Weekend Sermon -- "Keep Going"

     Welcome to the final sermon of 2016.  I am glad to have been able to post sermons here on the blog this year.  I thank the Lord for this opportunity, and I thank you for reading the blog in 2016.
     There are a lot of changes going on at work, and there are many more to come in 2017.  I am hoping to find a different job fairly soon.  Please pray for me in this regard.  I thank the Lord that I have been able to have a good year in writing.  I finished one book project, and I am about to begin another.  I also have written several poems and a short story that I will be sending out to journals in the next few days.
     As we go to prayer this week, please pray for an end to all of the violence and warfare in this world.  Pray that 2017 will be a year of peace.  Pray for an end to war in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and South Sudan.  Pray for an end to terrorism and violence in the streets of our cities.
     Let us also pray for those suffering from natural disasters.  Continue to pray for those in Haiti and the Philippines who were affected by storms.  Pray for those suffering from disease and from the lack of necessary resources.
     For our prayer focus countries. let us pray this week for the nations of Gambia and Mongolia.  Pray that people will hear the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
     This next year, I would encourage you to pick one nation in the world where there are not that many Christians.  Pray each day for that country that the message of Jesus' love would reach many in that particular nation.
     For our last sermon of 2016, I wanted to focus on the old year passing and the new year beginning.  For me, 2016 has had a lot of bad times.  I lost one of my best and oldest friends this year.  He was only 49 years old.  Two people that I knew from writing also passed away in 2016.  Also, I haven't felt that well for a lot of 2016.  
     However, there was a lot to be thankful for in 2016 for me as well.  As I mentioned, I had some really good accomplishments in writing.  I was able to post messages here on the blog.  I also found a church to go to that has been good so far.  These are certainly things to be grateful for.
     There are bad things in 2016 that I want to leave behind, and there are good things that I want to build on.  I'm sure that this is the case for everyone.  All of us, I'm sure, made resolutions for 2016 when it started.  Some of those faded away quickly.  I know that I wanted to lose weight in 2016, but instead I gained a few more pounds.  I wanted to get ahead a little more financially, but I didn't get as far as I wanted.
     January 1, 2017 represents a chance to reflect on our lives.  What is it that we want to leave behind, and what do we want to get going in our lives?
     I know that I do want to lose some weight in 2017.  Come January 2, I am going to start on a diet.  I also want to work even more diligently on writing in the coming year.  I want to finish my religious writing project and my new book project.  I also hope to get completely out of debt and find a new job. I might get a dog next year.
     As far as my spiritual goals, I want to complete a series of messages here on the blog about all of the parables of Jesus.  I would like to see people grow in their faith, and I would like to see people reached with the good news of Jesus through this blog ministry.  I would also like to expand my evangelism ministry with the hope of reaching others with the message of salvation.  Hopefully, I will grow closer to Jesus through prayer and meditation in 2017.
     I don't know what your goals were in 2016 or whether you achieved them or not.  I hope that you have some good goals for 2017.  What I'd like to say to myself and to everyone who will read this message is keep going.
     You may have had a really bad 2016.  You may not have accomplished one thing you set out to do.  Maybe you had a lot of tragedy, suffering and heartache in 2016.  I just want to encourage you to keep going.  Keep pressing on.  Don't give up.
     There are two passages of Scripture that I think can help us all with this point.  In Philippians 3:13-14, the Apostle Paul urges us to forget what is behind and press on to the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
      We may have failed spiritually or in some other way in 2016.  But, we can set that aside by God's grace and move on in faith trusting in the Lord in 2017.
     Maybe you struggled with some type of sin and temptation in 2016 that you weren't able to get full control of.  Confess that sin and move on in the grace of the Lord in 2017 with a renewed mind and heart to serve and obey the Lord .
     In Matthew 7:7, Jesus talked about asking, seeking and knocking.  He urged us to keep doing these things.  He wants us to keep going and not be discouraged despite what may have happened in the past.
     Maybe 2016 was a great year for you.  You accomplished what you set out to do, and you were able to accomplish great things in service for the Lord Jesus.  That is great.  I would encourage you to keep going as well.  Keep serving the Lord with all that you have so that you might accomplish even more for the Lord in this upcoming year.  Don't rest in past accomplishments, keep going on to bigger and brighter things.
     I hope that everyone of you will have a great and happy new year.  I pray that the blessings of the Lord will be with you in whatever you seek to do for Him.  I hope that here on the blog that we can learn and grow together through the messages.  And, I hope that we will all learn about some good books to read through the reviews.
     Let us all thank the Lord for bringing us through another year.  Through all that has happened, He has been with us, and He will never leave us or forsake us.
     Next week, I will be posting the verse for the week on Tuesday as the library will be closed on Monday.  On Wednesday, I will have a dog book review.  For the Weekend Sermon, we will begin our series on the parables of Jesus next week.  May God bless you all.  Amen.
 

Some Thoughts on Wednesday

     I just want to post a few things today.  First of all, I hope that everyone had a good Christmas.  I am thankful to the Lord that we didn't get any bad storms on Christmas Day as was predicted.  Let us all remember to pray for the people in North and South Dakota who really got hit hard by the winter storm.
     Usually, I have a review on Wednesday, but not today.  The book reviews will be posted again starting next week.  I already have two good books that I want to review.  I will try to have a review each Wednesday throughout 2017.
     I am going to start posting just one single verse for the week starting next week.  I may make some comments from time to time on what that verse means to me.
     As far as the sermons are concerned.  We will begin studying the parables of Jesus beginning in two weeks.  This will take up a lot of 2017.  We may have a one week break to study a different topic now and then just to change things up.  After we finish our study in the parables, I may go through the book of Malachi.  I'm not sure about that yet.  I actually have enough sermons planned out to take us through 2017 and into the year after.  It's just a matter of deciding when to study what topic.  I rely on the Lord to show me what He wants me to post about when.
     It's been a great year here on the blog.  This year saw the blog's highest level of readership.  People from all over the world stopped by to read various posts.  It is my hope and prayer that people will read the sermons and be encouraged or that they will come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord.  I also hope that people will read the reviews and learn about some good things to read.
     As far as things go for me in 2017, I hope that 2017 is a lot better than 2016.  I lost several friends in 2016 and my health wasn't that good.  I am trusting in the Lord that the new year will be much better.  I hope that I can find a job that is more suited for me and that I will feel better.
     Starting next year, I am going to go on a diet and try to eat more healthy foods.  I think that if I eat better and have a little less stress that I will feel better in all ways.
     In this coming year, I also plan to spend more time writing and sending things out to publishers.  I have a book with a publisher right now, and I am hoping for good things from that.  I've been working on poetry, and I have finished a short story that I will be sending out to a literary journal in the near future.
     I hope that all of you will have a good new year.  I will continue to pray for all of you who read this blog each night.  I hope that you will pray for me as well.
     This Friday I will be posting the Weekend Sermon.  I'll see you then.

Weekend Sermon -- Advent -- Philippians 2:5-11

    Welcome today to the Weekend Sermon.  After the bad weather of last week, it is good to be able to post the sermon.  Last week, I posted a sermon from a few years back because I wanted to get to work before the bad weather set in.  I hope that that sermon was a blessing to those who were able to read it.
     This has been a busy week with Christmas activities.  I was able to get together with some family members this week, and we had a good time.  I talked to my uncle on the phone yesterday, and I am thankful to the Lord that he is doing well.
     I would ask that you would pray for me this week,  Some bad storms are predicted to be in my area on Christmas Day of all days.  Please pray that these storms don't have the damaging winds that are being predicted.  Also, please pray that I will feel better as I have been feeling down since around Thanksgiving time.
     In other matters, let us pray for those who are still recovering from natural disasters.  Haiti is still recovering from the hurricane, and other parts of the world are recovering from earthquake damage.  Let us also pray for those injured in the terrorist attack in Germany.  Pray that they might recover and that Germany will be safe from any further problems.
    Let us pray for peace in the world.  Pray for peace in Syria, Iraq and South Sudan.  For our prayer focus countries, please pray that the message of Jesus' love will reach many in the nations of Guinea and Bahrain.
     Christmas day is almost upon us.  I have a lot of good memories of the Christmas season.  Many of you have read the posts I've put here on the blog about the special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day memories I have of spending time with my Mom, Dad and my friend Toby.  I do enjoy spending time with my remaining family, but I do miss my folks and Toby during these holiday times.  I am thankful for the time that we had together.  I hope that during this holiday season that you will take the time to say a prayer of thanks to the Lord for those special persons that God has brought into your life that you have the chance to spend the holiday season with.
     Today, I want to focus on what I believe is one of the most wonderful passages of Scripture.  Philippians 2:5-11 speaks to us of the First and Second Advents of Jesus.  The passage tells us what the coming of Jesus was all about.
     Philippians 2:7 tells us, "He gave up everything and became a servant, when He became like one of us."  When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, He took upon Himself humanity.  He left the glories of Heaven and all of its splendor to come and be born into a peasant family.  He came to be born in the most humble of circumstances.
     When Jesus came to this earth, He left behind all the Heavenly hosts who sang praise to Him.  He came and was born in a stable, because there was no room in the inn.  He was adored and worshiped by shepherds who heard the angels announce the birth of the Messiah.
     Jesus came into this world because He loved us.  He wanted to save us from our sins and provide forgiveness to all those who would call upon His name in repentance and faith.
     Jesus humbled Himself in His birth and in His life.  He did not come to be served, but He came to serve others.  He became obedient unto death on the cross.  On the cross, Jesus bore all of our sins in His body.  He provided for our redemption, because He was willing to come into this earth as the God-man.  And it all started on Christmas Day.
     Jesus didn't remain in the grave.  He rose again on the third day, and now He is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.  At the right hand of the Father, Jesus is our advocate, and He makes intercession for us.
    One day, at the Second Advent, Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead.  When Jesus comes again, He will not be coming as the humble infant in the manger in Bethlehem.  He will be coming with power and great glory followed by the legions of angels and all those who have followed Him as Savior and Lord.
    When Jesus comes again, He will be proclaimed as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Every knee shall bow down to the Lord Jesus.  What a glorious day that will be.
     As you ponder the coming of the Lord Jesus during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, remember that Jesus came to this earth out of His great love for this world.  Jesus' spirit of love should motivate those of us who are His followers to live lives of love.  To me, this means that we seek to tell others about who Jesus is and what He has done.  It means helping others and trying to make this world a better place.  It means seeking the best and doing the best for our friends and family members.
     Also during this Christmas season, think about the humble heart of Jesus.  He left everything to come to this earth to redeem us and show us the true and living way.  We should seek to emulate the humble heart of Jesus.  He sought what was best for others no matter what the cost to Himself.  He sought to serve others, and He calls us to have servant hearts to reach out to those around us in His name.
     During this Christmas season, I hope that you will ponder the Second Advent as well.  Are ready to meet the Lord Jesus should He return to this earth this very day?  I hope that your answer is yes.  If not, I hope that during this holiday season that you will ask Jesus to be your Savior and Lord.  If you are a Christian, yet you have found yourself drifting away from the things of the Lord, I pray that you will turn you heart back to the Lord Jesus during this Christmas time.
    Next week, we will have a different schedule here on the blog.  Since the library where I work on the computer to post the blog is going to be closed a few days, I will not be posting the verses or a review next week.  The verses and reviews will return the following week.  I already have two good dog books to review in 2017.  There will be a sermon posted on Friday.  I want to reflect on the old year and the upcoming year in the message.  Following that, we will begin our series on the parables of Jesus which will take up much of 2017.  May God bless you all, and I wish everyone a Merry Christmas.  Amen.
   

Book Review -- Animal Book of the Year

    We have already revealed the dog book of the year and the cat book of the year.  Today, it is time to reveal my choice for the animal book of the year.  This was an easy decision.  My pick is "The Penguin Lessons," by Tom Michell.
     Tom is working as a teacher in Argentina when he comes across a penguin covered in oil on the beach.  At first, Tom doesn't think the penguin is alive, but the penguin is still alive.  Tom makes the decision to take the penguin home and clean him up in hopes that he will survive.
     "The Penguin Lessons" tells the story of the time Tom spent with the penguin he named Juan Salvador.  This penguin became a favorite of the students at the school where Tom was a teacher, and Juan Salvador brought joy to the lives of everyone that he met.
     Next week, I will not be posting a review.  However, the reviews will start again after the first of the year.  I already have two dog books read and ready for review in 2017.

Verses For the Week -- The Second Advent

     The weather here has been extremely bad.  I'm sorry that I had to put an old sermon on the blog for the weekend.  I was able to get into work before the freezing rain set in.  During the day, the temperature went up a little, so by the time I went home, the roads were OK.  The next day, the streets were completely iced up.  Thankfully, I was able to get the day off.   The weather is now improving.


Hebrews 9:28 -- "So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him."

Matthew 24:44 -- "Therefore, you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

Weekend Sermon -- Advent

       Today, we are expecting icing and a winter storm.  Please pray that it won't be too bad.  I am going to try to beat the worst of the weather and get into work early.  I still want to post a message, so for this week, I am reposting a Christmas sermon that appeared a few years ago here on the blog.  This appeared on the blog in 2013.

Matthew-1:18-2:23

     Last week, we looked at Mary the mother of Jesus and the way in which she demonstrates her great commitment to following the will of God for her life.  In spite of what the potential consequences were, Mary was willing to do what God wanted her to do.  She is an example for all of us to always be willing to do whatever it is God might be calling us to do.  Mary was a woman who praised God and was thankful for all that the Lord had done for her.
     Mary is not alone as an example of commitment to God in the Christmas story.  Joseph of Nazareth also plays his part in showing us a life that pleases God.
     Joseph was engaged to Mary, and I'm sure that he was shocked and angered when he first heard the news of Mary's pregnancy.  He was no doubt embarrassed and and quite possibly the object of many jokes among his companions.
     However, early on we get a picture of the kind of man Joseph was deep down in his heart and why God may have chosen Joseph to help in raising the Son of God.  Joseph, although hurt and probably angry, didn't desire any humiliation or shame to come to Mary.  The Bible says that, "Joseph being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly."  This demonstrates that Joseph was a person of true love.  At this point, Joseph is completely unaware of the miraculous nature of Mary's pregnancy.  But, Joseph sought no retaliation against Mary.
     We see in I Corinthians 13, the great chapter on love, that one the characteristics of someone who truly loves is that they are kind.  Also, they are not resentful against others.  Joseph truly was a loving, just, and virtuous man.
     As Joseph considered his predicament with Mary, an angel appeared to him with an important announcement.  The angel, probably Gabriel, told Joseph that Mary was with child from the Holy Spirit.  Joseph was instructed to take Mary as his wife and to name the child Jesus because He would save His people from their sins.
     Joseph was obedient to the commands of the Lord.  Just like Mary, Joseph was unconcerned as to what others thought about him.  He would do what the Lord asked without question.
     I hope that I can always be a person of love and integrity like Joseph.  I hope that I will always immediately be willing to do all that God asks of me.
     From Luke's gospel we know the story of how Mary and Joseph had to make their way to the city of Bethlehem in obedience to the degree that went out from Augustus.  I can imagine Joseph desperately trying to find a place for Mary to give birth besides a cattle stall.  I wonder what went through his mind when first shepherds, then wise men, came to worship the baby in a manger.
     It wasn't long before Joseph received another angelic visitation.  This time, Joseph was told to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt in order to escape the murderous plans of King Herod.  Once again, Joseph obeyed and was faithful.
     The Bible is silent as to what happened to Joseph.  It is clear that he had already passed away by the time Jesus began His public ministry.  We know that Jesus was older than 12 when Joseph died, but more than that is speculation.
     During this Christmas season, I urge you to look at the example of Mary and Joseph.  Ponder the type of people they were.  Consider why God the Father chose them to raise His Son.  Most of all, let each of us follow their example of commitment to God's call.  May we all strive to do what we can for the Glory of God. Amen.

     I hope that you enjoyed this message from the past.  Next week, I will try to post a new sermon.. I hope to post the verses on Monday, and reveal the animal book of the year on Wednesday.  May God bless you all. Amen.

Cat Book of the Year

    Last week, we revealed the dog book of the year.  This week, it is time to reveal the cat book of the year.
    My choice for cat book of the year is "Oliver, the Cat Who Saved Christmas" by Sheila Norton.  I reviewed this book on the blog not too long ago.  However, some may not have read that post.  This book is about a cat named Oliver who is living a comfortable life with his owner in a pub in England.  One night, the pub catches fire.  Oliver is able to awaken his owner and get him to safety, but Oliver is frightened, runs into the woods and gets lost.
     From there, Oliver meets two different families who take care of him while his owner is staying in London with his sister while the pub is being repaired.  The book details how Oliver is able to help the families he is staying with and people in the town have a good Christmas in spite of the difficulties they are facing.
     This is an excellent book as far as I am concerned.  It is a very positive and uplifting story with no objectionable elements in the book whatsoever.  Since it is a Christmas story, this would be a great time to pick up a copy of "Oliver, the Cat Who Saved Christmas" and read a wonderful story.
     Next week, I will reveal my choice for animal book of the year.  This category is for animal related books that aren't dog or cat related.

Verses For the Week -- Verses About Joy

     I just wanted to report that my car is repaired, and it seems to be running fairly well.  I want to thank all of you for your prayers on my behalf.  May the Lord be with you all today.

Proverbs 10:28 -- "The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing."

John 16;22 -- "Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy."

Weekend Sermon -- Advent -- Matthew 1:1-17

     Thank you for reading the Weekend Sermon today.  It is good to be with you, and I hope that all of you are having a good week.
     My week has not been going so well.  My car is having trouble, and I don't know how I am going to get to work if they don't get it fixed soon.  I'm borrowing a car right now, but I don't know how long I will be able to do that.  Please pray that my car will get fixed soon.  It seems like its just one thing after another, and I am feeling more than a little down.  Also, someone I know passed away this week, and I am upset about that.
     In prayer this week, please remember the people in Tennessee, Haiti and New Zealand who have been recovering from disasters.  Pray that they will get the aid that they need.
     Also pray for peace in the world.  Pray for peace in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Ukraine.  For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for Mali and Vietnam.  Pray that the message of the love of Jesus will reach these nations.
     For the past couple of weeks, we have been in a series of messages dealing with the Advent season.  This is a special time of the year when we anticipate Christmas and the celebration of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ.
     For today's message, I would like to focus on the genealogy of Jesus as presented in Matthew and Luke.  Matthew and Luke have differing genealogies of Jesus, and some people find this disturbing.  Many try to say that these genealogies are a contradiction disproving the validity of the Word of God.
     I don't really see why people have a problem with this.  The genealogy of Jesus in the book of Matthew is the descent through Joseph.  While Joseph was not Jesus' real father, he was Jesus adoptive father.  Jesus' physical genealogy is through His mother Mary, and her descendants down to Jesus are listed in Luke's Gospel.
     With that controversy addressed, I want to focus on what we can learn from Jesus' genealogy.  Genealogies always interest me because you never know what you are going to discover.  I have a great interest in genealogy, and I have been able to trace my ancestors back to England to the 1400s.  On my mother's side, I can trace our ancestors back to Germany in the 1700s.
     The first thing the strikes me about Jesus' genealogy is the fact that it demonstrates the fulfillment of God's covenant with King David.  God promised David that a member of his line would reign forever as king.  Jesus is the fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant.  If you look at the genealogy in Luke, Jesus' line comes through David's son Nathan right down to Jesus.  Through His adoptive line, the kingship comes down through those who sat upon the throne in Jerusalem.  When Jesus comes again, He will rule and reign over all the earth forever and forever.
     The fact that Jesus is the rightful king and Messiah is also demonstrated through the genealogy.  He has royal blood, and He has the right to rule on the throne of His ancestor David.
     Jesus' genealogy also demonstrates the fulfillment of the covenant God made with Abraham.  God told Abraham that all the nations of the world would be blessed through him.  Jesus as Abraham's descendant has blessed the world by offering salvation and forgiveness to all who would call upon His name.
     Something else I find interesting in the genealogy of Jesus is that Jesus' genealogy demonstrates that all people are accepted in Christ.  In Jesus' genealogy, you will not find only Jewish ancestors, you will find gentiles as well.  Rahab was from the city of Jericho.  Ruth was from Moab, but she left her people to identify with the people of God.  No one is excluded from the love and acceptance of God.  The Lord will redeem anyone who calls upon His name.  His love is extended to all people everywhere.
    One other thing that I find in the genealogy of Jesus is that the Lord uses many different kinds of people to fulfill His will.  Jesus' genealogy is filled with the high and the lowly.  All of them were part of God's plan to bring the Messiah into the world to save the world from sin.  Thanks be to God.
     Next week, there will be another Advent sermon here on the blog.  On Wednesday, I will reveal my choice for cat book of the year.  On Monday, I will post the verses.  These are tentative dates right now depending on the car situation.  Once again, please pray for me about this.  I really appreciate it when folks pray for me.  Thank you.  May God bless you all.  Amen.

Dog Book of the Year

     It is that time of year again when I reveal my pick for the dog book of the year.  Those of you who read the blog on a regular basis know that I review books almost every Wednesday.  Most of the books I review are about dogs, cats or other animals.  At the end of the year, I reveal the books I enjoyed the most.

     This year it was very hard to choose the dog book of the year.  I read some dog books that I enjoyed very much.  After much consideration, I decided on two picks.  One dog book in the younger readers category, and one in the adult category.

     My favorite dog book in the adult category is "Secret Service Dogs" by Maria Goodavage.  This book tells about the fantastic work that these dogs do in protecting the President and his family from danger.  In this book, the author follows a few handlers and their dogs, and we really get to know these teams.  The book goes in depth about the training and work of these dog and handler teams.  I highly recommend this book.  There are some great dog stories in this book.

    Now, in the younger readers category, my favorite book I read this year was "A Dog For Life" by L.S. Matthews.  This book tells the story of a boy and his dog Mouse who travel across Britain on a great adventure.  The boy's brother is sick, and their mother thinks that Mouse will aggravate the sick boy's poor health.  The boys don't want to part with Mouse as they are able to speak with her and she is their grand friend.  The boys decide to send the younger brother to their uncle's house across the country in the hope that he will take in Mouse until the older brother is well.   This was a really great book.  It has been several years since it was first published, but I just came across by chance in the library this year.  It would be well worth the time to find this book as I am sure young and old alike would enjoy it.

    I already have two dog books ready to be reviewed here on the blog for next year.  Both of these books are great.  One of them would have been the dog book of the year if I'd have read it during this year's reading period.

     Next week, I will reveal my choice for the cat book of the year.  You can probably already guess what it will be.  The following week, I will reveal the animal book of the year.

Verses For the Week

Isaiah 11:2 -- "The Spirit of the Lord will be on him -- The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord."

Malachi 3:2 -- "But who can endure the day of his coming?  Who can stand when he appears?  For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap."

Weekend Sermon -- Advent -- Luke 1:46-55

    Welcome to another Weekend Sermon.  I am glad that you have stopped by to read the sermon today.  I hope that everyone is doing very well today.
     I am waiting to hear back about the publication of my book.  It is a slow process, and sometimes it is hard to be patient.  Please pray that all will go well with the book.  Also, please pray about my work situation.  The stress at work has caused me to develop some stomach problems.  Please pray that I will feel better, and that I can find work that will be a little less stressful.
     Here in the United States, many people lost their homes in Tennessee due to the terrible fires.  Let us pray for these families, and pray that the fires can be extinguished.  Also, continue to pray for those in Haiti, Italy, Japan and New Zealand who have been affected by natural disasters.
     Continue to pray for peace in Syria and Iraq.  For our prayer focus countries this week, please pray for Benin and India.  Pray that people will hear and respond to the message of Jesus.
     Last week, we began our series of messages on the Advent season.  We looked at the messages contained in two well-known Christmas carols.  Today, we will continue in Advent, and we will examine the words of Jesus' mother, Mary.
     Luke 1 gives us the account of the annunciation of Jesus' first coming into this world.  The Bible says that Mary was a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph.  One day, God sent the angel Gabriel to Mary to announce that she had been chosen to be the mother of Jesus who would be the Son of the Most High God.  Upon hearing about all this, Mary said as recorded in Luke 1:38, "I am the Lord's servant, May your word to me be fulfilled."  She was willing to do what the Lord asked her to do.  She would be the mother of Jesus.
     As far as I am concerned, Mary had to be the most holy woman who ever lived.  I say this because I don't believe that God would have chosen her to be the mother of His Son unless she was a holy and devout person.  Her words of obedience demonstrate her commitment to following after the way of the Lord.
     After Mary heard the words of Gabriel, she went to visit her cousin Elizabeth who lived in the hill country of Judea.  Elizabeth was the woman who would be the mother of John the Baptist.  She was already six months pregnant when Mary came to visit her.  When Elizabeth heard Mary's voice, the baby leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  She said that Mary was blessed among women and that Mary was the mother of the Lord.
     When Mary heard Elizabeth's word, she uttered the words that are known as the Magnificat.  They are powerful words, and I want to focus upon them today.
     In Luke 46-47 Mary says, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior."  Mary was a woman who was filled with praise directed toward the Lord.  She recognized that God was her Savior, and she gave praise unto His name.  We need to follow the example of Mary, and direct our praises to the Lord.  He has done such great things for us.  During this Advent season, let us focus our attention on the greatness of the Lord.  Jesus loved us so much that He came to earth as a baby.  He lived a perfect, holy and sinless life to be our example.  He came to die to save us from our sins.  During this Christmas season, let us not forget to give Jesus all the honor, glory and praise that He so rightly deserves.
     In verse 48 Mary states, "He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant.  From now on, all generations will call me blessed."  The Lord often uses those in humble circumstances to do mighty things.  The Lord chose a peasant girl to be the mother of Jesus and a carpenter to be Jesus' stepfather.  God chose people like Gideon and David in the Old Testament.  These were people that others overlooked, yet God chose them to do great things for Him.  Today, no matter your state, if you humble yourself in obedience to God, God will use you to do great things for Him.  Generations have recognized that Mary was blessed to be the mother of the Lord.
     Skipping down to verse 51-52 Mary says, "He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble."  The Bible is quite clear that pride comes before a fall.  Whenever someone gets lifted up with pride, they will be brought down.  There are three examples of this I can think of right away.  The devil was lifted up with pride.  He thought he could be like God, and the devil ended up being cast down.  Nebuchadnezzer thought he was great, but he was brought low.  Herod in the book of Acts exalted himself, but he was killed instantly.  God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.  Those with a humble heart are pleasing to the Lord.  The great example of humility in all of the Bible is Jesus.  He humbled Himself and became obedient even unto death on the cross.
     The Lord will bring down all those who exalt themselves in pride.  Right now, there are a lot of rulers and leaders in this world that are impressed with themselves and their power.  The Lord can bring them down at any moment.  The Lord will not tarry long with those who exalt themselves and oppress others.  One day, all those who have exploited and oppressed the poor and the weak will stand before the judgment seat of the Lord.  They will be brought low, but the poor, the weak and the oppressed will be lifted up by the Lord.
     We see this so clearly expressed in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.  The rich man lifted up his eyes being in torment while Lazarus was at rest and in peace in Abraham's bosom.
     Mary continued in verse 53, "He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty."  I wonder if this was not a prophecy of what her Son Jesus would do in His earthly ministry.  Jesus feed the 5,000 on one occasion and the 4,000 at another time.  He was the bread that came down from Heaven to feed the hunger in the souls of men and women.  While Jesus was on this earth, it was the poor and the downtrodden who were attracted to Jesus.  The rich, the powerful and the religious leaders spurned the Lord and wanted nothing to do with Him.
     One day, when Jesus returns to establish His kingdom on earth that will have no end, He will bring justice to the poor and the oppressed.  Those who were hungry will be filled,  Those who had little will be blessed by the Lord.  Those who were rich and exploited others for their own selfish desires will depart from the presence of the Lord empty handed.
     We live in a day and age that is filled with greed and oppression.  The corporate elites and the powerful do everything in their power to keep people in poverty.  They will crush anyone to get what they want.  The church of Jesus Christ should stand up against the forces of oppression and stand for peace with justice in this world
     Mary concludes in verses 54-55 remembering God's faithful promises to Israel.  God has not forgotten His people.  The child in Mary's womb was the fulfillment of all of God's promises.  Through Jesus all the nations of the world would be blessed.  Through Jesus, a descendant of David would sit forever ruling from the throne.  Through Jesus all people can come to a relationship with the Father.
     I love these words of Mary the mother of Jesus.  They are powerful words that should grip our hearts.  We have much to learn from them.
     Next week, I will reveal my dog book of the year on Wednesday weather permitting.  We might have a lot of snow.  Hopeful not.  On Monday, I will post the verses.  Next week in the sermon, we will continue with our Advent messages.  May God bless you all.  Amen.

Book Review -- "Sparky" and a Program Recommendation

    There is an entire series of books available for young readers called the "Dog Diaries" series.  I've seen these books displayed at the library, so I decided to read one of them to see if it was something I could recommend here on the blog.  The book in the series that I read is called "Sparky" written by Kate Klimo.
    "Sparky" is about a dog with that name who is the firehouse dog for a fire station in Chicago during the 1800s.  When the book begins, Sparky is just a pup, and she is in training to be a good firehouse dog just as her mother is.  One night, the entire city of Chicago goes up in flames, and Sparky and her firehouse companions have to go all out to save lives and help stop the fire.
     What I liked best about this book was the history that was involved.  The author does an excellent job of telling readers about what it was like to fight fires in the 1800s.  The book deals with the Great Chicago Fire, and author provides a great deal of historic information about this fire all through the eyes of a fire dog.
     I think that kids would really like this book.  I like it too, but as those who read the blog know, I like books about animals whether they are written for young readers or not.  A good animal book is a good animal book. I imagine all the books in this series are good.  I'll probably read some more of them as I see them available at the library.

    Now for a the program recommendation.  For the past couple of weeks, the PBS series Nature has been broadcasting a program about cats called, "The Story of Cats".  So far, I know that two episodes have been broadcast.  I don't know if more are planned.  However, I do heartily recommend these two episodes.  Most of the programs on "Nature" are excellent, and these cat programs are really high-quality productions.  The highlight for me was the information on the clouded leopards.  I really didn't know that much about them, so seeing them in the wild and learning something about them was exciting.  The episodes are available on the PBS Nature website.  However, episode 1 is only supposed to be available through the first part of December, so if you want to watch it, you need to hurry.  These programs are about all kinds of cats in the wild from the smallest to the largest.

    Next week for the book review, I will begin revealing my dog, cat and animal books of the year.  The cat book of the year is an easy pick.  The dog book of the year is a close contest between two.  The animal book of the year is a close contest as well.  Next week, the dog book of year will be revealed.

   

Verses For the Week

Hosea 11:1 -- "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I have called my son."

Mark 1:11 -- "And a voice came from Heaven, 'You are my beloved Son; with whom I am well pleased."

Weekend Sermon -- "Christmas Hymns"

     Thank you for stopping by to read the Weekend Sermon here on the blog.  I am glad to be able to post the sermon today, and I hope that everyone is doing well.  I hope that everyone who reads the blog here in the United States had a good Thanksgiving Day holiday.
     For Thanksgiving, I went out to dinner with by brother and his family.  We had a very good meal, and a nice time of conversation.  I found out that my nephew was in a bad car crash, but thanks be to God, my nephew and niece were not injured, and the folks in the other car weren't injured either.
     I would ask that you would pray for me this week.  There is a lot of stress at work again.  Also, there are some more storms forecast for my area.  Please pray that these don't cause any problems.
     In prayer this week, please remember those who are recovering from natural disasters.  Pray for the people of New Zealand, Italy, Haiti and Japan.  Also, please pray for an end to homelessness and hunger around the world.
    As always, we need to continue to pray for peace.  Remember Syria and Iraq in prayer.  Let us also pray for the nations of Togo and Egypt this week.  Pray that many in these nations will here the message of Jesus' love and salvation.
     Today, we begin our series of Advent messages here on the blog.  After the Advent season, we will embark on a series of messages on all of the parables of Jesus.  I am really looking forward to this series.
     Part of what I love so much about the Christmas season are the wonderful hymns and carols that we get to sing at this time of the year.  It doesn't happen so much anymore where I live, but when I was younger, people used to go out caroling door to door throughout the neighborhood during the holiday season.
     One thing that I love about hymns is the message they contain.  The old hymns, which sadly aren't even sung in many churches anymore, contain powerful doctrinal messages that help to encourage and instruct those who would sing them.
     For our message this week, I want to focus on two of my favorite Christmas carols and think about the message in the words.
     "O Come, O Come Emmanuel is a carol usual sung during this first week of the Advent season.  It's words speak of anticipation and a longing for the coming of the Messiah.  The first verse says, "O, Come, O, Come Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.  Rejoice, Rejoice.  Emmanuel shall come to thee O, Israel."
     This verse expresses the hope for the one who would come and redeem the people of Israel from their state of bondage.  The nation of Israel was promised a Messiah who would come and rule and reign.  Jesus was that Messiah.  He was God with us who came to redeem from sin all those who would call upon His name.
     I like the third verse of this hymn that says, "O, Come thou Day spring come and cheer, our spirits by thine Advent here, disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death's dark shadows put to flight."
     The first prophecy of the coming of the Messiah is found in Genesis 3:15.  Throughout the Old Testament, the Lord revealed through the prophets that the Messiah would come.
     Jesus had to come to earth in order to redeem us from our sin.  Sin brought with it death and eternal separation from God the Father.  However, Jesus by his substitutionary death on the cross paid the penalty for our sins.  He bore our sins in His body at Calvary.  Through His glorious resurrection, Jesus conquered death, hell and the grave.  Death has no power over those who are in Christ.  That is what the third verse of this hymn is expressing.  When Jesus came, He put an end to the power of sin and death for those who put their faith and trust in Him.
    Jesus said in John 11:25, "I am the resurrection and the life.  He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."  This is my favorite verse in the Bible.  It is a powerful verse that speaks of Jesus' power and victory over all the forces of darkness.
    God has come to be with us in Jesus Christ.  He has overcome sin and death.  Those who believe in Jesus will be with Him forever and share in His abundant love.
    Another great carol of Christmas is "Joy to the World".  This song is sung at Christmas time, but the man who wrote this carol, Isaac Watts, wrote this hymn to speak about the glorious return of Jesus Christ at the end of the age.  It is actually about the Second Coming of Jesus.
    Jesus came the first time as a humble infant born in a stable.  He lived a perfect and holy and sinless life.  He came onto His own, but His own did not receive Him.  Jesus was crucified, but then He rose again and ascended in to Heaven.  However, Jesus told His disciples that He would come again to rule and reign in righteousness upon this earth.  That is the message of "Joy to the World."
     The first verse says, "Joy to the World, the Lord is come. let earth receive her king, let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing."
     When Jesus comes back to earth someday the Bible says in Romans 14:11 that every knee will bow before Him, and every tongue will acknowledge God.  This same truth is expressed in Philippians 2:10-11 that says, "At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth.  And every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father."
     When Jesus comes again, He will rule as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and His kingdom will have no end.  The entire world will know peace.  As it says in Micah 4:4, "every man will sit under his own vine, and no one will make him afraid."  All will be restored to the state that existed before sin entered into the world.  Death and corruption passed upon everything because of the first Adam's sin.  However, the Second Adam, Jesus Christ, has brought life and joy and restoration to the universe.  Thanks be to God.  Joy to the World.
     Right now, we live in between the two Advents of Jesus.  At this time, Jesus is extending His message of love, salvation and forgiveness to all.  He wants everyone to be part of the kingdom He will establish at His Second Coming.  That is why He made His first Advent.  He calls you right now to accept Him as Savior and Lord of your life.  He calls on you to come and follow Him today.
     There are many, many great hymns that we sing during the Christmas season.  Each one is packed with meaning and significance.  During this Advent season, I hope that you will really reflect on the meaning of the carols that you sing, and give thanks to Jesus that He came and is coming again.
     This Monday I will post the verses.  On Wednesday, there will be a book review.  Sometime towards the end of December, I will post my selections for the dog and cat books of the year.  Next week, I will post the sermon on Friday as usual.  May God bless you all.  Amen.

Happy Thanksgiving

    I don't have a book review for today.  I just want to get on the blog and wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving Day holiday.  I also want to thank everyone for reading the blog throughout the year.  May God bless you all.

Verses For the Week -- Verses About Giving Thanks

Psalm 106:1 -- "Praise the Lord.  Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever."

I Chronicles 16:34 -- "O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting."

Weekend Sermon -- Thanksgiving -- Philippians 4:6

     Thank you for reading the Weekend Sermon this week.  I hope and pray that everyone is doing very well today.
    We have been having a lot of windy weather in my part of the world.  Thankfully, there hasn't been any damage.  Please pray that the winds won't cause any damage.  It's still supposed to be windy today, but it is supposed to let up this evening.
     In prayer this week, please pray for those who are suffering as a result of natural disasters.  The people of New Zealand experienced a bad earthquake this past week.  Let us pray that they will recover quickly.  Remember to pray for those in Italy who are still recovering from the earthquake there.  Also pray for those in Haiti who are recovering from the hurricane damage.
     Continue to pray for peace in the world.  Iraq and Syria are having a terrible time of warfare and strife.  Pray for peace.  Also, pray for peace in Libya, South Sudan and Yemen.
     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us remember to pray for those in China and Burkina Faso.  Pray that many in these two nations will hear the message of salvation.
     Last week, we finished our series of messages on less well-known characters in the Bible.  For today's message, I just want us to think about the theme of thankfulness since it is the Thanksgiving Day holiday here in the United States on Thursday.
    Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year.  While my folks were still alive, we always had a tremendous feast on Thanksgiving Day.  My Mom was a great cook.  She worked hard at her job, so we went out to eat quite a bit.  However, we always preferred Mom to be cooking the meal because what she fixed was always better than what you could get at a restaurant.  She made some great Thanksgiving Day meals.  We always had a turkey, dressing, potatoes, pies, biscuits, etc.  I ate so much and Toby ate so much that we could not eat anymore.
     Now, on Thanksgiving, my brother and his family invite me out to dinner.  That is something that I look forward to throughout the year.  It is a good time to be with family, and we always go out to a nice place to eat.
     Giving thanks is an important theme in all of the Bible.  Many of the Psalms tell us to give thanks to the Lord for the many blessings that He has bestowed upon us.  The New Testament, in verses such as Philippians 4:6, tells us to have an attitude of thanksgiving and to give thanks in our prayers.
     As I reflect on my life, I know that I have much to be thankful for.  First and foremost, I am thankful for the fact that Jesus came to this earth and died for my sins.  I am thankful that He rose again from the dead, and one day, He will come again to rule and reign upon this earth.  I am thankful that the message of the Gospel reached me, and that I came to know Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord.
    I'm thankful for the fact that a minister cared enough about my Dad to share the way of salvation with him.  Because of this, my Dad came to know Jesus, and I was raised in a Christian home with Christian values.
    My Dad is a perfect example of the importance of sharing the faith with others.  When we follow the Great Commission and tell others about Jesus, not only can it affect that person's life, but it can and will affected the lives of those around them.
    I am thankful for my parents.  We didn't always see eye to eye, but they were good people, and I miss them every day.
    I thank the Lord that on a bitterly cold day in January, I met the dog that would be my best friend.  As I've said here on the blog before, if the Lord would not have brought that dog into my life when He did, I might not be here today. I was very depressed at that time, and I needed a friend.
    I hope that you are all thankful for the good friends that the Lord has allowed to come into your life.  This past year, my best human friend passed away.  That has been hard.  We knew each other since we were seven years old.  Be thankful for good friends.  They have been given to us by the Lord to help us during the course of this life.
    I am also thankful for the opportunity to learn new things.  I love to read and to study.  This past year I have been reading philosophy books again, and that has brought me a lot of joy.  I encourage you to try and learn something new each day.  I encourage you to read and expand your mind.
    This Thanksgiving, I am glad that I am in a little bit better financial place.  Things aren't great, but they are better than they were.  I am thankful that I have a home and I am doing better.  Having the financial problems I did has made me realize how hard it is for so many in my country to make ends meet.  It makes me want to work harder for social and economic justice for those who are having a hard time.  Please, if the Lord has blessed you, don't forget the fact that many people are justly barely making it if they are making it at all.  Reach out and help those you can help.
    I am very thankful for the news that was reported the last couple of days about homelessness here in the United States.  The number of homeless is down to 550,000.  Now, that is a huge number, but it is less than a few years ago.  There has been a great effort here in the United States over the last eight years to end homelessness among veterans.  Homelessness among veterans is down by 47 percent.  I thank the Lord for this.  There is still so much to do.  Please, let us all do what we can to help end homelessness.
    Finally, I just want to say that I am thankful that the Lord has given me the opportunity this year to post the sermons on this blog.  It is the highlight of the week to post the messages and fulfill in some way the calling the Lord has placed on my life.  I pray that these messages are helpful to you.  I am thankful to the Lord for all of you who read this blog, and I pray that the blessings of the Lord will be upon your life.
    I want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving Day.  Because of the holiday, I will not be posting a review on Wednesday.  The sermon will be posted on Saturday next week as the library will be closed for the holidays on Friday.  I will post the verses as usual on Monday.  May God bless you all.  Amen.

Book Review -- "Secret Service Dogs"

    I always enjoy reading a good book about dogs.  "Secret Service Dogs" written by Maria Goodavage is great book about dogs.
    In this book, the reader is introduced to several different handlers and their dogs.  The Secret Service has used dogs to protect the President of the United States for many years.  Some dogs are used to check out any area that the President will be visiting.  The dogs sniff out the area checking for bombs or other weapons.  These dogs travel with the President's detail around the world. There are other dogs that are used to walk among the crowd of visitors around the White House.  They check for the scent of any type of potential explosive device.  Still other dogs are used as patrol dogs.  These dogs are used to stop those who would try to illegally infiltrate the White House grounds or try to harm the President or his family while they are away from home.
    In the book, each type of dog is profiled along with their handler.  One of the most interesting stories in the book is about a dog named Hurricane who actually had to stop someone who was trying to get into the White House.
    This book is well-written.  This is a subject I knew very little about.  I knew that there were dogs used by the Secret Service, but I had no idea the extent to which they were used.  I also found the information about how the dogs are obtained and trained to be well worth reading.
    I would definitely recommend this book.

P.S.  I would like to ask those of you who read the blog to pray for me over the next couple of days.  Some bad weather is expected, and I would ask you to pray that it would remain safe in my part of the world.  Thank you.

Verses For the Week -- Verses From II Samuel

II Samuel 7:22 -- "Therefore you are great, O Lord God.  For there is none like you , nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears,"

II Samuel 22:32 -- "For who is God, except the Lord.  And who is a rock, except our God?"

Weekend Sermon -- "Jehosheba" -- II Chronicles 21:10 -- 24:27

    I'd like to welcome everyone today to this edition of the Weekend Sermon.  I am posting this message one day later than normal because the library where I work on the computer was closed Friday for Veteran's Day.
    This has been a busy week for me.  I've been working on writing and doing a lot of work around the house.  I am still trying to find a job that will cause less stress.  I would ask that you continue to please pray for me on this account.
    In prayer this week, please pray for those recovering from damage due to natural disasters around the world.  Many people are still suffering.  Also, pray for the leaders of this world.  We are living in distressing times.  Pray that God's will will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
    Today on the radio, I heard a report about the terrible war and refugee crisis that is occurring in South Sudan.  Please pray that peace can come to this nation.  Remember to keep praying for peace in Iraq and Syria.
    For our prayer focus countries this week, let us all pray that the message of Jesus' love will reach many people in Eritrea and Myanmar.
    For the last several weeks, we have been in a series of messages focusing on some of the less well-known characters in the Bible.  Today, will be the last message in this series.  Down the line I might have so more messages on this topic, but it will be sometime after our upcoming parables of Jesus series.
    Today, I would like us to focus our attention on a courageous woman by the name of Jehosheba.  We mentioned her briefly when we looked at the life of King Joash in our Kings of Israel and Judah sermon series.
    Jehosheba was the daughter of King Jehoram of Judah.  She was the half-sister of King Ahaziah of Judah.  Ahaziah was killed during Jehu's rebellion against King Joram of Israel.
    When Ahaziah's mother, Athaliah heard the news that her son had been killed, she saw this as an opportunity to seize power for herself.  She decided to kill any of Ahaziah's line that might be able to assume the throne now that he was dead.
    This is where Jehosheba jumped into action.  Jehosheba was the wife of the high priest named Jehoiada.  When Jehosheba heard what Athaliah was doing, Jehosheba took young Joash and his nurse and hid them both in a room inside the Temple.
    Athaliah was not able to find young Joash, but that did not stop her from assuming the throne.  Athaliah was an evil ruler.  She was the only queen over Israel or Judah until the time of the Hasmonean dynasty when Salome Alexandra was queen in Israel.  This was after the time of the Maccabean revolt.
    Athaliah ruled for six years.  During that time, Joash was safely hidden away by Jehosheba.  She made sure that the queen was not able to find the young prince.  Eventually, Joash was elevated to the throne when Jehoiada orchestrated a rebellion against the queen.
    What is so sad is that Joash would eventually turn his back on the things of the Lord.  Jehosheba and Jehoiada's son Zechariah would eventually become high priest.  When Zechariah confronted Joash regarding his sin, Joash had Zechariah killed.  Later, Joash was assasinated.
    So, what can we learn from the life and actions of Jehosheba.   First of all, I see in Jehosheba the fact that your ancestry does not have to dictate how you live your life.  Jehosheba was the daughter of a king that did not follow the ways of the Lord.  However, Jehosheba was a righteous woman who married the high priest, and she did what was right.  She did not follow the bad example that was set for her.
    I know many people who were raised in less than ideal circumstances, but they were able to overcome their past and achieve great things.  They overcame the odds.  Just because people in your family don't do what is right, it doesn't mean you have to follow them.
    If you are trying to do your best in spite of what those around you are doing, I urge you to stay strong.  Read the Bible and gain strength from it.  Continue in prayer, and let the Lord speak to your heart and encourage you.  Find someone at church or at school who can be a mentor and can help you make the right choices in life.  Also, if you know someone who you can be a mentor and a friend to, please do that.  You never know what a great difference you can make in someone's life.
    Jehosheba was a woman of great courage.  If Athaliah would have found out what Jehosheba was up to, she would have killed Jehosheba without hesitation.  In spite of this, Jehosheba hid her nephew for six years.
    By hiding Joash, Jehosheba helped to fulfill the promise that God made to David.  God promised David that someone from his line would always rule over Israel.  Joash was in the line of David.  If he would have been killed, the promise would not have been fulfilled.  The ultimate fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant is Jesus Christ.  As the descendant of David, Jesus reigns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords forever and forever. Through the actions of Jehosheba, the will and purposes of the Lord were accomplished.
    We live in trying times in this world.  I certainly don't see the world getting better and better right now.  The forces of hate, racism and selfishness seem to be rampant all across the world.  Those who believe in what Jesus taught have to be strong and courageous in these times.  In spite of what the world around is advocating, we have to stand strong for the good and for what is in keeping with the life and teachings of Jesus our Lord.
    Following Jesus and His teachings of love may cost us in our social relationships and it may cost us economically.  Some people right now in our world are facing great persecution for following Jesus.  In spite of the persecution we may face, we need to stand up for Jesus.
    There have been many great Christians who have stood up for justice and for what is right throughout the history of the church.  There were Christians like William Wilberforce who led the fight against slavery in Britain.  Many Christians have stood up for the poor and have stood up against the exploitation of the oppressed.  Here in the United States, Christians were at the forefront of the Civil Rights movement.
    Those who would be followers of Jesus need to stand for justice and righteousness in the world.  Let us take encouragement from people like Jehosheba who stood up for the right even in difficult circumstances.
    It is my hope that all believers in Jesus Christ who read this blog will not take part in anyway in the hate, racism and selfishness that is becoming so predominant in the world.  Be a light against this darkness.  Stand for justice.  Stand against the exploitation of the poor and the oppressed.  Stand up for those who need help.  Always be a beacon of the love of Jesus Christ.
     Next week, I will post a sermon in keeping with the theme of thanksgiving since it will soon be the Thanksgiving holiday here in the United States.  After that, we will move into the Advent season.  On Monday, I will post the verses for the week, and there will be book review on Wednesday.  May God bless you all.  Amen.

Update

     This is just a reminder that the Weekend Sermon will not be posted until Saturday this week as the library where I use the computer is closed on Friday for Veteran's Day.  We will be continuing with our series on less well-known Bible characters.  This will be the last week that we are in this series.  The following weekend, I will have a sermon on the theme of thanksgiving in keeping with the Thanksgiving holiday here in the United States.
     The following weekend, we will begin our sermons on the Advent season leading into Christmas.  Following this, we will begin a series of messages on all of the parables of Jesus.  I am really looking forward to posting the messages in this series.
     I hope that you will be able to read all of the sermons.  If you get the chance, try to tell others about the blog.  I will do my best to share the message of the love of Jesus.   I hope that you all have a great day.

Book Review -- "Oliver, the Cat Who Saved Christmas"

    I am happy to write that the book I am reviewing today is one of the best books that I've read all year.  "Oliver, the Cat Who Saved Christmas" by Sheila Norton is a book that will bring much joy to your heart as you read it.
     Oliver is living a nice life with his human George when the novel begins.  One night, the pub where Oliver and George live catches on fire.  Oliver is able to help George get out unscathed, but the pub and the adjacent town hall are a total loss.
     In the confusion after the fire, Oliver gets lost, and he is trapped up a tree by a menacing fox.  Luckily for Oliver, a young man named Daniel rescues him and takes Oliver back the small cottage where he lives with his girlfriend.
    Daniel and his girlfriend don't really have enough money to take care of a cat, so Oliver goes to stay with the neighbors until George can get back on his feet and the the pub is rebuilt.
     Oliver is a cat who cares about people, and through the course of the novel, he makes it his mission to help others.  He is instrumental in several way in bringing people in the town together to help one another.  Everyone whose lives are touched by Oliver is blessed.
     The best part of the novel is Oliver's relationship with a young girl who is recovering from cancer treatment.  It demonstrates how animals can make a difference in the lives of the lonely.
     I highly recommend "Oliver, the Cat Who Saved Christmas".  The book is written well, and you won't want to put it down once you've started reading it.

Verses For the Week -- Verses About the Glory of God

John 11:40 -- "Jesus said, 'Did I not say that if you believe, you will see the glory of God'".

Isaiah 6:3 -- "And one called out to another, 'Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory."

Weekend Sermon -- Obadiah -- I Kings 18

     Welcome to this week’s posting of the Weekend Sermon.  As always, I am glad to be able to post the sermon today.  I hope and pray that all of you who read these words are doing well.

     We had some bad storms in my area last night.  I just want to thank the Lord that the storms weren’t damaging.  The wind blew hard, but everything made it through OK.  I’ve been very busy at work.  Work is really getting me down right now.  Please pray that I will be able to remain in good health and keep going. 

     In prayer this week, please remember the people of Italy who have experienced another earthquake.  Pray that anyone who is injured may recover.  The people of Haiti are still recovering from the hurricane.  Pray that God will meet the needs there.

     The situation in Iraq and Syria right now is very dire.  We need to be in prayer that peace will come to these two nations.  Also remember to pray for peace is South Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Afghanistan.

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for the nations of Comoros and Kuwait.  Please pray that the Gospel will reach many people in these two countries.

     During the last several weeks here on the Weekend Sermon, we’ve been examining the lives of some of the less well-known characters of the Bible.  We are trying to learn what these individuals can teach us in our own lives right now.

     Today, we turn our attention to a man named Obadiah whose story is recorded in I Kings 18.  There are a few people in the Bible named Obadiah.  The most well-known of those with this name would be the prophet Obadiah who is the author of the Biblical book with that name.  The Obadiah that we will study today is not the Obadiah who wrote the book of Obadiah.  The author of Obadiah lived several years after the Obadiah we are studying in this message.

     Ahab was probably one of the two most wicked kings who ruled over the nations of Israel and Judah.  He married a Phoenician princess by the name of Jezebel who introduced the worship of baal into Israel.  She forbade the worship of the True and Living God, and she sought to kill all of those who retained their allegiance to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

     Into this scene came the prophet Elijah.  He brought a word of condemnation against Ahab and Jezebel, and Elijah said that it would not rain in Israel as a judgment on the sins of the nation. Because of this, Jezebel sought out Elijah vigorously in order to kill him. 

     I Kings 18 begins by telling us that no rain had fallen in Israel for three years.  The drought was so bad that Ahab was on the verge of having to kill the horses in his stable because there was no water for them to drink.  Here is where Obadiah comes in.  Obadiah was an official in Ahab’s palace.  He was in charge of the palace, and he was a faithful follower of the Lord unbeknownst to Ahab and Jezebel.  Ahab and Obadiah went out and tried to find water for the horses.

     While Obadiah was out searching for water, the prophet Elijah appeared before him.  Obadiah bowed before Elijah, and Elijah told Obadiah to tell Ahab that he wanted to speak with him.  This made Obadiah very afraid.  He knew that Ahab wanted to kill Elijah in the worst way, and Obadiah feared for his own life.

     We learn from his discussion with Elijah that Obadiah was a faithful follower of the Lord.  When Jezebel wanted to kill the prophets, Obadiah hid 100 of the prophets in two different caves, and he brought them food and water to sustain them.  This action if discovered would have brought instant death to Obadiah. 

    Elijah eventually convinced Obadiah to go and tell the king to come and meet him.  Obadiah gave the message to Ahab, who didn’t kill him by the way, and Elijah told Ahab to gather the prophets of baal on Mount Carmel for a test.  On Mount Carmel, the Lord showed that he was the True and Living God, and that baal was a false God.  After this, God allowed it to rain again in Israel.

     So, what can we learn from Obadiah.  The first thing that I notice in this encounter is that God has the right people in the right place at the right time to do what He wants to have done.  Even though Ahab and Jezebel were so wicked, right in their midst as the chief of their palace, God had one of His servants on the scene.  Obadiah was able to use his position to rescue 100 prophets from the deadly clutches of Jezebel. 

      This happened in two other places in the Bible that come readily to mind.  God had Esther in the palace at the right time in order to thwart the wicked plans of Haman.   Also, Joseph was on the scene in order to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh and save the Egyptians as well as Joseph’s own family that needed food.

     Things may look bleak in the world right now.  It seems to me, in my country at least, that moral decay is rampant.  Our leaders are just becoming worse and worse.  However, I know from stories in the Bible, like the one we are studying today, that God is in control.  He has His followers in place right now in the right place to make sure that His will is accomplished.  Nothing is taking God by surprise.  His plan will always be accomplished just as He wants it to be.

     The second thing that strikes me in looking at Obadiah is that we need to have courage to do the right thing when we are called upon to act.  This type of courage can only come when we are empowered by the Holy Spirit.  Obadiah saved the prophets and he eventually got up enough courage to go tell Ahab where to meet Elijah. 

     The Lord calls on us to have courage to stand up for Him.  In Jude, it says that we are to earnestly contend for the faith.  Jesus told us that we are to be witnesses for Him.  We can do this as we are empowered by the Holy Spirit.  Jesus told His disciples not to fear.  He said that the Holy Spirit would give them the words to say when they were needed.  Jesus is always with us, and through Him we are more than conquerors.

     One other thing that I see in Obadiah is something that we should not do.  We should not try to rest in our service for the Lord by looking back at what we’ve done in the past.  Obadiah tries to bargain with Elijah.  He basically says to Elijah, I served the Lord back then don’t put me in jeopardy now.  That’s not really the right attitude. 

     It’s great if we can look back on our lives and see the things that the Lord has given us the strength to accomplish for Him as we are empowered by the Holy Spirit.  However, we shouldn’t just stop there.  I know many Christians personally, however, who have done just that.  They are no longer active in any ministry because they say that they have done things for the Lord in the past. 

     We really should have an attitude of wanting to constantly be in service to the Lord.  Let us not rest on our past accomplishments and past service.  As the Lord Jesus gives each and every one of us the strength let us boldly seek to serve Him and make a difference in the world right now.  There is so much need in the world, let us each find ways to meet that need and tell others about the love of Jesus.

     Obadiah is an interesting character.  I’m glad that he was there to be an influence for the Lord.  The Lord had Obadiah working on Ahab from an insider’s position, and God had Elijah working on Ahab from an outsider’s position.  Ahab had Micaiah working on him from an outsider’s position too.  The Lord will always accomplish His will, and He will always make sure that His Word goes forth.

     Next week, I will post the verses on Monday.  I will have a review on Wednesday.  For the Weekend Sermon, we will continue our series on less well-known Bible characters. The sermon will not be posted until Saturday next week because the library is closed on Friday for Veterans Day.  May God bless you all.  Amen.

    

Book Recommendations

     Today, I want to review another of the Joe Grey book series, and I want to speak a little bit about an author and minister whose books I want to recommend.
     "Cat Raise The Dead" is the third book in the Joe Grey mystery series written by Shirley Rousseau Murphy.  In this book, Joe has been volunteered by his housemate Clyde to be part of the pet therapy program at a local nursing home.  Joe doesn't like the idea at all, but at least he finds a mystery to solve as some of the nursing home residents have gone missing.  Also, Joe is on the trail of a burglar who is robbing people's homes in broad daylight.
     As with the other books in this series, "Cat Raise the Dead" is well-written and fun to read.  The end of this book is very good, and the characterization are great.  On my list of favorites in the series, this one is more in the middle rank for me, but it is still very good.   There are 19 books and counting in the Joe Grey series.

    Now, I would like to shift gears and recommend some religious books.  When I was in high school and college, my favorite minister to listen to on television was Lloyd Ogilvie.  He was the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Hollywood, California, and he had a Sunday morning television program called "Let God Love You" that was broadcast from the church.  Reverend Ogilvie's  sermons were always informative and thought provoking.  His program was on either at 6:30 or 7:00am  in my area, so I had to get up early to listen to him.  I almost never missed a program.
     Reverend Ogilvie has written many books over the course of his ministry including some Bible commentaries.  All of the books that I've read by him have been very good.  My favorite book written by Ogilvie is "The Other Jesus".  In this book, Ogilvie deals with many of the more difficult statements made by Jesus during His earthly ministry.  I highly recommend this book.  Some of Ogilvie's books are still in print.  The others are available from sellers through Amazon.
     In the mid 90s, Ogilvie resigned from his church and became chaplain of the United States Senate.  He served there for several years until his wife got sick, and they moved back to California.

Verses For the Week and Some Various Thoughts

First, the verses for the week --

II Timothy 3:16-17 --  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Now, some various thoughts --

We are at the time of year when we think about the Reformation.  The two important themes of the Reformation are sola scriptura and sola fide.  This means Scripture alone and faith alone.  Protestants believe that the only way to salvation is by faith apart from works.  There can be no mixture of faith plus works.  You can't have faith plus anything.  Salvation is by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Protestants also believe that the only authority of faith is the Bible alone.  This being the case, we need to be students of the Bible.  I would urge each of you to study the Bible in a systematic fashion.  Read the Bible everyday.  Also, study the Bible.  Really get into the depths of what the Bible has to say so that you will know all that the Lord has told you and what He would have you to do.

On another note.  Today is Halloween.  I get a lot of people who disagree with me on this when I say it, but I would urge you to think twice about celebrating anything having to do with Halloween.  Anything that celebrates death, devils and dark forces is something that Christians should stay away from.  I really believe that the Lord would have us focus on something that is more in keeping with His values.

Weekend Sermon -- "Ananias of Damascus"

     It is good to be with you for another edition of the Weekend Sermon.  I am thankful to the Lord for giving me the opportunity each week to share these messages.  I am also thankful to each of you who take the time to read what I post.
     I have good news to report this week.  As I've posted here in the past, I've been working on a religious book for awhile now.  The book is complete, and it is out to a publisher.  Please pray that all continues to go well with this project.  I have been working on poems quite a bit lately.  I hope to have several ready to submit for publication after the first of the year.
     In prayer this week, please continue to pray for those who have been affected by storms and natural disasters around the world.  Haiti, the Carolinas, the Philippines and Japan are recovering from natural disasters.  Please pray that these areas will receive the help that they need.
     Let us also continue to pray for peace around the world.  Syria and Iraq really need our prayers for peace at this time.  Also, let us pray for Christians around the world who may be suffering persecution.  May the Lord give them a strong awareness of His presence as they face difficult times.
    For our prayer focus countries this week, let's remember the nations of Malaysia and Liberia.  Pray that many people will respond to the message of the Gospel in these two nations.
     During the last several weeks for the sermon, we have been studying some less well-known Bible characters.  Today, we turn our attention to a man named Ananias who is known in the Bible do to his encounter with one of the most important figures in the New Testament. This Ananias is not the same Ananias who was struck down along with his wife for lying to the Holy Spirit.
     We find Ananias' story in Act chapter 9.  Saul of Tarsus had made a reputation for himself for being a harsh persecutor of Christians.  When the deacon Stephen was stoned to death for his faith in Jesus, Saul stood by and held the people's coats who were stoning Stephen.
    Chapter 9 of Acts begins by telling us that Saul was threatening the believers wherever he could find them.  Saul even decided to go as far as Damascus to find Christians and bring them bound to Jerusalem.
     I don't know how far Saul would really have gotten with this endeavor.  I wonder if the Roman authorities would have stood by and let him just haul people out of the city against their will.  Nonetheless, Saul went to Damascus to find Christians and persecute them.  Apparently, many Jews must have converted to Christianity in order for Saul to be so determined to go up there.
    On his way to Damascus, the Lord appeared to Saul in a flashing light from Heaven.  Saul fell to the ground, and Jesus spoke to him.  Saul was blind and had to be led into the city.
     Here is where Ananias comes in.  The Lord appeared to Ananias in a vision and called his name.  Ananias said, "Here I am, Lord."  The Lord then told Ananias to go to a street called Straight and lay his hands on Saul so that Saul could recover his sight.
    At first, Ananias was reticent to go because he knew Saul's reputation as a persecutor of Christians.  However, Ananias went after the Lord told him that Saul had been chosen to preach to the Gentiles.
 Ananias went to Saul and called Saul his brother.  Ananias told Saul, "the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."  The Bible says the Saul's sight was restored, and Saul then went and preached the good news in the synagogues of Damascus to the people's amazement.
     This is one of the great stories of the Bible.  A man like Saul can go from persecuting the church to being a great Apostle and missionary.  This is only possible by the work of regeneration by the Holy Spirit.
    There is so much that we can say about Saul, who later changed his name to Paul's life, but our focus today is on Ananias.
    Many in the early church believed that Ananias was one of the seventy disciples that Jesus sent out two by two to spread the message about Him.  It seems apparent that Ananias was a leader in the church of Damascus, and he may have played a role in introducing Christianity to that city.
     When I look at what the Bible says about Ananias, the first thing that I note is the fact that he was immediately ready to respond to the call of the Lord.  When the Lord called his name, Ananias said "Here am I, Lord."
     Just as Ananias was responsive to the Lord, we should be as well.  When the Lord calls our name, we should be willing to to what he tells us to do.  Ananias stands in stark contrast to someone like Jonah who heard the word of the Lord and went the opposite direction.  He didn't want to go anywhere near Nineveh.
     Ananias was at first a little taken aback by the idea of going near a great persecutor of the church.  However, when the Lord told Him it was OK, Ananias went without hesitation.  He was totally committed to doing the will of God no matter what that entailed.
     Two other people that come immediately to mind who were willing to immediately follow the Lord's will even in uncertain circumstances were Amos and Jeremiah.  Amos was a shepherd and a tender of trees when God called Him to go from the southern kingdom of Judah and preach a message of judgment against the northern kingdom of Israel.  Amos did exactly what he was told even though the religious authorities in Israel opposed him.  Jeremiah had to give a hard message, and he was persecuted at every turn.  But, Jeremiah always followed the Lord's instructions to him.
     Ananias, Amos and Jeremiah are good examples to us.  We should not run from the will of the Lord.  For some of you, Jesus has told you to do a specific thing for Him.  I urge you to be obedient and follow the Lord's will.
     All of us have been given the task by the Lord to spread the Gospel.  All of us have been commanded to follow Jesus and emulate Him so that others may want to know more about the Savior we love and serve.  Don't stop following and serving the Lord.  Always seek to be obedient to Him.
    One other thing stands out about Ananias to me.  He addressed Saul as his brother right away.  Ananias recognized the fact that with God nothing is impossible and there is no sinner that Jesus cannot save.  Even though Saul had contributed to the martyrdom of  Stephen, and he had mercilessly persecuted Christians, Ananias believed that the Lord could save and redeem even someone like Saul.
     I think of my Dad when I think of people whose lives were radically transformed by the Lord Jesus.  My Dad never went to church as a boy, and as an adult he didn't want to have anything to do with religion.  My Dad drank a lot, and he lived with a woman for many years without being married to her.  My Dad got into fights a lot, and people were afraid of him.
     Several years later when my Mom and Dad were first married and I was just born, my Mom started going to church again.  One Saturday afternoon, the minister of that church came to visit my Mom.  She wasn't at home, but my Grandpa and my Dad were there.  That minister took the time to share the message of Jesus with my Dad.  That Saturday afternoon, my Dad repented of his sins and accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  From that day forward, his life was totally transformed.
     From that day, my Dad never drank again.  He gave up his old ways of living.  He became a new creation in Christ.
     I never experienced my Dad the way he was before.  My only memories of him are as a devoted follower of Jesus who worked to bring others to Jesus and who served in various ministries of the church.
     When you see what the Lord can do in the lives of people like Saul and my Dad, you know that the Lord can and does bring anyone who calls upon Him to salvation.
     Ananias was ready to accept Saul as his brother in Christ.  Many people would not.  In fact, many people were suspicious of Saul throughout his ministry.
     This same thing happened with my Dad.  Many people in his hometown just couldn't accept the fact that he was a new man in Jesus.  They just wanted to view him as the man he was before.  Some church people even did this.
     We must be people who invite all to be our brothers and sisters in Christ.  If the Lord has provided salvation to someone, let's recognize that and encourage new believers in their walk with the Lord.  The Lord can do a work in anyone's life, Let's rejoice when that happens.  That's what the angels do.  They rejoice when a soul comes to the Lord.
     Ananias doesn't have anything else recorded about him in Scripture,  Church history tells us that he continued to minister for the Lord until he died a martyr's death.
     I just want to conclude this message with an invitation to anyone who does not know Jesus as Savior and Lord.  You can call upon the Lord in repentance and faith right now, and the Lord will hear you and forgive you.  Please, don't let another day go by without turning your life over to the Lord Jesus Christ.
     Next week, I will post a couple of verses on Monday.  There will be a review on Wednesday, and we will continue our series on less well-known Bible characters on Friday with a look at a character from the Old Testament.  May God bless you all. Amen.

Book Review -- "Cat Under Fire"

     As those of you who have read this blog for awhile know, I love the Joe Grey books written by Shirley Rousseau Murphy.  Earlier this year, I posted a very positive review of the newest book in the series called "Cat Shout For Joy."
     There are 19 books in the Joe Grey series, and I have read them all.  Some of them I've read more than once.  A little over a year ago, I posted on the blog that I was going to read the entire series again and post a short review on each title.  I posted a review on "Cat On the Edge", but that is as far as I got.  I got involved in reading many other books, and I've been really busy writing my religious book and with other work.
     Today, I would like to post a review on the second book in the Joe Grey series entitled, "Cat Under Fire."  In this book, Joe and his cat friend Dulcie are investigating the suspicious death of a local artist.  The artist was killed in a fire, and a young man is on trial for the crime.  Dulcie just doesn't believe that he is the one responsible for the artist's death, and she enlists a reluctant Joe to help her find the real killer.
     This book starts to really build the relationships between the characters that will be become regulars throughout the Joe Grey series.  We learn more about Joe's friends Clyde, Wilma and Charlie, and we get a good mystery as well.
     This is one of my favorite books in the Joe Grey series, and I highly recommend, "Cat Under Fire."

Verses For the Week

Here are the two verses for the week.  They are from the same passage.  I Corinthians 15 is one of the great chapters of the New Testament.

I Corinthians 15:51-52 -- "Behold, I tell you a mystery:  We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed -- in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

Weekend Sermon -- "Gaius and Diotrephes"

     Welcome to another edition of the Weekend Sermon.  I am glad that you stopped by to read the sermon this week, and I hope and pray that everyone is doing well.
     This week, I started a new writing project.  I am putting the finishing touches on my religious book, and now I am going to work on a novel that I've been planning out for quite some time.  I also worked on some poetry recently, so writing is going well, and this always makes me happy.
     In prayer this week, please continue to pray for those who have suffered as a result of the natural disasters around the world.  People in the United States and Haiti are still recovering from the hurricane, and there has been earthquake damage in Japan.  Pray that people will receive the aid that they need.
    Also, let us continually pray for peace.  Syria and Iraq are especially on my mind.  Pray that these two war torn countries will have peace.
    I heard a report this week about the persecution that the Christian community is facing in Pakistan.  Pray that believers in Pakistan will be strong in the faith and that many people in that nation will respond to the message of Jesus.
    For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for Sierra Leone and Myanmar.  Pray that many will hear the Gospel in these two areas.
    For the last couple of weeks, we have been in a series of messages on some of the less well-known people in the Bible.  Last week, we focused our attention on Matthias and Justus.  This week, we will turn our attention to III John and focus on Gaius and Diotrephes.  These two men present quite a contrast.
     III John was written by the Apostle John to a church that he had founded on one of his missionary journeys.  This third epistle of John is written to a man by the name of Gaius who was a prominent member of the congregation.
     In the opening verses of III John, John expresses his wish that Gaius would be in good health and prosper just as Gaius' soul prospered.  This tells me that Gaius was a man who was a committed follower of Jesus.  His soul prospered because his soul was filled with the peace of Christ, he had received the eternal and abundant life that only Jesus can bring.
     III John 4 says that Gaius was someone who obeyed the truth.  In other words, he was man of sound doctrinal belief.  Gaius knew what was right, and he followed it.  He followed John's instructions.  Of course, John taught the teachings and commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ.
     Gaius received commendation from John because Gaius was a man that showed hospitality to those who were traveling preachers.  In the time when III John was written, traveling ministers would go from city to city spreading the message of Jesus.  They would rely on the support of other Christians to help them carry out their mission for the Lord.  Gaius helped these traveling ministers so that they would be able to continue with their missionary endeavors.
     Now, John had a lot of good things to say about Gaius, but that is not the case with a man named Diotrephes.  John said that Diotrephes was man that liked to be leader, and he would not listen to what the Apostle John had to say.  Diotrephes was an authority unto himself, and he thought that his knowledge was greater than that of the Apostle John.
     Diotrephes not only attacked John's leadership, Diotrephes didn't show hospitality to the traveling ministers.  Instead, he threw the missionaries out of the church.  Diotrephes didn't want anyone else preaching in his church or getting any support from it.
     So, what can we learn from these two men.  For one thing, from Gaius we can learn the importance of following the truth and obeying the truth.  The Lord has called all of His followers to be obedient to His teachings and commandments.  Jesus said that we would be called His friends if we did those things that He commanded.
     From Gaius, we can also learn that we need to be hospitable to others and we need to aid others as they seek to spread the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  There are billions of people on this planet who have not accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord.  The church needs to send more missionaries and evangelists out into this world, and these individuals will need our support to reach this world.  As the Lord has enabled each of us, let us give to help spread the message of the Gospel.
     Only 30 percent of the people in this world are Christians of any type.  That means that at least 70 percent of the people in this world are a mission field.  Jesus said that the fields are white unto harvest, but the laborers are few.  Let us support those who are willing to labor in the harvest field for the Lord.
     Let us also not forget that Jesus has given a Great Commission to each of us to spread the Gospel.  We all have a duty to tell others about the love, forgiveness and salvation offered by the Lord Jesus.
     Now, what can we learn from Diotrephes.  We can learn not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think.  Instead of being like this man, we need to be people who exhibit a spirit of humility in imitation of the humility of the Lord Jesus.  Diotrephes shows us how not to behave.  Don't be like him.
     One think that strikes me from III John is the fact of how I want to be remembered.  Since III John was written almost 2,000 years ago, Gaius has been remembered for faithfulness and obedience while Diotrephes has been remembered for his arrogance and his opposition to an Apostle of the Lord.
     We need to think about how we want to be remembered.  We need to think about our reputation.  If someone should write an enduring work about our lives, I hope that each of us can live such a life that we will be commended like Gaius and not criticized like Diotrephes.
     In III John 11 John writes, "don't imitate the evil deeds of others, but follow the example of people who do kind deeds.  They are God's children, but those who are always doing evil have never seen God."  This is a good word for us all.  Let us be people of kindness and goodness who flee from evil and always seek to imitate and follow Jesus Christ.
     Maybe you are reading this message and you have never put your faith and trust in Jesus.  Jesus died on the cross to save you from your sins.  He bore our sins in his body on the cross.  He received the punishment that we deserved.  Jesus took our sins on the cross, and He defeated the consequences of sin when He rose bodily from the grave.
     Jesus invites you to call upon Him and ask Him to forgive you of your sins.  He asks you to believe in His resurrection and to accept Him as the Lord of your life.  If you have never asked Jesus into your life, I hope that you will do so today.
     Next week, I will post the verses on Monday.  I will have a review on Wednesday, and we will continue with our series on less well-known Bible characters on Friday.  May God bless you all.  Amen.