HIGHER POWER—LIMITED CHOICES

June 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment

What is your higher power?  I know what mine is.

We all need a higher power—whether you’re dealing with an addiction or a dictator, a job or the IRS, making ends meet or meeting your maker, people or loneliness, pride or depression, overbooked or bored, racing on life’s freeway or searching for the narrow way, world by the tail or the tail of the world, or just plain “Why?”

Please take time to read more on this site.  Take as much time as it takes, to find some answers to the most important questions.

We are not designed to handle all the answers to all of life.  But all the answers we must have are available.

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Inspirational

WHAT MONEY CAN’T BUY

June 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Money can’t buy a righteous man.

Money can’t buy a virtuous woman.

Money can’t buy a personal God (the real One).

Money can’t buy a customized (“constructed or altered according to individual specifications”) Bible.

Money can’t buy peace.

Money can’t buy love.

Money can’t buy a debate.

Money can’t buy truth—or create alternative truth.

Money can’t buy life.

Money can’t buy the “abundant life.”

Jesus said a lot about what money can’t buy.  And most people say, by their life, “I don’t buy it.”

“The thief (the devil) comes to kill, steal, and destroy; I came that you may have life, and have it more abundantly.”

“He who saves his life will lose it; he who loses his life for my sake will find it.”

“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”

“It is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven . . .  but with God all things are possible.”

Then, if you do buy that much of Jesus’ words, He adds this for those who follow Him:

“You cannot serve God and mammon (all the world’s stuff that money can buy).”

“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

“Do not lay up treasure on earth, where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.”

“Do lay up treasure in heaven, where moth and rust do not corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal.”

How do you “lay up treasure in heaven”?

—Money can’t buy treasure in heaven if you maintain control of it.

—Money can buy treasure in heaven if you give it away.

—Treasure in heaven doesn’t count if you didn’t sacrifice to give it away.

—Bottom line test, in two parts:

.     Part One—Jesus, I love you from the bottom of my heart.

.     Part Two—Jesus, I love you from the bottom of my wallet.

 

Filed Under: Faith Based, Financial, Inspirational

SORRY I’M LATE

June 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Sorry I’m late.  This is what happened.

How many times have you been in that situation and said that.  Usually it is less than effective and less than satisfying to explain why we are late.  This is especially true when we are dealing with someone who is always on time and impatient with those who are not.

“What do you mean, you weren’t prepared for the cause of that delay?”

On the other hand, we know stories of people who missed a plane or an appointment or ran late, and later found that disaster was averted amid the frustration.

We praise punctuality and dependability, and we shun tardiness and interruptions.  And so we avoid and miss the greatest lessons learned from waiting, and even from failure.

Consider this true story for perspective on reasons for being late:

Daniel was praying for three weeks—praying seriously—so seriously that he was not eating—praying without answer for three weeks.  Then an angel from God showed up and explained the three week delay, in the unseen, very real, supernatural world of warfare in the spiritual realm.  The devil’s evil angel in charge of Persia tried to block God’s messenger sent to answer Daniel’s prayer.  The evil angel succeeded in delaying the messenger from God three weeks, but lost the battle when another chief angel from God, named Michael, showed up to help.

If you have never heard this story, it is true, in the Bible, in Daniel chapter 10.  Now that you have heard this, it will always be in your mind as one explanation when you ask “Why?”

—When evil seems to be winning, remember God is in the fight.

—When evil seems to be winning, remember God wins the battle because He already won the war.

—When evil seems to be winning, remember we can’t see everything from here.

—When evil seems to be winning, remember we can count on winning.

—When evil seems to be winning, remember we can gain courage and encouragement from the Bible.

—When evil seems to be winning, remember God’s angels are bigger than the devil’s angels.

—When evil seems to be winning, remember—keep praying.

 

Note:  Writing here on the internet, you most likely read the articles in reverse of chronological order.  So you may not notice this is the first addition in over a week.  So when I heard David Jeremiah speaking on the above story this morning, I related to the delay.

Sometimes delays, and obstacles, and even silence, are unexplainable.  Then we must count on reasons beyond our view.  For example, I wrote this short, personal note to a friend last week:  “Time—sometimes it heals, and sometimes it doesn’t.”

More, much more, coming soon, like the following:

WHAT IF YOUR SUCCESS . . . ?    WHAT IF YOUR FAILURE . . . ?

Filed Under: Faith Based, Time

“SURELY I COME QUICKLY . . .”

June 7, 2013 By Leave a Comment

“It would be great if He would just thump this old watermelon for ripe and come on back.”     —–Texas listener to AFR talk

Three times in the very last chapter, Jesus says, “I come quickly.”

We watch and wait—He won’t be late.

Filed Under: Faith Based, Inspirational, Time

WHY IS TRUTH SO ELUSIVE? – – – OR IS IT?

June 2, 2013 By Leave a Comment

There is a lot of talk about finding truth—or not finding it—or it can’t be found—or . . .

Truth is hard to find when we make ourselves hard to find.

A good illustration of the riddles on the present-day merry-go-round for truth is the game of hide-and-seek.  Like little children, we pretend that truth is hiding, but instead of going to look for it in all the obvious places, we say truth can’t be found, and go hide ourselves where we think truth can’t find us.  Then we even say (or shout), “I’ve found it—this is my very own truth.  Now, if everyone else will just keep their own new-found truth from interfering with my truth, we will live happily ever after.”

So, then, what happens when Truth gets done waiting for them to come looking for Truth, and Truth appears beyond all denial, and Truth is not happy?

 

When truth is presented, and we don’t like it, we’d rather say it doesn’t exist than be accountable to it—especially it that “it” is Someone—especially if “it” is God.

“You shall seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart.”

God is not hidden from us, unless we try to hide from Him.  How foolish then to blame Him for being hard to find.  How foolish then to say that truth cannot be found.

One day God will say to all of us, “I told you everything you need to know to find truth, to find me.  I shouted it with such volume to overwhelm your senses and your telescopes and your microscopes and your brain.  I made the details of the world, the universe, to repeatedly blow you away with new discoveries of phenomena that were there all the time.  I made you with incredible ability to create almost miraculous stuff, all the while using the materials and equipment and laws of the universe that I put into every single atom from day one (yes, day one through day six, just like I said, in writing).

“And, [God still talking] I put it into your heart to need to know me.  And you can, if you will.

“And, I gave you my Son.  And He really gave it all, for you.  He is The Truth, and He said so.

“And, I will hold you accountable—now, and on your last day.”

 

If you want to find truth, it’s not hard to find—if you don’t try so ever-blooming hard to not let it find you.

Don’t try so hard to not let Jesus the Truth find you.

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Political---Cultural

GIVE IT AWAY

May 31, 2013 By Leave a Comment

ALL Christian financial teaching that I hear today is centered on making us more comfortable now, and especially investing for a more comfortable retirement.

That is not Biblical, though it may be American today.

How about giving it away?

That is Biblical, but not American today.

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Financial, Inspirational

GOVERNMENTS GET “THEIRS”

May 29, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Governments always gets “their share” (plus)—right or wrong—unless the people stop them.  Such is the content of history books.

When I was growing up, I remember my dad opposing Social Security.  He said taking our money for “retirement” was none of the government’s business.  He was right, because the Bible is right—it just takes time for history to prove him right.

Fifty years ago, this is how Daddy handled civil disobedience, and how he was “treated like a common criminal.”  He arranged to have money in his checking account, and the United States government took it without his signature to pay for Social Security.

Americans, Christians, Conservatives, get ready.  Get ready for a repeat of my dad’s experience, and more, very soon.

It doesn’t look good for us now.  Government is never satisfied to get what is “theirs.”  By the way, Jesus said government should get what is theirs.  Today, they are coming after more, and more, and more.  They are coming after us, especially Christians.  It will be difficult.

BUT, if you follow history in the Bible, and look at all world history in its light, you will see the rest of the story.

Governments also “get theirs” in the final chapter, when bad governments and evil leaders get what’s coming to them.  Sometimes, individually, we don’t live long enough to see it, but God is in control.  He sets up empires to do His bidding—even to discipline His own people—and then He takes them down when He pleases.

Such will be the rise and demise of nations today that hate God and His people, as well as nations that loved God and then forgot Him.

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Political---Cultural, Time

WHAT IS THE GOAL OF GAY RIGHTS?

May 28, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Gay “rights” is not the end goal—it is a means to the end—to get rid of Christianity.

Homosexual marriage and Christianity cannot both exist in a society.

When Christianity influences culture, all kinds of blessings follow.

When homosexuality influences culture, all kinds of disaster follow.

Bottom line:  Did God really say what He said about marriage?

Bottom line:  Did God really do what He did about homosexuality?

Bottom line:  God hasn’t changed.  God won’t change.

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Political---Cultural

CAN’T DO WITHOUT . . .

May 27, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Freedom without Sacrifice

Liberty without Vigilance

Patriotism without a Country

A Country without Patriotism

Passion without Compassion

Guns without a Target

Gun Control without Practice

Rights without Morality

Foundation without Termite Control

History without Memory

Prosperity without Thanksgiving

Blessings without God

Health without Exercise

Health without Humor

Abundant Life without Humility

Time-Management without God First

Money-Management without God First

Self-Esteem without Others First

A Cause without Justice

Zeal without Focus

Fear without Faith

Faith without Fear

Might without Right

Military without Leadership

Words without Action

Willing to Fight without Ready to Fight

Ready to Fight without Willing to Fight

Power without Authority

Courage without a Cause

Religion without Righteousness

Wisdom without The Fear of God

Fellowship with God without The Fear of God

Planning the Future without Remembering the Past

Doing Good without Fighting Evil

Grievances without Redress

Becoming a Father without Becoming a Dad

Love without EVERYTHING

GOD BLESS AMERICA without IN GOD WE TRUST

Written Creeds without Living Testimony

Education without Intelligence

Theology without Relationship

Wealth without Generosity

Lies without Remorse

Sin without Repentance

Passing without Preparation

Dying without Jesus

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Family, Financial, Fun, Inspirational, Political---Cultural, Time

YOU CAN’T . . .

May 26, 2013 By Leave a Comment

You can’t sell it.

You can’t buy it.

You can’t fake it.

You can’t deny it.

You can’t ignore it.

You can’t escape it.

You can’t change it.

You can’t improve it.

You can’t postpone it.

You can’t live without it.

You can’t excuse it away.

You can’t believe it away.

You can’t leave without it.

You can’t substitute x y z for it.

You can’t pretend it doesn’t exist.

You can’t invent an alternative for it.

You can’t claim it does not apply to you.

You can’t get so busy you don’t think about it.

You can’t make enough money so it won’t affect you.

You can’t . . .

You must—

—answer one question:

What shall I do with Jesus?

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Inspirational, Time
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