Philippians 3:13-14 -- "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
II Corinthians 5:17 -- "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
Monday, December 31, 2018
Friday, December 28, 2018
Weekend Sermon -- Let's Keep Our Eyes On Jesus
Welcome to the final posting of the Weekend Sermon of 2018. Thank you for taking the time this year to read the sermon. I thank the Lord for giving me the opportunity this year to post the sermons. It is a lot of fun.
Everything is going well at my job. I've also had quite a bit of writing work over the holiday period which is often not the case. I thank the Lord for these opportunities that he has provided.
I would ask that you pray for one of my aunts and her children. One of my uncles passed away this week. He and my aunt were married for 65 years.
Indonesia suffered another tsunami, so we need to pray for those who were affected by that natural disaster. Please pray that all will receive the aid that they need.
Please continue to pray for those in Congo who are facing the Ebola outbreak. Pray that those who are sick will recover, and pray that this epidemic will not spread.
Let us all continue to pray for peace in this world. We need to keep praying for peace in Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, Libya and South Sudan.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Guinea-Bissau and Laos. Pray that many will hear the message of Jesus' love.
Today, I would like to focus on the year behind and the year ahead. We had the opportunity here on the blog to have several different series of messages. I enjoyed the series on passages of Scripture that are taken out of context or misinterpreted. I also enjoyed the series on the last part of the book of Romans. I hope that the messages were of some benefit to those of you who took the time to read them.
As we head into the new year, I want us to focus on what is of the utmost importance. In the book of Hebrews chapter 12 verse 2, the writer tells us that, "We must keep our eyes on Jesus,who leads us and makes our faith complete." This is the key for the new year, and it is the key for leading the Christian life.
One time, Jesus came to His disciples when they were in a boat sailing on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus came to them walking on the water. Peter asked Jesus to let Him walk out to Him on the sea. Peter stepped out of the boat and started walking on the water to Jesus. As long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he was doing fine. When Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the stormy seas, he started to sink beneath the waves. Jesus had to come to the rescue.
As we go into the new year, we need to renew the focus of our lives. We all need to keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus and not get our focus on anything else.
When people get their eyes off of Jesus, that is when the trouble starts. The church gets off track when it places its eyes on political leaders or other people.
As believers in Jesus, we are to look to Him as we make our way through this life. Looking to Jesus in my understanding can mean a couple of different things. First of all, we look to Jesus when we determine that we will do what Jesus did in our own lives.
All of us will face major decision and dilemmas in the year ahead. Keeping our eyes on Jesus means that we will make our decisions based on what Jesus did or on what Jesus commanded. We will be committed to following His path even in the most trying and difficult times in the year that is ahead.
Keeping our eyes on Jesus also means something else to me. It doesn't just mean following His path, His commandments and His teachings. For me, part of keeping my eyes on Jesus means that I look to Him to provide the comfort and the help that I need to make it through the hard times that I face.
I've mentioned here on the blog several times that I have suffered from depression through the years. It is only through the help of Jesus that I am able to make it through from day to day. I have to keep my focus on the fact that He loves me and He is with me.
I also believe that in this day and age, keeping our eyes on Jesus and following Him often means not focusing on some who claim to be His followers. So much meanness is being thrown around by people who say they love Jesus. I just can't understand it. I can see why many people don't become Christians when I hear the hateful things that many who claim to be Christians utter.
We all need to remember that Jesus was compassionate and filled with love for all. We have to focus on the love of Jesus and who He is, and then not focus on who some of His followers say that He is.
I hope that in the year ahead that you will keep your eyes fixed upon Jesus. He is our all in all. If you keep your eyes on Jesus, I can't guarantee that the year will be all happiness and sunshine, but I can say that if we keep our eyes on Jesus, we will do what is pleasing to Him, and we will feel His presence in our lives no matter the problems that we will face.
Next week, I will be posting the sermon on Friday again. We will be starting a new series of messages for the new year. I will reveal more about that next week. On Monday, I will post the verses for the week. I will reveal the Cat Book of Year on Wednesday. May God bless you all. Amen.
Everything is going well at my job. I've also had quite a bit of writing work over the holiday period which is often not the case. I thank the Lord for these opportunities that he has provided.
I would ask that you pray for one of my aunts and her children. One of my uncles passed away this week. He and my aunt were married for 65 years.
Indonesia suffered another tsunami, so we need to pray for those who were affected by that natural disaster. Please pray that all will receive the aid that they need.
Please continue to pray for those in Congo who are facing the Ebola outbreak. Pray that those who are sick will recover, and pray that this epidemic will not spread.
Let us all continue to pray for peace in this world. We need to keep praying for peace in Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, Libya and South Sudan.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Guinea-Bissau and Laos. Pray that many will hear the message of Jesus' love.
Today, I would like to focus on the year behind and the year ahead. We had the opportunity here on the blog to have several different series of messages. I enjoyed the series on passages of Scripture that are taken out of context or misinterpreted. I also enjoyed the series on the last part of the book of Romans. I hope that the messages were of some benefit to those of you who took the time to read them.
As we head into the new year, I want us to focus on what is of the utmost importance. In the book of Hebrews chapter 12 verse 2, the writer tells us that, "We must keep our eyes on Jesus,who leads us and makes our faith complete." This is the key for the new year, and it is the key for leading the Christian life.
One time, Jesus came to His disciples when they were in a boat sailing on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus came to them walking on the water. Peter asked Jesus to let Him walk out to Him on the sea. Peter stepped out of the boat and started walking on the water to Jesus. As long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he was doing fine. When Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the stormy seas, he started to sink beneath the waves. Jesus had to come to the rescue.
As we go into the new year, we need to renew the focus of our lives. We all need to keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus and not get our focus on anything else.
When people get their eyes off of Jesus, that is when the trouble starts. The church gets off track when it places its eyes on political leaders or other people.
As believers in Jesus, we are to look to Him as we make our way through this life. Looking to Jesus in my understanding can mean a couple of different things. First of all, we look to Jesus when we determine that we will do what Jesus did in our own lives.
All of us will face major decision and dilemmas in the year ahead. Keeping our eyes on Jesus means that we will make our decisions based on what Jesus did or on what Jesus commanded. We will be committed to following His path even in the most trying and difficult times in the year that is ahead.
Keeping our eyes on Jesus also means something else to me. It doesn't just mean following His path, His commandments and His teachings. For me, part of keeping my eyes on Jesus means that I look to Him to provide the comfort and the help that I need to make it through the hard times that I face.
I've mentioned here on the blog several times that I have suffered from depression through the years. It is only through the help of Jesus that I am able to make it through from day to day. I have to keep my focus on the fact that He loves me and He is with me.
I also believe that in this day and age, keeping our eyes on Jesus and following Him often means not focusing on some who claim to be His followers. So much meanness is being thrown around by people who say they love Jesus. I just can't understand it. I can see why many people don't become Christians when I hear the hateful things that many who claim to be Christians utter.
We all need to remember that Jesus was compassionate and filled with love for all. We have to focus on the love of Jesus and who He is, and then not focus on who some of His followers say that He is.
I hope that in the year ahead that you will keep your eyes fixed upon Jesus. He is our all in all. If you keep your eyes on Jesus, I can't guarantee that the year will be all happiness and sunshine, but I can say that if we keep our eyes on Jesus, we will do what is pleasing to Him, and we will feel His presence in our lives no matter the problems that we will face.
Next week, I will be posting the sermon on Friday again. We will be starting a new series of messages for the new year. I will reveal more about that next week. On Monday, I will post the verses for the week. I will reveal the Cat Book of Year on Wednesday. May God bless you all. Amen.
Wednesday, December 26, 2018
Dog Book Of The Year
Today I am announcing my Dog Book of the Year Award. For those of you who are new to reading the blog, I usually review a dog, cat or animal book each week. At the end of the year, I post which dog, cat and animal book I've enjoyed the most in each category.
This year, I didn't review as many books because I reposted the book I wrote about my friend Toby through most of the summer. We will not have an animal book of the year selection this year. There will be a Cat Book of the Year Award announced next week.
This year, it was not a hard decision for the dog book award. I read many good dog books this year. However, one dog book stands above all of the others. The winner of the Dog Book of the Year Award this year is "Tomorrow: A Novel" written by Damian Dibben.
This is an historical novel told from the perspective of a dog. The dog and his master have lived for hundreds of years. You'll find out why as you read the story. The dog and his master have become separated, and the dog is waiting in Venice for the return of his master when the novel begins.
Due to circumstances that unfold, the dog is forced to stop waiting, and he goes in search of his master. He must make a harrowing journey to find the man that he cares so much for.
Over the course of the novel, the reader is taken into historical events such as the English Civil War and the Battle of Waterloo.
I've never read a book quite like this one. It is beautifully written, and the story is exceptionally well done. When you read the book, you'll find out what the title means.
Now, there is another dog book that I would like to mention. I thought this book was also excellent, and in many years, it would have won the award. "Good Dog" by Dan Gemeinhart is written for younger readers, but anyone who loves dogs will enjoy reading this story. The ending is very emotional. This book is a wonderful expression of the love that a boy and his dog can have for one another.
I recommend both of these books. Hopefully, both of these authors will have new novels coming out very soon.
This year, I didn't review as many books because I reposted the book I wrote about my friend Toby through most of the summer. We will not have an animal book of the year selection this year. There will be a Cat Book of the Year Award announced next week.
This year, it was not a hard decision for the dog book award. I read many good dog books this year. However, one dog book stands above all of the others. The winner of the Dog Book of the Year Award this year is "Tomorrow: A Novel" written by Damian Dibben.
This is an historical novel told from the perspective of a dog. The dog and his master have lived for hundreds of years. You'll find out why as you read the story. The dog and his master have become separated, and the dog is waiting in Venice for the return of his master when the novel begins.
Due to circumstances that unfold, the dog is forced to stop waiting, and he goes in search of his master. He must make a harrowing journey to find the man that he cares so much for.
Over the course of the novel, the reader is taken into historical events such as the English Civil War and the Battle of Waterloo.
I've never read a book quite like this one. It is beautifully written, and the story is exceptionally well done. When you read the book, you'll find out what the title means.
Now, there is another dog book that I would like to mention. I thought this book was also excellent, and in many years, it would have won the award. "Good Dog" by Dan Gemeinhart is written for younger readers, but anyone who loves dogs will enjoy reading this story. The ending is very emotional. This book is a wonderful expression of the love that a boy and his dog can have for one another.
I recommend both of these books. Hopefully, both of these authors will have new novels coming out very soon.
Saturday, December 22, 2018
Weekend Sermon -- Peace
Welcome to this edition of the Weekend Sermon. I am thankful to the Lord for the opportunity each week to share these messages. I hope that everyone is having a wonderful holiday season.
I've been staying very busy this week at my job and with writing. I am praying that all will continue to go well with my work.
I found out this week that two of my uncles are not in good health. Please pray for them. Also, one of my cousins has been diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas. Please pray for his recovery. Thank you.
Please continue to pray that the Ebola outbreak in the Congo will end. Pray that those who have the disease will recover, and pray for those who are working to help those with this illness.
Continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of this world. Syria is still having problems. Afghanistan, Yemen, South Sudan and Libya are just a few of the nations that need out prayers for peace.
This week, let us pray for India and Tunisia as our prayer focus countries. Pray that many will come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord.
This week, I want to bring a message about peace. When the angels came to announce the birth of Jesus, they came with a message to shepherds who were out in the fields with their flocks. The angels brought a message announcing peace on earth.
Jesus is the one who brings peace to the earth in several different ways. First of all, Jesus is the one who brings peace to the troubled soul. In John 14:27, Jesus stated that He had come to bring peace. He didn't bring a peace that the world gives. Jesus came to bring a peace that passes all understanding.
Jesus can bring peace to the heart of any person. He came to show us the way to live. He came to take away the sins of the world as the Lamb of God. Jesus conquered death by rising from the dead. Those who place their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus will have their sins forgiven. They will receive the peace of having a personal relationship with Jesus. The one who places his or her trust in Jesus will not have anxiety regarding death because death has no victory over those who are in Jesus Christ. He is the resurrection and life. Whoever believes in Jesus will live with Him forever and forever.
Jesus has come to bring peace among people and nations as well. He is called the Prince of Peace in the book of Isaiah. Jesus taught the way of peace between people and nations within the Sermon on the Mount in particular. The reason that we don't have peace among people and nations right now is not because there is a problem with the message of Jesus. People and nations refuse to follow what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount and in other teachings that we find in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Jesus taught that we are to treat others in the way that we would want to be treated. He taught us to love and help one another. He taught us to love our neighbor as ourselves. He ended the practice of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Jesus taught the way of love. He taught His followers to be people of mercy and compassion.
If those who claim to follow Jesus as Lord would follow the teachings that Jesus has proclaimed in the Bible, the world could be such a better place right now.
Jesus will bring ultimate peace to this earth when He comes again in power and great glory at His Second Advent. The Bible says that when Jesus returns, the nations will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer rise against nation. Humanity will study war no more. This is a day that I look forward to. Come quickly Lord Jesus.
Peace is at the heart of Christmas. Jesus came into this world to bring the peace that only He can bring. If you don't know Jesus as your Savior and Lord this day, I invite you to come to know the Prince of Peace. Place your faith in Him. Accept Jesus as Lord. It will change your life now and for all of eternity.
Next week, I will not be posting the verses for the week as the library is closed on Monday and Tuesday for the Christmas holiday. I will begin posting my dog book and cat book of the year awards starting on Wednesday. The Weekend Sermon will appear on Friday next week, as I have to work nest Saturday. I hope that everyone has a wonderful Christmas. May God bless you all. Amen.
I've been staying very busy this week at my job and with writing. I am praying that all will continue to go well with my work.
I found out this week that two of my uncles are not in good health. Please pray for them. Also, one of my cousins has been diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas. Please pray for his recovery. Thank you.
Please continue to pray that the Ebola outbreak in the Congo will end. Pray that those who have the disease will recover, and pray for those who are working to help those with this illness.
Continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of this world. Syria is still having problems. Afghanistan, Yemen, South Sudan and Libya are just a few of the nations that need out prayers for peace.
This week, let us pray for India and Tunisia as our prayer focus countries. Pray that many will come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord.
This week, I want to bring a message about peace. When the angels came to announce the birth of Jesus, they came with a message to shepherds who were out in the fields with their flocks. The angels brought a message announcing peace on earth.
Jesus is the one who brings peace to the earth in several different ways. First of all, Jesus is the one who brings peace to the troubled soul. In John 14:27, Jesus stated that He had come to bring peace. He didn't bring a peace that the world gives. Jesus came to bring a peace that passes all understanding.
Jesus can bring peace to the heart of any person. He came to show us the way to live. He came to take away the sins of the world as the Lamb of God. Jesus conquered death by rising from the dead. Those who place their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus will have their sins forgiven. They will receive the peace of having a personal relationship with Jesus. The one who places his or her trust in Jesus will not have anxiety regarding death because death has no victory over those who are in Jesus Christ. He is the resurrection and life. Whoever believes in Jesus will live with Him forever and forever.
Jesus has come to bring peace among people and nations as well. He is called the Prince of Peace in the book of Isaiah. Jesus taught the way of peace between people and nations within the Sermon on the Mount in particular. The reason that we don't have peace among people and nations right now is not because there is a problem with the message of Jesus. People and nations refuse to follow what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount and in other teachings that we find in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Jesus taught that we are to treat others in the way that we would want to be treated. He taught us to love and help one another. He taught us to love our neighbor as ourselves. He ended the practice of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Jesus taught the way of love. He taught His followers to be people of mercy and compassion.
If those who claim to follow Jesus as Lord would follow the teachings that Jesus has proclaimed in the Bible, the world could be such a better place right now.
Jesus will bring ultimate peace to this earth when He comes again in power and great glory at His Second Advent. The Bible says that when Jesus returns, the nations will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer rise against nation. Humanity will study war no more. This is a day that I look forward to. Come quickly Lord Jesus.
Peace is at the heart of Christmas. Jesus came into this world to bring the peace that only He can bring. If you don't know Jesus as your Savior and Lord this day, I invite you to come to know the Prince of Peace. Place your faith in Him. Accept Jesus as Lord. It will change your life now and for all of eternity.
Next week, I will not be posting the verses for the week as the library is closed on Monday and Tuesday for the Christmas holiday. I will begin posting my dog book and cat book of the year awards starting on Wednesday. The Weekend Sermon will appear on Friday next week, as I have to work nest Saturday. I hope that everyone has a wonderful Christmas. May God bless you all. Amen.
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
Book Review -- The Travelling Cat Chronicles
As I start this review, I want to state that this is the best book that I've read for a long time. The book that I am reviewing today is "The Travelling Cat Chronicles" written by Hiro Arikawa. At it's heart, this book is about love and friendship.
The book begins with a stray cat gradually getting to know a man named Satoru. The cat likes to rest on the man's silver van, and the man comes out and brings food and treats for the cat. One day, the cat is injured in an accident. He comes to Satoru seeking assistance. After the cat recovers from his injuries, he decides to stay with Satoru, and Satoru names the cat "Nana" because the cat has a crook in his tail making it look like the number seven which is pronounced "Nana" in Japanese.
For five years, Nana and Satoru live together and are friends. They both care about each other. However, one day, Satoru tells Nana that he has to find a new home for him. Satoru won't be able to take care of him in the future.
Over the course of the book, Satoru and Nana take four trips in the silver van to find someone who will take Nana in. The first three trips are to visit old friends of Satoru, and the final trip is to visit Satoru's aunt who took care of him after his parents passed ways.
As the book unfolds and Satoru visits each of his old friends, we learn more about his life in the past and what is happening in the present. Throughout the book, Nana the cat states his opinion about what is going on.
The final part of this book is really well done. It's definitely an emotional ending. I'm not going to give away any more of the plot. Read this book, and find out how great it really is for yourself. I highly recommend "The Travelling Cat Chronicles."
The book begins with a stray cat gradually getting to know a man named Satoru. The cat likes to rest on the man's silver van, and the man comes out and brings food and treats for the cat. One day, the cat is injured in an accident. He comes to Satoru seeking assistance. After the cat recovers from his injuries, he decides to stay with Satoru, and Satoru names the cat "Nana" because the cat has a crook in his tail making it look like the number seven which is pronounced "Nana" in Japanese.
For five years, Nana and Satoru live together and are friends. They both care about each other. However, one day, Satoru tells Nana that he has to find a new home for him. Satoru won't be able to take care of him in the future.
Over the course of the book, Satoru and Nana take four trips in the silver van to find someone who will take Nana in. The first three trips are to visit old friends of Satoru, and the final trip is to visit Satoru's aunt who took care of him after his parents passed ways.
As the book unfolds and Satoru visits each of his old friends, we learn more about his life in the past and what is happening in the present. Throughout the book, Nana the cat states his opinion about what is going on.
The final part of this book is really well done. It's definitely an emotional ending. I'm not going to give away any more of the plot. Read this book, and find out how great it really is for yourself. I highly recommend "The Travelling Cat Chronicles."
Monday, December 17, 2018
Verses For the Week
Psalm 39:7 -- "And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you."
I Peter 1:3-4 -- "He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you."
I Peter 1:3-4 -- "He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you."
Friday, December 14, 2018
Weekend Sermon -- God Among Us
Welcome to this edition of the Weekend Sermon. I am glad that you have taken the time out of your day to read the sermon. I hope that everyone is having a very good week.
I've been enjoying my job, and I've been getting a lot of hours. I thank the Lord for this job, and I am also thankful that there has been a lot of writing work to keep me busy as well.
I would like to ask for your prayers in one matter. I am having some pain in my wrist. Please pray that this will get better and that it won't affect my job in any way. Thank you for your prayers.
As you pray this week, please remember to pray for those in the Congo who are in the midst of the Ebola outbreak. Pray that those who are sick will recover, and pray that the virus does not spread.
In the United States, there have been many children who have been separated from their parents when the parents come over the border from other countries seeking asylum. Please pray that these children will be reunited with their parents.
Continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of this world. Pray for peace in Syria, Libya, South Sudan and Afghanistan. Remember to pray for those in France who were involved in the terrorist attack. Please pray for an end to terrorism.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for Cambodia and Kuwait. Please pray that many will hear of the love of Jesus in these two countries.
Last week, we finished our series of messages on the last few chapters of the book of Romans. Today and next week, I will be posting messages based on the Advent season.
Today, I would like to focus our attention on what happened when Jesus came to be born on this earth. To begin this message, I would like to post four important passages of Scripture.
Matthew 1:23 -- "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call his name Immanuel which means God with us."
Galatians 4:4-5 -- "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons."
Colossians 2:9 -- "For in him, the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily."
Philippians 2:6-7 -- "Who being in the form of God did not consider equality with God something to be used his advantage, rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."
Throughout the entirety of the Old Testament, the prophets spoke of the fact that a Messiah was going to come and redeem the people. The first prophecy of the coming of the Messiah is found in Genesis 3:15.
When the right time came, God sent His Son into this world. Jesus is completely divine and completely human. He humbled Himself and came to this earth in human form born of the Virgin Mary on Christmas day. The one who was the King of the entire universe, came to us as a helpless baby. He came to serve and not to be served. He came to show us how to live the way that we are supposed to live in this world. Philippians 2 will go on to tell us that Jesus suffered on the cross to redeem us.
Jesus came to redeem us from our sins and to bring about the restoration of all things. The birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus brings about the salvation of our souls. It brings about the possibility that one day all will be as it was before sin entered into the world. One day, when Jesus returns to this at His Second Advent, the process of the restoration of all things will be completed. All will be as it was originally intended to be.
What is so amazing to me about Christmas is that the God of this entire universe would come to be among us. He loved us so much that He came to show us the way. Jesus is the one who shows us what God is really like. If you want to know what God is like, you look to Jesus. If you want to know how to act and live in this world in the right manner, you look to Jesus as the ultimate example because He lived a life without sin and only did that which was perfect, right and good.
God came among us at Christmas time in order that we might find perfect peace in and through Him. We can find peace for our souls by finding forgiveness through Him. We can find peace for the struggles that beset humanity by looking at and following His teachings recorded in passages such as the Sermon on the Mount.
Immanuel has come. We must look to Jesus as the way, the truth and the life. We must keep our eyes fixed on Him in all things and follow Him fully.
I hope that during this Christmas season that you will truly realize what happened on Christmas Day. God fully revealed Himself to us in the person of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus came to show us the way and redeem us from our sins. Please meditate on this during the holiday season.
Next week, I will bring another message based on Christmas. The sermon will be posted on Saturday next week. I don't like to keep changing the day that the sermon will be posted, but my schedule at work keeps changing. I don't know from week to week if I will have to work on Friday or Saturday. I will post the verses on Monday, and I will have a review on Wednesday. I am in the process of finishing up a cat book. May God bless you all. Amen.
I've been enjoying my job, and I've been getting a lot of hours. I thank the Lord for this job, and I am also thankful that there has been a lot of writing work to keep me busy as well.
I would like to ask for your prayers in one matter. I am having some pain in my wrist. Please pray that this will get better and that it won't affect my job in any way. Thank you for your prayers.
As you pray this week, please remember to pray for those in the Congo who are in the midst of the Ebola outbreak. Pray that those who are sick will recover, and pray that the virus does not spread.
In the United States, there have been many children who have been separated from their parents when the parents come over the border from other countries seeking asylum. Please pray that these children will be reunited with their parents.
Continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of this world. Pray for peace in Syria, Libya, South Sudan and Afghanistan. Remember to pray for those in France who were involved in the terrorist attack. Please pray for an end to terrorism.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for Cambodia and Kuwait. Please pray that many will hear of the love of Jesus in these two countries.
Last week, we finished our series of messages on the last few chapters of the book of Romans. Today and next week, I will be posting messages based on the Advent season.
Today, I would like to focus our attention on what happened when Jesus came to be born on this earth. To begin this message, I would like to post four important passages of Scripture.
Matthew 1:23 -- "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call his name Immanuel which means God with us."
Galatians 4:4-5 -- "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons."
Colossians 2:9 -- "For in him, the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily."
Philippians 2:6-7 -- "Who being in the form of God did not consider equality with God something to be used his advantage, rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."
Throughout the entirety of the Old Testament, the prophets spoke of the fact that a Messiah was going to come and redeem the people. The first prophecy of the coming of the Messiah is found in Genesis 3:15.
When the right time came, God sent His Son into this world. Jesus is completely divine and completely human. He humbled Himself and came to this earth in human form born of the Virgin Mary on Christmas day. The one who was the King of the entire universe, came to us as a helpless baby. He came to serve and not to be served. He came to show us how to live the way that we are supposed to live in this world. Philippians 2 will go on to tell us that Jesus suffered on the cross to redeem us.
Jesus came to redeem us from our sins and to bring about the restoration of all things. The birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus brings about the salvation of our souls. It brings about the possibility that one day all will be as it was before sin entered into the world. One day, when Jesus returns to this at His Second Advent, the process of the restoration of all things will be completed. All will be as it was originally intended to be.
What is so amazing to me about Christmas is that the God of this entire universe would come to be among us. He loved us so much that He came to show us the way. Jesus is the one who shows us what God is really like. If you want to know what God is like, you look to Jesus. If you want to know how to act and live in this world in the right manner, you look to Jesus as the ultimate example because He lived a life without sin and only did that which was perfect, right and good.
God came among us at Christmas time in order that we might find perfect peace in and through Him. We can find peace for our souls by finding forgiveness through Him. We can find peace for the struggles that beset humanity by looking at and following His teachings recorded in passages such as the Sermon on the Mount.
Immanuel has come. We must look to Jesus as the way, the truth and the life. We must keep our eyes fixed on Him in all things and follow Him fully.
I hope that during this Christmas season that you will truly realize what happened on Christmas Day. God fully revealed Himself to us in the person of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus came to show us the way and redeem us from our sins. Please meditate on this during the holiday season.
Next week, I will bring another message based on Christmas. The sermon will be posted on Saturday next week. I don't like to keep changing the day that the sermon will be posted, but my schedule at work keeps changing. I don't know from week to week if I will have to work on Friday or Saturday. I will post the verses on Monday, and I will have a review on Wednesday. I am in the process of finishing up a cat book. May God bless you all. Amen.
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Update
I have been so busy with my job and working on writing that I haven't had much of a chance to read. I won't be posting a review this week, but I do believe that I will get back to posting more reviews next week. I am thankful that I've been getting writing work, and I am thankful that I've been getting a lot of hours over the holiday season at my other job. I will be posting the sermon on Friday.
Monday, December 10, 2018
Verses For the Week
Isaiah 12:6 -- "Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you."
Proverbs 10:28 -- "The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing."
Proverbs 10:28 -- "The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing."
Sunday, December 9, 2018
Special Prayer Request
Yesterday, I read an article about how the Ebola virus is spreading in the the Congo. Please say a special prayer for the people in this region. Pray that those who are sick will recover. Pray that the virus will not spread any further. Pray for those who are on the front lines helping those who are infected with the virus. Thank you for your prayers on this matter.
Friday, December 7, 2018
Weekend Sermon -- Romans 16:17-27
Thank you for reading the Weekend Sermon this week. I thank the Lord for this opportunity, and I hope that all of you are having a very good week.
I've been working hard at my job, and writing has been going well. :Usually in the month of December, there are fewer writing jobs, but this month has been good to start out with.
Please be in prayer for my one of my aunts and for one of my uncles. They both lost their spouses recently, and it is very hard to deal with the death of a loved one during the holiday season.
Let us all be in prayer for those in Yemen. That country is in the midst of war, and disease, and famine is rampant. Please pray for an end to the violence, and pray that the aid that the people need will reach the nation.
There are many other places in the world that need peace at this time. Pray for peace in Syria, Israel, Afghanistan, Ukraine, South Sudan and Libya
During this holiday season, let us pray that people will be filled with kindness. Let each of us try to follow the words of the Lord Jesus and do unto others as we would have done unto us.
For our prayer focus countries this week, please pray for those who live in the nations of Azerbaijan and Mali. Pray that many will hear the message of the love of Jesus. Also, pray that many all over the world will hear the message of Jesus' love during this Christmas season.
Over the course of the last few weeks, we've been studying the last few chapters of the book of Romans. Today we will finish chapter 16, and that will be the end of our Romans series. Starting next week on the Weekend Sermon, we will be having some messages centered around the Christmas season.
In today's passage, I want to focus on two verses. The end of verse 19 states, "I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil." This verse reminds me of Philippians 4:8 where Paul gives the instruction that we are to think about those things that are lovely, honorable, just and true.
There are a lot of bad things out in the world that can draw our minds away from the values promoted by Jesus. Many of the movies and television programs that are currently available don't express Christian morals and values. I've found in my own life that if I spend time watching or reading those things which are not reflective of the values of Jesus, it causes me to be less like Jesus and more like the world and its values.
There are a lot of good things that we can put into our minds that are honoring to the Lord. We should all be reading the Bible on a daily basis, but I'm saying more than that. There are good movies and books that do promote what is good that we can be spending our time reading and viewing.
I've been trying in my life to read more animal and nature books. During the coming year, I want to read more non-fiction and fewer mysteries and such. I like to read about the beauty of God's creation, and that gives me peace in my heart. I like to listen to music that promotes peace and tranquility within my spirit.
I'm not trying to come down on people or tell people that this type of book or movie or television program is wrong. I'm just saying that I find that my life is more peaceful and happy when I focus on those things that reflect the values of Jesus and His creation. I want to focus more on those things in the weeks and months to come.
Now, there is a second verse that I want to focus on. Verse 20 states, "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet." What does this mean?
When humanity fell into sin and turned its back on the will of God, evil entered into the world. The Bible says that death passed upon all because all have sinned.
In Genesis 3, we read the record of the fall of humanity. In that chapter, God promised that one would be born who would crush the head of the serpent who was the symbol of Satan.
When Jesus was born into this world, this prophecy saw the beginning of its fulfillment. Jesus was the Lamb of God sent to take away the sin of the world. Jesus lived a holy and sinless life. Because of that, He could take our sins upon Himself on the cross. He could be our substitute. He took the punishment for sins upon Himself that we rightly deserved.
Because of sin, death had passed upon all people. However, Jesus dealt with the consequences of sin through His glorious resurrection. By rising from the grave, Jesus destroyed death, hell and the grave. Death has no power over the one who is in Christ.
Evil is still in the world. There is a lot of terrible stuff that goes on in this world. However, Satan and his evil will be destroyed once and for all when Jesus returns in power and great glory at His Second Coming. Then, all sin will be at an end. Wars will cease. Man's inhumanity to man will be over. Injustice will be at an end. All will be good and right. Peace and justice will rule the day. Love will triumph over the forces of hate.
The Bible says that Satan and all those who remain his followers will be cast in the lake of fire. Evil will be destroyed.
Until that day comes, those of us who are followers of Jesus have a job to do. We are to take the message of Jesus' love to those who don't know about it. We are to tell others that Jesus lived, died, rose again and is coming again. We are also to strive to make this world a better place. We are to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and help those who are oppressed. We are to stand for justice and goodness. We are to follow the example given to us by the Lord Jesus until that day when He returns and all things are made right and all things are restored to their original state.
I hope that you have come to know Jesus as your Lord and Savior. The Bible says that whoever will call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. You can repent of your sins and ask Jesus to be your Savior and Lord this very day.
Next week, our Christmas messages begin. On Monday, I will post the verses for the week. On Wednesday, there may be a review, but I am not sure yet. I will post the Weekend Sermon on Friday next week. May God bless you all. Amen.
I've been working hard at my job, and writing has been going well. :Usually in the month of December, there are fewer writing jobs, but this month has been good to start out with.
Please be in prayer for my one of my aunts and for one of my uncles. They both lost their spouses recently, and it is very hard to deal with the death of a loved one during the holiday season.
Let us all be in prayer for those in Yemen. That country is in the midst of war, and disease, and famine is rampant. Please pray for an end to the violence, and pray that the aid that the people need will reach the nation.
There are many other places in the world that need peace at this time. Pray for peace in Syria, Israel, Afghanistan, Ukraine, South Sudan and Libya
During this holiday season, let us pray that people will be filled with kindness. Let each of us try to follow the words of the Lord Jesus and do unto others as we would have done unto us.
For our prayer focus countries this week, please pray for those who live in the nations of Azerbaijan and Mali. Pray that many will hear the message of the love of Jesus. Also, pray that many all over the world will hear the message of Jesus' love during this Christmas season.
Over the course of the last few weeks, we've been studying the last few chapters of the book of Romans. Today we will finish chapter 16, and that will be the end of our Romans series. Starting next week on the Weekend Sermon, we will be having some messages centered around the Christmas season.
In today's passage, I want to focus on two verses. The end of verse 19 states, "I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil." This verse reminds me of Philippians 4:8 where Paul gives the instruction that we are to think about those things that are lovely, honorable, just and true.
There are a lot of bad things out in the world that can draw our minds away from the values promoted by Jesus. Many of the movies and television programs that are currently available don't express Christian morals and values. I've found in my own life that if I spend time watching or reading those things which are not reflective of the values of Jesus, it causes me to be less like Jesus and more like the world and its values.
There are a lot of good things that we can put into our minds that are honoring to the Lord. We should all be reading the Bible on a daily basis, but I'm saying more than that. There are good movies and books that do promote what is good that we can be spending our time reading and viewing.
I've been trying in my life to read more animal and nature books. During the coming year, I want to read more non-fiction and fewer mysteries and such. I like to read about the beauty of God's creation, and that gives me peace in my heart. I like to listen to music that promotes peace and tranquility within my spirit.
I'm not trying to come down on people or tell people that this type of book or movie or television program is wrong. I'm just saying that I find that my life is more peaceful and happy when I focus on those things that reflect the values of Jesus and His creation. I want to focus more on those things in the weeks and months to come.
Now, there is a second verse that I want to focus on. Verse 20 states, "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet." What does this mean?
When humanity fell into sin and turned its back on the will of God, evil entered into the world. The Bible says that death passed upon all because all have sinned.
In Genesis 3, we read the record of the fall of humanity. In that chapter, God promised that one would be born who would crush the head of the serpent who was the symbol of Satan.
When Jesus was born into this world, this prophecy saw the beginning of its fulfillment. Jesus was the Lamb of God sent to take away the sin of the world. Jesus lived a holy and sinless life. Because of that, He could take our sins upon Himself on the cross. He could be our substitute. He took the punishment for sins upon Himself that we rightly deserved.
Because of sin, death had passed upon all people. However, Jesus dealt with the consequences of sin through His glorious resurrection. By rising from the grave, Jesus destroyed death, hell and the grave. Death has no power over the one who is in Christ.
Evil is still in the world. There is a lot of terrible stuff that goes on in this world. However, Satan and his evil will be destroyed once and for all when Jesus returns in power and great glory at His Second Coming. Then, all sin will be at an end. Wars will cease. Man's inhumanity to man will be over. Injustice will be at an end. All will be good and right. Peace and justice will rule the day. Love will triumph over the forces of hate.
The Bible says that Satan and all those who remain his followers will be cast in the lake of fire. Evil will be destroyed.
Until that day comes, those of us who are followers of Jesus have a job to do. We are to take the message of Jesus' love to those who don't know about it. We are to tell others that Jesus lived, died, rose again and is coming again. We are also to strive to make this world a better place. We are to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and help those who are oppressed. We are to stand for justice and goodness. We are to follow the example given to us by the Lord Jesus until that day when He returns and all things are made right and all things are restored to their original state.
I hope that you have come to know Jesus as your Lord and Savior. The Bible says that whoever will call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. You can repent of your sins and ask Jesus to be your Savior and Lord this very day.
Next week, our Christmas messages begin. On Monday, I will post the verses for the week. On Wednesday, there may be a review, but I am not sure yet. I will post the Weekend Sermon on Friday next week. May God bless you all. Amen.
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Book Review -- Burning Ridge
The book that I want to review today is entitled "Burning Ridge: A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery" written by Margaret Mizushima. This is the fourth book in this series, and I've reviewed the other three books in the series here on the blog.
Of the four books in the series, this is the book that I like the best. The action moves along very well. In this book, it didn't seem as if veterinarian Cole Walker was unnaturally in the action just to advance the relationship between him and the main character Mattie Cobb.
Robo the police dog sees a lot of action in this book. Mattie will find out a lot about her family, and she will make some new friends. The mystery part of the book is interesting because it keeps you guessing until the end about who the culprit is.
If you like police mysteries and books with police dogs, this is a book that you will really enjoy. While this book can be read on its own, readers will get more out of the book if they read all the books in the series. All of the books are good, and I think that the series is improving with each book. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
Of the four books in the series, this is the book that I like the best. The action moves along very well. In this book, it didn't seem as if veterinarian Cole Walker was unnaturally in the action just to advance the relationship between him and the main character Mattie Cobb.
Robo the police dog sees a lot of action in this book. Mattie will find out a lot about her family, and she will make some new friends. The mystery part of the book is interesting because it keeps you guessing until the end about who the culprit is.
If you like police mysteries and books with police dogs, this is a book that you will really enjoy. While this book can be read on its own, readers will get more out of the book if they read all the books in the series. All of the books are good, and I think that the series is improving with each book. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
Monday, December 3, 2018
Verses For the Week
Psalm 94:14 -- "When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy."
John 14:27 -- "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
John 14:27 -- "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
Saturday, December 1, 2018
Weekend Sermon -- Romans 16:1-16
Welcome to this week's edition of the Weekend Sermon. I am glad to be able to post this message as it has been quite a difficult week. I hope that all of you are doing well.
This week, we had a terrible blizzard where I live. I lost power for 15 hours, and it got very cold in the house. Thankfully, the power was restored. It could have been a lot worse. Everything has been going well in my job and in writing. I am thankful to the Lord for this.
This week, there was an earthquake in Alaska. Pray for those in that state. Also, please continue to pray for those who are dealing with the fires in the state of California.
I just learned before starting this sermon that former President George H.W. Bush has passed away. Please pray for his family during this difficult time.
Continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of the world this week. Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, South Sudan and Libya continue to need our prayers for peace.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Nepal and Bhutan. Pray that many will hear the message that Jesus loves them.
Today, we will begin our study of Romans 16. I will have two messages on this chapter. After that, I will post holiday season messages.
The first part of Romans 16 has one major theme, but there is a major controversy in the chapter. Let's deal with this. First of all, Paul begins the chapter by commending Phoebe who is a deacon. He asks that Roman Christians provide her with whatever help she might need. Paul states that she was of benefit to many people including him.
In the church that I was brought up in as a boy, women were not allowed to have any positions of authority in the church. They were not and are not allowed to be ministers. They are not allowed to be deacons. They are not allowed to teach boys in Sunday school after the boys are 12 years old.
In my old church, this verse was interpreted as meaning that Phoebe was simply someone who helped Paul. My church denied that she had any official role as a church leader.
I believe that Phoebe was a deacon in the church in an official manner. In the book of Acts, deacons were established by the Apostles to aid in helping people in the church with their physical needs. Specifically, the deacons helped to distribute aid to widows and those who needed assistance in order to make it in life.
The Bible is clear that the first deacons had a teaching and ministering role. Stephen and Philip were both deacons who proclaimed the Word of the Lord.
Romans 16 also mentions Aquila and Priscilla. Paul calls them his co-workers in Christ Jesus. The book of Acts says that both of them taught Apollos who was a popular teacher in the church. It seems to me that they were a husband and wife ministry team.
In verse 7, Paul mentions that Junia was outstanding among the apostles. Some argue that this verse shows that there was a woman apostle.
First of all, I do not have a problem with women being ministers in the church. Women were the first ones that Jesus entrusted to proclaim the message of His resurrection. Some are going to disagree with me on this. However, I have known several women who are outstanding teachers and pastors. Many women serve the Lord in outstanding ways.
About the controversy as to whether or not Junia was a female apostle. I really don't think that this is what Paul is saying in this verse. I believe he is pointing out that Junia was considered great by the apostles for her work in the ministry.
Now, what is the main lesson of Romans 16:1-16. The main message is that there are many people who are working together to bring the message of Jesus Christ to the world. Paul knew that his success in spreading the message of Jesus was due in large part to the fact that there were many people who assisted him. Paul knew that there were many committed Christians who were calling on others to be reconciled to God.
Each one of us has a part in spreading the message of Jesus' love and forgiveness to this hurting and lost world. We all must work together as members of the body of Christ to bring others to Jesus. We need to work together against injustice, and we need to work together to make this world a better place.
Each of us has been gifted by God to help the entire body of Christ. Let us use the gifts given to us by the Lord to enrich the body of Christ and perform the Lord's work in this world.
Next week, we will finish Romans 16 and our series in the book of Romans. I plan on posting the sermon on Friday next week. I will post the verses on Monday, and I plan to post a book review of a dog book on Wednesday. May God bless you all. Amen.
This week, we had a terrible blizzard where I live. I lost power for 15 hours, and it got very cold in the house. Thankfully, the power was restored. It could have been a lot worse. Everything has been going well in my job and in writing. I am thankful to the Lord for this.
This week, there was an earthquake in Alaska. Pray for those in that state. Also, please continue to pray for those who are dealing with the fires in the state of California.
I just learned before starting this sermon that former President George H.W. Bush has passed away. Please pray for his family during this difficult time.
Continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of the world this week. Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, South Sudan and Libya continue to need our prayers for peace.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Nepal and Bhutan. Pray that many will hear the message that Jesus loves them.
Today, we will begin our study of Romans 16. I will have two messages on this chapter. After that, I will post holiday season messages.
The first part of Romans 16 has one major theme, but there is a major controversy in the chapter. Let's deal with this. First of all, Paul begins the chapter by commending Phoebe who is a deacon. He asks that Roman Christians provide her with whatever help she might need. Paul states that she was of benefit to many people including him.
In the church that I was brought up in as a boy, women were not allowed to have any positions of authority in the church. They were not and are not allowed to be ministers. They are not allowed to be deacons. They are not allowed to teach boys in Sunday school after the boys are 12 years old.
In my old church, this verse was interpreted as meaning that Phoebe was simply someone who helped Paul. My church denied that she had any official role as a church leader.
I believe that Phoebe was a deacon in the church in an official manner. In the book of Acts, deacons were established by the Apostles to aid in helping people in the church with their physical needs. Specifically, the deacons helped to distribute aid to widows and those who needed assistance in order to make it in life.
The Bible is clear that the first deacons had a teaching and ministering role. Stephen and Philip were both deacons who proclaimed the Word of the Lord.
Romans 16 also mentions Aquila and Priscilla. Paul calls them his co-workers in Christ Jesus. The book of Acts says that both of them taught Apollos who was a popular teacher in the church. It seems to me that they were a husband and wife ministry team.
In verse 7, Paul mentions that Junia was outstanding among the apostles. Some argue that this verse shows that there was a woman apostle.
First of all, I do not have a problem with women being ministers in the church. Women were the first ones that Jesus entrusted to proclaim the message of His resurrection. Some are going to disagree with me on this. However, I have known several women who are outstanding teachers and pastors. Many women serve the Lord in outstanding ways.
About the controversy as to whether or not Junia was a female apostle. I really don't think that this is what Paul is saying in this verse. I believe he is pointing out that Junia was considered great by the apostles for her work in the ministry.
Now, what is the main lesson of Romans 16:1-16. The main message is that there are many people who are working together to bring the message of Jesus Christ to the world. Paul knew that his success in spreading the message of Jesus was due in large part to the fact that there were many people who assisted him. Paul knew that there were many committed Christians who were calling on others to be reconciled to God.
Each one of us has a part in spreading the message of Jesus' love and forgiveness to this hurting and lost world. We all must work together as members of the body of Christ to bring others to Jesus. We need to work together against injustice, and we need to work together to make this world a better place.
Each of us has been gifted by God to help the entire body of Christ. Let us use the gifts given to us by the Lord to enrich the body of Christ and perform the Lord's work in this world.
Next week, we will finish Romans 16 and our series in the book of Romans. I plan on posting the sermon on Friday next week. I will post the verses on Monday, and I plan to post a book review of a dog book on Wednesday. May God bless you all. Amen.
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
An Update
Yesterday I posted that the Weekend Sermon would be posted on Friday this week. This morning, I was notified that my work schedule is changing. I will be working on Friday, so the Weekend Sermon will now be posted on Saturday. I don't like to keep changing, but my schedule at work is not the same from week to week, and it can change within the week. Thank you all for reading the blog each week.
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Verses For the Week and an Update
I am sorry that the verses for the week are delayed. We had a terrible blizzard where I live. The library was closed until today. At my house, we were without power for many hours. I am thankful to the Lord that it wasn't any worse than it was. Thank you for your prayers in this matter.
Since I am late getting the verses up this week, I am not going to post a review tomorrow as planned. I am going to post the sermon on Friday. Thank you.
Here are the verses:
Psalm 34:19 -- "The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all."
Proverbs 24:10 -- "If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength."
Since I am late getting the verses up this week, I am not going to post a review tomorrow as planned. I am going to post the sermon on Friday. Thank you.
Here are the verses:
Psalm 34:19 -- "The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all."
Proverbs 24:10 -- "If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength."
Saturday, November 24, 2018
Weekend Sermon - Romans 15:14-33
Thank you for taking the time to read the Weekend Sermon. I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day holiday.
I had a good holiday. I went out to dinner with by brother. I thought that I was going to have to work on Thanksgiving Day, but I didn't have to. I got a chance to relax.
In prayer this week, let us all thank the Lord that the fires in California are being brought under control. Pray that those who are in need due to this disaster will receive the aid that they need.
Please pray for my uncle. His wife passed away this week. Also please pray for one of my aunts as her husband passed away just a little while ago.
I would like to ask for your prayers about a weather situation. Tomorrow, we are supposed to have snow and very high winds. Please pray that people are safe and that the wind does not cause any damages.
Remember to pray for peace in the troubled areas of this world. Pray for peace in Syria, Israel, Afghanistan, Libya and South Sudan. Wherever you know that there is war and violence, pray for peace.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for North Korea and Pakistan. Pray that people will hear the message of the love of Jesus. Pray for those who are Christians in these countries that they will be safe.
Over the course of the last few weeks, we have been in a series of messages on the last few chapter of the book of Romans. Last week, we focused our attention on the first part of Romans 15. Today, I would like to finish up that chapter.
In the final section of Romans 15, Paul writes about how the Lord allowed him to take the message of the Gospel to the gentiles. Paul was a faithful missionary who spread the message of the love of Jesus throughout the Roman world. Paul said that he had fully preached the Gospel so that people had an opportunity to hear the good news about what Jesus has done.
Paul was faithful to his calling. He was willing to share the message about what Jesus had done for him in spite of the fact that he was beaten and imprisoned. He was often rejected and ridiculed. In spite of opposition, Paul continued to spread the Word of the Lord.
While Paul was writing the letter to the Romans, he was hoping to have the chance to take the message of the Lord to the region of Spain. Paul wanted to go to places where others had not already preached the message of the redeeming love of Jesus Christ.
This passage of Scripture has important lessons for us today. First of all, this passage shows us the we need to be those who are committed to sharing the love and salvation of Jesus with others. We may not be missionaries who travel around as Paul and his companions did. However, we all know people within our circle of influence who have not put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus. Those people are our mission field. We have a duty to the Lord to tell others that He loves them.
During this holiday season, many of us will have the chance to visit with family members and friends that we don't see at other times of the year. This is our opportunity to share with them the life changing message of Jesus.
Throughout the year, look for opportunities to share the message of Jesus with others. Always be sensitive to the inner voice of the Holy Spirit directing you to reach out to others who do not know Christ.
Paul mentions in this passage that he didn't want to build on another person's foundation. Paul wanted to preach Christ where the people had not had the opportunity to hear the good news. There are many people in this world today who have not heard the message of the Gospel. There are many nations that have very few Christians.
The prayer focus countries that I ask prayer for each week here on the blog are nations where there aren't that many Christians. I want people all over the world to have the chance to hear about how much Jesus loves them.
In order to see that the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is preached around the world, we must all do our part. We must share the message with those that the Lord brings within our acquaintance. We need to keep praying for those who serve in proclaiming the Gospel around the world. If you have the means to do so, let us give to those who are working diligently to spread the love of Jesus in a hurting world.
All of us who believe in Jesus have an obligation to obey the Great Commission. Let us be like Paul and go into the world to make a difference for Jesus Christ.
Next week, I will be posting the sermon on Friday as I have to work on Saturday this week. We will begin studying Romans 16. On Monday, I will post the verses weather permitting. On Wednesday, I will be posting a book review. May God bless you all. Amen.
I had a good holiday. I went out to dinner with by brother. I thought that I was going to have to work on Thanksgiving Day, but I didn't have to. I got a chance to relax.
In prayer this week, let us all thank the Lord that the fires in California are being brought under control. Pray that those who are in need due to this disaster will receive the aid that they need.
Please pray for my uncle. His wife passed away this week. Also please pray for one of my aunts as her husband passed away just a little while ago.
I would like to ask for your prayers about a weather situation. Tomorrow, we are supposed to have snow and very high winds. Please pray that people are safe and that the wind does not cause any damages.
Remember to pray for peace in the troubled areas of this world. Pray for peace in Syria, Israel, Afghanistan, Libya and South Sudan. Wherever you know that there is war and violence, pray for peace.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for North Korea and Pakistan. Pray that people will hear the message of the love of Jesus. Pray for those who are Christians in these countries that they will be safe.
Over the course of the last few weeks, we have been in a series of messages on the last few chapter of the book of Romans. Last week, we focused our attention on the first part of Romans 15. Today, I would like to finish up that chapter.
In the final section of Romans 15, Paul writes about how the Lord allowed him to take the message of the Gospel to the gentiles. Paul was a faithful missionary who spread the message of the love of Jesus throughout the Roman world. Paul said that he had fully preached the Gospel so that people had an opportunity to hear the good news about what Jesus has done.
Paul was faithful to his calling. He was willing to share the message about what Jesus had done for him in spite of the fact that he was beaten and imprisoned. He was often rejected and ridiculed. In spite of opposition, Paul continued to spread the Word of the Lord.
While Paul was writing the letter to the Romans, he was hoping to have the chance to take the message of the Lord to the region of Spain. Paul wanted to go to places where others had not already preached the message of the redeeming love of Jesus Christ.
This passage of Scripture has important lessons for us today. First of all, this passage shows us the we need to be those who are committed to sharing the love and salvation of Jesus with others. We may not be missionaries who travel around as Paul and his companions did. However, we all know people within our circle of influence who have not put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus. Those people are our mission field. We have a duty to the Lord to tell others that He loves them.
During this holiday season, many of us will have the chance to visit with family members and friends that we don't see at other times of the year. This is our opportunity to share with them the life changing message of Jesus.
Throughout the year, look for opportunities to share the message of Jesus with others. Always be sensitive to the inner voice of the Holy Spirit directing you to reach out to others who do not know Christ.
Paul mentions in this passage that he didn't want to build on another person's foundation. Paul wanted to preach Christ where the people had not had the opportunity to hear the good news. There are many people in this world today who have not heard the message of the Gospel. There are many nations that have very few Christians.
The prayer focus countries that I ask prayer for each week here on the blog are nations where there aren't that many Christians. I want people all over the world to have the chance to hear about how much Jesus loves them.
In order to see that the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is preached around the world, we must all do our part. We must share the message with those that the Lord brings within our acquaintance. We need to keep praying for those who serve in proclaiming the Gospel around the world. If you have the means to do so, let us give to those who are working diligently to spread the love of Jesus in a hurting world.
All of us who believe in Jesus have an obligation to obey the Great Commission. Let us be like Paul and go into the world to make a difference for Jesus Christ.
Next week, I will be posting the sermon on Friday as I have to work on Saturday this week. We will begin studying Romans 16. On Monday, I will post the verses weather permitting. On Wednesday, I will be posting a book review. May God bless you all. Amen.
Monday, November 19, 2018
Verses For the Week
First of all, I want to wish everyone of my readers in the United States a Happy Thanksgiving. Remember, there will not be a review this week on Wednesday. The sermon will be posted on Saturday.
Here are the verses.
Psalm 9:1 -- "I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds."
I Chronicles 16:34 -- "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever."
I Thessalonians 5:18 -- "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
Here are the verses.
Psalm 9:1 -- "I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds."
I Chronicles 16:34 -- "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever."
I Thessalonians 5:18 -- "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
Saturday, November 17, 2018
Weekend Sermon -- Romans 15:1-13
Thank you for taking the time to read the Weekend Sermon. I am thankful to the Lord for the opportunity to post this message. I hope that everyone is having a good week.
The first thing that I want to mention today is the terrible situation happening in California. The fires are still burning out of control. Many have lost their lives. Please pray that the fires will be contained and extinguished. Pray for the safety of those combating the fires. Pray for those who have been displaced by the fires that they will receive the help that they need.
This week I've been very busy at my job. I am thankful for the work. It has also been a good week in writing, and I am thankful to the Lord for that as well. I have been a little bit under the weather this week, so please pray that I will get to feeling better.
This week, one of my Mom's brothers passed away. Please pray for the family during this hard time. I also learned this week that one of my aunts has cancer of the pancreas and is not expected to live much longer. Please be in prayer for her and her family.
Continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of this world. Yemen needs prayer. The war in this country has caused both famine and disease. Pray that peace will come in this country as soon as possible. Continue to pray for peace in Syria, Afghanistan, Libya and South Sudan.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Comoros and Uzbekistan. Pray that many will hear about the love and forgiveness of Jesus.
In last week's message, we studied a little about Romans 14. That chapter talks about how we should not cause another member of the faith to stumble. I focused on the verse in the chapter that talks about the fact that everyone will give an account to God for their own actions. We need to live our lives in such a way that we will be able to hear Jesus say that we have done what is right when we meet Him face to face.
Today, we turn our attention to the first part of Romans 15. I would like to focus on the first three verses of the section for today that state, "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please Himself".
The immediate context of this passage is the continuation of Paul's discussion in chapter 14 about those who are stronger in the faith not eating meat sacrificed to idols so as not to damage the faith of those who believed that eating this type of meat was wrong. However, I believe that Paul is going beyond this by including the wording in verse three about Christ not pleasing Himself.
I believe that what Paul is getting at in these verses is that there are people in the faith and in this world who are stronger in some areas than others are. Some are weaker in some ways. Those who have strength in one area should help the weak.
Let me give an example. Let's start with a spiritual example. Some people seem more able to deal with temptation than others. Those who are able to overcome have an obligation to help those who are struggling.
Some people have a hard time with mental issues. Those of us that can need to help those who need our help dealing with the difficulties that they are facing.
Some are in a better financial situation than others. Those who have the resources to help those who find themselves in difficult financial circumstances have an obligation to do so.
As believers in Jesus, we are to follow His example. Jesus left all of the glories of Heaven to come to this earth in the form of humanity. He humbled Himself. He was tempted in every manner as we are, yet He was without sin. Jesus suffered and died on the cross. He did this so that we who are weak might be made strong through what He has accomplished on our behalf.
While He was ministering on this earth, Jesus always took the time to help people. He healed everyone who came to Him. He went about doing as much good as He could possible do.
We who are the followers of Jesus have the duty to serve others just as Jesus came to serve and not to be served. There are many in this world who are hurting and need our help. We have to help others directly and indirectly.
We help people directly when we use the abilities and resources that God has blessed us with to help people through the various types of difficulties that they are encountering. We help people indirectly when we advocate for policies in this world that promote social and economic justice.
There are many in this world today who are kept in poverty because they are oppressed by governments and corporate powers that attempt to keep down those who have less power than they do. They oppress people by not paying a livable wage, and they oppress the world by destroying the environment that all of us depend on.
As Christians, we have to be the voice for the weak against the power of the strong who seek to oppress others. We must advocate for justice and goodness in this world.
When we see a need and we can help others in this world, we need to follow the example of the Lord Jesus who fed the hungry and brought healing to those who were hurting. I urge everyone to help those who are weak and powerless. Help those who are going through a difficult time whether they are Christians or non-Christians. This is what Jesus would want us as His followers to do.
Thanksgiving Day is coming up this week in my country. It is time when we are to be thankful for all of the blessings that God has provided. We all need to be grateful to God for our blessings. We need to realize but for the grace of God we all could be in desperate circumstances. Instead of berating others and blaming others for their problems, we need to be thankful for what we have and then reach out a helping hand to others in the name of Jesus.
This world and the oppression that is in it will not change until Christians speak up for the oppressed. If those who name the name of Jesus would speak up for economic and environmental justice, I believe that the world could rapidly change. Many people would be delivered from poverty and oppression. The sick would get the medications and the treatments that they need. Climate change would be addressed, and hunger would be eliminated.
The resolutions to these problems begins when Christians will follow the example of Jesus. When we follow Jesus and act as He did in this world, the world will change. Christians must never be on the side of the oppressors. Christians must stand for the principles of Jesus and make a difference for justice and good in this world.
Next week, I will post the verses on Monday. I will not be posting a review on Wednesday. The library is closing early, and I don't get off work in time to make it to the library. I will post the sermon on Saturday, and we will continue in the book of Romans. May God bless you all. Amen.
The first thing that I want to mention today is the terrible situation happening in California. The fires are still burning out of control. Many have lost their lives. Please pray that the fires will be contained and extinguished. Pray for the safety of those combating the fires. Pray for those who have been displaced by the fires that they will receive the help that they need.
This week I've been very busy at my job. I am thankful for the work. It has also been a good week in writing, and I am thankful to the Lord for that as well. I have been a little bit under the weather this week, so please pray that I will get to feeling better.
This week, one of my Mom's brothers passed away. Please pray for the family during this hard time. I also learned this week that one of my aunts has cancer of the pancreas and is not expected to live much longer. Please be in prayer for her and her family.
Continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of this world. Yemen needs prayer. The war in this country has caused both famine and disease. Pray that peace will come in this country as soon as possible. Continue to pray for peace in Syria, Afghanistan, Libya and South Sudan.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Comoros and Uzbekistan. Pray that many will hear about the love and forgiveness of Jesus.
In last week's message, we studied a little about Romans 14. That chapter talks about how we should not cause another member of the faith to stumble. I focused on the verse in the chapter that talks about the fact that everyone will give an account to God for their own actions. We need to live our lives in such a way that we will be able to hear Jesus say that we have done what is right when we meet Him face to face.
Today, we turn our attention to the first part of Romans 15. I would like to focus on the first three verses of the section for today that state, "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please Himself".
The immediate context of this passage is the continuation of Paul's discussion in chapter 14 about those who are stronger in the faith not eating meat sacrificed to idols so as not to damage the faith of those who believed that eating this type of meat was wrong. However, I believe that Paul is going beyond this by including the wording in verse three about Christ not pleasing Himself.
I believe that what Paul is getting at in these verses is that there are people in the faith and in this world who are stronger in some areas than others are. Some are weaker in some ways. Those who have strength in one area should help the weak.
Let me give an example. Let's start with a spiritual example. Some people seem more able to deal with temptation than others. Those who are able to overcome have an obligation to help those who are struggling.
Some people have a hard time with mental issues. Those of us that can need to help those who need our help dealing with the difficulties that they are facing.
Some are in a better financial situation than others. Those who have the resources to help those who find themselves in difficult financial circumstances have an obligation to do so.
As believers in Jesus, we are to follow His example. Jesus left all of the glories of Heaven to come to this earth in the form of humanity. He humbled Himself. He was tempted in every manner as we are, yet He was without sin. Jesus suffered and died on the cross. He did this so that we who are weak might be made strong through what He has accomplished on our behalf.
While He was ministering on this earth, Jesus always took the time to help people. He healed everyone who came to Him. He went about doing as much good as He could possible do.
We who are the followers of Jesus have the duty to serve others just as Jesus came to serve and not to be served. There are many in this world who are hurting and need our help. We have to help others directly and indirectly.
We help people directly when we use the abilities and resources that God has blessed us with to help people through the various types of difficulties that they are encountering. We help people indirectly when we advocate for policies in this world that promote social and economic justice.
There are many in this world today who are kept in poverty because they are oppressed by governments and corporate powers that attempt to keep down those who have less power than they do. They oppress people by not paying a livable wage, and they oppress the world by destroying the environment that all of us depend on.
As Christians, we have to be the voice for the weak against the power of the strong who seek to oppress others. We must advocate for justice and goodness in this world.
When we see a need and we can help others in this world, we need to follow the example of the Lord Jesus who fed the hungry and brought healing to those who were hurting. I urge everyone to help those who are weak and powerless. Help those who are going through a difficult time whether they are Christians or non-Christians. This is what Jesus would want us as His followers to do.
Thanksgiving Day is coming up this week in my country. It is time when we are to be thankful for all of the blessings that God has provided. We all need to be grateful to God for our blessings. We need to realize but for the grace of God we all could be in desperate circumstances. Instead of berating others and blaming others for their problems, we need to be thankful for what we have and then reach out a helping hand to others in the name of Jesus.
This world and the oppression that is in it will not change until Christians speak up for the oppressed. If those who name the name of Jesus would speak up for economic and environmental justice, I believe that the world could rapidly change. Many people would be delivered from poverty and oppression. The sick would get the medications and the treatments that they need. Climate change would be addressed, and hunger would be eliminated.
The resolutions to these problems begins when Christians will follow the example of Jesus. When we follow Jesus and act as He did in this world, the world will change. Christians must never be on the side of the oppressors. Christians must stand for the principles of Jesus and make a difference for justice and good in this world.
Next week, I will post the verses on Monday. I will not be posting a review on Wednesday. The library is closing early, and I don't get off work in time to make it to the library. I will post the sermon on Saturday, and we will continue in the book of Romans. May God bless you all. Amen.
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Book Review -- The Cat Rules and a Program Recommendation
The book that I am reviewing today is "The Cat Rules" written by William J. Thomas. A few years ago, I reviewed his book "The Dog Rules" here on the blog as well. "The Cat Rules" tells the story of Mr. Thomas' cat Wedgie.
The author was at a place in his life where he didn't have a dog or a cat, and he didn't want to get another pet because he didn't want to go through the pain of losing an animal friend again. However, he went to look at a cat, and he brought the cat home. He couldn't resist.
The book relates many of the humorous events in the life of Wedgie and William Thomas. Wedgie had the habit of ripping up the screens to get out of the house. The men at the hardware store kept up a good business selling new screens to the author.
One of my favorite parts of the book was the chapter where the author relates how Wedgie came out to play hockey on the frozen lake with the author and several of the neighbor boys. Wedgie had his own way of playing the game.
I definitely recommend "The Cat Rules". It is a fun book to read. I obtained this book through inter-library loan, and it was hard to get. It is worth the effort to get the book and read it especially if you are a cat lover.
On another note. Over the past three weeks, Nature on PBS has been running a series on wild cats of the world. This was a great series with stunning footage and excellent narration by F. Murray Abraham. For a limited time, you can watch the series at the Nature website, and I would recommend that you do that.
The author was at a place in his life where he didn't have a dog or a cat, and he didn't want to get another pet because he didn't want to go through the pain of losing an animal friend again. However, he went to look at a cat, and he brought the cat home. He couldn't resist.
The book relates many of the humorous events in the life of Wedgie and William Thomas. Wedgie had the habit of ripping up the screens to get out of the house. The men at the hardware store kept up a good business selling new screens to the author.
One of my favorite parts of the book was the chapter where the author relates how Wedgie came out to play hockey on the frozen lake with the author and several of the neighbor boys. Wedgie had his own way of playing the game.
I definitely recommend "The Cat Rules". It is a fun book to read. I obtained this book through inter-library loan, and it was hard to get. It is worth the effort to get the book and read it especially if you are a cat lover.
On another note. Over the past three weeks, Nature on PBS has been running a series on wild cats of the world. This was a great series with stunning footage and excellent narration by F. Murray Abraham. For a limited time, you can watch the series at the Nature website, and I would recommend that you do that.
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Verses For the Week
The verses for the week were delayed due to the library being closed for Veteran's Day. I also had to work most of today. Here are the verses for the week.
Psalm 9:10 -- "Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you."
John 14:1 -- "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me."
Psalm 9:10 -- "Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you."
John 14:1 -- "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me."
Friday, November 9, 2018
Weekend Sermon -- Romans 14
Thank you for reading this new edition of the Weekend Sermon. As always, it is good to be able to post the sermon, and I thank the Lord for this opportunity. I hope that everyone is having a good week.
We had our first snow of the season where I live last night. Tonight, we are going to have record cold temperatures. Winter has arrived early. I've been busy working this week, and I thank the Lord for the work that He has provided for me to do.
In prayer this week, please pray for those who are in California under the threat of the wildfires. Please pray that all will be safe and that these fires will be extinguished soon.
Continue to pray for those who are recovering from the natural disasters that have caused do much damage. Pray for those in Florida, Texas and Indonesia.
There has been another terrible shooting here in the US this week. Many were killed, and many others were injured. Pray for those who mourn, and pray for the recovery of those who were injured.
Let us continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of this world. Pray for peace in Syria, Afghanistan, South Sudan and Libya.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us all pray for those in the nations of Turkey and Maldives. Pray that many will hear the message of the love of Jesus.
As you know, we have been in a series of messages on the last few chapters in the book of Romans. Last week, we finished chapter 13 by looking at how we are to overcome evil with good. Today, we will continue our series in Romans by examining the overall theme of Romans 14.
In Romans 14, Paul is dealing specifically with the concept of the strong not being a stumbling block to those who might be weaker in the faith. In Paul's day, some would not eat meat at all because they did not want to run the risk that meat that they were eating might have been sacrificed to idols. Some didn't have a problem with eating meat at all. Paul said that neither group should judge the other. It was up to the Lord to judge each of His own servants.
The overall point that Paul is trying to get at in this passage is that if you know that something that you are doing might cause another believer in Jesus to stumble in their faith, you should refrain from that practice. In a modern context, I think of drinking alcoholic beverages. Some Christians don't see anything wrong with drinking in what they term a responsible manner. Other believers think that drinking is a major sin. They would be highly offended if someone came to their church and advocated drinking. In this instance, it would be better for the drinker to refrain from drinking than to cause a non-drinker to stumble.
The main verse that I want to focus on from Romans 14 is verse 12 which states, "each of us will give an account of ourselves to God". In my opinion, this is a very powerful verse. It speaks to me about the fact that one day I will face the Lord of the universe, and He will ask me about the decisions that I have made in this life.
In the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord Jesus urged us to lay up treasures in Heaven and not lay up treasures on earth. Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus demonstrated for us the way that we should live in this world.
When we stand before Jesus when we die, I believe that we will have to give an account in some way as to how faithfully we followed Jesus. Did we obey the commandments that He set down for His followers? Did we do unto the least of those among us as to the Lord? Did we love God and love our neighbor? Did we try to live out the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount? Did we obey the Great Commission?
I believe that when I see Jesus face to face one day, I will have to give an account for how I lived my life. My life is not my own, it belongs to the Lord. He wants me to do what He has called me to do.
Most days, I try to think about how I am doing in living a life that is pleasing to the Lord. This has both positive and negative aspects. For instance, I want to make sure that I am removing any sinful behaviors from my life so that I am living a life of holiness that is pleasing to the Lord. I also want to in a positive way live a life of service in advancing the Kingdom of Heaven and making this world a better place.
In the Parable of the Talents, the Lord told about three servants that the master left with different amounts of money. Each servant was given an amount in keeping with that servants ability. The master went on a journey, and he asked each servant to use the money and make a gain while he was away.
Jesus has gone to Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father until the time of His glorious Second Coming. When He returns, or when we meet Him at our death, He will ask us to give an account of what we did with the talents and the resources that He placed in our hands.
The Bible says that the Lord is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Those who are faithful in serving the Lord Jesus will receive a reward from the Lord in the world that is to come.
I believe that most of you are like me. When you see Jesus face to face, you want to hear Jesus say that words, well done good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord.
Let us all live our lives in such a way that we are doing as much as we can do to serve the Lord. Let us remember that we are responsible for obeying the Lord and for serving Him in this world.
Next week, we will continue with our series in Romans. The Weekend Sermon will once again be posted on Saturday next week as I will have Saturday off from work. I will post the verses on Monday. I will have a book review on Wednesday. May God bless you all. Amen.
We had our first snow of the season where I live last night. Tonight, we are going to have record cold temperatures. Winter has arrived early. I've been busy working this week, and I thank the Lord for the work that He has provided for me to do.
In prayer this week, please pray for those who are in California under the threat of the wildfires. Please pray that all will be safe and that these fires will be extinguished soon.
Continue to pray for those who are recovering from the natural disasters that have caused do much damage. Pray for those in Florida, Texas and Indonesia.
There has been another terrible shooting here in the US this week. Many were killed, and many others were injured. Pray for those who mourn, and pray for the recovery of those who were injured.
Let us continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of this world. Pray for peace in Syria, Afghanistan, South Sudan and Libya.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us all pray for those in the nations of Turkey and Maldives. Pray that many will hear the message of the love of Jesus.
As you know, we have been in a series of messages on the last few chapters in the book of Romans. Last week, we finished chapter 13 by looking at how we are to overcome evil with good. Today, we will continue our series in Romans by examining the overall theme of Romans 14.
In Romans 14, Paul is dealing specifically with the concept of the strong not being a stumbling block to those who might be weaker in the faith. In Paul's day, some would not eat meat at all because they did not want to run the risk that meat that they were eating might have been sacrificed to idols. Some didn't have a problem with eating meat at all. Paul said that neither group should judge the other. It was up to the Lord to judge each of His own servants.
The overall point that Paul is trying to get at in this passage is that if you know that something that you are doing might cause another believer in Jesus to stumble in their faith, you should refrain from that practice. In a modern context, I think of drinking alcoholic beverages. Some Christians don't see anything wrong with drinking in what they term a responsible manner. Other believers think that drinking is a major sin. They would be highly offended if someone came to their church and advocated drinking. In this instance, it would be better for the drinker to refrain from drinking than to cause a non-drinker to stumble.
The main verse that I want to focus on from Romans 14 is verse 12 which states, "each of us will give an account of ourselves to God". In my opinion, this is a very powerful verse. It speaks to me about the fact that one day I will face the Lord of the universe, and He will ask me about the decisions that I have made in this life.
In the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord Jesus urged us to lay up treasures in Heaven and not lay up treasures on earth. Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus demonstrated for us the way that we should live in this world.
When we stand before Jesus when we die, I believe that we will have to give an account in some way as to how faithfully we followed Jesus. Did we obey the commandments that He set down for His followers? Did we do unto the least of those among us as to the Lord? Did we love God and love our neighbor? Did we try to live out the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount? Did we obey the Great Commission?
I believe that when I see Jesus face to face one day, I will have to give an account for how I lived my life. My life is not my own, it belongs to the Lord. He wants me to do what He has called me to do.
Most days, I try to think about how I am doing in living a life that is pleasing to the Lord. This has both positive and negative aspects. For instance, I want to make sure that I am removing any sinful behaviors from my life so that I am living a life of holiness that is pleasing to the Lord. I also want to in a positive way live a life of service in advancing the Kingdom of Heaven and making this world a better place.
In the Parable of the Talents, the Lord told about three servants that the master left with different amounts of money. Each servant was given an amount in keeping with that servants ability. The master went on a journey, and he asked each servant to use the money and make a gain while he was away.
Jesus has gone to Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father until the time of His glorious Second Coming. When He returns, or when we meet Him at our death, He will ask us to give an account of what we did with the talents and the resources that He placed in our hands.
The Bible says that the Lord is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Those who are faithful in serving the Lord Jesus will receive a reward from the Lord in the world that is to come.
I believe that most of you are like me. When you see Jesus face to face, you want to hear Jesus say that words, well done good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord.
Let us all live our lives in such a way that we are doing as much as we can do to serve the Lord. Let us remember that we are responsible for obeying the Lord and for serving Him in this world.
Next week, we will continue with our series in Romans. The Weekend Sermon will once again be posted on Saturday next week as I will have Saturday off from work. I will post the verses on Monday. I will have a book review on Wednesday. May God bless you all. Amen.
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Book Review
Today we will have just a short review as I am not feeling well. "The Yorkshire Vet Through the Seasons" is the second book written by Julian Norton. I wrote about his first book last week. This second book details many of the cases that Julian has worked on. There are many interesting stories in this book about animals and the people that care for them. I would recommend this book just as much as Julian Norton's first book.
Monday, November 5, 2018
Verses For the Week
Psalm 6:2 -- "Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak. Heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony."
Mark 2:27 -- " It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Mark 2:27 -- " It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Saturday, November 3, 2018
Weekend Sermon -- Romans 13:8-10
Welcome to a new edition of the Weekend Sermon. It is good to be able to post the sermon today, and I am thankful to the Lord for this continuing opportunity. I hope that everyone is doing well.
This week was very busy at work. I have a very full schedule next week as well. I thank the Lord for providing work, and I thank him for the opportunities that He has given to me to work as a writer.
I do have one thing that I would like everyone to pray about. They are calling for more heavy rain in my area over the course of the next few days. As I mentioned before, earlier this month, we had flooding in my area. My house did have a few issues. Please pray that this new rain will not be heavy, and that there will not be any flooding. Thank you.
Please continue to pray for those harmed by natural disasters around the world. Those in Central Texas, the US Southeast and Indonesia need our continuing prayers.
The nation of Yemen needs our prayers in a special way. I saw a report on the news the other night about the extensive famine that is occurring in that nation. Yemen is war torn and experiencing many troubles. Please pray for peace, and pray that the needs of the people will be met.
Continue to pray for peace in this world. Syria, Libya, Afghanistan and South Sudan need our prayers.
For those who live in the US, Tuesday is election day. Please be in prayer. Ask the Lord to show you His will before voting.
Please pray for the protection of endangered species. Please pray that the nations and people of the world will act to preserve that which God has made.
For our prayer focus countries this week, please pray for those in Bangladesh and Tajikistan. Pray that many will hear of the grace and love of Jesus.
As you are aware, we have been studying the last few chapters of the book of Romans for the past few weeks. Last week, we looked at what is often a misunderstood and controversial passage in the first part of Romans chapter 13. Today, we will continue to look at chapter 13 focusing on verses 8 through 10. These verses instruct us to follow the law of love.
In verse 8, the Apostle Paul tells us to owe nothing to anyone except to love one another. Love is the fulfillment of the law.
Believe it or not, this verse can sometimes be controversial. Some believe that this verse means that a Christian should never have any type of debt. Some take this verse so far as to say that no Christian should have a mortgage on their home or a car loan. In this interpretation, a Christian should only purchase something when they can purchase it in full.
I believe that we should not get into debt if we can help it. Getting into debt gets you into a lot of problems. I can tell you this from first hand experience. However, most people wouldn't be able to buy a house if they couldn't purchase it over time. I think that Paul is making a bigger point here.
Paul is telling us that in order to fulfill all of the law, we have to be those who love God and love our neighbors. This is similar to what Jesus said.
At one time during His earthly ministry, Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment. Jesus said to love God with all ones heart, mind, soul and strength was the greatest commandment. He went on to tell us that we should also love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus said that all of the law and the prophets is summed up in these two commandments.
Paul looks at some of the Ten Commandments and shows us that they are fulfilled by loving one's neighbor. If you love your neighbor as yourself, you won't commit adultery, theft or murder. You won't covet your neighbor's possessions. We could also say that if we love the Lord with all that is within us, we will not take the Lord's name in vain and we will not place any other gods before the True and Living God. Paul will say again, love is the fulfillment of the law.
As followers of Jesus, we have the obligation to love the world just as He loved the world. If we act out of love in the way that Jesus acted out of love, we will not have to worry about obeying the law or violating the teachings and the commandments of the Lord Jesus.
Now, what does it look like to love God with all that we have within us and to love our neighbor as ourselves. As far as I understand it, to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul and strength means to love the Lord completely and fully. Everything that we do in life should be centered around honoring and pleasing the Lord. If we love Him, we will serve Him. We will follow the path that He has set out before us. We will do what He wills and not what we will. Even if it costs us all that we have, we will remain faithful to Him because we love Him.
Loving one's neighbor means to seek that which is best for the other person. I believe that love for one's neighbor starts by following the Golden Rule set forth by Jesus. Jesus taught us that we should treat others the way that we would like to be treated. Do unto others as you would have done to you. If we start with this, we are showing love for our neighbors.
Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan to demonstrate what it means to show love to others. In that parable, the Good Samaritan went out of his way to help someone that needed his assistance. In the same way, we show love for others when we see a need and we seek to meet that need in the life of the other person.
We show love for our neighbors when we feed the hungry and clothe the naked. We show love for our neighbors when we help those who need assistance with the necessities of life. I also believe that we show love for our neighbors when we work to make this planet a better place to live. We show love by doing that which preserves the land, the air and the water.
There is a lot of need in this world both physical and spiritual. We when act in love as Jesus did, we help others to know about Jesus and His love, and we help to make this world a better place for the honor and glory of the Lord.
Next week, the schedule on the blog will be a little different. I will post the sermon on Friday next week as I have to work on Saturday. I will post the verses on Monday, and I will post a review on Wednesday. May God bless you all. Amen.
This week was very busy at work. I have a very full schedule next week as well. I thank the Lord for providing work, and I thank him for the opportunities that He has given to me to work as a writer.
I do have one thing that I would like everyone to pray about. They are calling for more heavy rain in my area over the course of the next few days. As I mentioned before, earlier this month, we had flooding in my area. My house did have a few issues. Please pray that this new rain will not be heavy, and that there will not be any flooding. Thank you.
Please continue to pray for those harmed by natural disasters around the world. Those in Central Texas, the US Southeast and Indonesia need our continuing prayers.
The nation of Yemen needs our prayers in a special way. I saw a report on the news the other night about the extensive famine that is occurring in that nation. Yemen is war torn and experiencing many troubles. Please pray for peace, and pray that the needs of the people will be met.
Continue to pray for peace in this world. Syria, Libya, Afghanistan and South Sudan need our prayers.
For those who live in the US, Tuesday is election day. Please be in prayer. Ask the Lord to show you His will before voting.
Please pray for the protection of endangered species. Please pray that the nations and people of the world will act to preserve that which God has made.
For our prayer focus countries this week, please pray for those in Bangladesh and Tajikistan. Pray that many will hear of the grace and love of Jesus.
As you are aware, we have been studying the last few chapters of the book of Romans for the past few weeks. Last week, we looked at what is often a misunderstood and controversial passage in the first part of Romans chapter 13. Today, we will continue to look at chapter 13 focusing on verses 8 through 10. These verses instruct us to follow the law of love.
In verse 8, the Apostle Paul tells us to owe nothing to anyone except to love one another. Love is the fulfillment of the law.
Believe it or not, this verse can sometimes be controversial. Some believe that this verse means that a Christian should never have any type of debt. Some take this verse so far as to say that no Christian should have a mortgage on their home or a car loan. In this interpretation, a Christian should only purchase something when they can purchase it in full.
I believe that we should not get into debt if we can help it. Getting into debt gets you into a lot of problems. I can tell you this from first hand experience. However, most people wouldn't be able to buy a house if they couldn't purchase it over time. I think that Paul is making a bigger point here.
Paul is telling us that in order to fulfill all of the law, we have to be those who love God and love our neighbors. This is similar to what Jesus said.
At one time during His earthly ministry, Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment. Jesus said to love God with all ones heart, mind, soul and strength was the greatest commandment. He went on to tell us that we should also love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus said that all of the law and the prophets is summed up in these two commandments.
Paul looks at some of the Ten Commandments and shows us that they are fulfilled by loving one's neighbor. If you love your neighbor as yourself, you won't commit adultery, theft or murder. You won't covet your neighbor's possessions. We could also say that if we love the Lord with all that is within us, we will not take the Lord's name in vain and we will not place any other gods before the True and Living God. Paul will say again, love is the fulfillment of the law.
As followers of Jesus, we have the obligation to love the world just as He loved the world. If we act out of love in the way that Jesus acted out of love, we will not have to worry about obeying the law or violating the teachings and the commandments of the Lord Jesus.
Now, what does it look like to love God with all that we have within us and to love our neighbor as ourselves. As far as I understand it, to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul and strength means to love the Lord completely and fully. Everything that we do in life should be centered around honoring and pleasing the Lord. If we love Him, we will serve Him. We will follow the path that He has set out before us. We will do what He wills and not what we will. Even if it costs us all that we have, we will remain faithful to Him because we love Him.
Loving one's neighbor means to seek that which is best for the other person. I believe that love for one's neighbor starts by following the Golden Rule set forth by Jesus. Jesus taught us that we should treat others the way that we would like to be treated. Do unto others as you would have done to you. If we start with this, we are showing love for our neighbors.
Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan to demonstrate what it means to show love to others. In that parable, the Good Samaritan went out of his way to help someone that needed his assistance. In the same way, we show love for others when we see a need and we seek to meet that need in the life of the other person.
We show love for our neighbors when we feed the hungry and clothe the naked. We show love for our neighbors when we help those who need assistance with the necessities of life. I also believe that we show love for our neighbors when we work to make this planet a better place to live. We show love by doing that which preserves the land, the air and the water.
There is a lot of need in this world both physical and spiritual. We when act in love as Jesus did, we help others to know about Jesus and His love, and we help to make this world a better place for the honor and glory of the Lord.
Next week, the schedule on the blog will be a little different. I will post the sermon on Friday next week as I have to work on Saturday. I will post the verses on Monday, and I will post a review on Wednesday. May God bless you all. Amen.
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Book Review
It's been a long time since I posted book reviews, but I'm going to start again. This week, the book that I am reviewing is called, "Horses, Heifers and Hairy Pigs: The Life of a Yorkshire Vet" written by Julian Norton. Julian Norton worked at the same practice that James Herriot was involved with in Thirsk. He has recently left that veterinary practice, and he is working at another practice in Yorkshire. In addition to writing and working as a veterinary, Julian is one of the vet's featured in the British TV program called "The Yorkshire Vet."
This book tells about Julian's earlier life and his years in veterinary college at Cambridge. We learn about his early days in practice, and we learn about how he first came to Thirsk to work in the veterinary practice that James Herriot was a part of.
The book also details about how Julian met his wife, and it tells about some of the interests and activities that Julian likes to engage in apart from his vet work.
I highly recommend this book. It is well written, and the stories are fun to read. Julian Norton has written another book, and I am in the process of reading that one too. If you get the chance, you should watch the TV program. I also highly recommend it.
This book tells about Julian's earlier life and his years in veterinary college at Cambridge. We learn about his early days in practice, and we learn about how he first came to Thirsk to work in the veterinary practice that James Herriot was a part of.
The book also details about how Julian met his wife, and it tells about some of the interests and activities that Julian likes to engage in apart from his vet work.
I highly recommend this book. It is well written, and the stories are fun to read. Julian Norton has written another book, and I am in the process of reading that one too. If you get the chance, you should watch the TV program. I also highly recommend it.
Monday, October 29, 2018
Verses For the Week
II Peter 1:3 -- "His divine power gives us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness."
Matthew 6:33 -- "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well."
Saturday, October 27, 2018
Weekend Sermon -- Romans 13:1-7
Welcome to this week's edition of the Weekend Sermon. I am glad that you have decided to take the time to read the sermon this week, and I am thankful that the Lord has given me this opportunity. I hope that everyone is having a good day.
This has been a very busy week at work. I am getting more hours than I thought I would at my job. I am also getting a lot of writing work. I am thankful to the Lord for my job and my writing. I have been feeling pretty good as well.
In prayer this week, please remember to pray for those who are recovering from natural disasters. People in Texas are recovering from flooding, and people in Florida and the Southeast are recovering from the hurricane damage. Please remember to pray for those in Indonesia who are recovering from the earthquake and the tsunami.
Please pray for those in Yemen who are facing famine. This country needs peace so that the people will not suffer any more.
Let us pray for peace around the world. Syria is still having war. We need to pray for peace in Afghanistan, Libya and South Sudan as well.
Please be in prayer about the problem of homelessness around the world. This is a major problem in my country. We need to pray that people will get the assistance that they need.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let's pray for those in the nations of Egypt and Albania. Pray that many will hear about Jesus' love.
For the past few weeks now, we have been studying in the last few chapters of the book of Romans. We finished up chapter 12 last week, and this week will begin focusing on chapter 13.
Romans 13 is a misunderstood and misapplied teaching. This section of Scripture in verses 1 through 7 has been used by oppressive governments to try to keep people from standing up against governmental injustice. Recently in my country, this passage has been used to justify the excesses of our government.
In Romans 13:1-7, Paul tells us that God has established governments. Paul says that those who rebel against the government are rebelling against God. We are told that all of the authorities that exist are established by God for the purpose of bringing order. The governing authorities are to provide safety, and they are to punish those who are doing wrong. Paul calls on people to obey the government. Christians are to pay their taxes and give honor to the governing authorities.
First of all, let us look at what Paul is not saying in this passage. Paul is not saying that every leader has been put in power directly by God. Some in my country say that God put the current president in office. President Trump, President Obama, President Bush, President Clinton, whatever president was elected by the free will of the voters. The Lord does have the power to immediately remove any world leader if He should so desire, but people elected the leaders. Paul is not saying that God directly put each leader in place by somehow abrogating people's free will.
Paul is saying that government as an institution for order has been established by God. God has not chosen to let society be in anarchy.
Paul is not saying that Christians are to obey their governmental authorities in every aspect. We have to interpret Scripture by Scripture, and there are many instances in the Bible where people resisted the evil commandments of rulers. Let's look at a few of these.
In the book of Exodus, the Pharaoh of Egypt ordered all of the Hebrew babies to be killed. Moses' parents did not follow this order. They hid Moses and preserved him from death.
When Jezebel ordered the death of the prophets of God, Obadiah took many of the prophets and hid them in a cave so that Jezebel could not find them and kill them.
In the book of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar ordered that every one bow down to the idol that he had made. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would not bow down. Even when threatened with the fiery furnace, they would not obey the edict of the king and bow down to a false god.
Daniel went ahead with his daily habit of praying to God even though ordered not to pray by the Persian emperor. Daniel was thrown into the lions den, but he would not violate his conscience.
In the New Testament, Peter and John were boldly preaching the message of Jesus. They were arrested and commanded to no longer preach in the name of Jesus. Peter told the authorities that it is better to obey God than human beings.
We know that Paul was well aware of these instances, so we know that Paul is not advocating a wholesale obedience to the government even when the government is commanding that evil be done or that Christians stop practicing their faith.
There are examples from outside of the Bible when Christians stood up for the Lord and stood up against injustice. During the time of the early church, some of the Roman emperors demanded that all people including Christians acknowledge that Caesar was Lord. Many Christians would acknowledge no Lord except Jesus Christ, and they suffered martyrdom.
During the time of the Nazi atrocities, there were people who would not turn in those who the Nazis were trying to kill. There were people who hid their Jewish friends and neighbors and helped them to escape the clutches of the Nazis.
In my country, there were Christians who stood up for justice during the Civil Rights movement. They believed that discriminatory laws were wrong. They practiced non-violent civil disobedience in order to bring about change and to bring justice.
Right now in my country, there are some local communities that have passed laws making it illegal to give food to the homeless people that are out on the streets. Some Christian groups who work with the homeless have chosen to go ahead and provide food to those who are hungry. Some have been ticketed by the local police, but they have chosen to continue to feed the hungry and clothe the naked just as Jesus wants us to do.
As Christians, we are to first and foremost obey the Word of the Lord. If the government orders us to do something that God has told us in His Word not to do, we must obey God rather than human beings.
Now, what is Paul actually saying in this passage. Paul is telling us that as Christians, we are to obey the governing authorities. Just because we know that Jesus is the true King and we are looking for a city whose builder and maker is God, we still live in this world. We are to be upstanding and law-abiding citizens. We are to pay our taxes and follow the laws. We aren't to be above the law.
There are some Christians who believe that they are not obligated to follow any law that is not expressly found in the Bible. These people refuse to pay their taxes and they will not follow laws such as the speed limit or local zoning regulations.
Paul is directly addressing this type of attitude. We are to obey the law as Christians. We are not above the law. However, if the governing authorities act in an evil manner, we as believers must stand in opposition to that. If we are told that we are to violate a direct law of God, we cannot do that. This is what Paul is trying to get across in this passage.
Unfortunately, this passage of Scripture has been abused by those who want to get Christians to go along with the injustices and wickedness that governments are trying to promote. If we look at this passage in the way that it should be rightly interpreted, we see that it in no way is calling on Christians to remain silent in the midst of injustice.
Next week, we will continue with our series in Romans. I will once again post the sermon on Saturday. On Monday, I will post the verses. I have finished posting the chapters in the book about my friend Toby. I am sad about this as posting the book made Toby feel so alive to me again. I miss him more every day. On Wednesday, I will be posting something. I may start posting the book reviews again, or I may post something else. May God bless you all. Amen.
This has been a very busy week at work. I am getting more hours than I thought I would at my job. I am also getting a lot of writing work. I am thankful to the Lord for my job and my writing. I have been feeling pretty good as well.
In prayer this week, please remember to pray for those who are recovering from natural disasters. People in Texas are recovering from flooding, and people in Florida and the Southeast are recovering from the hurricane damage. Please remember to pray for those in Indonesia who are recovering from the earthquake and the tsunami.
Please pray for those in Yemen who are facing famine. This country needs peace so that the people will not suffer any more.
Let us pray for peace around the world. Syria is still having war. We need to pray for peace in Afghanistan, Libya and South Sudan as well.
Please be in prayer about the problem of homelessness around the world. This is a major problem in my country. We need to pray that people will get the assistance that they need.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let's pray for those in the nations of Egypt and Albania. Pray that many will hear about Jesus' love.
For the past few weeks now, we have been studying in the last few chapters of the book of Romans. We finished up chapter 12 last week, and this week will begin focusing on chapter 13.
Romans 13 is a misunderstood and misapplied teaching. This section of Scripture in verses 1 through 7 has been used by oppressive governments to try to keep people from standing up against governmental injustice. Recently in my country, this passage has been used to justify the excesses of our government.
In Romans 13:1-7, Paul tells us that God has established governments. Paul says that those who rebel against the government are rebelling against God. We are told that all of the authorities that exist are established by God for the purpose of bringing order. The governing authorities are to provide safety, and they are to punish those who are doing wrong. Paul calls on people to obey the government. Christians are to pay their taxes and give honor to the governing authorities.
First of all, let us look at what Paul is not saying in this passage. Paul is not saying that every leader has been put in power directly by God. Some in my country say that God put the current president in office. President Trump, President Obama, President Bush, President Clinton, whatever president was elected by the free will of the voters. The Lord does have the power to immediately remove any world leader if He should so desire, but people elected the leaders. Paul is not saying that God directly put each leader in place by somehow abrogating people's free will.
Paul is saying that government as an institution for order has been established by God. God has not chosen to let society be in anarchy.
Paul is not saying that Christians are to obey their governmental authorities in every aspect. We have to interpret Scripture by Scripture, and there are many instances in the Bible where people resisted the evil commandments of rulers. Let's look at a few of these.
In the book of Exodus, the Pharaoh of Egypt ordered all of the Hebrew babies to be killed. Moses' parents did not follow this order. They hid Moses and preserved him from death.
When Jezebel ordered the death of the prophets of God, Obadiah took many of the prophets and hid them in a cave so that Jezebel could not find them and kill them.
In the book of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar ordered that every one bow down to the idol that he had made. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would not bow down. Even when threatened with the fiery furnace, they would not obey the edict of the king and bow down to a false god.
Daniel went ahead with his daily habit of praying to God even though ordered not to pray by the Persian emperor. Daniel was thrown into the lions den, but he would not violate his conscience.
In the New Testament, Peter and John were boldly preaching the message of Jesus. They were arrested and commanded to no longer preach in the name of Jesus. Peter told the authorities that it is better to obey God than human beings.
We know that Paul was well aware of these instances, so we know that Paul is not advocating a wholesale obedience to the government even when the government is commanding that evil be done or that Christians stop practicing their faith.
There are examples from outside of the Bible when Christians stood up for the Lord and stood up against injustice. During the time of the early church, some of the Roman emperors demanded that all people including Christians acknowledge that Caesar was Lord. Many Christians would acknowledge no Lord except Jesus Christ, and they suffered martyrdom.
During the time of the Nazi atrocities, there were people who would not turn in those who the Nazis were trying to kill. There were people who hid their Jewish friends and neighbors and helped them to escape the clutches of the Nazis.
In my country, there were Christians who stood up for justice during the Civil Rights movement. They believed that discriminatory laws were wrong. They practiced non-violent civil disobedience in order to bring about change and to bring justice.
Right now in my country, there are some local communities that have passed laws making it illegal to give food to the homeless people that are out on the streets. Some Christian groups who work with the homeless have chosen to go ahead and provide food to those who are hungry. Some have been ticketed by the local police, but they have chosen to continue to feed the hungry and clothe the naked just as Jesus wants us to do.
As Christians, we are to first and foremost obey the Word of the Lord. If the government orders us to do something that God has told us in His Word not to do, we must obey God rather than human beings.
Now, what is Paul actually saying in this passage. Paul is telling us that as Christians, we are to obey the governing authorities. Just because we know that Jesus is the true King and we are looking for a city whose builder and maker is God, we still live in this world. We are to be upstanding and law-abiding citizens. We are to pay our taxes and follow the laws. We aren't to be above the law.
There are some Christians who believe that they are not obligated to follow any law that is not expressly found in the Bible. These people refuse to pay their taxes and they will not follow laws such as the speed limit or local zoning regulations.
Paul is directly addressing this type of attitude. We are to obey the law as Christians. We are not above the law. However, if the governing authorities act in an evil manner, we as believers must stand in opposition to that. If we are told that we are to violate a direct law of God, we cannot do that. This is what Paul is trying to get across in this passage.
Unfortunately, this passage of Scripture has been abused by those who want to get Christians to go along with the injustices and wickedness that governments are trying to promote. If we look at this passage in the way that it should be rightly interpreted, we see that it in no way is calling on Christians to remain silent in the midst of injustice.
Next week, we will continue with our series in Romans. I will once again post the sermon on Saturday. On Monday, I will post the verses. I have finished posting the chapters in the book about my friend Toby. I am sad about this as posting the book made Toby feel so alive to me again. I miss him more every day. On Wednesday, I will be posting something. I may start posting the book reviews again, or I may post something else. May God bless you all. Amen.
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Toby -- The Story of My Friend -- Chapter 16
Here is the final chapter in my book about Toby.
Chapter 16
After I graduated from college, Toby and I began what for us would be an event filled eighteen months. The summer after I graduated, Toby and I went out to Saint Louis for vacation. It wasn't a very long trip, but we had a lot of fun. We visited the Winston Churchill Museum in Fulton, Missouri on our way home. We got to walk around sections of the old Berlin Wall that are on display outside the museum. That summer was a time of just relaxing and enjoying the days. Dad and I did quite a bit of fishing, and sometimes Toby came along with us. Once when we were out together, we saw a huge flock of wild turkeys.
That fall, I decided to go to graduate school and get my master's degree is history. It was over an hours drive to get to the college, and I didn't like the professors at all. I was doing fine, and it was just about the end of the semester. I knew that I wasn't going to go back after Christmas. However, I had to quit before the end of the semester because I was injured in a car accident. An almost 90 year old woman hit my car and another car. She totaled the other driver's Mercedes Benz. She was not hurt in the accident.
I recovered pretty quickly. While I was still going to graduate school, I'd been spending my free time working on writing. I'd written a few poems and sent them in for publication. I was quite surprised when a few of these initial efforts were actually published in some small journals. I decided that I was going to give writing a try for at least a little while.
Being at home and working on my writing during the day was just like being back in home school again. It was great. Toby never left my side when I was working on my writing. When I was at my desk working on the computer, he would lay at the foot of the bed. We had fun setting up that computer together. As I was trying to get everything out of the box, Toby kept pushing boxes and bags around the room with his nose.
In order to improve as a writer, I enrolled in an off campus writing program with the University of Wisconsin. With writing, investing and studying I stayed very busy. But I was never too busy for my old friend. Toby was getting old. That year when I started writing, he turned twelve. Our walks became shorter. I really had to make sure that he stayed cool, because Toby never could stand much heat, and that became more pronounced as he got older. We still played hide and seek. Toby actually would chase the ball a little as he got older, but he never was much of a ball dog.
Our favorite activity was sitting out on the patio and having dinner together. I used to like to cook steaks out on the grill. It was always nice having a family meal together. We'd sit out on the patio just about every night until the mosquitoes started in.
About two days after Toby's twelfth birthday, our time of joy came to an abrupt end. Toby became extremely sick. For the past year, he had been in what for Toby was good health. But, one afternoon he just started vomiting uncontrollably. I called our regular veterinarian, but he was out of town, and he didn't have anyone handling emergencies. I called my back up vet, and he was out of town as well. I decided to call the vet in a town north of us, and they had an appointment available right away. She examined Toby, but she really didn't know what was wrong with him. She gave him some medicine to see if he would improve. Toby did improve a little, but he still wasn't right.
I got Toby an appointment with our regular vet as soon as he was back. He discovered Toby's problem right away. Toby had a large tumor in his abdomen.
My vet got Toby an appointment that same day with a cancer specialist. I feared the worst. The cancer specialist ran some scans, and he seemed optimistic. He felt that Toby's tumor was operable, and we scheduled the surgery for the next morning.
I really started to pray that night. I was so nervous. I was just about a basket case. I don't think I slept a wink which just kept Toby up, and he needed his rest. I took him into the surgeons that morning. The way that Toby looked at me when I handed his leash to the surgeon is a look I will never forget. His eyes looked at me like I was abandoning him and he couldn't understand why. It was horrible. I felt horrible. I prayed all morning and into the afternoon. Finally, I got a call from the surgeon. The tumor was malignant, but he thought that he got it all out.
Toby was supposed to stay at the hospital for three days after the surgery, but they called me the next afternoon and wanted me to take him home. They said that he was sad and depressed and they didn't think that he could stand being without me anymore. He was also trying to bite everyone who was trying to help him. He wanted his friend and was tired of everyone else.
When I came to pick him up Toby was so relieved. He let out a great big sigh of happiness.
The next day I received the bad news. Toby's cancer was so malignant that it had metastasized. They only gave Toby 6 weeks to live even with chemotherapy.
I decided to pray and ask Jesus to help Toby. I would not have any chemo for him. What would be would be.
Six weeks came, and Toby was acting like he was in the prime of life. He was jumping around and acting like a young pup again. I kept writing and getting things published. Every day Toby and I would play and just try to enjoy being together because each day that we could be together was a gift from Jesus.
Each month I took Toby into the vet's for a check, and he got a clean bill of health. His stomach improved and he wasn't really having many health problems. He just kept on going.
We had a great Thanksgiving and Christmas. The two of us ate so much at Thanksgiving we had to lay down the rest of the day for fear that we might explode. Christmas at the house was always a fun time. Toby liked to push the branches over to me while I put the tree up. His favorite part of Christmas was playing in the wrapping paper.
We celebrated Toby's 13th birthday. He was still going strong. I was still giving the glory to God. But nothing lasts forever. Toward the beginning of June, Toby went down hill fast. His lungs started filling up with fluid and all of his blood tests were terrible. This time I knew it was the end.
Toby died on June 5. He lived 13 and a half months after his surgery.
Toby was the best friend that I have ever had. He came to me at one of the lowest points in my life, and he made me fell like someone loved me for who I was and not for what they wanted me to be. Toby has been gone for several years and I still miss him every single day. I know that he is in Heaven with my Mom and Dad. I look forward to a family reunion some day. I am thankful to Jesus that I found Toby on that cold day in January all those years ago. I love you Toby.
Chapter 16
After I graduated from college, Toby and I began what for us would be an event filled eighteen months. The summer after I graduated, Toby and I went out to Saint Louis for vacation. It wasn't a very long trip, but we had a lot of fun. We visited the Winston Churchill Museum in Fulton, Missouri on our way home. We got to walk around sections of the old Berlin Wall that are on display outside the museum. That summer was a time of just relaxing and enjoying the days. Dad and I did quite a bit of fishing, and sometimes Toby came along with us. Once when we were out together, we saw a huge flock of wild turkeys.
That fall, I decided to go to graduate school and get my master's degree is history. It was over an hours drive to get to the college, and I didn't like the professors at all. I was doing fine, and it was just about the end of the semester. I knew that I wasn't going to go back after Christmas. However, I had to quit before the end of the semester because I was injured in a car accident. An almost 90 year old woman hit my car and another car. She totaled the other driver's Mercedes Benz. She was not hurt in the accident.
I recovered pretty quickly. While I was still going to graduate school, I'd been spending my free time working on writing. I'd written a few poems and sent them in for publication. I was quite surprised when a few of these initial efforts were actually published in some small journals. I decided that I was going to give writing a try for at least a little while.
Being at home and working on my writing during the day was just like being back in home school again. It was great. Toby never left my side when I was working on my writing. When I was at my desk working on the computer, he would lay at the foot of the bed. We had fun setting up that computer together. As I was trying to get everything out of the box, Toby kept pushing boxes and bags around the room with his nose.
In order to improve as a writer, I enrolled in an off campus writing program with the University of Wisconsin. With writing, investing and studying I stayed very busy. But I was never too busy for my old friend. Toby was getting old. That year when I started writing, he turned twelve. Our walks became shorter. I really had to make sure that he stayed cool, because Toby never could stand much heat, and that became more pronounced as he got older. We still played hide and seek. Toby actually would chase the ball a little as he got older, but he never was much of a ball dog.
Our favorite activity was sitting out on the patio and having dinner together. I used to like to cook steaks out on the grill. It was always nice having a family meal together. We'd sit out on the patio just about every night until the mosquitoes started in.
About two days after Toby's twelfth birthday, our time of joy came to an abrupt end. Toby became extremely sick. For the past year, he had been in what for Toby was good health. But, one afternoon he just started vomiting uncontrollably. I called our regular veterinarian, but he was out of town, and he didn't have anyone handling emergencies. I called my back up vet, and he was out of town as well. I decided to call the vet in a town north of us, and they had an appointment available right away. She examined Toby, but she really didn't know what was wrong with him. She gave him some medicine to see if he would improve. Toby did improve a little, but he still wasn't right.
I got Toby an appointment with our regular vet as soon as he was back. He discovered Toby's problem right away. Toby had a large tumor in his abdomen.
My vet got Toby an appointment that same day with a cancer specialist. I feared the worst. The cancer specialist ran some scans, and he seemed optimistic. He felt that Toby's tumor was operable, and we scheduled the surgery for the next morning.
I really started to pray that night. I was so nervous. I was just about a basket case. I don't think I slept a wink which just kept Toby up, and he needed his rest. I took him into the surgeons that morning. The way that Toby looked at me when I handed his leash to the surgeon is a look I will never forget. His eyes looked at me like I was abandoning him and he couldn't understand why. It was horrible. I felt horrible. I prayed all morning and into the afternoon. Finally, I got a call from the surgeon. The tumor was malignant, but he thought that he got it all out.
Toby was supposed to stay at the hospital for three days after the surgery, but they called me the next afternoon and wanted me to take him home. They said that he was sad and depressed and they didn't think that he could stand being without me anymore. He was also trying to bite everyone who was trying to help him. He wanted his friend and was tired of everyone else.
When I came to pick him up Toby was so relieved. He let out a great big sigh of happiness.
The next day I received the bad news. Toby's cancer was so malignant that it had metastasized. They only gave Toby 6 weeks to live even with chemotherapy.
I decided to pray and ask Jesus to help Toby. I would not have any chemo for him. What would be would be.
Six weeks came, and Toby was acting like he was in the prime of life. He was jumping around and acting like a young pup again. I kept writing and getting things published. Every day Toby and I would play and just try to enjoy being together because each day that we could be together was a gift from Jesus.
Each month I took Toby into the vet's for a check, and he got a clean bill of health. His stomach improved and he wasn't really having many health problems. He just kept on going.
We had a great Thanksgiving and Christmas. The two of us ate so much at Thanksgiving we had to lay down the rest of the day for fear that we might explode. Christmas at the house was always a fun time. Toby liked to push the branches over to me while I put the tree up. His favorite part of Christmas was playing in the wrapping paper.
We celebrated Toby's 13th birthday. He was still going strong. I was still giving the glory to God. But nothing lasts forever. Toward the beginning of June, Toby went down hill fast. His lungs started filling up with fluid and all of his blood tests were terrible. This time I knew it was the end.
Toby died on June 5. He lived 13 and a half months after his surgery.
Toby was the best friend that I have ever had. He came to me at one of the lowest points in my life, and he made me fell like someone loved me for who I was and not for what they wanted me to be. Toby has been gone for several years and I still miss him every single day. I know that he is in Heaven with my Mom and Dad. I look forward to a family reunion some day. I am thankful to Jesus that I found Toby on that cold day in January all those years ago. I love you Toby.
Monday, October 22, 2018
Verses For the Week
Ecclesiastes 9:10 -- "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might."
Colossians 3:23 -- "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men."
Colossians 3:23 -- "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men."
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Weekend Sermon -- Romans 12:21
Welcome to another edition of the Weekend Sermon. I hope that you all are having a very good week. As always, I am thankful to the Lord for the opportunity that He has given me to post these messages.
I had a very busy week at my new job. I am having a good time at this job, and I am thankful to the Lord for providing this job for me. I am also having a good week in writing, and I thank the Lord for that as well.
In prayer this week, let us all pray for those who are experiencing difficulties due to natural disasters. In the United States, there has been a lot of flooding in central Texas. Those in Florida and the Southeastern United States are still recovering from the damage caused by the hurricanes. Those in Indonesia are still recovering from the earthquake and the tsunami. Please pray that all of these people will receive the aid that they need.
Please continue to pray for peace in the war torn areas of this world. Let us pray for peace in Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, Libya and South Sudan. If you know of a place where there is conflict, please pray for peace in that area.
For our prayer focus countries of the week, let us pray for Gambia and Mongolia. Please pray that many in these nations will hear about the love that Jesus has for them.
For the past several Weekend Sermons, we've been in a series on the last few chapters of the book of Romans. Today, we will focus on the last verse of Romans chapter 12. This is an important verse for all Christians to understand and to put into practice.
Romans 12:21 states, "Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good." This verse is simple yet profound.
First of all, as believers in the Lord Jesus, we must guard against letting sin come into our lives. If we yield to temptation and do those things that the Lord has taught us not to do, we will have difficulties in our lives. We need to be those who are following the commands and teachings of the Lord Jesus. We should be obedient to Him. We should be actively engaged in doing what He has called us to do.
We live in a world that is filled with temptations to sin. The powers of darkness are constantly trying to get us to slip up so that we are ineffective in our witness and work for the Lord. The powers of evil do not want us to have the lives that we are supposed to have. If we yield to temptation, we will be overcome with evil.
I think that there is another way that we can be overcome with evil that doesn't have anything to do with those sins that might beset us. We can be overcome with evil because evil is all around us, and it seems to be overwhelming. Sometimes it seems like the powers of evil are winning the battle.
I find this to be true in regard to many of the issues that are important to me. I've worked for many years to get people to care about animals and the environment. Just when I think that the tide might be turning, something happens to make me think that people will never care. It seems like the forces that want to destroy the planet and the wildlife on this planet just keep growing stronger and stronger.
When there are setbacks to the good, it makes people who have worked to make the world a better place lose heart. You feel like giving up, and you feel like nothing that you do makes any difference. When this happens, the wrong way wins. When the forces that are against what is good get good people to give up, they've won the battle. In this way, good is overcome by evil.
In this passage, we as Christians are called to overcome evil with good. We are to be actively engaged in the struggle against the powers of evil.
I believe that there are at least three ways in which we overcome evil with good. First of all, we do this in the personal sense. All of struggle at times with sinful behaviors. We want to overcome these behaviors, but sometime it proves to be difficult. The best way to overcome a sinful behavior is to do as much good as possible. If we are engaged in doing what is good and right, there isn't time to engage in sinful behaviors. We overcome evil in our lives by replacing it with doing what is good.
We also overcome evil with good when we are witnesses for the Lord Jesus. When we share with others what Jesus has done, we are sowing the seeds of the Word into their hearts. When a person hears the Word of the Lord, that person will come under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. If a person makes the decision to accept Jesus as Savior and Lord, that person is transformed and becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus. The old has passed away, and the new has come. That person has been removed from darkness, and that person has come to the light of the love of Jesus Christ.
The final way that we overcome evil with good is by actively working to do what is good in the world. There is abundant need in this world. People don't have enough to eat. Many people need medical care. Homelessness is a major problem in my country and in other countries. The world is a mess. Good people are needed to work to make this world a better place.
Thanks be to God, there are people working hard each and every day to change things. They are working to overcome evil with good. This is what all of us who are Christians need to be doing. Each of us needs to find some way to help others and to help to make this world better. In that way, we will overcome evil, and good will come in this world.
Ultimately, good will overcome evil when Jesus returns in power and great glory at His Second Coming. Until Jesus does come, we have to be engaged in doing all that we can to do good in the world.
Next week, we will begin studying Romans 13. I will post the sermon on Saturday. On Monday, I will post the verses, and on Wednesday, I will post the next chapter of my book about my friend Toby. May God bless you all. Amen.
I had a very busy week at my new job. I am having a good time at this job, and I am thankful to the Lord for providing this job for me. I am also having a good week in writing, and I thank the Lord for that as well.
In prayer this week, let us all pray for those who are experiencing difficulties due to natural disasters. In the United States, there has been a lot of flooding in central Texas. Those in Florida and the Southeastern United States are still recovering from the damage caused by the hurricanes. Those in Indonesia are still recovering from the earthquake and the tsunami. Please pray that all of these people will receive the aid that they need.
Please continue to pray for peace in the war torn areas of this world. Let us pray for peace in Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, Libya and South Sudan. If you know of a place where there is conflict, please pray for peace in that area.
For our prayer focus countries of the week, let us pray for Gambia and Mongolia. Please pray that many in these nations will hear about the love that Jesus has for them.
For the past several Weekend Sermons, we've been in a series on the last few chapters of the book of Romans. Today, we will focus on the last verse of Romans chapter 12. This is an important verse for all Christians to understand and to put into practice.
Romans 12:21 states, "Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good." This verse is simple yet profound.
First of all, as believers in the Lord Jesus, we must guard against letting sin come into our lives. If we yield to temptation and do those things that the Lord has taught us not to do, we will have difficulties in our lives. We need to be those who are following the commands and teachings of the Lord Jesus. We should be obedient to Him. We should be actively engaged in doing what He has called us to do.
We live in a world that is filled with temptations to sin. The powers of darkness are constantly trying to get us to slip up so that we are ineffective in our witness and work for the Lord. The powers of evil do not want us to have the lives that we are supposed to have. If we yield to temptation, we will be overcome with evil.
I think that there is another way that we can be overcome with evil that doesn't have anything to do with those sins that might beset us. We can be overcome with evil because evil is all around us, and it seems to be overwhelming. Sometimes it seems like the powers of evil are winning the battle.
I find this to be true in regard to many of the issues that are important to me. I've worked for many years to get people to care about animals and the environment. Just when I think that the tide might be turning, something happens to make me think that people will never care. It seems like the forces that want to destroy the planet and the wildlife on this planet just keep growing stronger and stronger.
When there are setbacks to the good, it makes people who have worked to make the world a better place lose heart. You feel like giving up, and you feel like nothing that you do makes any difference. When this happens, the wrong way wins. When the forces that are against what is good get good people to give up, they've won the battle. In this way, good is overcome by evil.
In this passage, we as Christians are called to overcome evil with good. We are to be actively engaged in the struggle against the powers of evil.
I believe that there are at least three ways in which we overcome evil with good. First of all, we do this in the personal sense. All of struggle at times with sinful behaviors. We want to overcome these behaviors, but sometime it proves to be difficult. The best way to overcome a sinful behavior is to do as much good as possible. If we are engaged in doing what is good and right, there isn't time to engage in sinful behaviors. We overcome evil in our lives by replacing it with doing what is good.
We also overcome evil with good when we are witnesses for the Lord Jesus. When we share with others what Jesus has done, we are sowing the seeds of the Word into their hearts. When a person hears the Word of the Lord, that person will come under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. If a person makes the decision to accept Jesus as Savior and Lord, that person is transformed and becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus. The old has passed away, and the new has come. That person has been removed from darkness, and that person has come to the light of the love of Jesus Christ.
The final way that we overcome evil with good is by actively working to do what is good in the world. There is abundant need in this world. People don't have enough to eat. Many people need medical care. Homelessness is a major problem in my country and in other countries. The world is a mess. Good people are needed to work to make this world a better place.
Thanks be to God, there are people working hard each and every day to change things. They are working to overcome evil with good. This is what all of us who are Christians need to be doing. Each of us needs to find some way to help others and to help to make this world better. In that way, we will overcome evil, and good will come in this world.
Ultimately, good will overcome evil when Jesus returns in power and great glory at His Second Coming. Until Jesus does come, we have to be engaged in doing all that we can to do good in the world.
Next week, we will begin studying Romans 13. I will post the sermon on Saturday. On Monday, I will post the verses, and on Wednesday, I will post the next chapter of my book about my friend Toby. May God bless you all. Amen.
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Toby -- The Story of My Friend -- Chapter 15
Here is the next chapter.
Chapter 15
Toby didn't really like anyone but me. He wasn't unfriendly, and he wasn't mean. My uncle always referred to Toby as a tranquil beast. Toby just didn't care what anyone did as long as I was there, and he wanted to keep me safe. That was his number one priority. He never displayed any aggression toward anyone who didn't deserve it. Except for one group of people. He didn't like 99.9 percent of preachers.
The first time that I noticed this was when the minister from our family's church came out for one of his regular visits. The minute he came into the house, Toby never took his eyes off of him. Toby actually growled at him, and Toby never did that when people came over even if he didn't like them. Something was up.
I didn't think too much about all of this until the pastor was over at the house a few weeks later. Toby growled at him again. All of the hair on his back was standing up, and he was getting angry. I went with Toby outside so the old boy could cool off.
Later, I figured out why Toby didn't like the man. This man would in the next few weeks lie about me and get me fired from a job so that his wife could get the job. Toby had this character figured out way ahead of time.
My family stopped going to that church after many years, and began attending another of the very legalistic churches that my parents seemed drawn to. This new minister came over, and Toby was once again extremely agitated. What really set Toby off was when the new minister asked me if I could remember the exact time in my life that I accepted Jesus as my Savior. I do not know why, but Toby started barking and barking and barking at this man after he said that. I had to take him out in the kitchen.
It wasn't too long before I realized that Toby had this man figured out too. In a sermon, this minister said that he had a dog once that he didn't like so he shot and killed it. Toby had the dog hater spotted.
Finally, Toby met the pastor that he disliked most of all. He disliked this man so much and became so mad that he almost had a stroke. This happened when I was gone, so this is what my parents told me. As I mentioned before, I was born with an inherited immune system problem. Since my health was bad, I was still living at home. This pastor had the nerve to tell my folks that they should kick me out of the house because I shouldn't be living there anymore. He had no idea about my health, and my Dad proceeded to inform him about it, and that where I lived was none of his business. My Mom said that when the pastor said this that Toby got so angry that my Dad told the pastor and the elder that was with him to leave. This whole incident just made my Dad fed up. He left that denomination my family had been in since I was born and he never went back again.
This reminds me of what happened with my Grandpa and my uncle. My uncle was a Methodist minister. My Grandpa had had a heart attack and was in the hospital. My Grandpa and Grandma went to the same kind of church that my parents did. Their minister was visiting my Grandpa in the hospital when my uncle the minister came for a visit. My Grandparents pastor laid into my uncle when he found out that my uncle was a Methodist pastor. He said that Methodists where all liberals and were going to hell for preaching a social gospel. This made my Grandpa very upset. He told the pastor to leave his hospital room and never come back. My Grandparents had been members of that church for years, and after that they never went back.
About that time, I'd had enough of organized religion. The folks started going to a little church up the road from our house. I just stayed at home with Toby on Sundays and the two of us just had fun together.
About one year later, my Dad had to have surgery on his foot and was laid up for about one month. During that time, the pastor of the little church came to the house twice a week to visit my Dad and try to help him any way that he could.
When this pastor first came over to the house, I thought that Toby wouldn't like him since all of the other pastors he couldn't stand. But Toby liked this man. Since this pastor was so nice, I decided to go back to church, and I really enjoyed it. I began to learn about the real Jesus and about how much He loves me.
I knew that Toby didn't really have anything against religion. All this time, I was studying in Bible College and he certainly didn't hate me. He picked up on the fact that either they didn't like me or that they didn't like dogs. Its terrible when people who are Christians don't like animals. How can you love the creator and despise His creation?
Chapter 15
Toby didn't really like anyone but me. He wasn't unfriendly, and he wasn't mean. My uncle always referred to Toby as a tranquil beast. Toby just didn't care what anyone did as long as I was there, and he wanted to keep me safe. That was his number one priority. He never displayed any aggression toward anyone who didn't deserve it. Except for one group of people. He didn't like 99.9 percent of preachers.
The first time that I noticed this was when the minister from our family's church came out for one of his regular visits. The minute he came into the house, Toby never took his eyes off of him. Toby actually growled at him, and Toby never did that when people came over even if he didn't like them. Something was up.
I didn't think too much about all of this until the pastor was over at the house a few weeks later. Toby growled at him again. All of the hair on his back was standing up, and he was getting angry. I went with Toby outside so the old boy could cool off.
Later, I figured out why Toby didn't like the man. This man would in the next few weeks lie about me and get me fired from a job so that his wife could get the job. Toby had this character figured out way ahead of time.
My family stopped going to that church after many years, and began attending another of the very legalistic churches that my parents seemed drawn to. This new minister came over, and Toby was once again extremely agitated. What really set Toby off was when the new minister asked me if I could remember the exact time in my life that I accepted Jesus as my Savior. I do not know why, but Toby started barking and barking and barking at this man after he said that. I had to take him out in the kitchen.
It wasn't too long before I realized that Toby had this man figured out too. In a sermon, this minister said that he had a dog once that he didn't like so he shot and killed it. Toby had the dog hater spotted.
Finally, Toby met the pastor that he disliked most of all. He disliked this man so much and became so mad that he almost had a stroke. This happened when I was gone, so this is what my parents told me. As I mentioned before, I was born with an inherited immune system problem. Since my health was bad, I was still living at home. This pastor had the nerve to tell my folks that they should kick me out of the house because I shouldn't be living there anymore. He had no idea about my health, and my Dad proceeded to inform him about it, and that where I lived was none of his business. My Mom said that when the pastor said this that Toby got so angry that my Dad told the pastor and the elder that was with him to leave. This whole incident just made my Dad fed up. He left that denomination my family had been in since I was born and he never went back again.
This reminds me of what happened with my Grandpa and my uncle. My uncle was a Methodist minister. My Grandpa had had a heart attack and was in the hospital. My Grandpa and Grandma went to the same kind of church that my parents did. Their minister was visiting my Grandpa in the hospital when my uncle the minister came for a visit. My Grandparents pastor laid into my uncle when he found out that my uncle was a Methodist pastor. He said that Methodists where all liberals and were going to hell for preaching a social gospel. This made my Grandpa very upset. He told the pastor to leave his hospital room and never come back. My Grandparents had been members of that church for years, and after that they never went back.
About that time, I'd had enough of organized religion. The folks started going to a little church up the road from our house. I just stayed at home with Toby on Sundays and the two of us just had fun together.
About one year later, my Dad had to have surgery on his foot and was laid up for about one month. During that time, the pastor of the little church came to the house twice a week to visit my Dad and try to help him any way that he could.
When this pastor first came over to the house, I thought that Toby wouldn't like him since all of the other pastors he couldn't stand. But Toby liked this man. Since this pastor was so nice, I decided to go back to church, and I really enjoyed it. I began to learn about the real Jesus and about how much He loves me.
I knew that Toby didn't really have anything against religion. All this time, I was studying in Bible College and he certainly didn't hate me. He picked up on the fact that either they didn't like me or that they didn't like dogs. Its terrible when people who are Christians don't like animals. How can you love the creator and despise His creation?
Monday, October 15, 2018
Verses For the Week
II Corinthians 12:9 -- "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
Ephesians 4:7 -- "But to each one of us, grace has been given as Christ apportioned it."
Ephesians 4:7 -- "But to each one of us, grace has been given as Christ apportioned it."
Saturday, October 13, 2018
Weekend Sermon -- Romans 12:14-20
Thank you for taking the time to read the Weekend Sermon this week. I hope that everyone is having a good week.
This week has been hard. On Monday, my garage and part of my crawlspace flooded. I thank the Lord that not too much damage was caused. The house is OK. We are supposed to get more rain tomorrow, so please continue to pray that all will be well. Thank you for your prayers.
I have been working hard this week on writing and at my new job. I am thankful to the Lord for providing me with work to do.
Please pray for those in Florida and the Southeast who were hit by the hurricane this week. Pray that people will receive the aid that they need. Please continue to pray for the people in Indonesia who were affected by the hurricane and the tsunami.
Pray for those affected by the Ebola virus in Congo. Pray that this virus will stop spreading, and that those who are sick will get well.
Let us all pray for peace in Syria, Libya, Yemen, Afghanistan and South Sudan. Pray for peace wherever you know that there is a conflict.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in Benin and China. Pray that many will hear about the love of Jesus.
During the course of the last few weeks, we have been in a series of message on the last chapters of the book of Romans. For today's message we will be focusing our attention on Romans 12 verses 14-20.
Paul begins in verse 14 by telling us that we should bless those who persecute us. This is a hard thing to do. Our natural reaction when people treat us badly is to strike back. If someone says something hurtful to us, we want to respond by saying something that will hurt them. Paul urges us to bless those who curse us.
When I was working at a place where people called in to make insurance claims, I found that if I got upset when people started being nasty, the situation just escalated. If I said something nice back when someone was nasty, it had the effect many times of stopping their nasty behavior. They didn't know how to respond.
Our example in all things is Jesus. Jesus did not say anything bad to those who were persecuting Him. When He was on the cross, Jesus prayed that the Father would forgive those who were crucifying Him.
When we are faced with those who are persecuting us or making our lives miserable in some way, the way that we can overcome is by praying. We need to pray that the Lord will allow us to have a Christ like attitude. We need to pray that the Lord will help the other individual, and we need to pray that the Lord will empower us to do the right thing.
In verse 15, Paul calls on us to rejoice with those who are rejoicing and to weep with those who are weeping. When people we know are happy, we should join in the celebration. When they are sad and need us to be with them, we should seek to be of help and comfort.
The essence of verse 17 is that we are to be humble people. This is one of the characteristics of those who are trying to imitate the way of Jesus. Jesus had a humble heart. We are to have a humble heart like unto His humble heart. That means that we are not filled with pride. We don't go around boasting thinking that we are better than someone else.
This type of pride can manifest itself in several different ways. Some people think that they are better than people of different races or ethnic backgrounds. Some people believe that they are superior to others because they have a lot of money or they have a high level of education. Of course no one is superior to anyone else.
If we think that we are better than someone else, that is pride, and that is a sin. We are always to realize that all that we are and all that we have is because of the grace of the Lord.
All of us are one in the Lord Jesus. Everyone is of great value to the Lord Jesus. Jesus doesn't love one person more than another person. Jesus cares just as much for the person who is poor as He does for the rich. He loves people of all races and ethnic backgrounds exactly the same. We should follow the path that Jesus has set forth.
In verses 17 and 18, we are urged to live peaceably with everyone and to do what is right. Christians are called to live at peace with others. We aren't to repay evil for evil.
Verses 19 and 20 speak about vengeance. We are to leave this in the hands of the Lord. One day, the Lord will return to this earth. He will rule and reign in righteous. Justice will be over all of the earth. The Lord will make sure that everyone who has done what is evil will receive what they deserve.
We are called on to do good to everyone. We are even to do good to those who are our enemies. The only way that we can do this is to follow Jesus' example and pray that the Lord will give us strength to do what He has asked us to do.
Next week, we will finish up Romans 12. I will post the Weekend Sermon on Saturday. On Monday, I will post the verses. I will post the next chapter in the book about my friend Toby on Wednesday. May God bless you all. Amen.
This week has been hard. On Monday, my garage and part of my crawlspace flooded. I thank the Lord that not too much damage was caused. The house is OK. We are supposed to get more rain tomorrow, so please continue to pray that all will be well. Thank you for your prayers.
I have been working hard this week on writing and at my new job. I am thankful to the Lord for providing me with work to do.
Please pray for those in Florida and the Southeast who were hit by the hurricane this week. Pray that people will receive the aid that they need. Please continue to pray for the people in Indonesia who were affected by the hurricane and the tsunami.
Pray for those affected by the Ebola virus in Congo. Pray that this virus will stop spreading, and that those who are sick will get well.
Let us all pray for peace in Syria, Libya, Yemen, Afghanistan and South Sudan. Pray for peace wherever you know that there is a conflict.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in Benin and China. Pray that many will hear about the love of Jesus.
During the course of the last few weeks, we have been in a series of message on the last chapters of the book of Romans. For today's message we will be focusing our attention on Romans 12 verses 14-20.
Paul begins in verse 14 by telling us that we should bless those who persecute us. This is a hard thing to do. Our natural reaction when people treat us badly is to strike back. If someone says something hurtful to us, we want to respond by saying something that will hurt them. Paul urges us to bless those who curse us.
When I was working at a place where people called in to make insurance claims, I found that if I got upset when people started being nasty, the situation just escalated. If I said something nice back when someone was nasty, it had the effect many times of stopping their nasty behavior. They didn't know how to respond.
Our example in all things is Jesus. Jesus did not say anything bad to those who were persecuting Him. When He was on the cross, Jesus prayed that the Father would forgive those who were crucifying Him.
When we are faced with those who are persecuting us or making our lives miserable in some way, the way that we can overcome is by praying. We need to pray that the Lord will allow us to have a Christ like attitude. We need to pray that the Lord will help the other individual, and we need to pray that the Lord will empower us to do the right thing.
In verse 15, Paul calls on us to rejoice with those who are rejoicing and to weep with those who are weeping. When people we know are happy, we should join in the celebration. When they are sad and need us to be with them, we should seek to be of help and comfort.
The essence of verse 17 is that we are to be humble people. This is one of the characteristics of those who are trying to imitate the way of Jesus. Jesus had a humble heart. We are to have a humble heart like unto His humble heart. That means that we are not filled with pride. We don't go around boasting thinking that we are better than someone else.
This type of pride can manifest itself in several different ways. Some people think that they are better than people of different races or ethnic backgrounds. Some people believe that they are superior to others because they have a lot of money or they have a high level of education. Of course no one is superior to anyone else.
If we think that we are better than someone else, that is pride, and that is a sin. We are always to realize that all that we are and all that we have is because of the grace of the Lord.
All of us are one in the Lord Jesus. Everyone is of great value to the Lord Jesus. Jesus doesn't love one person more than another person. Jesus cares just as much for the person who is poor as He does for the rich. He loves people of all races and ethnic backgrounds exactly the same. We should follow the path that Jesus has set forth.
In verses 17 and 18, we are urged to live peaceably with everyone and to do what is right. Christians are called to live at peace with others. We aren't to repay evil for evil.
Verses 19 and 20 speak about vengeance. We are to leave this in the hands of the Lord. One day, the Lord will return to this earth. He will rule and reign in righteous. Justice will be over all of the earth. The Lord will make sure that everyone who has done what is evil will receive what they deserve.
We are called on to do good to everyone. We are even to do good to those who are our enemies. The only way that we can do this is to follow Jesus' example and pray that the Lord will give us strength to do what He has asked us to do.
Next week, we will finish up Romans 12. I will post the Weekend Sermon on Saturday. On Monday, I will post the verses. I will post the next chapter in the book about my friend Toby on Wednesday. May God bless you all. Amen.
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