(As requested)
“. . . And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”
. —–His Book (Psalm 1)
UPDATE ON READER COMMENTS
September 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment
I reread all your comments and finally responded to all that I posted. Some were long overdue, and I apologize for that. Please read when you have time. Many of you inspired me to write a special reply that may never appear on the blog posts.
Thank you for your involvement. Keep reading. I’ll do my best in writing.
THANKS
September 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Thanks to all who responded to “? ? ? HOPE ? ? ?” and “DELIGHTFUL MEDITATION.” I just got back to my own computer, and I will answer individually as quickly as I can.
Time is running out soon for America at the crossroads. Hope may be running out even sooner. We may not have all the answers, but we must spread the word on everything we do know for sure.
WHEN GOD DOESN’T FIT
September 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Do you ever feel like saying, “Why, God, Why?”
I can’t imagine anyone never saying it in a lifetime.
I also notice that “It’s Not Fair” is not just for kids to say.
Something is definitely wrong with this world. Does that mean something is wrong with God?
I have listened to answers all my life, and read good books like When God Doesn’t Make Sense and When Your Rope Breaks. Yet, it can still be very hard when life backs you into a corner and everything blows up in your face.
My personal conclusion is like this:
First, the longer I live, the more I realize how much bigger God is than I am. He knows all, including answers to questions I don’t even know how to ask properly. Fact is—God doesn’t fit—He doesn’t fit into our brain. He will not change to fit the billions of different expectations of every human being, including mine.
Second, the longer I live, the more I find comfort reading the Bible. I have graciously been given a personal relationship with the author. I don’t deserve that relationship. It doesn’t fit my expectations or answer all my questions. But it is true, and it makes all the difference in the world.
9 – 11 REVIVAL ?
September 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment
9-11-01 brought America to its knees in the good sense that it brought many Americans to their knees in prayer.
Churches were filled, Congress sang “God Bless America” on the Capitol steps, special church services in Washington were broadcast nationally.
America turned to God—because we had to.
People asked God questions about tragedy.
God got our attention (and we needed that).
BUT, FOR HOW LONG?
Every observer agrees that the 9 – 11 Revival did not last.
So, what is a real revival, and what does it take to make it last?
There are two ways it could happen, with one common ingredient.
We could have another national tragedy—a sustained disaster this time—where God gets our attention again, and keeps our attention. That means real, continued prayer and permanent changes in people’s lives.
Or, we could have that real, continued prayer and changes in people’s lives without the tragedy, simply by a move of the Spirit of God.
It happened before the Revolutionary War. It happened before the Civil War. It happened before the World Wars. It was called Great Awakening.
Can we make it happen now? I don’t know. All I know is that you, and I, can choose to get totally serious before God.
AMERICA’S WAR(S) FOR INDEPENDENCE
September 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment
1775-1783 America’s First War for Independence
1812-1815 America’s Second War for Independence
2012 America’s Third War for Independence
Americans have forgotten how to fight.
Americans have forgotten how to revolt.
Americans have forgotten how to sacrifice.
Americans have lost our passion for freedom.
Americans have long forgotten that the will for independence came from pulpits for decades prior to the revolution.
Americans have delegated all fighting and sacrifice to our military and their families. Thank God for them, but they can’t do it alone, while we conduct business as usual back here at home.
The American Revolution quickly hit home for everyone and every family. They did what they had to do, beyond their comfort, and became free.
Are we too comfortable to fight in 2012?
If we lose this Third War for Independence, we lose everything we gained in the first two Wars for Independence.
Please read message on July 5. 2012.
RETIREMENT ?
September 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment
“I will say to myself, ‘You have very much stuff stored up for many years. Take it easy, eat, drink, and be merry.’
BUT,
God said, ‘You fool; this night your soul will be required of you. Then whose will all these things be, which you have provided.’
So is he who stores up treasures for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
. —–His Book
TRUTH
September 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment
TRUTH ?
What is it?
Where is it?
Who’s got it?
At the big university in Austin, Texas, there is a library with an infamous tower (used for a mass murder decades ago). At the base of this tower, engraved in concrete in very large letters, is a very bold statement about truth.
“AND YOU SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE.”
That has been there for a very long time. I sometimes wonder in today’s culture, if some may reconsider it’s appropriateness. Many say you can’t “know the truth,” and that truth is kind of up for grabs. And the university isn’t exactly known for old-fashioned conservatism.
I wonder if that murderer who shot people from the top of that library tower ever read the partial quote outside. One thing is sure—he never knew the rest of the quote—and especially, he never knew the author.
You see, I am closing with the complete quotation, and am pleased to tell you that I know the author.
“THEN JESUS SAID TO THOSE JEWS WHO BELIEVED IN HIM, ‘IF YOU CONTINUE IN MY WORDS, THEN YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES INDEED, AND YOU SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE.’ ” —–His Book
DELIGHTFUL MEDITATION
September 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and in His law he meditates day and night.”
. —–His Book (from Psalm 1)
Note: all categories of life
SUFFERING
September 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
“When I get to heaven, I will recognize Jesus right away because of all the time spent in the fellowship of His suffering.
. —–Joni Erickson Tada