Tomahawk Missionary Baptist Church



Patrick Henry….”Give me liberty or give me death!”  We know the world is divided like never before.  You know what they are really divided over?  Liberty or equality.  Liberty is the right of people to be what they want to be, live where they want to live and be as successful as they can be.  Individual liberty!  Be what I want to be.   Take myself as far as my abilities, hard work and success will take me.   Sounds like capitalism to me. 

Equality is the right of people to be what everyone else is……. no more or no less.   No individual liberty. Sounds like Socialism and Marxism to me.

Let me put it this way.  If I have the ability to earn twenty dollars…. and everyone else has the ability to earn just ten dollars…. liberty allows me, because of hard work and good management to earn that twenty dollars.   Liberty also allows me the freedom to only get as much as I want to get by with.  If I only want five dollars then that’s okay. But I will have to accept the consequences of that.  That’s individual liberty.  

But if I have the ability to earn twenty dollars and everyone else can only earn ten dollars…. equality says I can only get ten dollars….. so that I don’t get ahead of the next guy.  But….If I only want to earn five dollars, equality says I will still get ten dollars.  No reward for hard work, sacrifice and individualism.

The Puritan’s tried equality.  After they arrived in America they divided everything equally among them all.  Well, after a while the result was the lazy didn’t work and those who worked hard quit because they weren’t being rewarded.  Result, the Puritans almost starved.  They went back to individual liberty and capitalism and they thrived.   

People say…in capitalism the poor are taken advantage of by the rich capitalists.  That is a lie of Marxism and Socialists.  The poor do better under individual liberty and capitalism than socialism!   Look at the United States!  The poorest in America are the richest five percent in the world!  The rich have incentive to take care of the poor out of their abundance and the poor always have hope of through hard work, initiative and help from those escaping their poverty!  That’s the way it is in America!

Look at it another way.  Liberty says if I can walk twenty miles and everyone else can only walk ten miles, I get ahead of you because I’ve worked harder and shown more initiative.  That good capitalism.  But under equality I am not allowed to walk twenty miles. I can only walk ten miles.  What if I can’t or won’t walk ten miles?  Then everyone else will help me get the extra five miles.  Sounds like Marxism to me.  Now you see what equality really is.  It’s dressed up Marxism, socialism and communism. 

In the United States everyone is treated equal under the law.   But the United States Constitution says each individual may pursue life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”   Christians have individual liberty from the constraints of sin and we are free from the requirements of the law. 

I am not a libertarian.  I believe in Individual liberty and capitalism as the Bible teaches us.  Christians are all saved by grace and in that we are equal.  But we have the liberty to serve the Lord in whatever capacity we feel He has called us.  We are not all going to be treated equally in heaven. There are rewards given for those who have been faithful to the Lord Jesus.  We can earn as many rewards for our Lord as we can.  The more faithful, the more rewards. 

You know that there is no socialism or equality in the Lake of Fire either.  The Bible says that some will be beaten with many stripes and some with few.  It will be worse for the really wicked. 

The world is divided between those who believe in liberty and those who believe in equality.  Jesus warned about being deceived four times in Matthew 24.  But be not deceived……the world will finally unite one day soon.   Jesus will remove all the lovers of true Liberty in the rapture and then there will be equality for all…...Marxism…… under the reign of their guy…..the beast, the anti-christ!  Everything will seem great.….until God unleashes His wrath upon the world.  And It will be a terrible time like none other in the history of man and the world! 



Thanks Giving

The first American Thanksgiving didn't occur in 1621 when a group of Pilgrims shared a feast with a group of friendly Indians. The first recorded thanksgiving took place in Virginia more than 11 years earlier, and it wasn't a feast. The winter of 1610 at Jamestown had reduced a group of 409 settlers to 60. The survivors prayed for help, without knowing when or how it might come. When help arrived, in the form of a ship filled with food and supplies from England, a prayer meeting was held to give thanks to God. 

First National Thanksgiving Proclamation…. George Washington, 1779

Whereas, it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; Whereas, both the houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me

"to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness!"

Now therefore, I do recommend next, to be devoted by the people of the states to the service of that great and glorious being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be, that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country.  

In his book FOLK PSALMS OF FAITH, Ray Stedman tells of an experience H.A. Ironside had in a crowded restaurant. Just as Ironside was about to begin his meal, a man approached and asked if he could join him. Ironside invited his to have a seat. Then, as was his custom, Ironside bowed his head in prayer. When he opened his eyes, the other man asked, "Do you have a headache?" Ironside replied, "No, I don't." The other man asked, "Well, is there something wrong with your food?" Ironside replied, "No, I was simply thanking God as I always do before I eat." 

The man said, "Oh, you're one of those, are you? Well, I want you to know I never give thanks. I earn my money by the sweat of my brow and I don't have to give thanks to anybody when I eat. I just start right in!"

 Ironside said, "Yes, you're just like my dog. That's what he does too!"



The Folly Of Fame And Fortune

His initials were W.W., and in the 1930s and 1940s they were enough to identify him to most of America. He was widely considered the creator of modern gossip writing, and in his heyday this rude, abrasive, egotistical and witty man was the country's best known and most widely read journalist and one of its most influential. In 1943, when there were 140 million people in the United States, more than 50 million of them read his gossip column every day in more than 1000 newspapers, including his flagship,  The New York Daily Mirror. Even more people listened to his weekly radio broadcast. Hated, feared and revered, he presided over Table 50 of the Stork Club in New York, creating and destroying celebrities at the drop of his trademark gray snap-brim fedora. Yet when he died in 1972, at age 74, he was practically forgotten. Only two people attended his funeral; his daughter, Walda, and the rabbi who officiated at his services. Today, not many people under 40 even know the name of Walter Winchell.

Recognize any of these names: Owen D. Young, Pierre Laval, Hugh S. Johnson, James F. Byrnes, Mohammed Mossadegh, Harlow Curtis? You should; according to Time magazine, these are all people who have been designated as "Man of the Year" by Time, indicating they had the greatest impact in that year of all persons living on Earth. The celebrity of today is all but forgotten tomorrow.

Matthew 26:16.  “What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Charles T. Studd born in 1860 was a famous British cricket player in the 1880’s.  Charles accepted Christ in 1928 after his father was saved at a DL Moody revival in England.  When Charles’ brother George was taken ill Charles asked the question “What is all the fame and flattery worth….when a man comes to face with eternity?”  “I know Cricket will not last, honor will not last, nothing in this world will last. But it is worthwhile living for the world to come.”  Charles gave up his fame as a Cricketeer and soon went to China working with Hudson Taylor as a missionary.  

He then became a missionary to India and then would up in Africa in the Sudan and set up the Heart of Africa mission.  He visited the Belgian Congo in 1913 and established four mission stations there.  His wife of forty years died in 1928.   Under the sickness of gallstones Charles T. Studd died in 1931.  He spent fifteen years in China, six in India and the rest of his life to spreading the gospel in Africa founding the Worldwide Evangelism Crusade. (Now WEC international) To this day his name is honored in the Congo basin.  Charles, who wrote several books is most famous for this quote…….”Only one life, ‘twill soon be past.  Only what’s done for Christ will last.” 

The folly of fame and fortune will lead to one thing you of which you can be certain……fame and fortune will come to an end and so also the pleasures to its followers that it gives.  Followers of Jesus can be also be certain of one thing….that He will not come to an end! And neither will the pleasures of joy, peace and love that He gives! 



B. C.

This story deals with a rather old fashioned lady, who was planning a couple of weeks vacation in Florida. She also was quite delicate and elegant with her language. She wrote a letter to a particular campground and asked for reservations. She wanted to make sure the campground was fully equipped but didn't know quite how to ask about the "toilet" facilities. She just couldn't bring herself to write the word "toilet" in her letter.

After much deliberation, she finally came up with the old fashioned term "Bathroom Commode," but when she wrote that down, she still thought she was being too forward. So she started all over again; rewrote the entire letter and referred to the Bathroom Commode" simply as the "B.C.". Does the campground have its own "B.C.?" is what she actually wrote.

Well, the campground owner wasn't old fashioned at all, and when he got the letter, he couldn't figure out what the lady was talking about. That "B.C." really stumped him. After worrying about it for several days, he showed the letter to other campers, but they couldn't figure out what the lady meant either.

The campground owner finally came to the conclusion that the lady was and must be asking about the location of the local Baptist Church. So, he sat down and wrote the following reply: "Dear Madam: I regret very much the delay in answering your letter, but I now take pleasure of informing you that the "B.C." is located nine miles north of the camp site and is capable of seating 250 people at one time.

I admit it is quite a distance away if you are in the habit of going regularly but no doubt you will be pleased to know that a great number of people take their lunches along, and make a day of it..... They usually arrive early and stay late. The last time my wife and I went was six years ago, and it was so crowded we had to stand up the whole time we were there.

It may interest you to know that right now, there is a supper planned to raise money to buy more seats.....They plan to hold the supper in the middle of the B.C., so everyone can watch and talk about this great event.....I would like to say it pains me very much, not to be able to go more regularly, but it is surely not for lack of desire on my part....As we grow older, it seems to be more and more of an effort, particularly in cold weather..... If you decide to come down to the campground, perhaps I could go with you the first time you go...sit with you...and introduce you to all the other folks..... This is really a very friendly community.....

I hope that your B.C. is just as acommodating.  But seriously, many misunderstand the purpose of the church and what church is.  The church is not the building but the church is the people who follow, live for and serve the Lord Jesus Christ.  The church meets to worship, edify, encourage and to equip the church.  And to glorify, follow and serve the Lord Jesus as a group and in their personal lives.  All that they might accomplish God’s will on this earth.    If we keep that focus there will be no confusion as to what the church is and its purpose. 



Church Killers

If You Want to Kill the Church….

Never go to your church or meetings held there,

If you do go, be late, it's no one's affair.

If the weather is bad, either too hot or snowing,

Just stay home and rest, for there'll be others going.

But should you attend, be sure and remember

To find fault with the work, each official and member.

Be sure to hold back on your offerings and tithes,

The bills will be paid by the rest of the guys.

And never take office if offered the post,

But eagerly criticize work of the host.

If not on a committee you're placed, be sore!

If you find that you are, don't attend any more.

When asked your opinion on this thing or that,

Have nothing to say, just turn 'em down flat.

Then after the meeting, shine out like the sun

By telling the folks how it should have been done.

Don't do any more than you possibly can,

Leave the work for some other woman or man.

And when you see faithful ones work themselves sick,

Then stand up and holler, "It's run by a clique!"

Football in the fall. Basketball in the winter. Baseball in the spring and summer.   This pastor had been an avid sports fan all his life. But I’ve had it! I quit this sports business once and for all. You can't get me near one of those places again. Want to know why...

Every time I went, they asked me for money.

The people with whom I had to sit didn't seem very friendly.

The seats were too hard and not at all comfortable.

I went to many games, but the coach never came to call on me.

The referee made a decision with which I could not agree.

I suspected that I was sitting with some hypocrites -- they came

 to see their friends and what others were wearing rather than to see the game.

Some games went into overtime, and I was late getting home.

The band played some numbers that I had never heard before.

It seems that the games are scheduled when I want to do other things.

I was taken to too many games by my parents when I was growing up.

I don't want to take my children to any games, because I want

them to choose for themselves what sport they like best.

Hmmm…...sounds so familiar.

Hebrews 10:25 “Forsake not the assembling together of yourselves as the manner of some is…..”

Relevant Churches.

If people would have been asked in 1968 which nation would dominate the world in watch making during the 1990s and into the twenty-first century the answer would have been uniform: Switzerland. Why? Because Switzerland had dominated the world of watchmaking for the previous sixty years.

 The Swiss made the best watches in the world and were committed to constant refinement of their expertise. It was the Swiss who came forward with the minute hand and the second hand. They led the world in discovering better ways to manufacture the gears, hearings, and mainsprings of watches. They even led the way in waterproofing techniques and self-winding models. By 1968, the Swiss made 65 percent of all watches sold in the world and laid claim to as much as 90 percent of the profits.

 By 1980, however, they had laid off thousands of watch-makers and controlled less than 10 percent of the world market. Their profit domination dropped to less than 20 percent. Between 1979 and 1981, fifty thousand of the sixty-two thou-sand Swiss watchmakers lost their jobs. Why? The Swiss had refused to consider a new development—the—the Quartz movement—ironically, invented by a Swiss. Because it had no main-spring or knob, it was rejected. It was too much of a paradigm shift for them to embrace. Seiko, on the other hand, accepted it and, along with a few other companies, became the leader in the watch industry.

 The lesson of the Swiss watchmakers Is profound. A past that was so secure, so profitable, so dominant was destroyed by an unwillingness to consider the future. It was more than not being able to make predictions—it was an inability to re-think how they did business. Past success had blinded them to the importance of seeing the implications of the changing world and to admit that past accomplishment was no guarantee of future success.

How do we change our churches?  Not by starting a new program.  Not by starting a new outreach.  It begins when pastors and teachers engage the culture….. not compromising to the culture.  We need to challenge the belief’s and morals of today.  Preach the truth of the word of God fearlessly and you will be relevant in today’s society.   The church is not a watch maker but we are watchmen!  We are called to warn and to prepare.  If you do that you will always be relevant. 

Don’t be ashamed to look at today’s culture through the lens of the eternally relevant word of God.  Your church will come right along with you and the community will be attracted to your church.   People want to hear the word of God.  They don’t want some watered down, milk sop version.  They want the truth!  Give it to them….now! 

Another thing….not every sermon has to be evangelistic!  Preach to the church!  Edify the saints!  Of course, we give the gospel every message.  But we give 45 minute invitations and twenty minute sermons.  No wonder our churches are floundering in the faith. 

Think about this pastors…….Your church will be more effective being EQUIPPED by the preacher than being INSPIRED by the preacher!    90 percent of people come to church because someone in the church invited them and shared their faith with them.  Only six percent come to a church because of the preacher.   Sorry preachers, you thought it was all about you.  NO…It’s about you being relevant to your church, edifying your church, equipping your church with Biblically uncompromising preaching.  A church that does that will never be out of business, God’s business will flourish. 



Worship

Do you rush, cuss, shout and become generally unpleasant on Sunday mornings? Do you complain about church? Are you irregular in your attendance? Are you overly-conscientious about matters that are not really important? Do you always criticize the pastor, the choir, the length of services and the songs? Then don't be surprised if your children grow up to look at Sundays as the worst day of the week.

Concerning the importance of taking one day a week to worship I found this story.  One man challenged another to an all-day wood chopping contest. The challenger worked very hard, stopping only for a brief lunch break. The other man had a leisurely lunch and took several breaks during the day. At the end of the day, the challenger was surprised and annoyed to find that the other fellow had chopped substantially more wood than he had. "I don't get it," he said. "Every time I checked, you were taking a rest, yet you chopped more wood than I did." "But you didn't notice," said the winning woodsman, "that I was sharpening my ax while I was resting."

The citizens of Feldkirch, Austria, didn't know what to do.  Napoleon's massive army was preparing to attack. Soldiers had been spotted on the heights above the little town, which was situated on the Austrian border. A council of citizens was hastily summoned to decide whether they should try to defend themselves or display the white flag of surrender. It happened to be Easter Sunday, and the people had gathered in the local church. The pastor rose and said, "Friends, we have been counting on our own strength, and apparently that has failed. As this is the day of our Lord's resurrection, let us just ring the bells, have our services as usual, and leave the matter in His hands. We know only our weakness, and not the power of God to defend us." The council accepted his plan and the church bells rang. The enemy, hearing the ringing, concluded that the Austrian army had arrived during the night to defend the town. Before the service ended, the enemy broke camp and left.

We worship God as creator, Lord, Savior and Sustainer of all things.   Hebrews 10:25 “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”   The Bible encourages us to gather to worship for the day of the Lord is approaching.  We need His power and His wisdom for these days.   

So why do you not worship?  What possible excuse for not worshiping could you give to Jesus Christ when you meet Him face to face?  I know in many areas of our world they do not have Biblical preaching and teaching churches.  In Martin County of course not all churches teach the truth but we have many that do.  So, you don’t have that excuse if you live in this area of the world!



Grace Rejected

Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith.”  Hebrews 2:4 “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?”  Grace rejected brings judgement at last. 

A young woman, who had been brought up in a Christian home and who had often had very serious convictions in regard to the importance of coming to Christ, chose instead to take the way of the world. Much against the wishes of her godly mother, she insisted on keeping company with a wild, hilarious crowd, who lived only for the passing moment and tried to forget the things of eternity. Again and again she was pleaded with to turn to Christ, but she persistently refused to heed the admonitions addressed to her.

Finally, she was taken with a very serious illness. All that medical science could do for her was done in order to bring about her recovery, but it soon became evident that the case was hopeless and death was staring her in the face. Still she was hard and obdurate when urged to turn to God in repentance and take the lost sinner's place and trust the lost sinner's Saviour.

One night she awoke suddenly out of a sound sleep, a frightened look in her eyes, and asked excitedly, "Mother, what is Ezekiel 7:8,9?"

Her mother said, "What do you mean, my dear?"

She replied that she had had a most vivid dream. She thought there was a Presence in the room, who very solemnly said to her, "Read Ezekiel 7:8,9." Not recalling the verses in question, the mother reached for a Bible. As she opened it, her heart sank as she saw the words, but she read them aloud to the dying girl:

"Now I will shortly pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee: and I will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense thee for all thine abominations. And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I am the Lord that smiteth."

The poor sufferer, with a look of horror on her face, sank back on the pillow, utterly exhausted, and in a few moments she was in eternity. Once more it had been demonstrated that grace rejected brings judgment at last.



99 Percent

What you'd get if 99 percent were good enough:

No phone service for 15 minutes each day.

 1.7 million pieces of first class mail lost each day.

35,000 newborn babies dropped by doctors or nurses each year and

Twelve babies would be given to the wrong parents this year. 

200,000 people would get the wrong drug prescriptions each year

Two Million documents would be lost by the IRS this year.

315 entries in Webster’s Dictionary would be misspelled.

291 pacemakers would fail today.

5.5 million cans of soda pop would be flat today.

880 thousand credit cards would have the wrong information on the magnetic strip.

There would be a major plane crash every two days.

Three million defective tires would be shipped this year.

Over three million books would be shipped with the wrong book cover.

307 incorrect medical procedures would be performed each year. 

90 thousand defective phones, tablets and computers would be sold each year. 

2 million people would die from food poisoning each year.

No one would be in heaven.  For not even 99 percent goodness is good enough for heaven. 

Just one sin will send us to hell.  We are in big trouble…..if not for Jesus.  The perfect Son of God, who knew no sin became sin for us that we might have His righteousness applied to our lives.  Jesus traded places with us. 

Jesus was not satisfied with 99 percent of humanity.   Remember He left the ninety and nine to seek that one sheep who strayed away.   He is not willing that any should perish.  He died to save all of us. 100 percent of us from the most innocent child to the most evil person.  But you have to trust Him and believe on Him.  99 percent will not save you.   Only 100 percent trust in Jesus Christ will save you! 

King Asa gave 99 percent trust in God.  2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. King Asa did not fully trust God so he would have fighting instead of peace.  So it is with us.   If we just give Jesus 99 percent of our lives we will not have peace in our life.  He wants our hearts perfect toward Him. He wants 100 percent of us. 



The Terrific Twelve

Last week we looked at that NRA “No Religion At All” segment of society that is growing every day.  They have left the church because of their liberal values.   But let’s just face it….. the Bible calls for……conservative values! Here is the Bible’s conservative agenda.  There are twelve points.  I call these the “Terrific Twelve Biblical Values” since twelve is a Biblical number. 

1.  Jesus is the only way to know God according to the Bible.  But the Bible doesn’t force or require anyone to follow Jesus.  You are free to worship however you want.  But be prepared to pay the consequences!

2.  Marriage is between a man and a woman in the Bible.  Homosexuality is an abomination according to the Bible.  Nuff said.

3.  There are borders, walls and nation states described in the Bible. (And in the world there always will be!) Nimrod tried a world community once and that didn’t work out very well did it?  Remember the Tower of Babel?

4. Education is to teach conservative moral values and basic learning skills according to the Bible.  (No politics or hidden agenda’s)

5. Militaries are to be strong and well trained according to the Bible.  Every nation in the Old Testament had a ready military.  God knows that the only way that fallen, sinful people can get along is if everyone has a big stick. 

6. You should be prepared to defend your family according to the Bible.  Jesus said get a sword if you don’t have one. 

7. According to the Bible you are required to take care of your family’s needs.    A man who won’t take care of his family is worse than an infidel.

8. We should respect the rights of others and the laws of the land and be a good citizen according to the Bible.   You should respect those in authority over you as long as they obey God’s moral laws.  If they do not we have “to obey God rather than men.”

9.  And if you disobey those laws expect the government to come down hard on you.  Righteousness and civility are common basic ideals of citizenship in the Bible.  But you should always again remember to “obey God rather than men.” 

10.  The Bible is for free speech!  According to the Bible, anyone can write or say whatever they want as long as it is the truth!  No one in the Bible was ever silenced or jailed for criticizing Jesus, the church or Israel.  But Jesus though warned that His followers would be persecuted and they were to be prepared to be silenced and even jailed for preaching Jesus.  He simply said pray for those who persecute you and don’t fight back.   (God shut a few of His critics up for what was considered blasphemy!  After all He is God and we should know better.  He always is right.) 

11.  You should take care of your own needs if you are able bodied according to the Bible.  A man who won’t work shouldn’t eat.  Pretty plain.

12.  You should have your own property and respect others property according to the Bible.  No…. the church in the book of Acts was not communal.  It was individual property holders and independent home owners who contributed to the welfare of the church.  Paul said to go and eat in your OWN HOMES…. to the church at Corinth!

How do we get the NRA, (“No Religion At All”) back?  Pray that they mature in thought, in actions, in choices and love and grow toward Jesus!

NRA

What is the fastest growing religious segment in the world?  Is it Islam…Nope.  Roman Catholicism?  Nope.  Is it Hinduism?  Nope.  Is it new age philosophies?  Nope.  The fastest growing religious segment in the world is…..NRA.  Nope…not the National Rifle Association.  It called “No Religion At All.”  Millennials are those who were born between 1981 and 1996 are the leading proponents of “No Religion At All” but not the only ones.  Gen X…. those born between 1965 and 1979 are quickly falling into that category. 

They as a whole, have fallen prey to the Marxist, socialist agenda and in the philosophies of sharing the wealth at any cost and push hard against those who disagree with them.  The socialist agenda has fallen into disagreement with the conservative principles of the Bible.  So, naturally these NRA‘ers drop out of church.

If millennials and Gen X’ers quit church over socialist philosophies then it’s no wonder church attendance is down nationwide in America. 

How do we get them back?  Hopefully as they mature and come to a more seasoned approach to life and conservative Biblical values they will come back.  They will figure out eventually that there are no free rides!  Even salvation in Jesus Christ isn’t free.  God purchased it for us by sending His only begotten Son.  It was His Son who paid for our sin debt to God.  Therefore we receive salvation as a free gift….. fully paid for by Jesus Christ. 

A pastor asked his seven year old grandson “what is the difference between a liberal and a conservative?”  The grandson replied.   “I don’t know papaw.” The grand father said “A liberal wants you to give him something for nothing and a conservative wants to work for it.  Now which are you son?”  the grandson quickly responded “I’m a liberal papaw!” 

As children we are used to being provided for by our families until we reach adult hood.  Fiscal and moral responsibility is something we learn as we mature and get older.  We learn that we are responsible for our own selves.  If we want something we hopefully learn to pay for it ourselves.  And if we do wrong we ought to learn that we also pay for it ourselves.  Some though sadly, never mature and stay in debt both financially to creditors and morally to society and to God. 

But as we learn fiscal and moral responsibility we also are learning that the principles of the Bible also call for individual responsibility and Biblical morality.

So if Jesus tarries….. fiscal and moral responsibility will lead some of the “NRA’ers back to church. This is our hope and prayer!  I pray they don’t wait too long. 

take care of his family is worse than an infidel.

Dealing With Wrath

Many years ago a senior executive of the then Standard Oil Company made a wrong decision that cost the company more than $2 million. John D. Rockefeller was then running the firm. On the day the news leaked out most of the executives of the company were finding various ingenious ways of avoiding Mr. Rockefeller, lest his wrath descend on their heads.

There was one exception, however; he was Edward T. Bedford, a partner in the company. Bedford was scheduled to see Rockefeller that day and he kept the appointment, even though he was prepared to listen to a long harangue against the man who made the error in judgment.

When he entered the office the powerful head of the gigantic Standard Oil empire was bent over his desk busily writing with a pencil on a pad of paper. Bedford stood silently, not wishing to interrupt. After a few minutes Rockefeller looked up.

"Oh, it's you, Bedford," he said calmly. "I suppose you've heard about our loss?"  Bedford said that he had.   "I've been thinking it over," Rockefeller said, "and before I ask the man in to discuss the matter, I've been making some notes."

Bedford later told the story this way:  "Across the top of the page was written, 'Points in favor of Mr. _______.' There followed a long list of the man's virtues, including a brief description of how he had helped the company make the right decision on three separate occasions that had earned many times the cost of his recent error.

"I never forgot that lesson. In later years, whenever I was tempted to rip into anyone, I forced myself first to sit down and thoughtfully compile as long a list of good points as I possibly could. Invariably, by the time I finished my inventory, I would see the matter in its true perspective and keep my temper under control. There is no telling how many times this habit has prevented me from committing one of the costliest mistakes any executive can make -- losing his temper.   "I commend it to anyone who must deal with people."   

I think we should always err on the side of grace.  When God was angry at me and you over our sin He simply had the word “grace” written over us.  Saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.   I commend grace to anyone who has to deal with sin…...and that’s all of us!  I hope we all are saved by grace and none of us will have to face God’s wrath.  



Progressing?

I have read several of these quotes recently….…”We are finally progressing as a society in the United States.”   Well let’s see how much we are “progressing.”

A former Vermont utility executive just recently became the first transgender candidate (and definitely not the last) from a major political party to be nominated for governor.   We elect a governor who can’t even decide what sex he or she was or is….. and they are going to make decisions that affect a whole state?

“Revoice”….. a movement to get churches to accept homosexuality and same sex attraction in the church is gaining momentum and approval among many denominations.   It’s coming to your denomination and in fact it’s already there you just haven’t heard about it…..yet!

There is a movement to get rid of all national borders, sovereignty, patriotism and constitutions.  There are 350 million people in the US and 7 billion people in the world.  If each day there are thousands willing to risk their lives to sneak in to the United States with borders…. how many of those 7 billion will come to an America without borders?   How will we pay for them? And what will America be like? 

America is a Constitutional Republic but socialism is now being openly preached and lauded from political candidates and a majority of people are supporting and even praising it!  Haven’t we learned anything!!! (See Cuba, Venezuela, Nazi Germany, Soviet Union and many, many more examples of the tragedy of socialism for a society.)  Just one of many examples of socialism they expouse is that they want to give free Medicare and college tuition for all.  It will only cost 32 TRILLION!!  It took us 242 years to get to 21 trillion is debt!  There is no possible way to pay for this…none whatsoever! And it’s not even counting the open borders and all of those people that will pour in.  Don’t people fact check? Don’t they read history? Sadly no.

Abortion is once again gaining momentum and is continuing unabated.  Chelsea Clinton said “abortion has brought trillions into the economy.”  Really??  Abortion has actually taken some brilliant minds and leaders out of our economy.  Those that were never born, whose minds and abilities might have generated trillions.  Without them we have cost our society in terms we will never fully grasp. 

There is a marked increase in violence, anger and uncivility against those who have conservative political viewpoints.  ANTIFA groups recently threatened to kill conservatives.   Conservatives have been shouted out of speeches and restaurants.   There are riots and near riots on college campuses when conservatives come to speak.  Prominent people are calling for the bullying of conservatives wherever they find them. 

There is a continual growing intolerance of Bible believing Christianity.  Christian beliefs, prayer to Jesus and the teachings of the Bible are not welcome on our college campuses, public buildings or in the public arena in America.  90,000 Christians are martyred each year world-wide and it’s growing.

Free speech is already over.  You cannot publicly express the opinion that homosexuality and same-sex marriage is a sin, Islam is evil, global warming is a farce, abortion is murder, and guns are our second amendment right.  God help you if you say you like Donald Trump.  For these offenses you will lose your income, your business, your career, and even receive death threats!

Speaking of offenses….now everything is offensive. If it someone makes a person accountable for their sin and they might feel conviction about it…… the just say have to say “I find that very offensive.”  It shifts the blame to your accuser they become the bad guy.   Wow…. John the Baptist was very offensive to Herod wasn’t he?  Jesus was a real bad guy, He offended the Pharisee’s a lot. 

Everything is racism.  If they can’t get you on something backed by facts then just call you a racist.  It works every time.  If you are white you are automatically a racist.

How are we progressing so far?

We have a day approaching that will be very much like the sinking of the Titanic. It will be unexpected and not prepared for by millions of people. It will catch those of this world off guard and unaware. It will be like a punch in the gut that takes away your breath and knocks you down. Some think that their lives are unsinkable. They will be just as bad off as those on this ill-fated ship.  Yes, we are progressing, progressing toward a day of unthinkable judgment upon this world.  Please read Revelation 6:12-17! 

 The Devil Made Me Do It?

True story. A Christian Pastor --we’ll call him Steve-- was traveling recently by plane. He noticed that the man sitting two seats over was thumbing through some little cards and moving his lips. The man looked professorial with his goatee and graying brown hair, and Steve placed him at fifty-something. guessing the man was a fellow-believer, Steve leaned over to engage him in conversation. "Looks to me like you're memorizing something," he said. "No, actually I was praying," the man said. Steve introduced himself. "I believe in prayer too," he said. "Well, I have a specific assignment," said the man with the goatee. "What's that?" Steve asked. "I'm a Satanist and I’m praying for the downfall of Christian pastors." "I would certainly fit into that category, I’m a pastor." Steve said. "Is my name on the list?" "Not on my list," the man replied. 

I don’t know if Satan even has a list and if he does I hope I’m on it not because of me but because I preach the word of God precept upon precept.  But you know I think the devil is given much more importance than he deserves.  We make Satan as powerful as God sometimes. 

Satan was cast out of heaven and is now the prince of the power of the air and the ruler of this world.   But He is not Lord of the earth and He is not Lord over mankind.  He has great power but he is not all powerful.  He has great wisdom but he is all knowing or omniscient. 

Michael Horton wrote this…… “When Jimmy Swaggart defied the orders of the Assemblies of God to refrain from preaching for one year, he assured the public that he was free of moral defect, for, he said, Oral Roberts had cast out the demons from his body over the phone. Oral Roberts confirmed Swaggart's report, insisting he had demons and their claws deeply embedded in Swaggart's flesh. Now that the rascals were gone, Swaggart and Roberts asserted, Swaggart could get on with preparing the way for Christ's return. Evidently, personal responsibility for sin can be dismissed by blaming it on an external force. Yet Flip Wilson's famous quip, "The devil made me do it" is hardly comedy when we're talking about the biblical view of sin.

For these evangelists, even personal sins can be attributed to the bad god, since he is, after all, sovereign over this earthly realm as the good god is relatively in charge of the spiritual domain. Here again, then, is the echo of the Gnostics of old. When that heresy was revived toward the end of the medieval period, they made the devil almost the equal of God! In this way, the problem of sin is replaced with the problem of Satan. It is facing Satan, not my own sin and rebelliousness, that becomes the great task of the Christian life. I'm not the problem -- the Devil is!” 

The Bible says in James 1:14-15 “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin….”  Sorry but we have to point the finger to ourselves when we sin and not anyone else.  We alone are to blame for all of our sins and shame not Satan.  Proverbs 5:22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.



Today is August 8, 2018.  8-8-18.  I remember the dates 10-10-10 and 11-11-11 and 12-12-12.  What does that mean?  Absolutely nothing.  But according to Bible Study.org “the number 8 in the Bible represents a new beginning, meaning a new order or creation, and man's true 'born again' event when he is resurrected from the dead into eternal life.

Like the Old Testament Passover lamb, Jesus went to Jerusalem on palm Sunday when technically he was selected as the Lamb to take away man's sins on the Hebrew day of Nisan 10 (April 1, 30 A.D. - John 12: 28 - 29). He was crucified on Nisan 14 (Wednesday, April 5 in 30 A.D.). His resurrection occurred, exactly as he stated, three days and three nights after he was buried, which was at the end of the weekly Sabbath day that fell on Nisan 17 (seventeen symbolizes victory). Nisan 17 was also the eighth day, counting inclusively, from the time Christ was selected as man's sacrificial Lamb. All this bears record of Jesus' perfect sacrifice and His complete victory over death.

Boys were to be circumcised on the 8th day. The number 8 symbolizes circumcision of the heart through Christ and the receiving of the Holy Spirit (Romans 2:28 - 29, Colossians 2:11 - 13). Those in Christ are becoming a new creation, with godly character being created by the power of God's Spirit (2Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:10; 4:23 - 24).”

After the 7 weeks of the spring harvest, the next day, the 50th day, is Pentecost. This day is also the eighth day of the seventh week. This 8th and 50th day combination pictures the first resurrection when the saints will be raised from the dead and made immortal (1Corinthians 15:20 - 23, John 3:3 - 12, Revelation 20:4 - 6). After the 7 days of the Feast of Tabernacles there is an 8th day, called the Last Great Day.

The number 8 is interesting and it reminds me of the number of the anti-Christ in the Bible.  The Beast as he is called in the book of Revelation.  His number is the number of a man and his number is 666. 

The number is referred to in Revelation 13:18 “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.”

I now quote from “God Questions.org” on the meaning of 666.   “The meaning of 666 is a mystery, and it appears that the apostle John, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, intended it to be that way. Calculating it, John says, requires “wisdom.” Some, using gematria (assigning a number value to each letter of a name or word and then combining the number values to arrive at a total number), have identified the Antichrist as various people in world history. Virtually any name can add up to 666 if enough mathematical gymnastics are employed.

 Six hundred, sixty-six will somehow identify the beast, but precisely how 666 is connected to the beast is not the main point of Revelation 13:18. The Bible often uses the number 7 to refer to God and His perfection. Traditionally, 6 is thought to be the number of man, created on the sixth day and always “falling short” of God. The beast/Antichrist will strive to be like God. He will likely even claim to be God. But, just as the number 6 falls short of the number 7, so will the beast/Antichrist, with his “trinity” of 6’s, ultimately fail in his effort to defeat God.”



Baptism

Rena was 3 years old when she went to her first baptismal service. It was new for her and a bit mystifying. As events transpired, she looked up at her father with surprise in her eyes, “Daddy, he pushed that guy under the water? Why did he do that?” The father tried to quietly answer her question during the service; but his answer did not satisfy little Rena. So when they got home he attempted a fuller explanation. “Well people do bad things; and they are being baptized to let everyone know they are now going to be good. The water symbolizes Jesus’ washing people’s sins away. When they come out ‘clean,’ they are going to try to be ‘good.’” Rena thought about that for a moment and then asked the simple question, ‘Why didn’t Pastor Bob just spank him?’

The story is told about the baptism of King Aengus by St. Patrick in the middle of the fifth century. Sometime during the rite, St. Patrick leaned on his sharp-pointed staff and inadvertently stabbed the king's foot. After the baptism was over, St. Patrick looked down at all the blood, realized what he had done, and begged the king's forgiveness. Why did you suffer this pain in silence, the Saint wanted to know. The king replied, "I thought it was part of the ritual."

A drunken man stumbles across a baptismal service on Sunday afternoon down by the river. He proceeds to walk into the water and stand next to the old country preacher. The minister notices the old drunk and says, “Mister, are you ready to find Jesus?”

The drunk looks back and says, “Yes, Preacher: I sure am.” So the minister dunks the fellow under the water and pulls him right back up. “Have you found Jesus?” the preacher asks.”No, I didn’t!” said the drunk.

The preacher then dunks him under for quite a bit longer, brings him up, and says, “Now, brother, have you found Jesus?”“No, I haven’t, Reverend.”The preacher now holds the man under for at least 30 seconds this time, brings him out of the water, and says in exasperation, “Man, have you found Jesus yet?”

The old drunk wipes his eyes and says to the preacher, “Preacher are you sure this is where he fell in?”

I was baptized on the date July 18^th, 1970 by Jimmy Grayson, pastor at Inez First Baptist Church.  48 years ago.  I barely remember the experience but I remember the excitement!  I was so happy to do my first act of obedience to my Savior Jesus!

I’m not going to debate baptism.  But it is as all evangelical Christians agree, very important and is in fact our first act of obedience to the Lord.  I will never forget the excitement of the day that I proclaimed to the world that I am following Jesus!