the people of the benevolent kingdom thwarted all the attack of the others.
And they grew in wisdom and knowledge and continued to prosper.
The others began to dwell amongst the people of the benevolent kingdom so that they too could prosper but they continued to seek guidance from their rulers and leaders. They read the books and took accredited courses of their rulers and leaders on how to prosper in the benevolent kingdom. As prosperity eluded them, they they comforted themselves with the knowledge that they had done all they knew to do; and they continued to encourage the reading of books and the taking of accredited courses of their rulers and leaders.
And they rejoiced in their very small victories; doctors received wisdom to treat their diabetes and high blood pressure; despite the odds they found donors for needed transplants; they were able to obtain reasonable loans to visit the Holy Land; most of their sons survived the wars and returned home with only minor impairments and disabilities; their wayward children were paroled at the first opportunity.
And with all their small victories the others encouraged the pawns of the Benevolent Kingdom to read the books and take the accredited courses of their rulers and leaders that they too could prosper. And some did . . .
Each man received counsel and instruction directly from the king himself, because He was a benevolent king and would not suffer His pawns to be led astray by others less qualified. And his kingdom had no walls.
And the people of the benevolent kingdom prospered in all that they did. All of their needs were met, so much so that they could not imagine a desire. And the people were envied by those living in other kingdoms, the others.
The others, with their rulers, plotted against the benevolent kingdom. But it was to no avail as the benevolent king knew all and provided all that He knew to His people as it was needed. And with the wisdom of their benevolent king, the people of the benevolent kingdom thwarted all the attack of the others.
And they grew in wisdom and knowledge and continued to prosper.
The others began to dwell amongst the people of the benevolent kingdom so that they too could prosper but they continued to seek guidance from their rulers and leaders. They read the books and took accredited courses of their rulers and leaders on how to prosper in the benevolent kingdom. As prosperity eluded them, they they comforted themselves with the knowledge that they had done all they knew to do; and they continued to encourage the reading of books and the taking of accredited courses of their rulers and leaders.
And they rejoiced in their very small victories; doctors received wisdom to treat their diabetes and high blood pressure; despite the odds they found donors for needed transplants; they were able to obtain reasonable loans to visit the Holy Land; most of their sons survived the wars and returned home with only minor impairments and disabilities; their wayward children were paroled at the first opportunity.
And with all their small victories the others encouraged the pawns of the Benevolent Kingdom to read the books and take the accredited courses of their rulers and leaders that they too could prosper. And some did . . .
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Flea Markets
That is the last time I’ll set up a table!
All those people and not one wanted my junk!☺
Even worse – finding out that so many people had better junk!1
And worse still, bringing their junk back home mingled with my own.
God chose a man named Abram and called him away from all of his junk. God knew Abram and it is recorded that He said of him, “. . . he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.”2 So He called him out, and Abram brought with him his wife, Sarah, and his nephew Lot out of Haran.
There is nothing in Scripture to indicate that Lot was a bad man. But God never spoke of him as He did of Abram. At any rate, when the land was not able to support the flocks and herds of both Lot and Abram, Lot chose to dwell in the plain of Jordan toward Sodom.3 Later, the sin of the men of Sodom and Gomorrah became very grievous and God destroyed their cities after rescuing Lot and his family. But as they fled Lot’s wife looked back and before she could see the newly acquired junk she was leaving, she turned to a pillar of salt.4
========================
1
Junk is defined as the remains of something that has been destroyed or broken up. In reality, flea markets sell more than junk. There are actually some pretty good deals for those who look. The key is knowing the value of what others are offering and being very objective about what you are offering.
2
(Genesis 18:19 KJV) For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
3
(Genesis 13:8-12 KJV) And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
{9} Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
{10} And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
{11} Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
{12} Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
4
(Genesis 19:21-26 KJV) And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. {22} Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. {23} The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. {24} Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; {25} And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. {26} But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
All those people and not one wanted my junk!☺
Even worse – finding out that so many people had better junk!1
And worse still, bringing their junk back home mingled with my own.
===========
God chose a man named Abram and called him away from all of his junk. God knew Abram and it is recorded that He said of him, “. . . he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.”2 So He called him out, and Abram brought with him his wife, Sarah, and his nephew Lot out of Haran.
There is nothing in Scripture to indicate that Lot was a bad man. But God never spoke of him as He did of Abram. At any rate, when the land was not able to support the flocks and herds of both Lot and Abram, Lot chose to dwell in the plain of Jordan toward Sodom.3 Later, the sin of the men of Sodom and Gomorrah became very grievous and God destroyed their cities after rescuing Lot and his family. But as they fled Lot’s wife looked back and before she could see the newly acquired junk she was leaving, she turned to a pillar of salt.4
========================
1
Junk is defined as the remains of something that has been destroyed or broken up. In reality, flea markets sell more than junk. There are actually some pretty good deals for those who look. The key is knowing the value of what others are offering and being very objective about what you are offering.
2
(Genesis 18:19 KJV) For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
3
(Genesis 13:8-12 KJV) And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
{9} Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
{10} And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
{11} Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
{12} Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
4
(Genesis 19:21-26 KJV) And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. {22} Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. {23} The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. {24} Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; {25} And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. {26} But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Groundhog Day
As you know Groundhog Day is one of my favorite movies of all time. It is a comedy about a journey of many errors}:
The children of Israel embarked on a journey from Egypt to Canaan just 12 days away, 13 tops! God led them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night and they received additional word from God through Moses. They arrived in Canaan 40 years later.
During the journey they faced all matter of threats and attacks from the peoples through whose land they traveled. Through all of their misdirections they continued on to Canaan apparently never aware of their detour or delay. It wasn’t that the directions were wrong or that God moved Canaan — they just had to learn to live in a manner pleasing to God — something to remember as we travel and sojourn.
I'm sure you've seen it by now. If not, check out the 15th Anniversart Edition from Amazon.
The children of Israel embarked on a journey from Egypt to Canaan just 12 days away, 13 tops! God led them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night and they received additional word from God through Moses. They arrived in Canaan 40 years later.
During the journey they faced all matter of threats and attacks from the peoples through whose land they traveled. Through all of their misdirections they continued on to Canaan apparently never aware of their detour or delay. It wasn’t that the directions were wrong or that God moved Canaan — they just had to learn to live in a manner pleasing to God — something to remember as we travel and sojourn.
I'm sure you've seen it by now. If not, check out the 15th Anniversart Edition from Amazon.
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