Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Copy & Paste

Each day I read many articles that deal with many issues. Life, love, Money, and of course scripture. Reason I say Copy and Paste is simple. Many times I've copied and pasted scripture but the question is, do you really understand what the meaning behind the scripture is?

Remember of course the Ethiopian Eunuch who was reading scripture. He was reading scripture but did not understand or fully understand what he was reading. It took Philip to explain to him what he was reading. He asked afterward what was preventing him from being baptized? There was nothing that prevented him from being baptized and thus he was. Another point to this was that he was a man when he was baptized but I'll post information on that later. Anyway, the point being that even though he read scripture, he did not understand what he was reading.

It's no different today. There are many scriptures that are hard to understand but it doesn't have to be. Jesus the Great teacher explained many scriptures and gave clear understanding to them but to read a scripture and not apply it is more or less like a child who's parent is trying to make things clear to them. It goes in one ear and out the other. In order to fully grasp scripture and it's meaning, it requires study of the scripture, it requires a teacher, it requires application, it requires prayer.

If you read a scripture that says that you should not fornicate and you fornicate? Are you really applying what you have learned? You might reason and say oh that's old fashioned but has God really changed his rules? Has he changed his standards? Or have your standards changed? In the Book of Eph chapter 5 verse 5 didn't you read that fornication is wrong? If you did then who's standards changed? God's or yours?

Notice what is found at 1Co 6:9-11. Notice some of the things mentioned " What! Do YOU not know that unrighteous persons will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be misled. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men, nor thieves, nor greedy persons, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit God’s kingdom. And yet that is what some of YOU were" End quote

Notice where it states that is what some of you were or are you still unrighteous according to this scripture? Do you get drunk? Do you fornicate? Do you worship Idols? Are you cheating on your husband or wife? I can go on and on but the point is if you are doing these things are you really following scripture? If you say you do and yet are doing these things well, who's standards are you following? It's clear that it's not God's standard, ask yourself which master are you following?

It's easy to copy and paste. It's easy to write down or memorize scripture, its difficult to apply when following your own standards. Till tomorrow....

Monday, January 12, 2009

In case of an emergency

The other day I noticed that sign and of course it ended with pull here. But the point was in case of an emergency. When this system goes down the drain many will run, scream, yell, cry, and of course look for their loved ones. There will be no item you can pull in case of an emergency.

In Noah's day, imagine how those felt when it started to rain and it did not stop. Imagine how they felt inside. Maybe they were saying to themselves, why didn't I listen to what Noah was saying. Many in his time thought that Noah was crazy but Noah did indeed preach that it was coming. In case of an emergency....

What would be the first thing you do if you noticed that the world was coming to an end? Who would you go to? What would you say to God? Oh I should have listened to you God but.... and here comes all the excuses....

I would have listened to you but, my wife is in a different religion..My husband is in a different religion...my father or mother is in a different religion...I'm just going along with what they do and how they worship....

Be honest with yourself. Do you really think that makes a difference to God? I mentioned several times that you cannot slave for two masters so if you are not serving God the way he wishes to be served then you are serving the other God of this system of things.

Job himself was put to many tests and he passed with flying colors. It didn't matter what his wife said, his children said, or anyone said. He kept his integrity to God and reasoned with everything that was going on. He slaved for one master.

What are examples of slaving for two masters? Well I pointed several out many times on this blog. It's living life as a follower of God 24hrs a day. Not just when you are at church. It's when you are at school, home, work, vacation, etc.. It's 24hrs a day Monday through Sunday. Are you doing that?

If you are not then you need to question which master you are serving? Here's another good question. Who's more important God or your mother, your father, your sister, your husband or your wife? If you say God then ask yourself this question " Is my actions in life showing that I put God first in everything I do? "

In case of an emergency......

Till tomorrow....

Thursday, January 8, 2009

What's going on?



Killed, executed, and assassinated all to to mind when I think of what happened to this young man. He had a 4yr old daughter, girlfriend, and family. If anyone of us killed someone where do you think we would be sitting right now?

It's sad to see stories like this but it's more common than you think. The fact is more and more people have camera's. Remember Rodney King?



Or what about this one.



or



We live in a sad sad world.......

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Update

Video is ready for your viewing pleasure..Here is Jesse

The Great Teacher

When I say the Great teacher who you do of? Do you think of someone who teaches a class? Maybe it's a bible instructor. Maybe it's a friend. When I say the Great teacher I speak of none other than Jesus himself.

What made him a great teacher? Have you learned from this Great Teacher? We have all had opportunity to do so. Those who have seized that opportunity have learned what God’s will and ways are, what his standards are, how they are to conduct themselves toward him and toward others, how to live lives that are clean and moral. Because of what they have learned from Jesus they have a clear hope for the future, a brilliant hope, indeed, of life in a righteous new order.

But Jesus has also taught that we should share this hope with others, our families, friends and people in general, anywhere and everywhere. Jesus talked about many subjects but what I found was that the words he used to teach reached the heart. He made things simple. He made it so we can understand. He used illustrations in order to help us understand the meaning of scripture. He used illustration in order for us to get the point of what he was trying to say. Let's look at one of this illustrations

First, in the parable of the wheat and the weeds, Jesus told about a man who sowed fine wheat in his field but “an enemy” invaded the field and oversowed it with weeds. Why did Jesus select that particular hostile act? Well, keep in mind that he related the illustration near the Sea of Galilee, and the main occupation of the Galileans was evidently agriculture. What could be more damaging to a farmer than to have an enemy come secretly into his field and oversow it with harmful weeds? Secular laws of that time show that such attacks did happen. Is it not obvious that Jesus used a situation that his listeners could relate to?

Second, recall the parable of the neighborly Samaritan. Jesus began by saying: “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among robbers, who both stripped him and inflicted blows, and went off, leaving him half-dead.” Significantly, Jesus used the road that went “from Jerusalem to Jericho” to make his point. When relating this parable, he was in Judea, not far from Jerusalem; so his listeners likely knew about the road in question. That particular road was notoriously dangerous, especially for someone traveling alone. It wound through lonely terrain, providing many lurking places for robbers.

A number of Jesus’ illustrations and parables reveal his acquaintance with plants, animals, and the elements. While growing up in Galilee, he no doubt had ample opportunity to observe Jehovah’s creations. More than that, Jesus is “the firstborn of all creation,” and Jehovah used him as the “master worker” in creating all things. Is it any wonder that Jesus was intimately acquainted with creation?

Among the most tender of Jesus’ illustrations is the one recorded in John chapter 10, where he likens his close relationship with his followers to that of a shepherd with his sheep. Jesus’ words reveal that he was very familiar with the traits of domestic sheep. He indicated that sheep allow themselves to be led and that they faithfully follow their shepherd.

Why do sheep follow their shepherd? “Because they know his voice,” said Jesus. Do sheep really know the voice of their shepherd? Of course they do. Jesus could hardly have found a better way to illustrate his point. If we recognize and obey his teachings and if we follow his lead, then we can come under the tender and loving care of “the fine shepherd.”

Over the years I've heard many illustrations from Brothers to help us understand scripture. Some I came up with while others I have used. One Illustration that got to me that I never heard before was given by a brother who was talking about Jehovah, Satan, Adam, and Eve.

The brother pulled out a $20.00 bill and showed crowd and said does this have value? Of course it does. $20.00 can purchase a day's meal for the home. It does have value. He then took the $20.00 which looked brand new and crumpled it up and threw it on the floor and then asked the crowd does it still have value? We were all quiet wanting to figure out where he was going with his illustration. He then said that the $20.00 represents us, God created the $20.00, and when he did it was brand new, perfect, Satan comes along and crumpled it up and thew it away meaning our life, our goals, our purpose.

So there the $20.00 was on the floor. The brother looks and grabs the $20.00 because it has what still? It still has value. The brother grabs the $20.00 and straightens the $20.00 out. It has scars so the speak from being crumpled but it's straight again and he said that God still saw value in what he created and even though we were created perfect he still saw value but now we are imperfect like that $20.00 even though it's straight it's not perfect again but God didn't just throw us away. He picked us up. Like a person who would find $20.00 on the street. You wouldn't just leave it there would you? Of course not.

That illustration had me in awe because it was the first time I heard it. We can thank Jesus for the way he taught. We can thank Jehovah for teaching Jesus. Jesus’ illustrations took many forms, including examples, comparisons, similes, and metaphors. He is well-known for his use of the parable, which has been defined as a short, usually fictitious, narrative from which a moral or spiritual truth is drawn.

So like the great Teacher, I use Illustrations to drive the point home. I use Illustrations in order to reach the heart. I use Illustrations and example in order for common sense to take play. Jesus said many things and I've mentioned this before but to end this topic think about what Jesus said here...

Jesus was talking to his disciples about the time when this whole wicked worldly system of things, the present Sodom and Gomorrah in which we are now living, would be destroyed. The ancient destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was one of the historical illustrations Jesus used to help his faithful followers get the right understanding of what was going to happen during his second presence and to “give us more faith.”

But Jesus gave them additional true history from God’s Word as set forth in the book of Genesis to establish their faith. He said: “Just as it occurred in the days of Noah, so will it be also in the days of the Son of man.”

By these illustrations what was Jesus trying to impress upon their minds and ours? Deliverance! But in order to gain salvation they had to come out from and be no part of this old world. In our present day there is a class of people, a great crowd, think of Lot and his two daughters. Picture them fleeing their old world. No different than this old world that is doomed to sudden destruction.

I close with this scripture. Revelation Chapter 21 verse 4 which reads:
And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”

Monday, January 5, 2009

2009

In yesterday's meeting we talked about what a person would give up in order to have everlasting life. What would a person do to gain everlasting life. What can a person say to gain ever lasting life. Before that we had a talk which discussed being a good listener.

I recall a rich man that approached Jesus and asked what was required of him in order to get everlasting life? This man already obeyed God’s basic laws, but when Jesus explained that to please God and gain eternal life he must cease making material possessions his chief concern and, instead, become Jesus’ disciple and copy his example of sharing spiritual things with others, the rich man sadly walked away. Why did this man walk away? What would a person give up to gain everlasting life?

The rich are generally so concerned with their own material interests that they do not give the word of the kingdom the attention it deserves but yet they would spend so much money in order to stay young or add years, months, and even days to they life. Is it worth it? Is it worth having riches here on Earth? You can't take it with you, can you? That's just one example for the rich.

What about the middle class or even poor? Is the love of money more important than your worship to God? What would you give up to gain everlasting life? If a person is living by God's standards not his own then his or her life would reflect it. He or she wouldn't be worshiping just on a Sunday. It's a 24hr thing is it not? I mentioned in my previous post about getting Drunk. How can a person say with good conscience that he or she is serving God but yet getting drunk? You can't and if you are then you are only lying to yourself. Is it God's standards or your standards that you are living up to? If it's your standards then the bar moves which ever way you want it to move. If it's God's standards then it's high standards that you must meet. If you use bad words then really who's standards are you living up to? If you treat your children like trash, your wife like trash, kids treat parents like trash, then really who's standards are you living up to? If you say God's standards then you really need to read scripture again and show me the part where it says that it's ok to get drunk, that's it's ok to treat your wife or children bad.

What would you give up to have everlasting life? Think about that for a sec.....

Friday, January 2, 2009

Kinda Late

Yes yes I know. I took sometime off. It's not like many were paying attention. Some might have been in school some at work who just didn't have a chance to check their daily blog.

2009 is here and many have said to me, happy new year. Most took advantage and found yet another reason to drink. I was sad, upset, happy, and a bit emotional. First let me explain the sad.

I want you to picture a building that burning. You walk by and you hear children screaming because they are burning. You hear children screaming because they are scared, because they are alone, because they don't feel safe, you hear children screaming because they know or sense in a way that their time is close.

In one way, we are all children are we not? Can you tell me that you don't have some of your toys that you won't let your children play with or maybe you stop by a toy store and admire a toy, maybe it was a hot wheels. For girls, you can't tell me as an adult that when you purchase something for your daughters that you don't admire what you buy them. You do. I do. We are all big kids inside and no matter how much gray hair we get we still feel like the same person inside.

I mentioned sad because as mentioned another year has passed which means that we are getting ever closer to the end of this system of things. I will lose much when it happen. I may lose my life when it happens. I don't know, I can only pray that I and those I love will be apart of the new system that is fast approaching. I feel sad because those that I do love won't hear me, won't listen, won't listen to reason, won't even take a chance and think outside the box to the thought that maybe what I'm saying and have been saying is indeed the truth.

I love my family very much and I, myself need to improve. We all do in some ways and no that isn't my new years resolution. I don't make those, it's a waste of time if you don't stick to what you said. So when someone said to me " Happy new year" I had mentioned to them that I wasn't happy at all. I am just another year closer to death, another year that maybe I will die and that I won't see my kids again. OH but you will go to Heaven. Please...I am not going to Heaven. I am not going to Heaven. There is nothing special that I did on this planet to deserve the honor to face Jehovah be one of his angels. The honor belongs to those who have that in them. Those who feel they are apart of that sealed number that will go to heaven. I don't feel that. I feel I belong here. Sad again because many that I love won't listen while there is still time.

Won't listen to reason? I mentioned many things on this blog and instead of looking the other way, why not look into it and see if it makes sense yourself. Let me tell you, I'm not the smartest person on the planet but those that do know me know that I am no where near stupid. I listen, study, pay attention, and I found that this is the truth. I get upset because others cannot and will not remove what's blocking their eyes so they can see clearly.

If you got drunk this weekend, during Christmas, or during new years congratulations you thus again proved why point why your actions prove that you are not following God. Tell me..very simple if this makes sense to you..Would Jesus get drunk with you? Would Jesus sit at the end of every year and get drunk with you? Would he? If you say no then why are you? The scriptures tell us that you cannot slave for two masters....Which master are you serving if you know that the scriptures say that it IS wrong to get drunk....Which master are you serving....Oh yeah, go on Sunday so you can feel better about yourself and the cycle repeats itself till next weekend when you find another reason to get drunk.

Don't do it. Please take the time and open your eyes and examine what I am saying, what I've been saying.....We are running out of time............................