bibleguy

Heaven & Hell

2007-10-30T17:59:00.000-10:00

A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, 'Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.'

The Lord led the holy man to two doors.

He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water.

The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful.

But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.

The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.

The Lord said, 'You have seen Hell.'

They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one.

There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.

The holy man said, 'I don't understand.'

It is simple,' said the Lord. 'It requires but one skill. You see they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves.'

Abide

2007-07-25T03:38:00.000-10:00

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:4-5).

As recorded in John 14-16, many of Christ's last words to His disciples as He was about to leave them regarded abiding. The word meno occurs 18 times in this discourse and is translated not only "abide," but also "remain," "dwell," "continue," and "be present." Let us look at what He told them about abiding while He was "yet present" (14:25) with them.

First: "the Father . . . dwelleth in me" (14:10), "I am in the Father, and the Father in me" (v.11). That is, they are one and the same, inseparably abiding together, giving great power to those believing on Him (v.12).

Furthermore, the very Spirit of God, the "Comforter," will "abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive . . . but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you" (vv.16-17). "I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you" (v.20).

Abiding in Him, as we see in our text and in verse 7 (as opposed to the tragic end of those who "abide not" |v.6|), brings forth much fruit, and that fruit shall "remain" (v.16).

There is one requirement -- that we keep His commandments (14:23 and 15:10), and if we do so, we will "continue" and "abide" in His love (vv.9-10). "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full" (v.11).

Not only are we to abide while in this world, but throughout eternity. "In my Father's house are many mansions |same root word, meaning abiding places|: . . . I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (14:2-3). JDM

Taken from "Days of Praise" Devotional and Bible Commentary by the Institute for Creation Research.

Loving Yourself

2007-05-05T20:02:00.000-10:00

One of the dogmas of psychology is to "love yourself first", that before you can take care of others you must first take care of yourself. That we need lots of personal time and should take ourselves shopping and make sure we take time to do things for ourself.

I have even read where some say that Jesus even promoted the concept that the "love of self" should be the basis for loving others.

This is something that sounds good and sells well. It is a way that seems "right" and tickles our ears because it is something we want to hear. It is something that gives us permission to treat ourselves. Besides, how can we take care of others if we don't take care of ourself first.

Interestingly enough, I can find this nowhere in the bible.

Matter of fact, if I leave behind all of the pop psychology and pop christianity and just look to God's Word, I find just the opposite.

In fact, we are to deny ourselves. I find that we are to seek first God's kingdom. The first commandment is to love God with all our heart and strength. Second is to love others.

What we need is to focus first on God and executing the responsibilities of a good steward of what God has given to us, and then we can trust that God will take care of our needs.

The most important thing is to know that God loves us, and that He fills us with His love to overflowing. That He gives us more than we need, and out of the excess we in turn bless others.

When we get "exhausted", it is not because we haven't allocated enough "personal time", it is because we have not been looking to God to fill us to overflowing with life and life more abundantly. It is because we have been walking in the flesh, trying to do things in our own strength. It is because we have not been walking in the spirit and depending on God's strength. It is because we have pursued happiness in the accumulation of things instead of seeking the Joy of the Lord that is to be our strength.

When we get all wrapped up in ourselves, we make for a pretty small package.

New Revealations

2007-01-29T01:30:00.000-10:00

A question came up concerning "if the gifts of the Holy Spirit (including prophecy) were still available, then why shouldn't we seek out 'new' revelations about and from God?"

This has often been used as an argument by those who want to say that healing and the gifts of the Holy Spirit are all passed away and not available to the church today. They say that once the Bible was completed, then we didn't need gifts like prophecy, etc.

The thing is, it says nowhere in the Bible anything about the gifts stopping or any criteria for them being superseded any time before Jesus returns.

However, it does say in Revelation something about the completeness of scripture:

Rev 22:18-19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

This makes the Bible the basis for testing all doctrine. We should carefully examine all of our doctrines, traditions, beliefs, and interpretations to make sure they square with the full counsel of God's Word.

The Holy Spirit is here to lead us into all truth. However, God does not contradict Himself. The Holy Spirit will not give someone a revelation, prophecy, or instruction that goes counter to scripture or preaches "another gospel".

The manifestations and gifts of the Holy Spirit have not faded away or stopped with the death of the last Apostle. They are still available to all who take God at His Word and believe.

Prophecy is basically just a message from God. The role of prophecy today is not to reveal "new truths". But prophecy can help us to see things in God's Word that we might have missed or misunderstood before. We just must be sure to study and show ourselves approved before accepting any "new" doctrines.

Sola scriptura ("by Scripture alone") is the assertion that the Bible as God's written word is self-authenticating, clear (perspicuous) to the rational reader, its own interpreter ("Scripture interprets Scripture"), and sufficient of itself to be the only source of Christian doctrine.

Scripture has one interpretation, but can have many applications.

Reminders

2007-01-16T13:21:00.000-10:00

Psalm 101:3a: "I will place no wicked thing before mine eyes."

Job 31:1: I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?"

I Thessalonians 5:21,22: "Test all things. Hold fast what is good. Abstain from all forms of evil."

I Peter 5:8,9: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."

Hebrews 12:14: "Pursue holiness without which no man shall see the Lord."

When You Believe Nothing, You Will Believe Anything

2006-12-27T00:48:00.000-10:00

Folks often seem to go to one extreme or another.

On the one hand there are those who can get so stuck on one idea that they won't consider or permit any thoughts, arguments, or evidence to the contrary. They automatically dismiss anything that might smack of opposition and hastily label it "rubbish", "stupid", or "academic".

On the other hand, there are folks so open minded that their brains have fallen out. They are gullibly willing to follow anyone and believe anything without questioning.

Too often people "hole up" with a pet belief that caters to their agenda -- then they sit back and call everyone else either "closed-minded" because they won't consider the pet belief; or, they will label others as "gullible" for not rejecting some idea that does not support the pet belief.

There are those who believe Christianity is about checking your brain at the door and living by "blind faith". That Christians will ignore the "reality" that the world's biased version of "science" presents.

Even within the religious community there are those that think the things of God are unknowable and we should never question. Teaching people not to think or ask questions just sets them up for falling into a cult.

To the contrary, Jesus assures us that we should ask, seek, and knock and expect an answer...

Luk 11:9 And I say to you, Ask and it shall be given you. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened to you.

James goes on to assure us that God wants us to have wisdom...

Jam 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and with no reproach, and it shall be given to him.

Jesus reaffirms the commandment says that we should include our mind in our worship of Him...

Mar 12:30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." This is the first commandment.

Our goal should not be to live in one extreme or another. We should be 1) willing to critically examine evidence and follow where it leads; and, 2) seek until we find the answer that convinces us completely.

God is NOT afraid of science. In fact truly objective science has always confirmed God's Word, and will always ultimately demonstrate that the universe runs predictably according to God's laws.

There are answers to our questions, and these answers are knowable. The secret is not to stop just when we feel "comfortable" with the answer. We should be sure of the answer regardless of how we feel about it, or how it might go contrary to our pet doctrines, beliefs, and vain philosophies of men.

Col 2:6-8 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone rob you through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ.

We are admonished to be firmly established in faith. To have a rooted, well grounded foundation to build upon. That way

The world's definition of faith is believing something without (or even spite of) evidence -- which is actually just wishful thinking or mental assent. So it is understandable that folks who have this definition in mind think that the Christian faith is just "blind" belief that flies in the face of reason.

Actually, the term "blind faith" is an oxymoron. The Bible definition of faith has at its core the concept that faith is the result of "knowing" something is true. That faith is based on and according to laws, precepts, and promises that existed before, and will exist long after our current physical existence. According to the Bible, there is nothing "blind" about faith. Conversely the Bible teaches that faith comes only after our eyes are opened.

Rom 10:17 Then faith is of hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

Ours is NOT a "blind faith". It is not just blindly accepting some traditions or what some clever personality pandering for money has said.

It is based on something confirmable, repeatable, and has withstood the test of time. It is based on hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

Build a good foundation from God's Word to stand on, for if you stand for nothing, you'll fall for anything.

Balance

2006-12-05T20:52:00.000-10:00

There is a widespread belief that 'balance' means mixing a little bad in with the good. There are religions, philosophies, and even doctrines taught in some Christian circles that teach everything good is balanced by something evil. Light is balanced by dark, yin-yang, and so forth.

According to the Bible, God created everything, and everything He created was Good. Evil was introduced later through the rebellion of satan and man. Evil is not an agent of balance, but a disease, a blemish, an abberation, an agent of rebellion.

God intended that Love provide the balance and bridge between His goodness and our badness.

Forgiveness

2006-12-04T11:30:00.000-10:00

Forgiveness is NOT about avoiding "punishment".

Forgiveness is all about rebuilding relationship.

When I break God's law, I can seek His forgiveness and with Him, the eternal slate is wiped clean because of Jesus. It is Jesus who bore God's wrath and took my punishment for me, and God has promised to remember my sins no more.

But, all too often, this can lead us to think forgiveness should wipe away ALL consequences as well. We then make the mistake of believing that God is punishing us for our sins, when we are merely reaping the fruit we have sown.

There is always damage from transgression. If I do something to violate another person's trust, I can repent and seek forgiveness.

Forgiveness is the first step in rebuilding the relationship with that person, but it will take time to regain trust and see full restoration.

In addition to trust, I will still have to face all the temporal consequences of my actions.

If I have broken man's law, then I will still have to face man's judgment system.

If I have abused and not taken care of my body, then I will have to deal with the possibility of disease and/or disability.

If I have sinned against another person, then I may never regain the same level of relationship I had.

If my sin has caused death, then I, and others, will have to deal with the loss.

Follow up from Getting What You Deserve

Knowlege Puffeth Up

2006-11-10T12:30:00.001-10:00

...Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 1 Cor 8:1-2 (NKJV)

Gnosticism, mysticism, magick, etc all always have the "promise" of greater power always over the horizon, in the next level of hidden knowlege.

Reminds me of the sign I saw in a restaurant "Free fish tomorrow..." When you come back the next day, the sign still says "Free fish tomorrow..."

In all these "isms", the initiate is always working to get to the next "level" in order to obtain the coveted "hidden knowlege".

Once they "level-up", then they find only that the power they wanted is only available at the next level. In the process, what they do get is an ego boost -- they take pride in thier accomplishment at getting to a higher level than someone else. They get a feeling of superiority from having access to privledged knowledge. Even if, in the end, the "knowledge" proves to be basically a worthless waste of time.

It's all smoke and mirrors. Satan, the father of lies, has no real power of his own. He can only offer facimiles of God's power. At best, he can pull off a few parlor tricks to use as carrots to string along the gullible. But his promises are all empty and without any real substance.

God is the true source of power and wisdom. If we have any question, God says to ask Him, and He will give us the truth and true wisdom.

If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won't correct you for asking. James 1:5 (CEV)

Itching Ears

2006-10-10T10:44:00.000-10:00

A wise man is hungry for truth, while the mocker feeds on trash.
Proverbs 15:14 (Living Bible)

It never fails to puzzle me about how people who never spend time reading the Bible and have little (if any) knowledge about -- these same people are so quick to read, study, and talk about all these "lost" books that keep popping up. They won't spend a minute to read a chapter out of the Bible, but they will flock to read "the gospel of" Thomas, Judas, Mary, and any other extra-biblical twaddle they can get their hands on.

Gnosticism isn't anything new. It's roots date back to the book of acts when the Greeks were being introduced to the Gospel. The apostle John dedicated most of his writing to countering the mixing of Greek philosophy with Christianity.

The gnostic writings were written some 300 years after the time of Jesus and, unlike the Gospels, these books were not written by anyone with firsthand knowledge of Jesus. Ever since, they have cropped up from time to time. For a short time they become popular, sell a bunch of books, magazines and videos and then (because it is false and empty) it falls into obscurity again to wait for the next generation of gullible people.

In their wake, they plant seeds of doubt and unbelief in the hearts of those who are unestablished in God's Word and further harden the hearts of those who are looking for any excuse not to believe.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 (KJV)

Situational ethics

2006-09-10T12:29:00.000-10:00

Situational ethics is just a way of saying you base your decisions only on a quick survey of the environment and jumping with whatever seems popular at the time. Either that, or the typical knee-jerk firefighting that all too often characterizes the postmodern manager.

Instead, one should make the best decision they can at the time based on ALL information available at the time. "All information available" includes not only the current state of the environment, but the experience and expertise of everyone involved as well as the moral and ethical codes that keep it all in proper perspective.

Moral and ethical codes are the tried and true values that have withstood the test of time.

Integrity should be used the filter the noise generated in an ever changing environment and allow focus on the really critical points that should drive a decision.

On "Looking Within"

2006-08-10T12:29:00.000-10:00

I've heard a lot of talk from the chat shows, magazines, and self-help gurus about how we are supposed to "look within ourselves" for answers to all of life's problems.

It sounds really nice, and because we want to believe such a thing a true, it is easy to accept such a statement without thinking on it too much.

However, next time you hear of or consider such a philosophy, check it against the Word of God:

"O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps" (Jeremiah 10:23).

According to the Bible, we are incapable of directing our own steps. The Bible admonishes us that:

"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Prov 14:12, Prov 16:25)

Since we cannot lead ourselves, we follow after whatever has the greatest influence over us.

The only real choice we have is to chose what influences us -- we are able to choose what we are most exposed to.

Whatever we choose to spend the most time doing, watching, listening to, and thinking about will have sway over our hearts.

As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. Prov 23:7

Stay aware of what you are spending time on. Is it something that builds up the spirit or builds up the flesh.

What is the biggest influence in your life? Is it God's Word or the world?

The world is blinded and does not have the answer:

Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him (John 14:17)

If our primary influence is the world, then we are under satan's influence:

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:44)

God has given us the capability to choose, the alternative to choose, and the strength to choose. Paul explains in Romans the two natures:

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. (Romans 8:5-15)

The truth is not found by looking within ourselves or looking to the world.

The truth is in continually and repeatedly feeding ourselves on God's Word. The more Word we have in our hearts, the more our minds will be set on what the Spirit desires. This makes us more sensitive to being led by His Spirit. Then we are His children in Christ and He is our Father.

When you fast

2006-07-10T12:29:00.000-10:00

Probably the biggest key to remember is that fasting should not be a religious practice to try and convince God to do something.

Fasting does not change God, it changes you.

Hunger is probably the strongest urge of the flesh. When we fast, we are telling the flesh that we choose to follow the spirit and not the flesh.

What fasting does is help you discipline and get the flesh out of the way. Once the flesh is out of the way you are more sensitive to the Spirit and hearing from God. The flesh is the source of a lot of doubt and unbelief, so your prayers can be mixed with unhindered faith when your flesh is under subjection.

I don't know how many times I've been busy at work and gone all day without breakfast and lunch without feeling or realizing it. However, the moment I decide to fast, immediately the flesh starts pinging and wanting immediate attention and gratification (hunger pangs, headaches, wooziness -- and it's only been 5 mins!)

In the broadest sense, you could probably consider a fast anytime you are denying the flesh one of its appetites. Strictest sense would be no food or water. Best to start small and work up over time, maturity, and leading of the Holy Spirit. Keep in mind, you are out to discipline the flesh, not kill your body.

Jesus said that when we fast, we should go about normally with our daily business as if we are not fasting. It's not anyone's business to know. If they ask, don't have to be spooky about it, just say you have other plans for lunch.

Use any hunger pangs as reminders to pray or ponder a scripture verse. Every time the flesh rises up, remind it that you don't live by bread alone, but by the Word of God and that your meat is to do the will of the Father.

The Way

2006-06-10T12:28:00.000-10:00

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25

All a man's ways seem right to him [a man], but the LORD weighs the heart.
Proverbs 21:2

I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws.
Psalm 119:30

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting
Psalm 139:23-24

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
John 14:5-6

Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it.
Matthew 7:13-14

Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
Revelation 22:14

Slavery

2006-05-10T12:27:00.000-10:00

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are? (Romans 6:16)

What are you enslaved to?

Know it all

2006-04-10T12:27:00.000-10:00

If you think you know everything about a certain topic, it is a sure sign that you don't.

1Co 8:2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

length, breadth, depth, hight

passes knowledge

know nothing yet as they ought to know

1Ti 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

the more you learn about the Lord, the more you understand that there is yet more that have yet to learn.

you can learn tremedous amounts and

Eph 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Eph 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

It's not just about knowing facts in your head, it is an experiencial, intimate knowledge, understanding, experience and familiarity. It is "knowing" in the spirit.

Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

And now that you have some revelation, glory not in the revelation knowledge, but be sure that all glory goes to Jesus.

Eph 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

1Co 8:1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

Phi 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Thoughts on Feelings

2006-03-10T12:27:00.000-10:00

- It's not our problems that make use feel a certain way, it is what we think of them that makes us feel that way.

- All too often we look for something that gives us a "tingle in the flesh" to distract us from what is really bothering us.

- We look out to someone else expecting them to fill the void but then we are disappointed when they don't.

- It really isn't the other person that makes us feel a certain way, it is what we think about them that makes us fell one way or another.

Foolish Things

2006-02-25T22:34:00.000-10:00

I Corinthians 1:26

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called

Why is this? Why 'not many'?

I Corinthians 1:27-29

God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in His presence

That no flesh should glory. Basically, God does things in such a way that there is no possibility to mistake anyone or anything but Him as the source.

I've often heard it said that 'God wants to use your talents'.

Scripture on the other hand reveals that God is more likely to use you to do things that you have little or no natural talent or ability to do. That way it is all the harder for you to take credit yourself.

I've also heard 'God helps those who help themselves'. Search it out, it is nowhere in the Bible.

Actually, you find the contrary: God helps those who call on His name.

So many folks go off half-cocked with their own plans and designs, then expect God to come in and bless them.

What we really need to do is to first seek God and ask Him to write out His plans for us in our hearts. Then we know that God will be there to complete the work that He starts. We can go and act in confidence knowing that God is there backing us up, and He cannot fail.

Where faith comes in is when God is telling us to do something we know that we cannot do by ourselves, things that we have no talent, ability, or experience doing. It does not require any faith in Him to go and do something you have 10 years experience doing.

Getting What You Deserve?

2006-01-26T21:08:00.000-10:00

Recently I ran across a conversation concerning judges taking pity on sex offenders and acting with leniency in sentencing. The question was asked "Is he [the sex offender] any less deserving of prayer and forgiveness than any of us?"

Deserving? We ALL *deserve* to be cast into hell. We need to be grateful for God's mercy in not getting what we deserve because of God's grace in Christ.

Mercy: not getting the punishment you deserve
Grace: being given blessings that you do not deserve

Offenders do not *deserve* pity, love, forgiveness. We do not love others because they are deserving of it or have a "right" to it. We choose to love because we are loved by God even when we were unlovable. Out of the abundance of God's love poured out on us, we turn and love others.

If the offender repents and receives God's mercy and grace, then the ETERNAL consequences of his actions are forgiven.

As individuals, we are to love everyone, even the worst of offenders. You can love a person, and at the same time, hate their behavior. Part of love is to hold others accountable for their behavior (Prov 13:24).

True, it is in the best interest of the family and victims to forgive and move on -- keeping in mind that forgiveness does not mean immediate restoration of position and trust, and does not mean that the offender escapes accountability for his behavior. As individuals, we are to forgive after the same manner that we are forgiven.

Governments, however, are bestowed with a different set of responsibilities.

Law was instituted because of the hardness of people's hearts.

Mercy bestowed on a loving person is appreciated and promotes better behavior.

Mercy bestowed on a cold-hearted person is interpreted by that person as a reward for their behavior, and encourages more of whatever behavior is rewarded.

Governments and judges are charged with the responsibility to hold offenders accountable for the temporal consequences of their behavior. When they fail to do this, it comes across to society as permissiveness, advocating, and promotion of that behavior.

What this judge is saying is that it is OK, excusable, and justifiable to molest a child.

Instead of pitying the offender, what about the victims? When is it OK for someone to act out their own selfish desires on an innocent child? What about the children whose lives have been ripped apart at the seams?

Seems to me if anyone was to deserve pity, it would be the victim.

Train Up a Child Part 2

2006-01-21T00:51:00.000-10:00

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

There is a difference between TRAINING and EDUCATION.

Education is all about knowledge. Education typically involves someone dumping a bunch of information on a student and then seeing what percentage of it sticks.

Training on the other hand is different. Training is all about behavior. Training is about changing existing behavior or creating a new behavior.

With training, the trainee performs a task over and over again until they get it right.

That's why the military, police, firefighters, etc all use training techniques to ingrain new behaviors into the trainees.

As parents, we are instructed to use training when it comes to our children.

In their youth, children are not mature enough to get anything out of having a bunch of information dumped on them and then use reasoning to discipline themselves into new behaviors.

We as parents are to train up our children. Children must perform an activity over and over again until they get it right. Behaviors trained into a child during their youth do not easily disappear later in life.

Notes on Guidance

2006-01-19T09:55:00.000-10:00

Proverbs 16:3 (Amplified Bible)

Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.

Psalm 37:23 (New King James Version)

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way.

John 10:4-5 (King James Version)

And when he [The Good Shepherd] putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

Keep in mind that you come to "know" a voice by hearing it repeatedly over and over again. What "voice" you expose yourself to most, you will recognize and be sensitive to. Voices you ignore and/or do not expose yourself to, will become strange to you.

You get to know Jesus' voice by reading, hearing, and speaking His Word.

Focus

2005-11-24T10:51:00.000-10:00

God gave Adam and Eve everything they needed in the Garden.

Gen 2:8-9

And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Notice that even the Tree of Life was available for them among the variety of other trees that were good to eat from.

Gen 2:15-17

And the LORD God took the man and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it. For in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die."

Next, notice that all satan had to do was to get their attention off of everything else that God had provided them and on to the one thing they didn't have.

Gen 3:1-7

Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, "Yea, hath God said, `Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" And the woman said unto the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden, but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, `Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it,lest ye die.'" And the serpent said unto the woman, "Ye shall not surely die; for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof and ate, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he ate. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves
together, and made themselves things to gird about.

Adam and Eve had a perfect environment, a perfect relationship, and all of their physical, soulish, and spiritual needs met. I believe that since He is the same yesterday, today, and forever that they could even ask any questions of Him that they wanted during their cool of the evening walks and He would gladly share His wisdom.

James 1:5
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.

Yet instead of focusing on and being grateful for everything they had that God had freely and liberally given them, they got focused on the one thing they didn't have, and ended up loosing everthing.

Compromise

2005-11-20T13:29:00.000-10:00

Folks today are so quick to compromise. We practice compromise daily on little things, and get far too comfortable just going along with the crowd. Is it really difficult to imagine that many who consider themselves christian will give little thought to compromising even in the last days even when the warning is clear and the
ramifications undeniable?

Rev 13:16-18
And he [the beast] causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

How will we provide for our families if we can't buy or sell? If we do not believe that God is our source and provider now, then how will we believe that God will provide for us if we choose not to take the mark?

Rev 13:9-11
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

Rev 16:1-2
And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

Rev 19:20
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

Foolish Comparisons

2005-11-15T12:26:00.000-10:00

Probably the most damaging, stress and contention causing behavior we can engage in is comparing ourselves to other people...

2 Corinthians 10:12 (KJV)

For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

2 Corinthians 10:12 (AMP)
Not that we [have the audacity to] venture to class or [even to] compare ourselves with some who exalt and furnish testimonials for themselves! However, when they measure themselves with themselves and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding and behave unwisely.

Instead we need to examine ourselves and the only comparison we should make is ourselves to Jesus...

2 Corinthians 13:5 (AMP)
Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves. Do you not yourselves realize and know [thoroughly by an ever-increasing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you--unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected?

Treasure

2005-11-01T15:44:00.000-10:00

Matthew 6:21, Luke 12:34
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Luke 6:45 (Whole Chapter)
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil; for of the abundance of his heart his mouth speaketh.

Matthew 12:35
A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things; and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

What you dwell on and focus on becomes your treasure.

Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.