“…that also ye may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with [H]is Son Jesus Christ.”  (1 John 1)

One of the great blessings in the Christ-ian faith is fellowship with God and fellowship between the brethren. John teaches us if we have true fellowshio with God, we will walk in the light with God AND with one another and again, this is a blessed fact, truth, and experience. In fact it is written, if we have not fellowship with one another and walk in the light, we cannot have fellowship with the brethren and we make God a liar.

John asks us, how we can love God and fellowship with God and then hate our brethren?  He asks further, how can we hate the brethren, the sons of God, and then say we love God, for, he says, we have never seen God and we see our brethren clearly. These are important questions, to be sure. These questions can not be passed over, ignored, and hope they go away. Brethren, we must love each other. There can be no doubt, none.

What are some of the blessings found in this brotherhood?
*Love.
*Recognition.
*Honesty.
*Freedom and liberty.
*Inclusiveness.
*Understanding.
*Open and loving reproof and rebuke.
*Forgiveness.
*Unity and oneness.
*Watchfulness.
*Prayer, one for another.
*And so much more.

All  of the above falls under the first point which is love.  Within love there is recognition of weakness, flaws, strengths, and one’s place in Christ. Honesty about who/what we are and who others, in Christ are. Freedom and in this freedom to love God and to do as we will within the boundaries of God’s love for us. We must recognize the freedoms other’s have in Christ as well. Inclusiveness in the body of Christ, this goes with the above, we must be inclusive with all of God’s Blooed bought saints and not only those that agree in every point with us. Understanding not everyone will agree with us and the fact that we often do not even agree with ourselves in all points.

Other blessing of fellowship, we, as brethren should be able to bring up differences, we must be able to reprove and rebuke others AND accept their rebuke and reproof, for this is a sign, a proof, a fruit of wisdom.  This rebuke or reproof, if given in a spirit of love, equality, understanding, identification of one’s own weaknessES, humility and fairness, the reproof and or rebuke SHOULD be, SHOULD be, Should be, received as it is meant. However, if this reproof/rebuke is given in the spirit of “gotcha,” condescention, “holier-than-thou-ism,” superiority, power and control, it probably will not be accepted, even in true, for the above negative traits overshadow the truth.

We have disagreed with many and many have disagreed with us. That disagreement has cost me their friendship, not my frienship toward them but theirs toward me. Sometimes, the other accepted me and my thoughts, changed their whatever and sometimes they didn’t. Sometimes, I had to change and sometimes I did not have to. One never knows what the other will do, but past performnce predicts future actions.  Sometimes I am pretty close to certain how someone will respond. We have one brother we had to confront and we even told them their response will prove them to be one of Solomon’s wise men or one of Solomon’s fools. They were one of Solomon’s fools as they responded with anger and harshness, this is what I expected. I also expected our brotherhood to continue and it did. This is a mark of brotherhood and friendship.

Other times one will say, all is well, will receive a rebuke/reproof, and never speak to me again. This has happened to me recently.  Someone I have known and loved for decades turned on me, like a pro-wrestler turns on a friend in order to turn heel or bad guy. I was surprised…that’ll never happen again, by this harsh, and vitriolic attack. This brother, as I see it, thought I was correcting him or challenging him, all seems to have worked out, but my discernment tells me our friendship, on his side is dead, and maybe never reaaly existed, though our brotherhood can never be broken for that is rooted in Christ, nor can my love towards him , for that, too, is in Christ.

Forgiveness is a blessing within the brotherhood.  There will come atime when we all will have to forgive another and there will come a time when another will have to foregive us. Though forgiveness should not be a difficult subject, it can be and that is due to it’s importance. Regardless of one’s understanding of all the intricacies of forgiveness, The releasing of one’s debt to us and one’s debt to God is a must.  One’s debt to God?  What are you talking about, preacher? If I offend someone or if someone offende me, what is that to God?

When one sins, one sins against God. It matters not who else is involved.  When David sinned against his family, Bathsheba, Uriah, and ultimately the kingdom, David sinned foremost against God, “Against [T]hee have I sinned, and gainst [T]hee only have i sinned.

Reader, when you sin against self or others, your primary sin and your primary responsibility is to seek God’s forgiveness first for it was against God you sinned first.  Whatsoever one declares on earth is declared in heaven. when one sins against us, they sin against God. If we forgive them not, neither will God. When we forgive them, so to will God. The thief on the cross was forgiven by God as Christ forgave Him and those soldiers that nailed Christ to the Cross wer forgiven by God because Christ forgave them. That does not mean all of thee soldier’s sins were forgiven but the nailing of Christ’s Body would not beheld against them.

Unity and oneness with God, is agreat blessing in our faith. We are united to Christ in several different ways, but space denies us the opportunity to expound here and now. As we are united to Christ, we are united to one another in an inexpressably blessed bond. It is a great relief and gift, to the person who understands one’s unity to God, through Christ and on’e bond to the body of Christ through the Spirit of Christ.

Another great blessing and gift that begets peace is the watchfulness and vigilance we each exercise for one another in the Name of Him that sees all things, God’s [E]ye’s are upon the just and the unjust,”  “Christ looked around, seeing all things…”  Paul tells us to “watch unto prayer.”  Christ tells us to “Watch and pray,”  and  “Watch.”  We are to watch out for our brothers and sisters. We are to be caring of others, but “especially them of the house of faith.”  It has been pointed out that when we where the whole armour of God, we are protected all over our body, except the back and that is because we are to watch one another’s back and expect our’s to be watched also.  I know not how true this is regarding armour, but the sentiment is good and sound.

When the world says, “I’ve got your back,” trust it not. As the world says, “i’ve got your back,” the Christ-ian says,  “Your back is my back and my back is your back”,  Soldiers would often fight back to back in tandem, in threes (3’s) and in a diamond of our (4) packs, fighting while revolving.  This is the fighting position of the brotherhood, we partake in spiritual combat and conflict, on our knees, with our swords drawn and our eyes closed and the whirlwind of God surrounding us.

Another blessing of the brotherhood is prayer one for another. In the Scriptures we do not find the apostles praying for themselves very often, they do, of course, but it is not recorded. They teach ous to pray for others. In Matthew nine (9) we find: a leper praying for self and Christ honouring and answering his request. We find a centurion praying for another and Christ honouring, and being honoured by the request. Later in chapter nine (9), we see Christ healing Peter’s mother in law without being asked

[SideNote…Why didn’y Peter ask for his wife’s mother’s fever?  Did he not know or did he not think to?  I bet Peter felt as we all feel when someone’s prayer is answered and we realize we did not pray for that person like we said we would, we have the feeling of missing out. Pray for others and do not miss out.].

One point that is often overlooked in regards to intercessory prayer, when we pray for another, the other must pray as well or desire the answer as well. This is not a fact in stone but a general truth. I have a brother and I want that brother to meet a Christ-ian woman that turns his entire world upside down and inside out.” I have prayed for this. However, this is not his desire, he enjoys the single life. Enjoying the single life is good and fine and should NOT be looked down upon or pitied. Paul even said, it is good for a brother to live a single life unto God…if he can handle that desire which burns within.  If he cannot it is better to marry.

Outside of Christ this can prove to be difficult AND corrupting, the catholic priesthood is an example.  However, one that is in Christ may very well live a singlehood lifestyle, worship and serve God, rightly and in purity. In other words, though I might pray for a Christ-ian wife for my brother and he does not desire the same, God will not force my want upon him, but on the other hand, if I am praying for a Christ-ian wife for my brother, and he wants it not, but it is God’s will for him…he will be married.  And he will learn “marriage is not a word but a sentence.”  Percy Blakeny, Ha Ha.

The prayer equations looks like this:
*My prayer + A brother’s non-prayer + God’s indifference, so to speak =’s  No.
*My prayer + A brother’s prayer + God’s Will in the negative =’s No.
*My prayer + A brother’s prayer + God affiming will =”s Yea.
*My prayer + A brother’s non-will + God’s affirming will =’s Yea.
*God’s will + / – anything / nothing =’s Yea.

There are many, so very, very, many other blessings included in the Christ-ian brotherhood of love,  recognition, honsety, freedom/liberty, undertsanding, openness, forgiveness, unity, watchfulness. and prayer (Instantness of prayer, ceaselessness of prayer, oneness of prayer, intercession of prayer, intervention of prayer, etc.)

Brethren (Sisters included, the word brother, makes it more simple), let us not deny God, ourselves, and others by taking this, Blessed and Spirit-filled Brotherhood in Christ and under God, for granted.  What a loss it would be and is for so many.

Godspeed.

P.S. Agin pleze forgorw mt. mispelin”s adn punt,iation-s mistaks, I had two get me goinf.?

“Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.”  (Matthew 18)

Can a Christ-ian understand the deep and rich truths and doctrines of God and forget the most basic and simple of our Lord’s precepts? The answer is, of course.

In Revelation two (2) Christ says, “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my [N]ame’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works…”

In the passage from Revelation we find Christ’s ministers doing what is right, good, and sound.  The ministers dealt with and eshewed evil, listened to claims and doctrines made by professing teachers, claiming they teach in Christ’s Name, “…which say they are apostles and art not…”  These ministers laboured and fainted not and all was done in Christ’s Name and rightly so.  BUT…BUT…BUT or “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee…” says their Lord and Master.

What was their failing? They left and forgot the basics, the first works. These ministers were DOING everything right and DOING it for the sake of Christ, but while they were DOING everything right, they forgot about loving the One they were serving!!!

Let me use an analogy. A parent is planning a huge birthday for a child. The facility is rented, the parents has purchased all the balloons and party supplies. The entertainment is booked, all the quests have been invited and have RSVP’d. Everything is ready and set. Everyone is in their places, the food is prepared, but the parent forgot to pick the child up from school.  You see? the parent forgot the child while doing everything for the child.

In the paragraph above we see what we often do and can fall into.  We can be so busy serving our Lord and forget to love HIm and bask in His love during our service to Him. I heard about a man that said, “If their isn’t work in Heaven, I don’t want to go.”  This is as ignorant as saying, “I’ll be happy with a shack on the backside of Heaven.”  It is as ignorant as the sinners are when they say, “I’ll party with my fiends in hell.”  Reader, if you are not loving the Lord while serving the Lord, you are in the flesh and all your work will burn like wood, hay, and stubble.

Reader, if you are not worshiping the Lord and only serving the Lord, you are like Martha who was “cumbered about” with DOING, when Mary chose the better and was sitting at the Feet of Christ. It is written, God seeks worshipers. Woship ALWAY, ALWAYS, ALWAYS comes before service. BUT, service can be done while worshiping, too. They need not be separate all the time, but must be separate some of the time.  Worship and Service are twin to each other, just as Justification is twin to Sanctification, and Repentance is twin to Belief. One can never do the latters before the formers, never, never, never.

First things must be first, one’s Christianity or faith is built precept upon precept, and one is taught line by line. As said above, one must be justified before one can be sanctified or begin progressive sanctification.  One must repent before one CAN believe. And one must, must, must be a worshiper and lover of Christ before one can begin to serve Him right or to serve Him in a way He will accept. Remember there will be persons at the judgment that are certain of their acceptance by Christ because of all they have done. However, Christ responds to them with, “I never knew you.”  These persons were basing their assurance upon works and serving.

It is ugly to behold a believer that is so sound in all the doctrines of Scripture, but forgets to be loving and kind to those around them.

What are the basics of the faith?
*Love God more than anyone and anything and enJOY His Presence in your life.
*Love and enJOY your salvation and all the freedom and liberty it gives to you.
*Love others, love the brethren, neighbors, and enemies.
*Do right and be good.
*Mind your own business.
*Do what you do for Christ. Look past persons, bosses, corporate and do what you do for Christ.
*Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. In other words, treat others how you want to be treated….this is basic stuff but this is the stuff we forget while we are studying the deep things of God.
*Forgive them that seek your forgiveness.
*Go to those who have wronged you, like the king of Christ’s parable that, “would take account of his servants.” In terms of forgiveness, which was the point of Christ’s parable, one is to go to the offender and speak to the offense and settle it. Sometimes, Reader, the offender doesn’t know they have offended, it is like a deceiver who is being deceived.

[SideNote: Reader, there are persons who are professional offendees and they work full time, twenty-four-seven (24/7). These types are offended by anything and everything, they seek to be offended in order to draw attention to themselves. Once attention is on them they begin to gossip, backbite, slander, defame, and ruin reputations. These persons find their pleasure in the harm they cause. Rest assured, Reader, God knows.]

A point on forgiveness:
Forgiveness is to be a formal exchange. Forgiveness is to bring persons together to give a release of a moral or ethical wrong doer. Did God forgive you before you repented and confessed? NO He didn’t, that’s a major point of the Gospel. So how can one forgive another who is not sorry?

One cannot be bitter and be right with God and self; but one cannot forgive a wrong without that wrong being dealt with, that’s the economy of God. That was the point of Christ’s parable; the certain king wanted to, “take account of his servants.”

In other words, you are the king, you are the offended, and you are to take responsibility of the situation and bring the offfense to the offender and settle things, bury things, and forgives things. But Reader, if you forgive without the offender caring or knowing about it, You have become more merciful than God. Does that sound right?

Godspeed.

“And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and everyone by his neighbor…”  (Isaiah 3)

“Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad…”  (Ecclesiasties 7)

“For I am in a strait betwixt two…”  (Philipppians 1)

“The people pressed upon [H]im…And [H]e entered into one of the ships and prayed [Peter] that he would trust out a little from the land And [H]e sat down, and taught the people…”  (Luke 5)

“...He is beside [H]imself.”  (Mark 3)

“…Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.”  (Acts 26)

Reader,  Did you read the titles and the Scripture texts from above and think to yourself, “I understand that,”  or  “I get it,”  or in todays loose and over-used lingo, “I feel like…”  This article will be (DV) about oppression, it’s nature, it’s causes, it’s effects, and how to deal with it.

The main word we are looking at is oppression.  Oppression can be visualized in the mind’s eye as being squeezed, pushed down, having pressure applied from all sides so that one is completely straitened, think Luke, Leia, and Solo in the trash compactor. Think of an anaconda compressing and crushing it’s prey with every attempted breathe.  Think of a horde of zombies surrounding or encompassing a person and closing in on that person until that person is gone.  Can you see oppression in your minds eye?  This demonstrates the nature of oppression or how it acts upon it’s victim or subject.

Oppression is different from depression.  When thinking of depression, we see in our mind’s eye a force that take everything out of it’s victim, depression squeezes everything out of a person and oppression squeezes it’s victim but everything is kept in with no outlet, everything is crushed inside of the victim of oppression.  Make sense?

In the passages above we see oppression will drive a wise man into madness, We see every person being oppressed by neighbors, inthe stead of loving thy neighbor, it is oppress and destroy thy neighbor.

We see from above how Paul was thought mad due to his “much learning.”  We see our Lord Jesus being so pressed upon by the crowd that He was forced into a ship. we also see our Lord, “beside [H]imself,” as we was caught up or even overwhelmed by the people’s need for attention and healing, everyone wanted something and Christ was the Only One Who could provide it. It was supply and demand “on steroids,” if you will.  By relieving the (op)pressing and demanding crowd, He looked as though He was mad. I connect “beside [H]imself” with madness due to the last passage from above, Paul was “beside himself” and was considered to be mad. His accuser was using hypebole, I’m sure but you see the point.

Oppression is greater than everyday pressure or stress, Oppression is a constant pressing upon a person’s mind and this oppression effects the will and the body, as well as the emotions and mental state. Oppression is a crushing and squeezing pressure upon one’s whole person and this oppression is applied by outside agents. This is another way it differs from depression. Depression is from within, it is organic, it is an enemy that is domestic, oppression is a foreign enemy. This paragraph and the above is the nature of oppression.

What are the causes of felt oppression or what or who are the agents that weaponize pressure and stress against us?

Oppression is an enemy that is premeditated in it’s intentions and it has plans for your life and they are not good.  The plans are to destroy you and to put you or hold you down, it wants you to keep your mouth shut and to stay in lockstep.

Everyone gets  “stressed out” by responsibilities, whether they be professional or work based, or familial pressures, or pressure from one’s peers. A boss, a family, a friend, an associate all can cause us to feel pressured and stressed, but this is not oppression, oppression is maniacle, malicious, and has an agenda. The demonic oppresses before it possessess.

In the world there is a great enemy that has weaponized stress and pressure, making it Oppressive, in nature. This enemy does not want to hear what you think, though it tells you, “see something, say something.” This enemy talks about a “national conversation” on issues but in this conversation, you are muted and your expression is suppressed.  This enemy calls you to a conversation, not to hear from you, but to know who you are and where you rest. This enemy wants to draw you in so that it knows who to shut down and to shut up.

Reader, am i talking to a wall or do you see what we’re talking about?

Political correctness is the epitome of oppression. P/C says, “You can’t say that,”  when you should scream and shout it.  P/C says that is racism when it is not. P/C uses words like tolerence, intolerence, bigot, racist, hater, inclusive, community, phobic, club.

This enemy will say a white person is racist if s/he disagrees with a person of another race. If a police officer shoots a person of another race, the police officer immediately becomes racist and is a bigot. The police officer, who shoots and kills a person, does so not b/c the person was a criminal, or was threatening the safety of the officer and others, but the person was shot and killed because he was an innocent person of another race. This is how the enemy works and the masses fall for it all.

Who are these oppressors?
*Media: A media that is agenda driven and biased.
*Celebrity: Celebrities that use their status to “get out the vote” or in others words, oppress sycophants and their fan(atics) without them knowing it.  They sell it as freedom and liberty, but in truth, they speak lies and suppress what it true, good and right.
*The neighbor:  Political correctness is the cause of persons not being able to express themselves without fear of reprisal and labels. P/C has divided and exploited the different races of this world. Neighbors can be oppressessed and oppress others without wanting to or knowing they are being oppressive. How are they being oppressive, by bowing to the oppression

Scientology is a good example and it also uses oppression and suppression. When someone disagrees or wants out of their institution of blackmail and yes, oppressive agents, they are labeled as a  “Suppressive Person” or “SP.” This is code for a person who thinks for themselves and rebels against the wicked system.

How can one escape this oppression, this oppressive and suppressive enemy?
The answer is simple in theory, but difficult in practice.  How does one escape oppression? Do not allow anyone, any movement, any institution, or any authority to oppress you.

In summary:  The only way to escape this oppressive enemy is to do what our Lord when the people pressed upon Him.  He got into a boat and distanced Himself from the pressure. What did He do when He was at a distance from the people?  He preached, He spoke, He shouted.  One must shout, speak and preach against this enemy and let the bodies hit the floor.

Godspeed.

“…for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb…”

As I have done before, I’m going to write (DV) about something I have written about before. I do this from time to time because we have written over four hundred and fifty (450) articles and most readers are not readers of every article. Also, as the Scriptures are living, they reveal more and more as one continues to study.

In this article, we will write about Samson (DV) and lessons one can learn from his life.
*Christ foreshadows and is a strong Christ figure.
*Samson walked by sight and faith and struggled with the lust of the eyes and the pride      of life.
*Samson demonstrates the great grace and longsuffering of God.

Samson is a strong, strong Christ figure. Samson shows us what it would have been like if Christ went rogue. Samson’s birth was announced by the angel of the LORD as was the birth of our Lord Jesus. This angel said his name was “secret.”  Our English word secret is translated from the Hebrew word, “Wonderful.” I’m not dogmatic on this, but is not our Lord Jesus called “Wonderful” in Isaiah nine (9), …”and [H]is [N]ame shall be called Wonderful…” Many believe the angel of the LORD is a Christophany or a preincarnate appearance of Christ.  Therefore, it was Christ Himself, if you hold to the angel of the LORD being preincarnate Christ, that announced the birth of Samson!!!

One cannot be dogmatic on this point either; Samson shows or demonstrates to The Christ of God or more appropriately, the Word, how the world would receive Him and oppose Him and be the cause or human agent of the Christ’s murder. Another point of Christ figuring is the great actions and great lengths Samson went to for the women in his life. Christ died, fought in Hell, and rose again for His bride, the church.

Another point of interest is the body of Samson. Most think Samson was a very muscular man and think Hercules is like Samson. The movies and other images of Samson depict him as being BIG and muscular. However, are we not told, God chooses the weak, base, and foolish to perform His will? Samson was NOT a BIG and muscular man, he did not have the body of an Arnold Schwarzenegger or rather Arnold does not have a body type like Samson (Perspective). Samson was an average looking man and he pre-figures Christ in that way too, “[H]e hath no form or comeliness; and when we shall see [H]im, there is no beauty that we should desire [H]im.”

The body of Christ, the church is made up of weak, base, and foolish persons. However, in Christ, the weak person is made strong, the base person is lifted and exalted, and the foolish are made wise. The body of Christ is analogous with Samson’s body, in that the body of Christ is average, meek, humble, and, POWERFUL, MIGHTY and has God’s Spirit upon it and in it.

Another point Samson prefigures the Christ is in his death.  Imagine the form or profile of Samson’s body when he died.  Samson’s feet were close together and his arms were out stretched when he collapsed the arena by pushing the stabalizing pillars apart. Samson died for his people and his God.

Samson, as shown above, pre-figures the Christ in many ways, however, Samson is nothing like Christ in other ways. Samson was a man that broke vows that were imposed upon him by a Sovereign God that sits in [H]eaven and does as [H]e pleases. Samson was a man that had lust of the eyes, he saw a woman and he had to have her and there was no saying no. Christ is and was a Man that is always about His Father’s work and never fails or failed or broke a covenant.

When the angel of the LORD announced God’s plans to Manoah and his wife and gave them vows that must be kept, they were: No shaving of the hair, no strong drink, and no touching of dead things, these are vows of a Nazarite. Samson broke them all. God still loved him and still used him. God is gracious and very longsuffering. Samson’s hair was not the source of his power and strength, but a symbol.

Samsons’s Source of Strength was the Spirit of God.  The Spirit gave Samson his power and strength, just as He gave David the ability to jump a wall, kill a lion, kill a bear, and kill a GIANT. Samson lived a lost life but was a great servant of the LORD.  Samson was what Luther calls “Simul Justus et Peccator,”  a saint and a sinner at the same time. Does that remind you, Reader, of thyself? Samson is mentioned in Hebrews eleven (11) as an example of a person of faith.

It is true, Samson did wrong, but he still loved God and God still loved him.  Some think these cannot co-exist but they do. Some persons would go spiritually crazy over a dynamic like this.  Did not Paul say, “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful unto me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”  The trouble Samson found was due to “all things” bringing him under [their] power.

[Side note: This may make some angry but i’m going to write it anyway. Have you ever noticed, in your Christ-ian experience, how God seems to bless and love “screw-up” Christ-ians more than those that are rigid and legalistic?]
In Samson, we learn that God looks more at one’s love for Him, in the stead of looking at one’s sins against Him. Call me heretick and get uptight and while you are doing that, I’ll be rejoicing in God’s love for those who are saints and sinners at the same time.  Legalist, Legalist, come forth and be loosed from thy grave clothes!!!

Christ-ianity is not about one’s sin against God but rather one’s love and enjoyment of God and God’s love and enjoyment of His children, in Christ!!!!!!  God is the Father of His Children and not the Judge of them…God treats us as a loving Father treats His children, that’s why He chose to take the Name of Father, get it?

Of course, I am not making sin and sins a small matter, no, not at all. Sin, however must not be the main focus of the Christ-ian, we have been saved from sin’s penalty, sin’s pleasure, sin’s power, and some sweet day, sin’s presence. As a Christ-ian grows more and more Christ-like, as the Fruit of the Spirit ripens, as partaker’s of the divine nature, we will sin less and less, we’ll never be sinless in this stage of our eternal life, but we will certainly sin less as we advance in our predestinated end.

Samson’s God demonstrates for us grace, longsuffering, faithfulness, and excitement.  Samson’s God is my God, is He yours? Really and in all seriousness, is Samson’s God your God too? I hope He is.

“[Simon the sorceror said], Give me also this power…”  (Acts 8)

“…a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination…”  (Acts 16)

In the two (2) passages above we have (What I believe) shows us a man who “bewitched” or tricked the persons around him with his “magic” or sleight of hand.  In the second (2nd) passage, however, we have the real deal.  If one turns to the Old Testament, they will find King Saul engaging the services of a witch in Endor and she, too, was the real deal.  In the times when our Lord Jesus walked on this earth, there had been others that tried to take the mantle of Messiah and present themselves as the promised Deliverer of God’s people.

One problem the fakes cause is the effect of unbelief.  If a “psychic” is proven a fraud and most are, they cause many to disbelieve in the possibility of the genuine article. This is one reason that God put a very high punishment…the ultimate cost upon the false prophet.  In the Old Testament, the false prophet was to be killed if his specific prophecies were not accurate.

Many false psychics research their victim, they scower anything and everything: public records, articles, pictures, yearbooks, and they even will eavesdrop on friends and families. Sometimes they have assistants that help them.  This is how faith healers victimize their Biblically illiterate sychophants.

Some persons have called me psychic and another even asked if I’m CIA. I am neither and even if I were CIA, I would have to kill you if I admitted it.  I have trained myself to observe others and make inferences from small (thought insignificant) details. I quickly tell them I am not psychic but an observer of human nature.  I probably am wrong as many times as I am right and I can look for a book and not find it when it is right in front of me.  I search high and low for my glasses when they are in my shirt pocket.

The point of this article is: The Christ-ian believer must be a skeptic, in order to protect and believe in the real thing. For example, one must doubt a faith healer until or if one experiences his gift for themselves or eliminates every other trick of the trade. Exorcists, before they will seek to perform an exorcism, will have the person, in question, examined by medical doctors and psychatrists in order to eliminate all other possibilities.  There is a Biblical principle, that is given us by the many false religions of the world.  This principle states, one can recognize the false and fake by comparing it to the real and true. For this to work, one must be very familiar with the real and the true.

Is there a possibility of a faith healer? I do believe a person of faith can anoint another person of faith with oil and beseech God to heal, help, give grace, etc. and see the person healed. Can a child of God call upon God and in the Name of Christ, ask Him for a healing and receive that healing, I certainly do.

Do I believe a person has the gift of healing with him all the time and can heal anyone at anytime? This I am highly skeptical of but I cannot rule it out completely.  Is Benny Hinn or the likes of Hinn, the genuine article?  Methinks, Nope. Why not?  A person with that kind of gift would, by necessity, be also gifted with the spirit of humility and the spiritual fruit, meekness. Benny Hinn and his ilk or company of con men have neither. They are all show and that is diametrically opposed to meekness.

Persons like David Blaine and Chris Angel are examples, methinks, of the the girl from Acts sixteen (16).  These two (2), I posit, are possessed by demons. I think most Christ-ians get a bad “vibe” off of these two (2) “magicians.” This is akin to the spirit bearing witness to another’s spirit, we wrote about above. This speaks to John’s exhortation to “test the spirits.” I know some readers and others may think these things we’re writing about, in this article, are silly but these readers and the others “[have] a form of godliness but deny the power thereof.” These are spiritual persons that deny the spiritual. It is sad when a Christ-ian takes the supernatural out of the things of God. Not only do these persons “deny the power thereof” they deny themselves the excitement of their Christ-ian faith.

There is one thing impostors and fakes are scared of and hate. The fakes dread the genuine article.  The prosperity preachers and fa(ke)ith healers hate and dread and run from the genuine article, the real thing. The false prophets in scripture hated the true prophets and wanted nothing to do with them.

This also speaks to why professing Christ-ians or “brothers so called” dislike the real Christ-ian and discord is sewn among the brethren. The fundementalist or legalist despises the person of Christ-ian faith and liberty…not only do they despise them, they fear them. Both recognize the other for what they are and both know this about each other and it causes a schism. This is why fundementalists or legalist and the liberated Christ-ian repel one another or rather the legalists pushes the “Lord’s freeman” away.

An analogy for the above: a King snake and a Coral snake look very much alike to persons. The King snake is non-poisonous but the Coral snake is very poisonous. The markings of the King snake are red, black, and yellow. The markings on the Coral snake are the same, except red meets yellow instead of black.  “Red meets yellow, kills a fellow; Red meets black, don’t turn back. Also the King snake is immune to all other poisonous snakes, and the King snake, in fact, eats other snakes. When the Red Blood of Christ meets up with the color of fear, yellow, in a person that despises liberty, that is a dangerous fellow. When the Red Blood of Christ meets the blackness of sin in a fellow, he becomes the Lord’s fellow.

Godspeed.

“And they that passed by [H]im reviled, wagging their heades…”  (Matthew 27)

“A naughty person…winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers…”  (Proverbs 6)

“Then Paul…beckoning with his hands…”  (Acts 13)

“…A proud look…”  (Proverbs 6)

“And he settled his countenance stedfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept. And Hazael said, Why weepeth thou my lord? And [Elisha] answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel…”

“Jesus perceived their thoughts…”  (The Gospels)

In this article, (DV), we will look at the temper, inner workings of the mind and the effect small gestures have on persons. The loss of one’s temper is an ugly, ugly thing, especially in a professing and proclaiming child of God. The Proverbs tells us that a person that can control his spirit is greater than a man that takes an entire city by force.  This means taking charge of one’s emotions and outbursts, and thoughts is harder than a general, with soldiers, under his authority, overtaking  a city or performing a coup!!!  It also means, a person that appears to be in control of many things, outwardly,  may yet be unable to control one’s self inwardly or when alone or among those that know him intimately.

The BTK (Bind, Torture, Kill) killer, Radar was the “president” of his church…whatever that is, and he was the city officer of city ordinances.  This man was a pillar of his community, he had a good family, and he remained hidden for decades.  John Wayne Gacy, was a member of aaallllllsorts of community boards, was another “pillar” of his community, a member of a church, played a clown for children’s parties, he had a wife and had seventeen (17) young men buried in his basement. The Green River Killer, Gary Ridgeway also held down a steady job, had a wide and was “perfectly normal” until it was discovered he was a prolific killer of prostitutes. Ed Gein, the inspiration to “Psycho,” Michael Myers of “Halloween,” fame and other movie killers.  He had an apron made of the front of a woman’s torso, and ate his breakfast out of the top part of human skulls.

Yeah, I know whats out there.  All of the above were men who were respected and considered good and decent men and men of the community, some were considered “Christ-ian.”  It is true that one can be judged according to their fruits, it is also true that some cannot be judged because their fruit grows underneath.

Persons, people, and the media call the above persons and their ilk, “Monsters” and or sick.  These men are not monsters and they are only sick because psychologists labeled their wiring.  These men are human men that are effected by the fall and have been “made” by a society that ignores them or are simply born bad. Many of the men above had compulsions and could not control these impulses or were to weak to do so. Some would say, “Yeah, but they don’t carry on these things in prison. I would say, maybe not but that is due to the limits placed upon them by authority.  However, trust me when I say, they continue their murders in their mind’s eye and remember what Christ said about the man who looks upon a woman.

Did you know Ted Bundy was a volunteer on a suicide hotline?  Did you know Jeffrey Dahmer was the class clown of his school and liked by many. Did you know many pedophiles are priests and legalistic preachers?

Joan Crawford, a HUGE movie star in the golden age of television and was idolized by many A celebrity, who even had a movie and a TV series produced that portrayed her life, was a terrible mother who abused her child?  The title, “Wire Hangers,” from above is a reference to a scene from the movie, “Mommy Dearest,” where Crawford, was depicted beating her daughter for using wire hangers and she used the wire hanger to do it.

My point is, a person is not on the inside, what they portray on the outside…know this, Reader.  Know this also, a person is driven from the inside and as Christ said, that which is on the inside defiles the person, HOWEVER…

HOWEVER, the outside can imply, inform and even betray much of what is on the inside. Head gestures, eyes, feet, fingers, hands, the face, and facial movements can speak volumes as to what a person is thinking, thinks, feels, and will do. The passages chosen and written above all speak to the abiblity to reading a person by small gestures.

Did you know that feet point to the direction a person wants to go, generally speaking, blinking eyes say much, the directions a person has their legs crossed or their arms crossed can tell you how a person is feeling toward or about another. There are ways to tell which way a person leans politically and sexually by eye movement and hands, respectively.

TAKE HEED, Reader, the inferences I speak of in the last two (2) paragraphs are general and not true of all persons or correct at all times.  For instance, a person that says, “Uhh,” a lot can be a slow thinker or a very deep and intelligent person searching for the proper word or recalling something deep in the catalogue or file cabinent of the mind. Understand, only God can read the heart perfectly all the time. Only God can perceive all thoughts, only Christ knows what is in all men all the time.  God in His mercy, and for our enjoyment and sometimes safety, has allowed us differing measures of discernment.  A well trained fighter or a well trained reader of persons can sometimes know when an opponent or outraged and violent person is about to strike.

The above speaks to a well studied person on human nature, body language, and those with large measures of discerment.and persons that have wide experiences and have learned from them. However, it does not take such training or divine gifting to know a wagging or shaking head, a wave of the hand, or the rolling of the eyes shows disrespect and dishonour.  My point? Reader, watch what you say with your bodies. A simple roll of the eyes or a wagging head, or a show of disregard with the hand can really hurt and effects others.

The palms of Christ that are upward show invitation, the downward palms show judgment…AND can show blessing.  When reading a person know the context of the persons mindset before reading their mind or body language.

Those that wear dark glasses are not always blind, those that walk with canes, and beggars are not always poor and needy.

Godspeed.

“He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and a shame unto him.                                                                                                                                     (Proverbs 18:13)

“I have fed you with milk, and not meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.”  (1 Corinthians 3)

“Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made you free.”  (Galatians 5)

I have said this before and I will say it again and again after this (DV), I am happy to have not a larger ministry when I write on certain topics because I know certain topics would have adverse effects upon this preacher/writer.  Adverse effects as criticism, the nonconstructive type like loss in church memberships, credibility, wagging heads, be blames for dividing relationships, lynchings, burning crosses, being dragged by horses, etc. In my capacity, I can get away with way much more than can my counterparts.  In other words I can speak my mind without reprisals.

I have been an enjoyer of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer for decades. I never missed an episode AND I own all episodes, books, and many of the comics.  My daughter have learned many things from this program…many Christ-ian lessons!!! One (1) lesson being, God can use an atheist to produce a very Scriptural and sound television program. In this program one learns about bullying, ignoring others and making them outcasts (very applicable to out times, would you not say?).

This program that spoke through metaphor spoke to poor decision making as to sexual relations, drugs and anything that can become one’s master through addiction, self sacrifice, the loss of loved ones, standing alone for what is right, it speaks to being called to a special purpose and the loneliness that comes with it. It spoke of the reality to Noah, and the Crucifixion of Christ, and the power of the Cross to repel evil and to the power of wood over the enemy. To be truthful (and I’m certain, offensive) I could get a lot more out of an episode of “Buffy” than I could some sermons i have heard or subjected to.

Who could have a problem with the above? The person who would have a problem with this is one who is ignorant to Proverbs 23:13. The person who presumes upon something they know nothing of.

I confess I am did one that cares for Harry Potter. That is because, it just didn’t appeal to me, but it has nothing to do with witches, wizards and the like. In fact, Harry Potter, for the person who answers a matter before they hear it, is a straight plagiarism of the Gospel. Harry Potter was a boy despised by his family, was endowed with powers, was an outcast, hated by others that saw him as a threat, was opposed by an evil tempter, and had to die and rise again to save many.  Sound familiar?

People have a problem with the above examples yet are in favor of  “Christ-ians”  film, like the Russel Crowe led film, “Noah.”  In this film they had giant rock monsters and a Noah that wanted to killed a baby. I would rather see a movie that depicts my faith, in a metaphorical sense, than one that corrupts it or takes wild liberties with it, even if the writer or produce is an atheist.

The “Shield of faith.” What is the shield of faith for?  Is it not a defense of the world’s onslaught and the attack of this worlds’s god?  Of course it is.  Yet is it not written that God gives us richly, all things to enjoys?  The shield of faith allows us to enjoy the world without being tainted by the world.  I allowed by daughters to watch scary movies with me from a young age and they were not effects by them. I explained to them that the real world is far more dangerous and is a far greater threat than Michael Myers, Dracula, the Frankenstein monster, Ghostface,  the Wolf-man, etc.

I have, for years, heard others speak on the above, without ever seeing any of the above.  A person could watch the above on Saturday and on Sunday, hear the same topic preached from the pulpit. The person that answers a matter before hearing it is like the ignorant and stupid person that follows faith healing and prosperity ministries.  These persons are ignorant of the Scriptures. These persons that attend these faith healing minsters like Poppoff and his ilk are not Bible students or church attenders. If they are their pastor knows not about their bible ignorance or they are a poor shepherd. These attenders hear the lies and eats them out without researching or comparing the claims with Scripture. The Proverb 23:13 person hears something said about books and TV shows and without looking into it for themselves disqualify such programs, outright, as bad.

To be fair, I understand the perspective of some that speak against certain programs and books and other media without seeing or reading them for themselves.  I have heard some say, “Why watch or read something that God hates?” or “How can a believer watch something about vampires or glorifies something evil?” I have heard others use the other point of certain things being a gateway to others things.

However while I understand these points, I cannot abide them. To the first (1st) point about God hating things, this is to general.  Does God not hate the shedding of innocent blood, does God not hate profane speech, fornication, pride, the world system?  The answer is, Of course. How can anyone watch anything that does not in one way or another show these things?  However when these programs depict the above, they are shown in a negative light. In most horror movies the person who uses foul language and fornicate are usually the first ones to become fodder. As Paul said, if we are to escape all these things, we need leave the world.

The second (2nd) objection, the glorification of evil is used to demonstrate the great destruction of the glorified evil. the third (3rd) objection, is a fallacy and is motivated by fear. The gateway fallacy is also called the slippery slope fallacy or even the straw man. For example, Harry Potter will lead some to witchcraft. This could be true for a small percent. However, is the movie the problem or poor parenting?

In Buffy, one of the lessons taught is ineffective parenting or parents that are not knowledgeable to their children’s life. There was always a moral to the story that could not be missed. Buffy also demonstrated the harmful effects of treating others as outcasts. In two (2) episodes it showed the effects of those mistreated by the student body, both depicted the students lashing out through violence, one was a school shooting and this episode was made before school shootings became “cool.” The youth of America are not better off without this program.

Whenever my children saw something, that Proverbs 23:13 persons would object to, we would always discuss the spiritual or life lessons that should be understood by the program. There is always a way to turn anything into a life lesson or object lesson if the parent is involved in their child and can see through all the special effects and make-up.

A word on balance. A person should be balanced in all areas. While I have no problems with my kids reading or watching somethings as long as it is balanced out with spending time with God and His Word but this can be said with Christ-ian works A person that reads only works by Puritans will lean strongly one way that could be a problem if they are not balances with Christ-ian liberty or if they understand not that puritans would write and preach higher than their personal life.

If someone focuses solely on reformed theology and apologetics, they will be contentious spirits or contentious minded and always looking to squash someone in a debate. If someone focuses on Calvinism only, they may not seek to bring others to Christ. If some focus on anything in an unbalanced way they will be unbalanced. Another problem and danger is reading works by Christ-ians and not the Scriptures, themselves.

Let me be clear, if a child is obsessed with something and their parents are not focused on them, trouble will come. If a child watches and is interested only in dark subjects, wear clothing related to this obsession, act out in dark ways, and is not balanced by good and right things and is ignored by parents, only bad will come, but again, the main issue is the parenting. If there is a lack of active loving and attention in a family, the child or person will act out, regardless of pop culture.

Pop culture balanced with good and active parenting and the shield of faith will work out alright. If this is not true, faith and good parenting is not stronger that the god of this world and his influence!!!

A word about the bad seed. I believe some persons are born bad. I believe in both nurture and nature. A child born with a good mind without the proper nurture can become a sociopath. The psychopath, however, is born and their is little that can be done in terms of nurture. Even though a person may not be a born psychopath, they can still be more “dark side” even with nurturing. In fact, many a serial killer was raised in a religious home…a legalistic, overbearing, paranoid home, that is. However with this paragraph being written, some kids are raised in terrible homes and still come out right.

As written in the title, I am fully aware, that persons that are Proverbs 23:13 minded will not change their way of thinking and may become even more die-hard and legalistic, prideful and ignorant of things. These persons believe they know what is right and cannot be shown or convinced they are wrong. These persons believe what they believe and will not entertain another point of view.

I am KJV user and I appreciate and look at other versions and benefit from other versions but find myself a user of the KJV for definitive and sound study, it is the definitive Word of God for me. I do enjoy and glean much from comparing other versions with the KJV, notice I compare other versions with the KJV and not the other way around. The “New Living Translation” reads very fluidly and is good for pleasure reading. The KJV ER is the same. The Amplified is a good study commentary and says so in it’s introduction.  The AMP defines words and uses other words that give a light to some words. The user of the KJV and has set it as the standard for holiness has made it an idol and a sower of discord among the brethren.

In summary: The above Proverbs 23:13 person does not trust or really believe in the Sovereign God and has usurped the office of the Sovereign and guiding Holy Spirit of God. This cannot or should not be disputed and doubted. We are predestinated to be Christ-like and not to usurp the office of the Holy Spirit.  The legalistic, presuming, and judgmental Christ-ian is a usurper of and intruder in the office of the Holy Spirit, plainly and simply said.

Godspeed.

For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep [M]y sabbaths, and choose the things that please [M]e, and take hold of [M]y covenant; Even unto them will I give in [M]ine house and within [M]y walls a place and a name better than of the sons and of the daughters…”                                                                                                                                             (Isaiah 56)

“And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the women, burned in their lust one tpward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.”  (Romans 1)

Sin effects persons differently. To us there are BIGGER sins than others. We see murder as worse than theft and to us it is. God, on the other hand, views sin as sin. God sees sin in all it’s vainglory. God sees the corruption, the leprosy of sin, the canker of sin, the sinfulness of sin. God sees sin for the cancer it is in ways we do not. God knows where a sin will lead. God knows what is and what is not sin.

God knows what is sin and what is not sin. To be tempted is not sin. To entertain the thoughts of the temptation is sin. To make provisions for the flesh is sin. This is what it comes down to, if you could be rid of a sin would you be rid of it?  Or, do you find that sin to pleasant to give up? The former speaks well of you but the latter does not.

How are Christ-ians to deal with the homosexual?
The Christ-ian should deal with the homosexual the same way the Christ-ian deals with anyone else, who knows not Christ. Sin is sin. When it comes to the gay agenda, where they bully small businesses and other entities, the Christ-ian opposes that. When it comes to the individual homosexual, the Christ-ian is to love them as they are to love their neighbors and their enemies. The Christ-ian is not to be bullied by the homosexual, nor is the Christ-ian to give in to the homosexual? Not unlike the Christ-ian is not to give in to any other bully or other types of sin. The Christ-ian must take heed and not become desensitized to the gay agenda.

What is the difference between a homosexual and a homophile?
The Homosexual is a person who is active in the gay life style.  The homophile has same-sex inclinations but does not act upon them. They live a life that is similar to the Old Testament eunuch. A eunuch in the Old Testament, was a man that was castrated in service to his queen (Acts 8). A Christ-ian man who has an attraction to the same sex, but does not act upon it because it would displease the Lord, is like the Old testament eunuch. Francis Shaeffer was the man that taught me the difference and gave me a better understanding of these issues.

Was s/he born that way?
Methinks yes.  Why would anyone bring this upon themselves if it weren’t intrinsic? Today it isn’t the taboo subject it used to be, but when it was looked upon as wicked, why would those persons bring it upon themselves? Humans are born sinners, humans are born and they develope or are given a personality. With this personality comes inclinations. We are all inclined to sin. For some it may be greed, for others self-centeredness, for others a temper, for others pride, for others cleptomania, for others same-sex attraction. The Christ-ian wars against all sin, sins, inclinations, vices, etc. and the Christ-ian does so through the POWER of the Holy Spirit.

Can a homosexual become a homophile?
We’ll let Paul answer this one (1).  Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (the sexual position of the female in a gay relationship), nor abusers of themselves with mankind (The sexual position of the male in a gay relationship), nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the [K]ingdom of God.  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified, in the [N]ame of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6)

Certain sins and inclinations ask a lot of the Christ-ian. Once a person is divorced, the Scriptures teach they are not to be married again. That’s a tough one (1) but it is what it is.  The inclination to same-sex attraction is difficult because it asks the Christ-ian to live a life that is sex-free. This was the life of Jepthah’s daughter.

This falls under the Charge of Christ, “If any man will come after [M]e, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow [M]e.  (Matthew 16:24).

Godspeed.

“[The Comforter will] bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”  (John 14)

“…[Have these things always in remembrance.”  (2 Peter 1)

My children have attended RCA from Kindergarten through High School in one (1) case and my other two (2) children have attended from Kindergarten until the end of tenth (10th) grade and would have continued (DV) through High School. But obviously, it was not God’s will. God’s will effects not only the children but the teachers and staff of RCA.  Methinks it will be tougher on the teachers than the children.

I’m a teacher at heart. I teach/preach the Word of God each and every Sunday in my home. I have seen persons come and go. I have learned that sometimes it is best for a person to go. My brother-in-law attends Bible Baptist. He was part of our ministry from the start. One day he told me he would be attending a different church.  That was the right thing for him. He has done well at Bible Baptist and his gifts (they are many) have been used to bless more Christ-ians than in our small home ministry. We have taught others and they, in turn, left to attend elsewhere. Much of the time it is a church that isn’t doctrinally sound and they take what they have learned with them and we look at those churches as a mission field for those that leave.

Paul, when absent from a church, would say, his spirit is present.  When a person teaches another, that teacher’s spirit is always present with the student.  I had a teacher in fourth (4th) and fifth (5th) grade. My teacher’s name was Mrs. Tschirgi (pronounced Sure-gi). This was the toughest teacher I have ever had.  She was old school, like Pebbles Flinstone old school. She would line us up in teams of four (4) or five (5) and she would put math problems on the board and it was a race of sorts. A student would solve the math problem and then the next student is up and so on.

She would not give an inch. The student would stay at that board until s/he figured out the problem.  If others laughed or mocked stuck student, she would not suffer that fool gladly at all. OH! AND I remember talking about “The Jeffersons,” a TV show from the seventies (70’s), and a kid asked me if I was a, N******lover.  Mrs. Tschirgi heard the question and SLAPPED his face. I told you she was old shool. Mrs. Tschirgi taught me math and many other things. When I left the fifth (5th) grade for the sixth (6th) grade I would be in a different part of the building and would not see her anymore.

Teacher, I balled my eyes out when I had to leave that woman. She was the meanest and best teacher I ever had. I tell you about Mrs. Tschirgi because she was one (1) of the most important and special guests at my wedding. It was a task to find her in 1996.

So, a teacher that I learned much from in middle school was at my wedding some two (2) decades later. Her daughter told me she was elated and it was so very special to her, but it was far more special to me. I loved the woman. Each year on flower day I would send her a rose. Even after after eighth (8th) grade graduation, I would visit her on occasion and bring her a rose and she would introduce me to her class.

I’m sure she has passed now and the one (1) regret I have is not being able to share Christ with her one on one (1 on 1). She was presented with Christ’s Gospel at our wedding but other than that, who knows but God. Teachers, This brings a tear to my eye.

Why do I write all of that?  I write all of that to say this, You will be present in the lives of the children you have taught every time they read, write, add and subtract.  Each time they recall a fact of history you will be present. It can be said of you as it is said of God, “A very Present help in a time of need.”

Three things this pastor would like to bring to you remembrance. Like the shoes of the exiting and wandering Jews never wore out, neither does the Truths of God. The writer who wrote, “I Love to tell the Old, Old Story” knew what he was talking about. The old, old story is an old one, but it never gets old to the hearing ear.

Three Things we would share with you.

*God is Sovereign, God is Omnipotent, God is Almighty, God is Supreme in Power.  No man can stay God’s hand nor stop Him from doing as He wills.  God chose to close down the school for now. There is nothing,  as in no-thing, anyone could have done to stop that. As a parent, school shootings are at the forefront of my thinking, there will never be a school shooting at RCA.  Many schools, like many churches are going off track, RCA will never go off track. Some will point fingers but that is just noise.  One time I heard someone say a school was shut down because they switched from the KJV to whatever other version. Methinks this is wrong. As God is sovereign God can use any version He pleases to speak to whomsoever He pleases.

*God is GOoD, if God were sovereign but not good, that would be a terrible thing. If God was good but not sovereign, He would be an ineffective god. My God, Your God, Our God IS SO BIG, SO STRONG AND SO MIGHTY, THERE’S NOTHING MY GOD CANNOT DO. God is Good, just as God is Love. God defines goodness, God designed morals and ethics. Anything, all things good points back to God.

*”Practicing the Presence of God.” This is a little book, it is made up of four (4) conversations and fifteen (15) letters. These letters and conversations deal with Paul’s “Pray without ceasing.” A Carmalite monk from the sixteen-hundreds (1600’s) writes about practicing (it does take much practice) the Presence of God, wherin he means, spending all day conversing with God. Prayer need not be formal all the time, but it should sometimes. Practicing the Presence is simply speaking to God as if He were in the car with you, or in a room with you, or at a doctor’s office with you, because He is.

*Thank Him for all things: green lights and red lights, a cool breeze. It seems to me, a great percentage of our prayers should be prayers of thanks and praise. When sick, thank Him that it isn’t worse and thank Him for the health you do have. My pancreas has given me much trouble, I thank Him for that, I have learned much and have met many and have spoken to many of Christ. One time a nurse came into my room at 1AM and asked me to pray with her. I thank Him that my heart is good, my mind is good (Some wd say that’s debateable). Each new thing or each change seems to be a new avenue to walk with Him.

One (1) more thing, Be honest with God.  If you are angry, tell Him, He already knows. Do not deny Him the opportunity to speak to that anger. It’s okay to be angry. I’m angry with parents that put stuff ahead of their children’s Christ-ian education. My way of thinking is, If one can afford Christ-ian schooling and one does not send the child to Christ-ian School, it speaks to something not well and not good. I’m being honest with you, Teacher, as I have been with God. If you are heart-broken, scared, sad, or anything, go to God with all your pure and honest feelings, He can take it.

In closing, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for all the love and all the learning you have provided to our girls.

Please do not deduct points for grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors. My edu ma cation could use a brush up.

Godspeed.

“[H]e hath made us accepted in the [B]eloved.”  (Ephesians 1)

“I’ve accepted Jesus into my heart.”   “Will you accept Jesus into your heart?”   “I will accept Jesus into my heart.”

Reader,
Our Lord Jesus is not accepted or acceptable. One receives the Lord Jesus (John 1).  One repents and believes in the Lord Jesus. One believes on the Lord Jesus. One submits to the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus is received by those to whom He is presented to.  One believes in the Lord Jesus to whom it is given to believe in the Lord Jesus (Philippians 1:29).

*Does an Olympic athlete “accept” the gold medal?
*Does a veteran “accept” a medal that honours him or her?
*Does a celebrity “accept” their Oscar award?

*A losing contestant on a TV game show accepts the consolation prize.
*An employee who was expecting a great bonus, accepts a much smaller bonus.

The emphasis on the word accept is acceptable.  Christ is not an acceptable Lord. Christ is not an acceptable Saviour. Christ is not an acceptable God.  Christ is not an acceptable Master.  Christ is THE Lord. Christ is THE ONLY Saviour. Christ is THE LIVING God.  Christ is our ONLY Master.

Reader,  You have repented and believed in Christ. You have Believed on Christ. You have submitted to Christ’s Lordship. You have received the Lord Jesus as your Only Saviour.

Reader, You did not ACCEPT Him.  He Accepted you.