Using God as a good luck charm.

 1Sa 4:1 ¶ And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.
1Sa 4:2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.
1Sa 4:3 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.
1Sa 4:4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
1Sa 4:5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.
1Sa 4:6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.
1Sa 4:7 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.
1Sa 4:8 Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.
1Sa 4:9 Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.
1Sa 4:10 ¶ And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.
1Sa 4:11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

In this passage we see that Israel is, once again, at war with the Philistines. However, the Israelites are losing because they are not following God. We see, that in a desperate attempt to win the war, Israel takes the Ark of the Covenant and brings it into the battle. Now ,a funny thing happens, they still lose. You'd think that because the Israelites brought the holiest thing that they had access to that God would help them win. Sounds right doesn't it? Well, lets think about this, what do you do with a good luck charm? Do you wear it around your neck in the shape of a rabbits foot? Or do you keep it in your pocket in the form of a button? Or do you not use it until you need it in the form of prayer? To many people use prayer and God as good luck charms. I read in a book about a school who hung this sign in its lobby. "To whom it may concern: In the event of Atomic Attack all rules against praying in this school are indefinitely suspended." This is was rather difficult for me to read without bursting out in laughter. Then I thought , "Why am laughing, this really isn't funny. With America the way it is, this is normal." Prayer is not a tool to be set on the back shelf. God will answer prayer but he will not be our good luck charm. He deserves better than that. Considering everything He has done for you.







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Faith that will move mountains.

Well, the snow is officially gone. The rain, however, just dealt its first devastating blow. Our road was flooded along with many others, Best of all, an old wish of the family came true. We suddenly had a pool in the backyard.  There is one thing, though, that never ceases to amaze me. Any church bus runner will agree with me that running in the rain is not exactly preferable. Now maybe its just because I've been at it such a short time but I have never had to do any running in the rain. This Sunday was especially cool. I woke up, and it was pouring, everything was already flooded. Everyone said I was going to get wet. I said "I've never had to run in the rain before, God will stop the rain." I just knew He had it under control. So we got in the car, and the rain stopped. We got to church, I ran my route, we got back to church with the kids, and it started raining. After classes I had to stay in the church for a few minutes, so I sent the kids out to the bus with the other workers. It was still raining. By the time I got out to the bus the rain had stopped. I ran the kids home and by that evening the rain started again. Not once did I have to run in the rain. Now you may call it sheer luck, but I think God was being mighty good to me and those kids. I had faith God would stop the rain in time to keep everyone dry and I think everyone reading this knows what faith can do. "And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
Mt 17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
Mt 17:16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
Mt 17:17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
Mt 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
Mt 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
Mt 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." Now, in no way am I bragging that I have great faith, it is actually quite the contrary. I struggle with my faith as much as the other guy. But I know what it can do. If you go through life trusting God with everything you have, God will bless you for it. That doesn't mean God won't take you through trials, but rather that he will give them to you as a way to increase your faith. Who's up for some faith exercises.

The effect of sin in your life.

WOW!! It is a relief to finally see a release of winters cold hand on our part of michigan. For the first time in to long I can see grass in our yard. However, If you look hard at winter you can learn a thing or two from it. Sometimes the cold of winter can be compared with coldness of our own hearts concerning the conviction of the Holy Spirit. After only a short period of time in sin, we can make the spirit of none effect because we won't listen to God's guiding voice. However, where there is cold there is a chance at thaw. We can always pray for forgiveness from God, confess our sins and start serving God again. Now I'm not at all saying that things will not be different. Concerning the sin, there is a chance you have ruined your testimony and are of little use to God. That doesn't mean you can't serve, it just means it will be an uphill battle, and he might not be able to use you like he could have.
If you look at the outcome it isn't worth even going in that direction, but God will always accept you back into his fold. Just remember, Your sin will always find you out.

Christmas and New Years -The aftermath

Hey everybody. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, I know I did. My grandparents came over and my Grandpa made his always amazingly good stew for Christmas Eve dinner. On Christmas night we went to church and heard an amazing message from our pastor. After the service we went back to my grandparents hotel room and  finished the night playing Skipbo and talking about the wonderful day we had. For New Years we went to our church and had a haystack supper. (For those of you who don't know what a haystack is, let me explain. First you layer your plate with tortilla chips or a single soft tortilla shell. Then you lay on the nacho/taco meat like never before. Now you have multiple choices you can have nacho cheese sauce, shredded cheese, guacamole, salsa, and everything else you can think of to put on a mexican meal. Usually the shredded cheese is last and if you do it right it looks like a haystack. One of the best meals on earth) After we ate, we started playing a few games my mom had prepared and had a great time. At about 10:30 we went into the auditorium and prayed in the new year. I thank the Lord for such a wonderful church family to go into the new year with. To face trials and triumphs, as well as temptations to either overcome or fall into to. As we go into the new year I think it would be good to realize that no matter what you have a decision to make. In this new year it is all to easy to just give up and take a the wrong path away from the wonderful God who loves you more than you can imagine. Don't turn away. I've seen to many people just up and walk away, never to walk through the church doors again. You could reach so many people for God if you would just give everything to Him. Don't become another spiritual casualty. Do something for God this year. Merry CHRISTmas and a happy New Year.

Tommorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book
Write a good one.    
                                              Unknown

New Year's Wishes

What shall I wish thee?
Treasures of earth?
Songs in the springtime,
Pleasures and mirth?
Flowers on thy pathway,
Skies ever clear?
Would this ensure thee
A Happy New Year?

What shall I wish thee?
What can be found
Bringing thee sunshine
All the year round?
Where is the treasure,
Lasting and dear,
That shall ensure thee
A Happy New Year?

Faith that increaseth,
Walking in light;
Hope that aboundeth,
Happy and bright;
Love that is perfect,
Casting out fear;
These shall ensure thee
A Happy New Year.

Peace in the Savior,
Rest at His feet,
Smile of His countenance
Radiant and sweet,
Joy in His presence!
Christ ever near!
This will ensure thee
A Happy New Year!

–Frances Ridley Havergal

"Just What is Amazing Grace" Part 2

Now that you have heard that Jesus died for you, let me tell you how to attain eternal life. You can't. All the power and riches in all the universe can not even come close to price you would have to pay because it is not bought with money. It has already been bought by Jesus with the blood that
He shed. Even though it came at such a high price, He is offering it to you now. All you have to do it is take it. In God's word it says "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."(Ac 16:31) I don't think I have to tell you what that means. If you believe in your heart that God came to earth in the form of a man, suffered rejection and finally died for your sins and then was raised from the dead in His own power, all that is left is to ask God to forgive you of your sins and come live inside of you as the Holy Spirit. It doesn't matter what you have done what crimes you have committed because God's word says Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. (Ro 5:20)
Jesus' blood covers all your sin so that when God looks at you He doesn't see your sin, He sees Christ's blood. If you want you sins forgiven, ask Jesus to forgive you of all your sins and to cover you with his blood. That is God's Amazing Grace.


Salvation

Not what these hands have done
  Can save this guilty soul;
Not what this toiling flesh has borne
  Can make my spirit whole.

Not what I feel or do
  Can give me peace with God;
Nor all my prayers, my sighs, my tears
  Can bear my awful load.

Thy work alone, O Christ,
  Can ease this weight of sin;
Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God,
  Can give me peace within.

        Horatius Bonar

(All verses quoted from the 1611 King James Bible)

Just What is Amazing Grace

When Adam sinned in the garden six thousand years ago man was separated spiritually from God. There was now a wall there that no human effort can break or climb or go around. The only hope man had was a promise made by God that he would make a great nation from Abraham's descendants and from that nation a Saviour, a Christ. Four thousand years later man is still waiting for the fulfillment to that promise even though they never did anything to deserve it. Then, at God's perfect time, a Saviour came down to man and subjected himself to the worst possible living conditions, His name was Jesus. Now let me tell you what he went through here on earth. When his mother was about ready to give birth they were away from home and could not find a hotel room, if you will, and a citizen of that city was kind enough to let them stay in his barn. That night the baby was born, wrapped in swaddling clothes, which were rags used to wipe down newborn calves I believe, and placed in a manger which was basically a feeding trough. growing up as a carpenters son, he didn't exactly have the best things in life. He had nice sized family with a few brothers and an unknown number of sisters. When twelve years of age he went with his parents to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover feast. After the feast was complete his parents went home guessing he was in the group of people they were traveling with. Once they had gone a days journey they started to look for Him. When they could not find him, they returned to Jerusalem and found him in the temple talking with the priests. He then went home with them and even though he was God in the flesh he submitted himself to their authority and became obedient to them. Once grown he was baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist, and then went into the wilderness for a forty day fast. While fasting he tempted greatly by the devil himself but came out with the victory. During his three and a half year earthly ministry he faced physical hunger and fatigue, was rejected and scorned of all men including friends and family. He was criticized and questioned many times by the hypocritical upper class of religious rulers. Then He was rejected a final time, taken to court illegally and sent around to different royal governors and officials. Finally Pontius Pilate, trying to make himself look good decided to give them their wish and condemned Him to be crucified on a cross. He was then whipped, mocked, slapped, spit on, and had his beard torn off. Then they placed a crown of thistles with thorns 3 inches long on his head and beat them down into his skull. When they finished that they put a cross (three rather large wood beams nailed together) on his shoulder and told him to walk up a hill. when they saw he was just to weak to do it, they called a guy of the street named Simon and told him to carry it up the hill. Once at Golgotha they layed the cross on the ground, put Him on it, and began to secure Him to it. They drove one big spike through one hand and into the wood, another big spike through the other hand and into the wood there, and one big spike through both His feet and He was nailed to the cross. While, then they picked that cross up with him in it and dropped the bottom of it into a 4 foot hole; dislocating every bone in His body. Then they watched, for six, long hours they watched him suffer. Blood pouring out of his wounds. Then He died. After thirty-three years of suffering, He died. After a while the Roman soldiers came by to see if the prisoners were dead. Usually the manner was, to make sure they were dead you broke their legs. They did that to the other two crucified men, but when they got to Jesus they saw he was dead so they they didn't do the normal thing. No, they stabbed him in the side with a spear. Then they took him off the cross and layed him in a borrowed tomb. There He lay. The promised Messiah, the Christ, the Saviour of the world in a tomb sealed with tape and guarded by soldiers. But that's not the end. No, not by a long-shot. Three days later he appeared outside the tomb with the keys of death and Hell in his hands. No longer was he a dead man laying in a grave. He was alive! Then He took the blood that He shed on Calvary and placed it on the mercy seat in heaven and I can picture him saying these words of life; "This is the sacrifice for mankind. From this day forward a wicked hell-bound sinner can come to me and receive life eternal in heaven to reign with me forever." That is love untold, ladies and gentlemen. That God did all that for you and me is just unfathomable for the mortal mind. We will never be able to understand just how much He loved his dear creation even though we could never pay him back for it. That is Amazing Grace.

Was it for me He bowed His head,
Upon the cross, and freely shed
His precious blood—that crimson tide
Was it for me the Saviour died?

It was for me...yes all for me...
O love of God.. so great, so free...
O wondrous love...I’ll shout and sing...
He died for me...my Lord and King!
—J. Danson Smith

Are you listening?

1Ki 19:9 ¶ And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
1Ki 19:10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
1Ki 19:11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
1Ki 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
1Ki 19:13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? 

In this passage we see Elijah again on the move. I won't go into all the details previous to these verses but what was happening was Elijah was discouraged. The Lord had just shone himself the One, True God on Mt. Carmel (1Ki 18:21-39). Elijah than slew all 400 of the prophets of baal. After the fact, Ahab king of Israel at that time, went and told queen Jezebel all that Elijah had done. When she heard she wrote a message to Elijah that said,basically, I am going to kill you just like you killed my prophets.
When Elijah heard that, he ran. This is where we pick up the story. In our passage Elijah is talking with God. First thing, God did not ask Elijah why he was there because he didn't know. He asked to let Elijah know where he was. God knew, Elijah needed to know that he was not exactly serving any purpose sitting in a cave. God had done great thing for and through him. Why was he hiding from mere humans when he had God Almighty on his side. That was just a side thought, now down to what I wanted to talk about. In the passage we see God showing Elijah just a smidgen of his awesome power. Then we see something strange, we see God using a still small voice to talk to Elijah. Just a small voice so quiet you'd miss it if you weren't listening. All of God's amazing power to create and destroy and change but yet he uses a quiet voice to speak to his servant. God wasn't in the great wind, He wasn't in the earthquake, He wasn't in the fire. He was in the still small voice. God was showing Elijah his method to reach man. God could just make man believe, snap his finger and have the President preaching like D.L. Moody in five minutes, but he doesn't. God made man with a will of his own, he didn't want a couple of robots that would serve him without question. He wanted to make a creature that could make a choice good or bad. We might not always understand God's plan, we just have to have faith and trust his decisions. As humans it is our natural tendency to want to see mighty works of God but that is just not the way it works. The next time man will see God use his power will be when man is being judged. Until then God sees fit to use his still small voice to reach us and convey to us his great love for them. One question, Are you listening?

In the beginning, God...

In the beginning, GOD created the heavens and the earth. Gen. 1:1
I like those first words; In the beginning, God... It doesn't say Buddha or other so called gods. It just says, God. Creator God. Everlasting God. The "Alpha and the Omega" God. The "Beginning and the End" God. God the Father. God the Son. God the Holy Spirit. The Triune God. The Almighty God.  Yeah, I like that verse a whole lot. It means we did NOT, I repeat, did NOT come from a big boom or an amoeba or a monkey. We came from God. That's it folks. There is no evolution. You are not near as big and bad as you hoped or thought. God says it, that settles it. It's amazing isn't it. I have been to a good number of the fifty states of America. I have driven through deserts, mountains, plateaus, plains, forests, sand dunes, cornfields, and the tropics. I have seen geysers and the Salt Lake, Three of the Great Lakes of Michigan, and I have swam in the Gulf of Mexico. I have been to a number of National Parks and Monuments. I have stood on top of mountains looking down thousands of feet to valleys below and visa-versa. I have seen Old Faithful spout its boiling water from depths below. I have caught bass and hunted deer. I have looked up at night and seen great wonders. I have seen all the great beauty's of America. Yet it seems that many can see all that and say it came from a big bang. Well, let me be the first to say, and I hope you agree, they're wrong. God made the heavens and the earth. Without a question or a doubt, I can say with the Bible as my proof that God created the heavens and the earth.

9/11

Three days and twelve years ago our nation was attacked by The Al-Qaeda. They hijacked three planes and flew them into previously targeted buildings. At the time I was only 2 years old, but I was told about it later. How could they be so cruel. The Americans that they killed had done nothing to them but they killed them anyway. I'm not sure whether the victims on the plane knew what their destination was but they knew something was going on. One plane flew into the Twin Towers while another flew into the Pentagon. However, there was a victory won by the true Americans that day. There was a third plane hijacked that day, but it never reached its destination.  All of the sudden, the patriots on that plane knew they were in a war. Even though it was against what they had planned they were fighting for the things they believed in. Freedom, Liberty, Justice no matter what the cost. So they banded together to take back the plane. They succeeded but at the cost of the lives on that plane. It crashed in a field. Lives were lost that day but lives were also saved. Who knows where the Al-Qaeda would have crashed that plane. Now I'm 14 years old and wonder what would have convinced those Al-Qaeda to crash a plane into a building. Was it fear of a superior officers' punishment had they not followed through. How did they feel with the targets in sight, probably very stupid. "Hey I'm gonna crash a plane with people on board into a building on purpose and kill myself willingly while everyone else dies unwillingly all because I wanted to." I'm still amazed that with all the threats and possibilities of death that befell them, that the patriots on that third plane were able to sum up the courage to fight back for their country's sake. The Bible tells us that we as Christians are to stand fast in the faith and be strong for God(1Co 16:13). Even though these patriots were fighting a physical battle they are a great example for our spiritual lives in that this world has been taken by the devil's lure. It is our job as Christians to fight with the Word of God and bring America back to God even if it means our very lives.
1 Corinthians 16:13 ¶ Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

Faith

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Faith is real. Faith is something we can't feel, taste, see, hear, or smell; but it is real.  Webster gives the following definition for faith: "In theology, the assent of the mind or understanding to the truth of what God has revealed. Simple belief of the scriptures, of the being and perfections of God, and of the existence, character and doctrines of Christ, founded on the testimony of the sacred writers, is called historical or speculative faith; a faith little distinguished from the belief of the existence and achievements of Alexander or of Cesar."  The Bible says that faith is a substance. I looked up the word substance in Websters 1828 dictionary and came up with this;  "In a general sense, being; something existing by itself; that which really is or exists; equally applicable to matter or spirit. It also says "Body; corporeal nature or matter." Substance is the make of something. So if faith is a substance and substance is a make of something, then faith is the matter or make of things hoped for. Also faith is evidence of things not seen. Webster gives the following definition for evidence: "To elucidate; to prove; to make clear to the mind; to show in such a manner that the mind can apprehend the truth, or in a manner to convince it. The testimony of two witnesses is usually sufficient to evidence the guilt of an offender. The works of creation clearly evidence the existence of an infinite first cause." So faith is proof that something that we can't see does exists. So faith is proof that God exists. Its that simple. The faith that has carried believers through trials from the day time began is convincing and convicting proof that there is a God that would not fail them. Tell me, would you suffer for something that you had no faith in? Would you be burnt at the stake, with the cries of your family ringing in your ears, would you do that for someone you don't have any faith in? I wouldn't. That's the difference. Saints of God died like that only because they had faith, they had PROOF that the Great I AM cared for them.

(All Scripture quoted from the King James Bible and all definitions taken from Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

The Last Chapter

Last night my church went up to a great tent meeting at Parker Memorial Baptist Church to hear Dr. Phil Kidd. He preached on what the last chapter of your life will say and it was amazing! He took us to four deaths in the Bible and what their deaths were said about them. Abner died a fool, Demus died a  failure, Judas died a fake, and the sinner on the cross died a forgiven man. He used the story of one winter he came home from college for Christmas break. When home he got a phone call from a person he hadn't heard from in years and she asked him to come talk to her son, who was dying and he knew it, about God. The reason, she said, was because even though no one knew it her and boys father had long ago gotten saved and had started serving God. Then they began to be very successful  in work. She was making money and he was making money and they were having children and eventually they were to busy making money to go to church and serve God! One disappointing thing is that they had forgotten how tell someone how to get saved. So he said he'd come. He gets there and goes to the boy and tells him how to get saved. The boy  listens and when Dr. Kidd asks him if wants to get saved the boy answers "That's a nice story Mr. Kidd but I don't believe a word of it." Dr. Kidd  asks "Well why not? " The boy answers "Because my mom and dad love me to much to not tell me if there was a real concern over where I will go when I die." Then the dad, who was standing right there, just collapsed and cried out to God. That is very sad. Can you imagine how the parents felt when they heard their son say that? That it was their fault that their son didn't believe. Well there was no point in staying so Dr. Kidd went home. In the morning he got a call from the mother of the boy. She said that her son had died in the night and all that Br. Kidd could imagine was the boy lifting his eyes up in hell and scream " WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME MOM AND DAD." Then the lady said that she had sat with her son through the night and had dozed off. In the middle of the night she was awakened by a tug on her arm. She looks around theirs nobody there, she looks at the couch where her son was laying and he was gone. She looks on the ground and she asks him why he was down there. He says " I was to weak to wake you so I fell on the floor to wake you up. I did that so I could tell you that I got saved." That boy never said another word on this earth. He didn't even get off the ground before he died. Wouldn't that be sad? Wouldn't that be horrid to think that your failure as a christian might have caused a hell-bound sinner to continue on the path he was on instead of getting saved? It happens every single day of life on this earth. Some people don't even care or notice! What will the last chapter of your life say?

Truly "Under God"

  In July of 1776, 56 men signed a declaration that would be the groundwork for this beautiful country called America. There is no way that I could begin to describe what the mood in the air might have been at that fateful moment. One of frustration, of anger, of wonder, of nationalism, of plain old democracy. Could it be that it was one of a perfect, devotion and love for the Almighty God? Could it be that they were signing this document to preserve a people's wonder and amazement towards their Ultimate Origin. What if they were signing this document to preserve freedom and liberty that was planned long before we thought about a land across the blue. This document I believe was a part of God's will for not just you or me, not for just America, but for the world. That country's around the world would look at America and say "This is a nation truly under the one and only Great I AM."

What do you own

I heard a story of a minister who was invited to a very rich farmers house. So he went and they ate and talked for a while. Then the rancher took the preacher and walked up to the highest hill on his ranch. He then pointed towards the West and said "everything you see in that direction I own." He pointed in the East and said "everything you see is mine. "He then pointed in the South and said "everything you see is mine." He then pointed to the north and said "everything you see I worked for with my own hands." The preacher, with hardly a hesitant moment, pointed up and said "but how much do you own in that direction."

We sometimes think that we can own and conquer everything we see and just control completely. But that is not the way it works. Because if you think about it God owns everything and you are just on loan, and if you don't learn to store up treasures in heaven you will be the poorest up there.

The effect of Hate

I would like to share a true story I read with you and I want you to honestly think if it is a problem in your life.

A college girl walked into class one day and saw in the front of the class a couple stands with targets hung on them.  Once all the students were there the teacher told them to all pick one person they disliked, hated, or despised.  When they had done that he picked some of them to come up and draw a picture of that person they disliked and gave them each a few darts.  Then when they had finished drawing they were to throw the darts at the picture they had made.  Well of course they ran out of time this girl did not get to throw or even draw the person she was thinking of.  Once everyone was settled down and seated the teacher calmly walked up to the pictures and one by one slowly took them down.  Suddenly everyone was ashamed at themselves, for behind each target was a picture of Jesus.  Each and every one of those students looked at what they had done to their Lord and Savior.  Some pictures were pierced in the eye, or the stomach, or torn apart so badly you could hardly tell there was anything there at all.  No words were needed except those of John,    

1 John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

Tears filled the eyes of the students as they looked on.

Now I know some of us think "Oh I don't hate my brothers that much." but we never seem to understand how much it hurts them or Jesus.

Very good

Foes Become Friends

The day was December 25, in the year 1914.  There was a war going on, a war of such size it would be recorded as the "Great War".  It was Christmas day and, suddenly, the bombs stopped and were forgotten.  Then everyone got up out of the trenches and cubbyholes and went over to each other and shook hands. They now approached the ones a day earlier they would have called their enemies.  What had possessed them?  They were talking peacefully to their adversaries. They summoned up the courage to actually talk to them in hope that they would not shoot at them instead.  It was Christmas Day and they were going to celebrate with each other.  There were eyewitness' accounts of it.  There were Germans and Scottish, Americans and British, and several other nationalities.  It was a  peaceful Christmas and a happy one because they individually were able to put away their differences and communicate.

Now after hearing that true story how many reading this have ever gone to their enemies and forgiven them on a much smaller scale.  They were talking to the ones who had possibly killed their best friends.  Your enemies at the worst lied to you, made fun at you, tripped you.  And yet why is it that we can never manage the courage to go over and forgive them on any occasion.  This year lets make sure that we can make peace with our enemies.

That's My King! - SM Lockridge

Thought you might like this :)

Farewell by Lincoln

The speech you see is the farewell speech from the White House by President Lincoln.  I think it is good(as does as my sister who recommended it).


My friends, no one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place and the kindness of these people, I owe everything. Here I have lived a quarter of a century, and have passed from a young to an old man. Here my children have been born, and one is buried. I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of that Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail. Trusting in Him who can go with me, and remain with you, and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell.

The Christmas Story

The Christmas Story

“What is the Christmas story?” you might ask.  Is it just a myth?  A fairy tale made up by some crazed maniac?  Or could it be just a pack of lies?  A story told by one man in order to make the whole world believe something that could not possibly be true. Well, what do you think?  How about a story told by a good man, who wanted to give the world a higher calling or a desire to live?  I don’t think so.

How could a crazed man come up with such a wondrous story as the one of Christ?  Would a wicked sinner curse others that were the same as he is?  Surely a good person would not have told this story.  For in doing so, they would make their own goodness to be a lie.

No, I don’t think that man in any aspect could begin to imagine the glory and honor that the Christmas story contains.  That the Lord that made the heaven, the earth, you and me would come down to this sin filled world with pain, sorrow and broken hearts.  He did this so he could dry the tears of the sorrowing and mend those whose hearts had been broken.  No, no man could conceive that story, but I know the One who did.  The Highest being of all ages, the Creator God, the Ruler over the entire universe, it is the story of the Lord Jesus Christ.

So, I really have not answered your question.  That is because I can’t answer it completely, because it isn’t finished yet, we are part of the story.  The story won’t be finished until He comes back to take us home with Him.  Why are we part of that story?  We are the reason that the story began so long ago.  The reason He came down to live among sinful men was us.  Why, WHY, did He care about us all so much?  He wanted us to live with Him in eternity, because He loved us with a greater love than we have ever known or seen here on earth.

That is the reason.  Now you know why.  What are you going to do about it? 

While we were born with a silver spoon in our mouth, He was born in a manger, in a stable!  What can we do to repay Him who loved us so much?  We can do nothing.  We can do nothing to repay him.  The price is greater than our human minds can conceive. 

But what can we do?  We can try to hide our belief in Him like some do.  Or we can live our life being a good person, but never really telling anyone else about what He did for them. 

Or we can show His light, share His news, and give Him the glory that is His due.  What will you do for the One who gave you your life?  Don’t push Him away as you have done so many times before.  Let His light shine from you.