I am in the midst of reading a good dog book, and I will have a review of that next week. In the meantime, I wanted to recommend some DVDs that I watched over the holiday weekend. I think I recommended one of these already, but its worth recommending again.
"Red Dog" is a movie about a dog who lived in Australia. It is loosely based on a true story. I think that this is one of the best dog movies that I've seen. It has humor, but it is also sad. The dog in this movie is an Australian Kelpie. These dogs are about the best herding dogs anyone will every come across.
"Red Dog: True Blue" is a prequel to "Red Dog". It tells the story of a boy who is sent to live on his grandpa's ranch in rural Australia. The boy finds a kelpie who he names blue. The two have many adventures together.
"Jeeves and Wooster"-- There are four seasons of "Jeeves and Wooster", and I believe that there were about 20 episodes in all. The acting by Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie in these programs is outstanding. These are lighthearted programs that are a lot of fun.
This is about what I did over the holiday weekend when I wasn't working in the yard. I was watching some of my favorite DVDs. If you get the chance, check out some of these programs.
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Verses For the Week and Memorial Day
I am sorry that the verses are a day late. I forgot to mention that Monday was Memorial Day. The library where I have internet access was closed, so I had to wait until today to post the verses.
Since yesterday was Memorial Day, I wanted to say thank you to those who served the nation and gave their lives. My Dad was a veteran. He was in the Army during the time of the Korean War.
Isaiah 46:9 -- "Remember the former things long past. For I am God, and there is no other, I am God, and there is no one like me."
II Timothy 2:9 -- "Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel.
P.S. -- They are calling for some bad storms in my area tonight. Please pray that the storms are not bad. Thank you.
Since yesterday was Memorial Day, I wanted to say thank you to those who served the nation and gave their lives. My Dad was a veteran. He was in the Army during the time of the Korean War.
Isaiah 46:9 -- "Remember the former things long past. For I am God, and there is no other, I am God, and there is no one like me."
II Timothy 2:9 -- "Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel.
P.S. -- They are calling for some bad storms in my area tonight. Please pray that the storms are not bad. Thank you.
Friday, May 25, 2018
Weekend Sermon -- "The Humanity of Jesus"
Thank you for taking the time to read the Weekend Sermon this week. I am glad to be able to post the sermons each week, and I hope that those who read them are benefited by them. I also hope that everyone is having a very good day.
I've had another good week working on my writing. I am thankful to the Lord for that. I am also thankful that the heavy rains did not cause any flooding at my house. It rained about as hard as I've seen it rain. One town just north of where I live had some flooding, so I hope that everyone will pray for those who had damage.
I do have a prayer request. I would like to find a part-time job to help supplement my writing income. Please pray that the Lord will lead me to the right job and that His will will be done in this situation.
In other matters, please pray for those who are recovering from natural disasters. Continue to pray for those in Puerto Rico and Hawaii. The situation in Papua New Guinea is improving, but that nation still needs our prayers as well.
Let us continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of this world. Pray for those in Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, Libya, South Sudan and Ukraine that they might have peace.
For our prayer focus countries this week, please pray for those in Benin and Sri Lanka. Pray that many will hear about the love of the Lord Jesus.
Last week, we began a series of messages on who is Jesus. We started off by focusing on the divinity of Jesus Christ. Many will try to deny that Jesus is God. However, as we saw last week, the Bible is quite clear that Jesus is God. Jesus referred to Himself as divine, and those who opposed Jesus recognized the fact that Jesus claimed to be God.
In today's message, I want us to focus on the humanity of Jesus. Jesus was God, but Jesus was also a man. This is an important topic to discuss, because it was an area of doctrinal contention even in the early days of the church.
First of all, Jesus acknowledged that He was a man. He recognized His mother and His relatives. When Jesus appeared to the disciples after His resurrection, He made it clear that He was not a ghost, but He was a flesh, blood and bone human being with a then glorified body.
The Bible is quite clear in emphasizing the fact that Jesus was a human being and that He had an actual human body. Philippians 2:7 tells us, "He made Himself nothing by taking the nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." John 1:14 states, "The Word was made flesh and dwelled among us." In I John 1:1, John points out that he saw Jesus and he touched Jesus. He knew that Jesus was a real human being and not just someone who appeared to be a human being.
We see from His life on this earth that Jesus did things and experienced things that happened to humans. For instance, Mark 4:38 records that when the storm came up and the disciples were afraid, Jesus was asleep on the boat. Jesus grew tired and needed to rest just like we do.
Mark 11:12 is one verse that points out that Jesus experienced physical hunger. When he was hungry, he went to get some figs from the fig tree, but the fig tree was barren. The Bible also records that Jesus was hungry after having fasted for forty days and nights in the wilderness.
Jesus had friends just like all humans do. John was Jesus' very good friend. Jesus was friends with Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Jesus wept at the death of His friend Lazarus.
Why is it important that Jesus was a human being with a human nature. It is important because Jesus is the Second Adam. The first Adam failed. He sinned, and death passed upon all human beings.
Jesus succeeded in every area where Adam failed. Jesus was completely sinless. Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus was tempted in all the ways that we are, but He did not sin.
Because Jesus lived a holy and sinless life, He is able to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He is the righteous one who knew no sin, but He became sin for us. He took the punishment that we deserved, and He bore our sins in His body on the cross.
In Adam, all died, the Bible says. However, in Jesus Christ, all can be made alive.
It is also important that we stress the humanity of Jesus, because Jesus is our perfect example of how we are to live in this world. We can look to Him and emulate His behavior.
I find it comforting to know that Jesus was a human being. He knows what I am going through. He knows what it is like to be let down by His friends. He knows what it is like to be despised and rejected. Jesus understands the sorrows and the heartaches that I go through. The Bible says that He is our Great High Priest who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities. Because Jesus was an actual human being, He understands me and what I face. He has been there too.
Jesus knows what we face. We can go to Him, and He will provide the comfort of one who has been there too. Always look to the Lord Jesus for His guidance and help in each situation.
Next week, we will continue with our series exploring who Jesus is. On Monday, I will post the verses of the week. On Wednesday, there will be some type of review, or I might post a poem. May God bless you all. Amen.
I've had another good week working on my writing. I am thankful to the Lord for that. I am also thankful that the heavy rains did not cause any flooding at my house. It rained about as hard as I've seen it rain. One town just north of where I live had some flooding, so I hope that everyone will pray for those who had damage.
I do have a prayer request. I would like to find a part-time job to help supplement my writing income. Please pray that the Lord will lead me to the right job and that His will will be done in this situation.
In other matters, please pray for those who are recovering from natural disasters. Continue to pray for those in Puerto Rico and Hawaii. The situation in Papua New Guinea is improving, but that nation still needs our prayers as well.
Let us continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of this world. Pray for those in Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, Libya, South Sudan and Ukraine that they might have peace.
For our prayer focus countries this week, please pray for those in Benin and Sri Lanka. Pray that many will hear about the love of the Lord Jesus.
Last week, we began a series of messages on who is Jesus. We started off by focusing on the divinity of Jesus Christ. Many will try to deny that Jesus is God. However, as we saw last week, the Bible is quite clear that Jesus is God. Jesus referred to Himself as divine, and those who opposed Jesus recognized the fact that Jesus claimed to be God.
In today's message, I want us to focus on the humanity of Jesus. Jesus was God, but Jesus was also a man. This is an important topic to discuss, because it was an area of doctrinal contention even in the early days of the church.
First of all, Jesus acknowledged that He was a man. He recognized His mother and His relatives. When Jesus appeared to the disciples after His resurrection, He made it clear that He was not a ghost, but He was a flesh, blood and bone human being with a then glorified body.
The Bible is quite clear in emphasizing the fact that Jesus was a human being and that He had an actual human body. Philippians 2:7 tells us, "He made Himself nothing by taking the nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." John 1:14 states, "The Word was made flesh and dwelled among us." In I John 1:1, John points out that he saw Jesus and he touched Jesus. He knew that Jesus was a real human being and not just someone who appeared to be a human being.
We see from His life on this earth that Jesus did things and experienced things that happened to humans. For instance, Mark 4:38 records that when the storm came up and the disciples were afraid, Jesus was asleep on the boat. Jesus grew tired and needed to rest just like we do.
Mark 11:12 is one verse that points out that Jesus experienced physical hunger. When he was hungry, he went to get some figs from the fig tree, but the fig tree was barren. The Bible also records that Jesus was hungry after having fasted for forty days and nights in the wilderness.
Jesus had friends just like all humans do. John was Jesus' very good friend. Jesus was friends with Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Jesus wept at the death of His friend Lazarus.
Why is it important that Jesus was a human being with a human nature. It is important because Jesus is the Second Adam. The first Adam failed. He sinned, and death passed upon all human beings.
Jesus succeeded in every area where Adam failed. Jesus was completely sinless. Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus was tempted in all the ways that we are, but He did not sin.
Because Jesus lived a holy and sinless life, He is able to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He is the righteous one who knew no sin, but He became sin for us. He took the punishment that we deserved, and He bore our sins in His body on the cross.
In Adam, all died, the Bible says. However, in Jesus Christ, all can be made alive.
It is also important that we stress the humanity of Jesus, because Jesus is our perfect example of how we are to live in this world. We can look to Him and emulate His behavior.
I find it comforting to know that Jesus was a human being. He knows what I am going through. He knows what it is like to be let down by His friends. He knows what it is like to be despised and rejected. Jesus understands the sorrows and the heartaches that I go through. The Bible says that He is our Great High Priest who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities. Because Jesus was an actual human being, He understands me and what I face. He has been there too.
Jesus knows what we face. We can go to Him, and He will provide the comfort of one who has been there too. Always look to the Lord Jesus for His guidance and help in each situation.
Next week, we will continue with our series exploring who Jesus is. On Monday, I will post the verses of the week. On Wednesday, there will be some type of review, or I might post a poem. May God bless you all. Amen.
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Movie Review -- "The Man Who Knew Infinity"
Today we will be having another movie review instead of a book review. The books I've read lately aren't very good, and I haven't even been able to finish a couple. I don't like to review books that I can't say at least one good thing about.
The movie that I want to review today is definitely worth viewing. "The Man Who Knew Infinity" tells the true story of the relationship between mathematicians Srinivasa Ramanujan and G.H. Hardy.
Ramanujan was an Indian man living in Madras. He was a mathematical genius. He corresponded with some mathematicians in Britain, but they rejected his ideas because he did not have any formal training. However, G.H. Hardy was impressed with Ramanujan's work and brought him to Cambridge University.
Ramanujan faced a great deal of discrimination, and at first, his relationship with Hardy was shaky. However, the two men grew to respect each other, and the two of them worked together to make several great mathematical discoveries.
I highly recommend this movie. Jeremy Irons gives a superb performance, and Dev Patel does excellent work as well. You don't have to know higher math to understand this film. It is a movie about a relationship and overcoming prejudice and discrimination. It shows that anyone can succeed with determination.
The movie that I want to review today is definitely worth viewing. "The Man Who Knew Infinity" tells the true story of the relationship between mathematicians Srinivasa Ramanujan and G.H. Hardy.
Ramanujan was an Indian man living in Madras. He was a mathematical genius. He corresponded with some mathematicians in Britain, but they rejected his ideas because he did not have any formal training. However, G.H. Hardy was impressed with Ramanujan's work and brought him to Cambridge University.
Ramanujan faced a great deal of discrimination, and at first, his relationship with Hardy was shaky. However, the two men grew to respect each other, and the two of them worked together to make several great mathematical discoveries.
I highly recommend this movie. Jeremy Irons gives a superb performance, and Dev Patel does excellent work as well. You don't have to know higher math to understand this film. It is a movie about a relationship and overcoming prejudice and discrimination. It shows that anyone can succeed with determination.
Monday, May 21, 2018
Verses For the Week
II Timothy 2:13 -- "If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself."
Hebrews 10:23 -- "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope, for He who promised is faithful."
Hebrews 10:23 -- "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope, for He who promised is faithful."
Friday, May 18, 2018
Weekend Sermon -- Jesus is God
Welcome to this week's posting of the Weekend Sermon. I hope that all of you are having a very good week. Thank you for taking the time to read the blog and the sermon this week.
I have been having a pretty good week. Writing has been going well, and I've been able to keep up with my work around the house. I've been feeling well, too. I am thankful to the Lord for the fact that the neighbor's building project hasn't caused any problems. I was worried about that, but all has gone well so far. Please pray that the other neighbor's project won't cause any bother either. I thank you for your prayers.
In other matters, I would like us all to pray regarding the situation with the ebola virus outbreak in Congo. Please pray that those who are sick will recover, and pray that this sickness will not spread.
Let us also pray for those in Hawaii. Let us pray that the volcanoes will quiet down. Continue to pray for those in Puerto Rico and Papua New Guinea who are recovering from natural disasters.
Pray for peace in the troubled areas of this world. Pray that Syria, Yemen, Libya, South Sudan and Afghanistan will find peace.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let's pray for the nations of Ghana and China. Pray that many will hear about the love of Jesus.
Last week, we finished our series of messages on some of the passages in the Bible that are misinterpreted or taken out of proper context. Today, we will begin a new series of messages. The title of this series is Who is Jesus? I wan't to focus on the person and work of the Lord Jesus, and I hope that these messages will bring honor and glory to Jesus.
Today, we will focus on the fact that Jesus is God. The Bible declares that Jesus is God. Jesus said that He was God. Those who saw Jesus while He was on earth either recognized Him as God, or they recognized that Jesus claimed to be God.
Let's look at the first point. The Bible declares that Jesus was God come to this earth in human form in several different places. Colossians 2:9 states, "For in Christ, all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form. Hebrews 1:6-8 tells us that Jesus was the Son of God born into the world to be God's ultimate revelation.
John 1:1 clearly speaks of the divinity of Jesus. This verse states, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
Jesus is the Son of God and God the Son. He existed as part of the Holy Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit throughout all eternity. The Son came to this earth and took upon Himself human flesh. Jesus left the glories of Heaven to come to this earth in order to show us the love of God. He came to redeem us and provide a way for the restoration of all things.
When I was in college taking a class in church history, I had a professor who said that Jesus never made the claim that He was God. However, this is just not accurate. On several occasions, Jesus did claim that He was God. For instance, in John 10:30, Jesus states, "I and the Father are One."He will later tell one of His disciples that if you have seen me, you have seen the Father. In John 8:58, Jesus says, "Before Abraham was born, I AM." Jesus was claiming to be the I AM who spoke to Moses out of the burning bush. This is about as clear as Jesus could be claiming to be God.
Those who heard Jesus make this statement knew exactly what He meant. After Jesus said I AM, the religious leaders picked up stones and tried to stone Jesus to death. In John 10:33, the religious leaders said that they despised Jesus because He was a mere man claiming to be God.
Clearly, Jesus claimed to be God, and this claim was recognized by those who knew Jesus. Jesus also accepted worship as if He was God, and His disciples would come to recognize Him as God.
In John chapter 20, when Thomas saw the risen Jesus, Thomas fell at His feet and said that Jesus was his Lord and his God. Jesus accepted this statement, and He did not rebuke Thomas in any way. When the other disciples saw Jesus just before He ascended into Heaven, they worshiped Him recognizing Him to be God.
I think that there can be no doubt that the Bible claims that Jesus was God come in the flesh. Jesus claimed to be God. The enemies of Jesus recognized that Jesus was claiming to be God, and the disciples worshiped Jesus as God.
Here is the relevant question now, do you believe that Jesus is God come in the flesh? If He is, then we need to do what He says. Jesus calls us to follow Him if we believe that He is who He claimed to be. Each person has to decide if the claims of Jesus are true.
Next week, we will continue with our series on Jesus. On Monday, I will post the verses. On Wednesday, I will post another movie review. May God bless you all. Amen.
I have been having a pretty good week. Writing has been going well, and I've been able to keep up with my work around the house. I've been feeling well, too. I am thankful to the Lord for the fact that the neighbor's building project hasn't caused any problems. I was worried about that, but all has gone well so far. Please pray that the other neighbor's project won't cause any bother either. I thank you for your prayers.
In other matters, I would like us all to pray regarding the situation with the ebola virus outbreak in Congo. Please pray that those who are sick will recover, and pray that this sickness will not spread.
Let us also pray for those in Hawaii. Let us pray that the volcanoes will quiet down. Continue to pray for those in Puerto Rico and Papua New Guinea who are recovering from natural disasters.
Pray for peace in the troubled areas of this world. Pray that Syria, Yemen, Libya, South Sudan and Afghanistan will find peace.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let's pray for the nations of Ghana and China. Pray that many will hear about the love of Jesus.
Last week, we finished our series of messages on some of the passages in the Bible that are misinterpreted or taken out of proper context. Today, we will begin a new series of messages. The title of this series is Who is Jesus? I wan't to focus on the person and work of the Lord Jesus, and I hope that these messages will bring honor and glory to Jesus.
Today, we will focus on the fact that Jesus is God. The Bible declares that Jesus is God. Jesus said that He was God. Those who saw Jesus while He was on earth either recognized Him as God, or they recognized that Jesus claimed to be God.
Let's look at the first point. The Bible declares that Jesus was God come to this earth in human form in several different places. Colossians 2:9 states, "For in Christ, all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form. Hebrews 1:6-8 tells us that Jesus was the Son of God born into the world to be God's ultimate revelation.
John 1:1 clearly speaks of the divinity of Jesus. This verse states, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
Jesus is the Son of God and God the Son. He existed as part of the Holy Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit throughout all eternity. The Son came to this earth and took upon Himself human flesh. Jesus left the glories of Heaven to come to this earth in order to show us the love of God. He came to redeem us and provide a way for the restoration of all things.
When I was in college taking a class in church history, I had a professor who said that Jesus never made the claim that He was God. However, this is just not accurate. On several occasions, Jesus did claim that He was God. For instance, in John 10:30, Jesus states, "I and the Father are One."He will later tell one of His disciples that if you have seen me, you have seen the Father. In John 8:58, Jesus says, "Before Abraham was born, I AM." Jesus was claiming to be the I AM who spoke to Moses out of the burning bush. This is about as clear as Jesus could be claiming to be God.
Those who heard Jesus make this statement knew exactly what He meant. After Jesus said I AM, the religious leaders picked up stones and tried to stone Jesus to death. In John 10:33, the religious leaders said that they despised Jesus because He was a mere man claiming to be God.
Clearly, Jesus claimed to be God, and this claim was recognized by those who knew Jesus. Jesus also accepted worship as if He was God, and His disciples would come to recognize Him as God.
In John chapter 20, when Thomas saw the risen Jesus, Thomas fell at His feet and said that Jesus was his Lord and his God. Jesus accepted this statement, and He did not rebuke Thomas in any way. When the other disciples saw Jesus just before He ascended into Heaven, they worshiped Him recognizing Him to be God.
I think that there can be no doubt that the Bible claims that Jesus was God come in the flesh. Jesus claimed to be God. The enemies of Jesus recognized that Jesus was claiming to be God, and the disciples worshiped Jesus as God.
Here is the relevant question now, do you believe that Jesus is God come in the flesh? If He is, then we need to do what He says. Jesus calls us to follow Him if we believe that He is who He claimed to be. Each person has to decide if the claims of Jesus are true.
Next week, we will continue with our series on Jesus. On Monday, I will post the verses. On Wednesday, I will post another movie review. May God bless you all. Amen.
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Dog Movie Review -- "A Dog's Purpose"
Instead of reviewing a book today, I am going to review a movie that I watched last week. The name of the movie is "A Dog's Purpose". This movie is based on the book of the same name written by W. Bruce Cameron. I have not read the book, so I can't comment on how closely the movie follows the book. However, I can say that I thought that this was an excellent movie.
The major theme of "A Dog's Purpose" is centered around a dog's attempt to find the meaning for his existence. The dog is reincarnated several different times, and he retains the memories of his previous lives. Each of his lives adds to his attempt at finding meaning and purpose.
The main story in the movie is centered on the time when the dog is named Bailey and lives with a boy named Ethan. These two have a wonderful relationship, and Bailey will view his time with Ethan as the primary relationship of his lives.
The movie really focuses on four of Bailey's lives. After his time with Ethan, the dog is born as a German shepherd who becomes a police dog. After that life, the dog is born as a Welsh Corgi, and he belongs to a young woman who is in college. Later, the dog is reborn and comes back to discover that he has found Ethan again as an older man.
I don't want to give too much of the movie away. I don't want to spoil it for those who want to watch it.
All of the stories within the overarching story are good. The story about the dog and Ethan as a young man and as an older man are the best parts.
The story about Bailey and Ethan reminded me of the fun that I had with Toby when I was in my late teens and twenties. He went everywhere with me just as Bailey and Ethan were almost always together.
I also really enjoyed the fact that there was a Welsh Corgi in the film. Toby was a Welsh Corgi. The Corgi in this film is cute and very well trained.
Now, let me talk about one thing that is disturbing those who have reviewed this movie on Christian movie review sites. Reincarnation is discussed in this film. As a Christian myself, I do not believe in reincarnation. However, it is just a device for the film. You do not have to believe in it just to have a good time watching this wonderful movie.
I do think that a little bit of caution should be exercised with younger viewers. The dog passes away three times in this movie before he is reborn. That may disturb some children.
I definitely recommend "A Dog's Purpose", and I hope that you will view it if you have the chance. I really loved this movie.
The major theme of "A Dog's Purpose" is centered around a dog's attempt to find the meaning for his existence. The dog is reincarnated several different times, and he retains the memories of his previous lives. Each of his lives adds to his attempt at finding meaning and purpose.
The main story in the movie is centered on the time when the dog is named Bailey and lives with a boy named Ethan. These two have a wonderful relationship, and Bailey will view his time with Ethan as the primary relationship of his lives.
The movie really focuses on four of Bailey's lives. After his time with Ethan, the dog is born as a German shepherd who becomes a police dog. After that life, the dog is born as a Welsh Corgi, and he belongs to a young woman who is in college. Later, the dog is reborn and comes back to discover that he has found Ethan again as an older man.
I don't want to give too much of the movie away. I don't want to spoil it for those who want to watch it.
All of the stories within the overarching story are good. The story about the dog and Ethan as a young man and as an older man are the best parts.
The story about Bailey and Ethan reminded me of the fun that I had with Toby when I was in my late teens and twenties. He went everywhere with me just as Bailey and Ethan were almost always together.
I also really enjoyed the fact that there was a Welsh Corgi in the film. Toby was a Welsh Corgi. The Corgi in this film is cute and very well trained.
Now, let me talk about one thing that is disturbing those who have reviewed this movie on Christian movie review sites. Reincarnation is discussed in this film. As a Christian myself, I do not believe in reincarnation. However, it is just a device for the film. You do not have to believe in it just to have a good time watching this wonderful movie.
I do think that a little bit of caution should be exercised with younger viewers. The dog passes away three times in this movie before he is reborn. That may disturb some children.
I definitely recommend "A Dog's Purpose", and I hope that you will view it if you have the chance. I really loved this movie.
Monday, May 14, 2018
Verses For the Week
John 10:11 -- "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep."
John 15:13 -- "Greater love has no one that this, that one lay down his life for his friends."
John 15:13 -- "Greater love has no one that this, that one lay down his life for his friends."
Friday, May 11, 2018
Weekend Sermon -- Colossians 2:8
Thank you for taking the time to read the Weekend Sermon this week. I hope that everyone is having a great week.
This has been a very good couple of weeks in my writing work. I am thankful for the work that He has allowed to come my way.
I am also thankful for an answer to prayer. A financial problem that was really depressing me seems to be resolved at this point. I am doing OK right now, and I am thankful to the Lord for allowing me to have the work, health and opportunities that I have right now.
In prayer this week, please pray about the situation in Hawaii. My understanding is that the volcano there may erupt in a major way. Please pray that people there will be safe.
Let us also continue to pray for those who need help in Puerto Rico. I heard that over 90 percent of the people now have their power restored. Let us pray that all those in need will receive that which they need.
Continue to pray for those in Papua New Guinea who are recovering from the earthquake. I haven't heard any new reports from there in some time.
Please pray for peace. Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, South Sudan and Libya all need our prayers at this time.
For our prayer focus countries this week, please pray for those in the nations of Sierra Leone and Brunei. Pray that many will hear of the love and forgiveness of Jesus.
For the past several weeks, we have been in a series of messages focusing on passages in the Bible that are often misinterpreted, taken out of context or entirely misquoted. I have enjoyed posting the sermons on this series. With our message today, we will conclude this series.
Today's passage that we will consider is not a passage that is widely misinterpreted, but it was definitely used against me in my academic pursuits, and that is why I wanted to discuss it for our final message in the series today.
The passage in question comes from Colossians 2:8 which states, "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ."
There are some very conservative Christians such as the ones I grew up among who will use this verse to discredit many forms of higher education. They will also use this verse to discourage anyone from taking up the formal study of philosophy and the philosophic disciplines.
In the churches in which I grew up, there was a definite lack of respect for academia and the arts. Someone like me who was a writer or interested in the study of various academic disciplines was looked on as someone to be suspicious of as if that person wasn't a true Christian.
Their attitude was that people in higher education and the arts had set themselves to the task of destroying the Christian faith. Certain things weren't to be studied lest it lead you away from the faith. Philosophy, sociology, psychology, world religion and world literature were subjects we were to avoid. Supposedly, these subjects would lead you astray, and Colossians 2:8 was the verse used to support this.
In my life, I first started to study philosophy when I came across a series of philosophy lectures on tape at the library. I listened to them all, and I found the entire subject fascinating. I wanted to major in the subject after I graduated from Bible college, but I wasn't in a position to go to a college that was outside of driving distance. I minored in philosophy, religion and political science with a major in history instead. I immensely enjoyed studying it all.
The church that my parents attended did not like that I was studying these things, and that was the final break in my attending those type of churches. They made it clear that I was not welcome. At that point, I worshiped the Lord at home with my dog Toby each Sunday.
Now, let's explore what this verse is actually saying. First of all, the Bible is not against learning and education. The apostle Paul who wrote this verse was a very learned man. He was well versed in Greek and Latin philosophy, and he makes reference to Greek poets in the Bible. He was not advocating not knowing something or not learning something.
What Paul is telling us in this verse is to not let ourselves be deceived by those who would use the wisdom of this world for deceitful purposes. I actually think that Paul is most specifically speaking about those who were presenting a different way of faith and were trying to present their unorthodox beliefs in philosophical language in order to be more persuasive.
Paul is telling us that in all that we do, Jesus Christ should be the one to whom we look. I've stated that in these sermons on the blog time and time again. Jesus is our example. He is the one who has the ultimate answers. Everything that we learn should be compared to the life and teachings of Jesus. Jesus is truth.
Some people in my parents church told me that I shouldn't study philosophy or world religions because that would make me turn away from Jesus. Nothing could have been more wrong. It has been through the study of these subjects that I've drawn closer to Jesus because the study of other ideas makes me understand what I believe more deeply. It makes me really examine the legitimacy of what I claim to believe.
What I tell people is learn as much as you can. If you have the opportunity to go to college, graduate school or professional school take the opportunity. While there, study about a broad range of things. Compare everything to the teachings of Jesus, and always look to Him as the source of ultimate truth. If you feel challenged in your beliefs, good. Study and find the answer that meets the challenge. That way, you will really know what you believe and why you believe it.
I wish that I would have had more opportunities to go to school. I am thankful that I have my Bible college and seminary education. I am thankful that I have my degree in history. I try to take every opportunity to learn more through reading, taking online courses and listening to lectures.
The Lord made a wonderful world. Never stop learning about all that God has made and what has happened during the course of human history. I believe that it will truly be a rewarding endeavor.
Next week, we will begin a new series of message on the subject of who is Jesus. On Monday, I will post the verses. On Wednesday, I will post a review of a great dog movie I watched this week. May God bless you all. Amen.
This has been a very good couple of weeks in my writing work. I am thankful for the work that He has allowed to come my way.
I am also thankful for an answer to prayer. A financial problem that was really depressing me seems to be resolved at this point. I am doing OK right now, and I am thankful to the Lord for allowing me to have the work, health and opportunities that I have right now.
In prayer this week, please pray about the situation in Hawaii. My understanding is that the volcano there may erupt in a major way. Please pray that people there will be safe.
Let us also continue to pray for those who need help in Puerto Rico. I heard that over 90 percent of the people now have their power restored. Let us pray that all those in need will receive that which they need.
Continue to pray for those in Papua New Guinea who are recovering from the earthquake. I haven't heard any new reports from there in some time.
Please pray for peace. Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, South Sudan and Libya all need our prayers at this time.
For our prayer focus countries this week, please pray for those in the nations of Sierra Leone and Brunei. Pray that many will hear of the love and forgiveness of Jesus.
For the past several weeks, we have been in a series of messages focusing on passages in the Bible that are often misinterpreted, taken out of context or entirely misquoted. I have enjoyed posting the sermons on this series. With our message today, we will conclude this series.
Today's passage that we will consider is not a passage that is widely misinterpreted, but it was definitely used against me in my academic pursuits, and that is why I wanted to discuss it for our final message in the series today.
The passage in question comes from Colossians 2:8 which states, "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ."
There are some very conservative Christians such as the ones I grew up among who will use this verse to discredit many forms of higher education. They will also use this verse to discourage anyone from taking up the formal study of philosophy and the philosophic disciplines.
In the churches in which I grew up, there was a definite lack of respect for academia and the arts. Someone like me who was a writer or interested in the study of various academic disciplines was looked on as someone to be suspicious of as if that person wasn't a true Christian.
Their attitude was that people in higher education and the arts had set themselves to the task of destroying the Christian faith. Certain things weren't to be studied lest it lead you away from the faith. Philosophy, sociology, psychology, world religion and world literature were subjects we were to avoid. Supposedly, these subjects would lead you astray, and Colossians 2:8 was the verse used to support this.
In my life, I first started to study philosophy when I came across a series of philosophy lectures on tape at the library. I listened to them all, and I found the entire subject fascinating. I wanted to major in the subject after I graduated from Bible college, but I wasn't in a position to go to a college that was outside of driving distance. I minored in philosophy, religion and political science with a major in history instead. I immensely enjoyed studying it all.
The church that my parents attended did not like that I was studying these things, and that was the final break in my attending those type of churches. They made it clear that I was not welcome. At that point, I worshiped the Lord at home with my dog Toby each Sunday.
Now, let's explore what this verse is actually saying. First of all, the Bible is not against learning and education. The apostle Paul who wrote this verse was a very learned man. He was well versed in Greek and Latin philosophy, and he makes reference to Greek poets in the Bible. He was not advocating not knowing something or not learning something.
What Paul is telling us in this verse is to not let ourselves be deceived by those who would use the wisdom of this world for deceitful purposes. I actually think that Paul is most specifically speaking about those who were presenting a different way of faith and were trying to present their unorthodox beliefs in philosophical language in order to be more persuasive.
Paul is telling us that in all that we do, Jesus Christ should be the one to whom we look. I've stated that in these sermons on the blog time and time again. Jesus is our example. He is the one who has the ultimate answers. Everything that we learn should be compared to the life and teachings of Jesus. Jesus is truth.
Some people in my parents church told me that I shouldn't study philosophy or world religions because that would make me turn away from Jesus. Nothing could have been more wrong. It has been through the study of these subjects that I've drawn closer to Jesus because the study of other ideas makes me understand what I believe more deeply. It makes me really examine the legitimacy of what I claim to believe.
What I tell people is learn as much as you can. If you have the opportunity to go to college, graduate school or professional school take the opportunity. While there, study about a broad range of things. Compare everything to the teachings of Jesus, and always look to Him as the source of ultimate truth. If you feel challenged in your beliefs, good. Study and find the answer that meets the challenge. That way, you will really know what you believe and why you believe it.
I wish that I would have had more opportunities to go to school. I am thankful that I have my Bible college and seminary education. I am thankful that I have my degree in history. I try to take every opportunity to learn more through reading, taking online courses and listening to lectures.
The Lord made a wonderful world. Never stop learning about all that God has made and what has happened during the course of human history. I believe that it will truly be a rewarding endeavor.
Next week, we will begin a new series of message on the subject of who is Jesus. On Monday, I will post the verses. On Wednesday, I will post a review of a great dog movie I watched this week. May God bless you all. Amen.
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
Poems
Instead of a review today, I am posting two poems. This first poem is a haiku that I had published in the Spring 1998 edition of Japanophile.
rain dropping softly
in rhythm on my window pane
a Bach concerto
The second poem is a haiku published in Japanophile Vol. 21 No. 4
Colors red and gold
upon the falling leaves
banners flying high
rain dropping softly
in rhythm on my window pane
a Bach concerto
The second poem is a haiku published in Japanophile Vol. 21 No. 4
Colors red and gold
upon the falling leaves
banners flying high
Monday, May 7, 2018
Verses For the Week
Ephesians 4:2 -- "Be completely humble and gentle, be patient bearing with one another in love."
I John 4:16 -- "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them."
I John 4:16 -- "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them."
Sunday, May 6, 2018
Happy Birthday My Friend
Tomorrow is an important day. It is my friend Toby's birthday. For those who may not know, Toby was my best friend. He was a Welsh corgi. Toby came to live with me at a time when I truly needed a friend. I have always, and will always, believe that Jesus sent him to be my friend.
I had the best years of my life when we were together. Over the last few days, I've been thinking about some of the trips we went on together. Toby had a health problem and had to take medication everyday. I didn't trust anyone else to take care of him, so I took him with me when I traveled and went on vacations. We had a great time together.
Three trips that we took together were really special to me. One trip was to visit the Black Hills in South Dakota. On the way there we stopped at the Badlands. That is a really cool place. When we arrived in Rapid City, we went to Dinosaur Park. After that, we went up to Mount Rushmore, and then we spent quite a bit of time wondering around in the Black Hills. We really enjoyed just being out in nature and enjoying a beautiful place.
As part of that trip, we went down to Cheyenne, Wyoming to visit my Grandma and my uncle. We went out to my uncle's farm were he use to raise oats. While we there in the backyard having lunch, my uncle told me to be on the lookout because there were a lot of rattlesnakes around. That's all I needed to hear. I took Toby, and we headed out of there.
Another great trip was to Colorado Springs and the Rocky Mountains. In Colorado Springs, the two of us hung out on the balcony of the hotel and watched the Air Force training gliders for hours. We went up into the mountains a little way there. Then we went up by Rocky Mountain National Park. There is a river that runs by the road going up there. We walked down by there, and a trout jumped up out of the water. Toby got mad at the trout and jumped into the water after him. The water was really running fast. I had the leash on him, but it was pulling away from me. I had to go down into the river and pull him out. It could have been a really bad situation, but it ended up being funny because we got all wet.
Along this river, there were cabins to rent if you wanted to spend some time fishing. I planned to come back there one day with Toby and spend some time. Sadly, we never got to do that. The day we left after spending a couple of days visiting my Grandma, Toby started having trouble breathing. As soon as I got him back home, I took him to the veterinarian. He had some fluid in his lungs, and the vet thought that it was altitude related. He advised me not to take Toby up in the high altitude anymore, so I never did again.
One other trip that I want to tell you about is trip we took together to visit the place where my Grandpa lived as a boy and the places where my Mom grew up in Iowa. My Grandpa and I were close when I was a young boy. He meant a lot to me.
My Great-great grandfather came to the United States because he was being persecuted for his religious believes. He and some other members of his religious group started a religious community in Iowa. The church that they built is still standing. It is on the National Registry of Historic Places.
We went up and saw the church, the cemetery where generations of my family are buried and the monument that has been erected. We also visited the farm where my Grandpa and his 13 siblings grew up.
We then traveled up to Mason City, Iowa to see the town where my Mom lived until she and her former husband moved away. It was interesting seeing all of these places of family history.
I traveled to a lot of other places with Toby. We always had a good time. The things that we did together might not sound too exciting, but what we liked best was just being together out in the natural world having a good time together.
I remember in Cheyenne that we liked to just walk down to the park and look at the ducks swimming in the lake. To us, it didn't get any better than that.
Back at home, what we liked to do more than anything was to sit together out on the back steps. We would sit out there for hours listening to the birds and watching the squirrels and rabbits. We also enjoyed listening to classical music and jazz on the radio in the late evening as we were out on the patio.
I really miss my friend Toby. If he hadn't have come into my life, I wouldn't be here today. People say that time heals, but I miss Toby more now than I ever have. I've had a dog of my own since Toby passed, and I took care of my Dad's dog after my Dad passed away, but these dogs were nothing like Toby. I never had a dog like him. No dog will ever be that special.
There is one thing of which I am certain. If he was still alive, my life would be better and much different than it is now. I believe that one day we will be together again.
Here is a picture of the two of us together at home. I still live at this house. When this picture was taken, I think that I was a junior in college. As I get older, the timeline of some things gets a little hazy.
I had the best years of my life when we were together. Over the last few days, I've been thinking about some of the trips we went on together. Toby had a health problem and had to take medication everyday. I didn't trust anyone else to take care of him, so I took him with me when I traveled and went on vacations. We had a great time together.
Three trips that we took together were really special to me. One trip was to visit the Black Hills in South Dakota. On the way there we stopped at the Badlands. That is a really cool place. When we arrived in Rapid City, we went to Dinosaur Park. After that, we went up to Mount Rushmore, and then we spent quite a bit of time wondering around in the Black Hills. We really enjoyed just being out in nature and enjoying a beautiful place.
As part of that trip, we went down to Cheyenne, Wyoming to visit my Grandma and my uncle. We went out to my uncle's farm were he use to raise oats. While we there in the backyard having lunch, my uncle told me to be on the lookout because there were a lot of rattlesnakes around. That's all I needed to hear. I took Toby, and we headed out of there.
Another great trip was to Colorado Springs and the Rocky Mountains. In Colorado Springs, the two of us hung out on the balcony of the hotel and watched the Air Force training gliders for hours. We went up into the mountains a little way there. Then we went up by Rocky Mountain National Park. There is a river that runs by the road going up there. We walked down by there, and a trout jumped up out of the water. Toby got mad at the trout and jumped into the water after him. The water was really running fast. I had the leash on him, but it was pulling away from me. I had to go down into the river and pull him out. It could have been a really bad situation, but it ended up being funny because we got all wet.
Along this river, there were cabins to rent if you wanted to spend some time fishing. I planned to come back there one day with Toby and spend some time. Sadly, we never got to do that. The day we left after spending a couple of days visiting my Grandma, Toby started having trouble breathing. As soon as I got him back home, I took him to the veterinarian. He had some fluid in his lungs, and the vet thought that it was altitude related. He advised me not to take Toby up in the high altitude anymore, so I never did again.
One other trip that I want to tell you about is trip we took together to visit the place where my Grandpa lived as a boy and the places where my Mom grew up in Iowa. My Grandpa and I were close when I was a young boy. He meant a lot to me.
My Great-great grandfather came to the United States because he was being persecuted for his religious believes. He and some other members of his religious group started a religious community in Iowa. The church that they built is still standing. It is on the National Registry of Historic Places.
We went up and saw the church, the cemetery where generations of my family are buried and the monument that has been erected. We also visited the farm where my Grandpa and his 13 siblings grew up.
We then traveled up to Mason City, Iowa to see the town where my Mom lived until she and her former husband moved away. It was interesting seeing all of these places of family history.
I traveled to a lot of other places with Toby. We always had a good time. The things that we did together might not sound too exciting, but what we liked best was just being together out in the natural world having a good time together.
I remember in Cheyenne that we liked to just walk down to the park and look at the ducks swimming in the lake. To us, it didn't get any better than that.
Back at home, what we liked to do more than anything was to sit together out on the back steps. We would sit out there for hours listening to the birds and watching the squirrels and rabbits. We also enjoyed listening to classical music and jazz on the radio in the late evening as we were out on the patio.
I really miss my friend Toby. If he hadn't have come into my life, I wouldn't be here today. People say that time heals, but I miss Toby more now than I ever have. I've had a dog of my own since Toby passed, and I took care of my Dad's dog after my Dad passed away, but these dogs were nothing like Toby. I never had a dog like him. No dog will ever be that special.
There is one thing of which I am certain. If he was still alive, my life would be better and much different than it is now. I believe that one day we will be together again.
Here is a picture of the two of us together at home. I still live at this house. When this picture was taken, I think that I was a junior in college. As I get older, the timeline of some things gets a little hazy.
Friday, May 4, 2018
Weekend Sermon -- "Is Money the Root of All Evil?" -- I Timothy 6:6-10
Thank you for taking the time to read the Weekend Sermon this week. I hope that all of you are having a good week. I am thankful to the Lord for the opportunity that He has given me to post these messages each week.
I just wanted to report that my town did not have any storm damage the other night. I thank you for your prayers in this matter. There was a tornado warning, but the tornado did not damage any homes in my particular area.
I really need your prayers in a particular matter. Writing has been going very well, but I still need a little more income to be able to get everything fully paid off from the financial disaster I suffered a few years ago. I am looking for a part-time job that I can do without having to be on my feet for too long. I am having a lot of pain in my legs. Please pray that I will find just the right thing for me. I want to get all the financial mess in my life cleared up once and for all and get everything behind me. Thank you for your prayers. I just want to get what I need. I've cut my expenses way down, I just have some lingering items that need to get paid off. After that is done, I hope to save to go on a missions trip.
In other prayer requests, please continue to pray for those in Puerto Rico who are needing help. Please continue to pray for those in Papua New Guinea.
Please continue to pray that Syria might have peace. Pray for peace in Yemen, Libya, South Sudan and Afghanistan.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us all pray for those in the nations of Iran and Japan. Pray that many will hear about the love of Jesus in these two nations.
For today's message, we are continuing our series of messages on verses that are taken out of context or are misinterpreted. The verse that we are going to consider today is probably one of the most misstated verses in the entire Bible.
I am sure that you have heard people make the statement that, "Money is the root of all evil." People are positive that this is from the Bible. They are close, but this isn't quite what the Bible says.
Let us look at the Scripture in context, I Timothy 6:6-10 states, "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we bought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. For those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many harmful and foolish desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
There is a lot for us to discuss in this passage. First of all. we can clearly see that the Bible does not say that money is the root of all evil. It is the love of money that is the root of all evil.
In the beginning of this passage, the Apostle Paul makes an important point. We didn't bring anything into this world, and we an take nothing out. This should be a wake up call to those whose life is built around the accumulation of wealth and possessions. It doesn't matter who you are or how rich you are, when you die, it will all belong to someone else.
Paul warns against trying to become rich. In his view, people should be satisfied with having the necessities of life. Paul advises his readers to be satisfied with food and clothing.
He will tell us that working to accumulate riches most often leads to destruction and evil. By destruction, I believe that Paul has spiritual destruction most in mind.
Paul will tell us that the pursuit of money and riches has even led some people who once believed in Jesus to abandon their faith and forfeit their eternal soul.
Money in and of itself is not bad. It is how it is obtained and what people often do to get it that is the problem.
Many people's only concern is how they can make more money or have more money. I'm not talking about having enough to cover what is needed. So many just want more and more and more. And often, they don't care how they get the money.
There are so many corporate leaders that don't care how many of their workers that they pay very low wages to as long as they make a big profit. Many corporations and their leaders give no thought to the environmental degradation that they are inflicting on the planet as long as they make more money so that they can have more things along with their shareholders. They don't realize that one day, everyone will have to give an account to God for what they did with their lives.
I believe that one thing that Paul is most trying to get across in this passage is that people should not invest their life in the pursuit of wealth. In the end it is meaningless. Money above and beyond what we need is only useful in the spiritual sense if we use it to help others to have what they need in life or if it is used to advance the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Try not to make the focus of your life the accumulation of things. As Paul says, when we focus on making money, it often causes us to compromise the commandments and teachings of Jesus for more personal gain.
Now we have seen a little of what Paul had to say on the matter. What does Jesus say about money and the the pursuit of wealth. I always want to look most at what Jesus says.
Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount that we are not to lay up treasures on earth. We are to lay up treasures in Heaven. Jesus would go on to say that it is not possible for a person to serve both God and money.
Jesus said that a person's life does not consist in the abundance of things that are possessed. Jesus asks, "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and yet loses his own soul."
Jesus told a parable about a rich man who had an abundant crop. He had more than his old barns could handle. Instead of giving his abundance to the poor and needy. The man tore down the barns and built bigger ones to store more crops. Jesus called this man a fool.
Jesus also told a parable about the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man had no concern for the homeless man who was at his gate. The rich man lifted up his eyes in torment after he died. He had no more money. Lazarus, the homeless man, was in heaven, because his desire was toward the things of God.
Is is wrong to be rich. Not necessarily. It depends on how the riches were obtained. One thing is important to keep in mind. How much is enough? When you have enough, I think the Bible is clear that that is the time to be giving to others. Each individual has to consult with the Lord Jesus to determine what enough is, and what the Lord Jesus would have them do with the resources that He has provided to them.
One last thing that I would like to say. The society that I live in is money obsessed. A person's worth is seen by what kind of job he has, how many cars, what size home and the size of one's bank account. I truly believe that if that is all that one's life is about that it is a wasted life.
The focus of each of our lives is to be on doing the will of the Lord Jesus and serving Him. It is about following the values of the Kingdom that Jesus established in the Sermon on the Mount.
Next week, we will have another message in our current series. I have at most two more messages in this series. After this series, Lord willing, I am going to be posting for several weeks a series of messages on who is Jesus. It will deal with the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. This Monday, I will post the verses. There will be a review or a poem on Wednesday May God bless you all. Amen.
I just wanted to report that my town did not have any storm damage the other night. I thank you for your prayers in this matter. There was a tornado warning, but the tornado did not damage any homes in my particular area.
I really need your prayers in a particular matter. Writing has been going very well, but I still need a little more income to be able to get everything fully paid off from the financial disaster I suffered a few years ago. I am looking for a part-time job that I can do without having to be on my feet for too long. I am having a lot of pain in my legs. Please pray that I will find just the right thing for me. I want to get all the financial mess in my life cleared up once and for all and get everything behind me. Thank you for your prayers. I just want to get what I need. I've cut my expenses way down, I just have some lingering items that need to get paid off. After that is done, I hope to save to go on a missions trip.
In other prayer requests, please continue to pray for those in Puerto Rico who are needing help. Please continue to pray for those in Papua New Guinea.
Please continue to pray that Syria might have peace. Pray for peace in Yemen, Libya, South Sudan and Afghanistan.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us all pray for those in the nations of Iran and Japan. Pray that many will hear about the love of Jesus in these two nations.
For today's message, we are continuing our series of messages on verses that are taken out of context or are misinterpreted. The verse that we are going to consider today is probably one of the most misstated verses in the entire Bible.
I am sure that you have heard people make the statement that, "Money is the root of all evil." People are positive that this is from the Bible. They are close, but this isn't quite what the Bible says.
Let us look at the Scripture in context, I Timothy 6:6-10 states, "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we bought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. For those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many harmful and foolish desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
There is a lot for us to discuss in this passage. First of all. we can clearly see that the Bible does not say that money is the root of all evil. It is the love of money that is the root of all evil.
In the beginning of this passage, the Apostle Paul makes an important point. We didn't bring anything into this world, and we an take nothing out. This should be a wake up call to those whose life is built around the accumulation of wealth and possessions. It doesn't matter who you are or how rich you are, when you die, it will all belong to someone else.
Paul warns against trying to become rich. In his view, people should be satisfied with having the necessities of life. Paul advises his readers to be satisfied with food and clothing.
He will tell us that working to accumulate riches most often leads to destruction and evil. By destruction, I believe that Paul has spiritual destruction most in mind.
Paul will tell us that the pursuit of money and riches has even led some people who once believed in Jesus to abandon their faith and forfeit their eternal soul.
Money in and of itself is not bad. It is how it is obtained and what people often do to get it that is the problem.
Many people's only concern is how they can make more money or have more money. I'm not talking about having enough to cover what is needed. So many just want more and more and more. And often, they don't care how they get the money.
There are so many corporate leaders that don't care how many of their workers that they pay very low wages to as long as they make a big profit. Many corporations and their leaders give no thought to the environmental degradation that they are inflicting on the planet as long as they make more money so that they can have more things along with their shareholders. They don't realize that one day, everyone will have to give an account to God for what they did with their lives.
I believe that one thing that Paul is most trying to get across in this passage is that people should not invest their life in the pursuit of wealth. In the end it is meaningless. Money above and beyond what we need is only useful in the spiritual sense if we use it to help others to have what they need in life or if it is used to advance the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Try not to make the focus of your life the accumulation of things. As Paul says, when we focus on making money, it often causes us to compromise the commandments and teachings of Jesus for more personal gain.
Now we have seen a little of what Paul had to say on the matter. What does Jesus say about money and the the pursuit of wealth. I always want to look most at what Jesus says.
Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount that we are not to lay up treasures on earth. We are to lay up treasures in Heaven. Jesus would go on to say that it is not possible for a person to serve both God and money.
Jesus said that a person's life does not consist in the abundance of things that are possessed. Jesus asks, "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and yet loses his own soul."
Jesus told a parable about a rich man who had an abundant crop. He had more than his old barns could handle. Instead of giving his abundance to the poor and needy. The man tore down the barns and built bigger ones to store more crops. Jesus called this man a fool.
Jesus also told a parable about the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man had no concern for the homeless man who was at his gate. The rich man lifted up his eyes in torment after he died. He had no more money. Lazarus, the homeless man, was in heaven, because his desire was toward the things of God.
Is is wrong to be rich. Not necessarily. It depends on how the riches were obtained. One thing is important to keep in mind. How much is enough? When you have enough, I think the Bible is clear that that is the time to be giving to others. Each individual has to consult with the Lord Jesus to determine what enough is, and what the Lord Jesus would have them do with the resources that He has provided to them.
One last thing that I would like to say. The society that I live in is money obsessed. A person's worth is seen by what kind of job he has, how many cars, what size home and the size of one's bank account. I truly believe that if that is all that one's life is about that it is a wasted life.
The focus of each of our lives is to be on doing the will of the Lord Jesus and serving Him. It is about following the values of the Kingdom that Jesus established in the Sermon on the Mount.
Next week, we will have another message in our current series. I have at most two more messages in this series. After this series, Lord willing, I am going to be posting for several weeks a series of messages on who is Jesus. It will deal with the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. This Monday, I will post the verses. There will be a review or a poem on Wednesday May God bless you all. Amen.
Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Book Review -- "Toby Jug"
The book that I am reviewing today is "Toby Jug" written by Denis O'Connor. This is a sequel to "Paw Prints in the Moonlight". I reviewed that book here on the blog as well, and I thought that it was an excellent book.
Toby Jug was the name of a very special cat that belonged to the author. Denis found Toby Jug when he was a small kitten. All of that is detailed in the first book. In this sequel, the author focuses on one eventful year in his life with Toby Jug.
In 1969, the author and his cat had a lot of adventures and some wonderful times together. One of the best chapters in the book tells about how the author and Toby helped a horse that was fearful. The horse got to know Denis, and eventually, he was able to ride the horse. Toby rode in a satchel on Denis' back, and all three went on riding adventures together.
Another part of the book that I really enjoyed is the description of the Christmas that Denis and Toby spent together. From the descriptions provided by the author, I felt that I was right there as part of the festivities in Owl Cottage.
I highly recommend this book. In the last chapter, Denis sums up his feelings about Toby Jug and their life together. It reminds me of my feelings about the Toby who was part of my life.
P.S. -- I want to make a prayer request. Tonight, there are tornadic and severe storms forecast for my area. Last night, there were several tornadoes to the west of me. Please pray that the storms are not severe and damaging. Please pray that we don't have any flooding. Thank you.
Toby Jug was the name of a very special cat that belonged to the author. Denis found Toby Jug when he was a small kitten. All of that is detailed in the first book. In this sequel, the author focuses on one eventful year in his life with Toby Jug.
In 1969, the author and his cat had a lot of adventures and some wonderful times together. One of the best chapters in the book tells about how the author and Toby helped a horse that was fearful. The horse got to know Denis, and eventually, he was able to ride the horse. Toby rode in a satchel on Denis' back, and all three went on riding adventures together.
Another part of the book that I really enjoyed is the description of the Christmas that Denis and Toby spent together. From the descriptions provided by the author, I felt that I was right there as part of the festivities in Owl Cottage.
I highly recommend this book. In the last chapter, Denis sums up his feelings about Toby Jug and their life together. It reminds me of my feelings about the Toby who was part of my life.
P.S. -- I want to make a prayer request. Tonight, there are tornadic and severe storms forecast for my area. Last night, there were several tornadoes to the west of me. Please pray that the storms are not severe and damaging. Please pray that we don't have any flooding. Thank you.
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