Romans 8:1 -- "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."
II Corinthians 5:21 -- "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
Monday, July 30, 2018
Friday, July 27, 2018
Weekend Sermon -- Jesus is the Prince of Peace
Welcome to this week's edition of the Weekend Sermon. I hope and pray that everyone has had a very good week. It is good to be able to post the sermon this week.
This has been a good week in writing, and I am thankful to the Lord for that. I don't have too much to report. I'm just going about the normal course of life.
As you go to prayer this week, please pray for the families of those who lost loved ones in the boating accident in the Branson, Missouri area. Pray that the mercy and peace of Jesus will be with these people.
Please pray for those in Iowa who are recovering from storm damage. Also, please pray that the terrible wildfires that are plaguing California will be extinguished. Pray that the fires that are occurring in Greece with be extinguished, and pray for those who were injured that they might recover.
Continue to pray for those in Puerto Rico who are trying to get back on their feet. Pray for those in the eastern part of the United States who have experienced flooding.
Let us all pray for peace in the troubled areas of our world. Pray for peace in South Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
Please pray that all of the children who were separated from their parents at the border will be able to be reunited with those who they should be reunited with. This should not have happened.
There are efforts being made to greatly weaken the protections that animals have under the Endangered Species Act in the United States. Please pray that good will prevail, and animals will be protected.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us all pray for Mauritania and Bahrain. Pray that many will come to faith in Jesus.
For the last few weeks, we have been discussing who Jesus is. Today, we will focus on the fact that Jesus is the Prince of Peace.
In Isaiah 9:6, a prophecy was made by Isaiah regarding the characteristics of the Messiah. One of the phrases used to described the coming Messiah was that He would be called the Prince of Peace. Jesus definitely fulfilled this prophecy in more than one way, and I would like us to look into this today.
The first way that we can think of Jesus as the Prince of Peace or the man of peace is by the way of peace that He promoted in His teachings. Jesus taught the way of non-violence and peacefulness. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told us to do good to those who do wrong to us. He told His followers to turn the other cheek and to go the extra mile. He instructed us to end the practice of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Jesus taught us to do unto others as we would have done to us.
Jesus lived out His teachings during the course of His ministry on this earth. He was beaten and abused by the soldiers before He was crucified. However, Jesus did not rage against those who abusing Him. Jesus asked the Father to forgive those who were crucifying Him.
On one occasion, Jesus was passing through the region of Samaria with His disciples. The people in one particular Samaritan village did not want Jesus to stay with them because Jesus was headed to Jerusalem. This action made two of Jesus disciples furious. They asked Jesus if He wanted them to call down fire from Heaven and burn them all up.
Jesus sternly rebuked His disciples for this type of thinking. He said that they didn't know the spirit they were of by making such a remark.
In the Beatitudes, Jesus said that the peacemakers are among those who are blessed. We will be honored by God if we seek to make peace with others.
Those who are followers of Jesus should be the ones who are actively seeking peace in this world. Those who name the name of Jesus should not promote violence and warfare. We are to seek out the ways in which reconciliation can be accomplished between people and nations.
It is very troubling to me when Christians are engaged in promoting war and weapons. This is not the way that Jesus taught. Jesus didn't teach that we should all be armed. He calls to live out the way of peace in all of our relationships so that we might bring others to peace.
One way that Christians can promote peace in the world is by doing as much good as possible to make this world a better place. When we reach out to others in love, it produces a change in heart that leads others to the way of peace and to the way of Jesus Christ.
Now, there is another way in which we can see that Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Jesus has come to bring peace to people's hearts. He does this for both those who are His followers and those who are not yet His followers.
Those who have not accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord cannot know true peace. Jesus is the only one that can bring true peace to the human heart because He is the only one who provides forgiveness of sins and reconciliation between the sinner and God. When a sinner is restored to fellowship with God, the peace of God can then fill that person's heart.
Jesus is our peace. Jesus said in John 14:27 that He was leaving us with His peace. We can have the peace of knowing that Jesus is always with us no matter what we are going through. He will strengthen us and help us through all the storms of life. No matter what we face, Jesus is always with us to speak peace into the troubles of our lives.
Now there is an ultimate way in which Jesus is the Prince of Peace. One day, Jesus will come again in power and great glory. Every eye will see Him. Every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
When Jesus comes again, He will bring peace to all the world and to the entire created order. Nation will no longer rise against nation. People will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. War will be studied no more. The lion will lie down with the lamb. All will be at peace.
Jesus will sit on the throne in Jerusalem and bring justice, peace, mercy and goodness to the entire world. All will be as it was intended when the universe was first created.
I hope that you know the peace in your heart that only Jesus can bring. I invite you to turn your life over to Him today. Jesus will change your life, and He will make you whole.
Next week, we will continue with our current series of messages. On Monday, I will post the verses. I will post the next chapter of my book about Toby on Wednesday Lord willing. May God bless you all. Amen.
This has been a good week in writing, and I am thankful to the Lord for that. I don't have too much to report. I'm just going about the normal course of life.
As you go to prayer this week, please pray for the families of those who lost loved ones in the boating accident in the Branson, Missouri area. Pray that the mercy and peace of Jesus will be with these people.
Please pray for those in Iowa who are recovering from storm damage. Also, please pray that the terrible wildfires that are plaguing California will be extinguished. Pray that the fires that are occurring in Greece with be extinguished, and pray for those who were injured that they might recover.
Continue to pray for those in Puerto Rico who are trying to get back on their feet. Pray for those in the eastern part of the United States who have experienced flooding.
Let us all pray for peace in the troubled areas of our world. Pray for peace in South Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
Please pray that all of the children who were separated from their parents at the border will be able to be reunited with those who they should be reunited with. This should not have happened.
There are efforts being made to greatly weaken the protections that animals have under the Endangered Species Act in the United States. Please pray that good will prevail, and animals will be protected.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us all pray for Mauritania and Bahrain. Pray that many will come to faith in Jesus.
For the last few weeks, we have been discussing who Jesus is. Today, we will focus on the fact that Jesus is the Prince of Peace.
In Isaiah 9:6, a prophecy was made by Isaiah regarding the characteristics of the Messiah. One of the phrases used to described the coming Messiah was that He would be called the Prince of Peace. Jesus definitely fulfilled this prophecy in more than one way, and I would like us to look into this today.
The first way that we can think of Jesus as the Prince of Peace or the man of peace is by the way of peace that He promoted in His teachings. Jesus taught the way of non-violence and peacefulness. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told us to do good to those who do wrong to us. He told His followers to turn the other cheek and to go the extra mile. He instructed us to end the practice of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Jesus taught us to do unto others as we would have done to us.
Jesus lived out His teachings during the course of His ministry on this earth. He was beaten and abused by the soldiers before He was crucified. However, Jesus did not rage against those who abusing Him. Jesus asked the Father to forgive those who were crucifying Him.
On one occasion, Jesus was passing through the region of Samaria with His disciples. The people in one particular Samaritan village did not want Jesus to stay with them because Jesus was headed to Jerusalem. This action made two of Jesus disciples furious. They asked Jesus if He wanted them to call down fire from Heaven and burn them all up.
Jesus sternly rebuked His disciples for this type of thinking. He said that they didn't know the spirit they were of by making such a remark.
In the Beatitudes, Jesus said that the peacemakers are among those who are blessed. We will be honored by God if we seek to make peace with others.
Those who are followers of Jesus should be the ones who are actively seeking peace in this world. Those who name the name of Jesus should not promote violence and warfare. We are to seek out the ways in which reconciliation can be accomplished between people and nations.
It is very troubling to me when Christians are engaged in promoting war and weapons. This is not the way that Jesus taught. Jesus didn't teach that we should all be armed. He calls to live out the way of peace in all of our relationships so that we might bring others to peace.
One way that Christians can promote peace in the world is by doing as much good as possible to make this world a better place. When we reach out to others in love, it produces a change in heart that leads others to the way of peace and to the way of Jesus Christ.
Now, there is another way in which we can see that Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Jesus has come to bring peace to people's hearts. He does this for both those who are His followers and those who are not yet His followers.
Those who have not accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord cannot know true peace. Jesus is the only one that can bring true peace to the human heart because He is the only one who provides forgiveness of sins and reconciliation between the sinner and God. When a sinner is restored to fellowship with God, the peace of God can then fill that person's heart.
Jesus is our peace. Jesus said in John 14:27 that He was leaving us with His peace. We can have the peace of knowing that Jesus is always with us no matter what we are going through. He will strengthen us and help us through all the storms of life. No matter what we face, Jesus is always with us to speak peace into the troubles of our lives.
Now there is an ultimate way in which Jesus is the Prince of Peace. One day, Jesus will come again in power and great glory. Every eye will see Him. Every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
When Jesus comes again, He will bring peace to all the world and to the entire created order. Nation will no longer rise against nation. People will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. War will be studied no more. The lion will lie down with the lamb. All will be at peace.
Jesus will sit on the throne in Jerusalem and bring justice, peace, mercy and goodness to the entire world. All will be as it was intended when the universe was first created.
I hope that you know the peace in your heart that only Jesus can bring. I invite you to turn your life over to Him today. Jesus will change your life, and He will make you whole.
Next week, we will continue with our current series of messages. On Monday, I will post the verses. I will post the next chapter of my book about Toby on Wednesday Lord willing. May God bless you all. Amen.
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Toby-- The Story of My Friend -- Chapter 3
This is the next installment of my book about Toby.
Chapter 3
Toby always was a really playful dog. He was always looking for and ready to have a good time. That quality made us quite compatible.
As I mentioned in a previous chapter, I first bonded with Toby through a game of fetch with some old kite string. Fetch became an important part of our play time, but we did graduate to better items than kite string.
The first toy I bought Toby was a small, green alligator. When I unwrapped the package and gave the gator a sharp squeak, I captured Toby's undivided attention. His ears stood up more than usual, and he starred intently at this small noisemaker.
I took the gator and flung it as far as possible across the living room. Toby dashed after it, pounced on it, and set down to have a good long chew. He never would return a thrown object back to me. I would come over to get the gator, and a tug of war ensued. As always, Toby acquiesced. With that, our modified game of fetch resumed. We could play like this for hours. Finally, both of us would end up breathless from to much gator chasing.
Toby liked to play with his gator at all times. He'd squeak it, chew it and fetch it. Whenever I said, "It's gator time" he knew instantly what that meant.
I bought Toby several other chew toys over the years. He had a rubber tennis shoe, a squeaky carrot and some other toys. Toby never liked these toys as much as his well worn gator. We played with that old swamp dweller until it finally fell apart. Sadly, I could never find another gator exactly like it again.
After gator died, Toby got into the habit of tearing his toys apart, so I didn't leave them out for him all of the time. One time, I bought him a little rubber beef steak to play with. The minute I gave it to him he ripped it apart and tried to eat it. I guess he thought that it was the real thing.
Besides playing gator, Toby and I engaged in other fun activities like racing. It was one of our favorite things to do in Toby's younger days. Out in the backyard, my uncle had an old bathtub that we used as the starting point of our races. My Mom acted as the referee and official race starter. Toby and I would stand in anticipation waiting for the signal to cruise to the finish line marked by the rose trellises at the end of the yard. I always had to hold Toby back as he always tried to gain the advantage.
When Mom said, "go", we were off and running as fast as possible. Neither of us wanted to let the other win. Unfortunately for me, Toby won the majority of these races. For a little dog, he was lightning fast. I never would have thought such stubby legs could move so fast.
Toby had a unique running style. He didn't move his front and back legs in synchrony as most dogs. Instead, Toby threw both of this front legs out, and then pushed himself along with both back legs. It was sort of a bouncing and pouncing motion that looked awkward, but it produced a great deal of speed.
Toby didn't just race me though. He liked to race through the house as motorcycles sped down the street in front of the house.
At one time, before they were outlawed, three-wheeled motorcycles were popular where I live. The kids would ride fast and loud down the streets and alleys of my community. These motorcycles drove Toby crazy. He tried to chase these roaring vehicles down even though he was safe inside the house.
My house was a long, ranch house that allowed a dog to make a straight shot from end to end without hindrance. When Toby heard the motorcycles coming, he would start barking, jump to his feet and dash from one end of the house to the other. In one great leap, he would jump on the chair by the big picture window and bark and growl at this hated nemesis.
Thankfully, this all ended when the motorcycles were banned. Toby was relieved that this was all over, and so was I.
While Toby grew to feeble to play fetch much or race, one game we played right until the end was the most fun of all. Toby possessed a great sense of smell, and his tracking ability could put a bloodhound to shame.
The way we tested Toby's tracking was by playing hide and seek indoors and outdoors. My Mom would distract Toby while I went and hid somewhere. After I was thoroughly hidden, Mom would say to Toby," Go find Garry", and Toby would be off in search of me.
Toby always found me. After a brief glance to see if I was in view, Toby put his nose to the ground and started sniffing out my scent. From my secure vantage point, I would watch him following my exact track right up to my carefully chosen hiding place. When he found me, he would jump up and down with excitement. I really believe that with a little training, Toby could have won some prizes in the AKC tracking competitions.
Toby loved to play, and I loved to play with him. We were always trying to think up new ways to have fun. Toby grew too old to play some of our games, but even when he reached his teens, he was very active and ready to go.
Don't let anyone tell you that older dogs have no energy or can't learn. Toby proved that even when they have grown old, dogs still want to play and have a good time. Give an older dog a chance, and he will become your best friend.
Chapter 3
Toby always was a really playful dog. He was always looking for and ready to have a good time. That quality made us quite compatible.
As I mentioned in a previous chapter, I first bonded with Toby through a game of fetch with some old kite string. Fetch became an important part of our play time, but we did graduate to better items than kite string.
The first toy I bought Toby was a small, green alligator. When I unwrapped the package and gave the gator a sharp squeak, I captured Toby's undivided attention. His ears stood up more than usual, and he starred intently at this small noisemaker.
I took the gator and flung it as far as possible across the living room. Toby dashed after it, pounced on it, and set down to have a good long chew. He never would return a thrown object back to me. I would come over to get the gator, and a tug of war ensued. As always, Toby acquiesced. With that, our modified game of fetch resumed. We could play like this for hours. Finally, both of us would end up breathless from to much gator chasing.
Toby liked to play with his gator at all times. He'd squeak it, chew it and fetch it. Whenever I said, "It's gator time" he knew instantly what that meant.
I bought Toby several other chew toys over the years. He had a rubber tennis shoe, a squeaky carrot and some other toys. Toby never liked these toys as much as his well worn gator. We played with that old swamp dweller until it finally fell apart. Sadly, I could never find another gator exactly like it again.
After gator died, Toby got into the habit of tearing his toys apart, so I didn't leave them out for him all of the time. One time, I bought him a little rubber beef steak to play with. The minute I gave it to him he ripped it apart and tried to eat it. I guess he thought that it was the real thing.
Besides playing gator, Toby and I engaged in other fun activities like racing. It was one of our favorite things to do in Toby's younger days. Out in the backyard, my uncle had an old bathtub that we used as the starting point of our races. My Mom acted as the referee and official race starter. Toby and I would stand in anticipation waiting for the signal to cruise to the finish line marked by the rose trellises at the end of the yard. I always had to hold Toby back as he always tried to gain the advantage.
When Mom said, "go", we were off and running as fast as possible. Neither of us wanted to let the other win. Unfortunately for me, Toby won the majority of these races. For a little dog, he was lightning fast. I never would have thought such stubby legs could move so fast.
Toby had a unique running style. He didn't move his front and back legs in synchrony as most dogs. Instead, Toby threw both of this front legs out, and then pushed himself along with both back legs. It was sort of a bouncing and pouncing motion that looked awkward, but it produced a great deal of speed.
Toby didn't just race me though. He liked to race through the house as motorcycles sped down the street in front of the house.
At one time, before they were outlawed, three-wheeled motorcycles were popular where I live. The kids would ride fast and loud down the streets and alleys of my community. These motorcycles drove Toby crazy. He tried to chase these roaring vehicles down even though he was safe inside the house.
My house was a long, ranch house that allowed a dog to make a straight shot from end to end without hindrance. When Toby heard the motorcycles coming, he would start barking, jump to his feet and dash from one end of the house to the other. In one great leap, he would jump on the chair by the big picture window and bark and growl at this hated nemesis.
Thankfully, this all ended when the motorcycles were banned. Toby was relieved that this was all over, and so was I.
While Toby grew to feeble to play fetch much or race, one game we played right until the end was the most fun of all. Toby possessed a great sense of smell, and his tracking ability could put a bloodhound to shame.
The way we tested Toby's tracking was by playing hide and seek indoors and outdoors. My Mom would distract Toby while I went and hid somewhere. After I was thoroughly hidden, Mom would say to Toby," Go find Garry", and Toby would be off in search of me.
Toby always found me. After a brief glance to see if I was in view, Toby put his nose to the ground and started sniffing out my scent. From my secure vantage point, I would watch him following my exact track right up to my carefully chosen hiding place. When he found me, he would jump up and down with excitement. I really believe that with a little training, Toby could have won some prizes in the AKC tracking competitions.
Toby loved to play, and I loved to play with him. We were always trying to think up new ways to have fun. Toby grew too old to play some of our games, but even when he reached his teens, he was very active and ready to go.
Don't let anyone tell you that older dogs have no energy or can't learn. Toby proved that even when they have grown old, dogs still want to play and have a good time. Give an older dog a chance, and he will become your best friend.
Monday, July 23, 2018
Verse For the Week -- Verses About God and Animals
Psalm 104:21 -- "The lions roar for prey and seek their food from God."
Psalm 36:6 -- "Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, Your justice like the great deep, You, Lord, preserve both people and animals."
Psalm 147:9 -- "He gives the beast its food, and to the young ravens which cry."
Psalm 36:6 -- "Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, Your justice like the great deep, You, Lord, preserve both people and animals."
Psalm 147:9 -- "He gives the beast its food, and to the young ravens which cry."
Friday, July 20, 2018
Weekend Sermon -- Jesus is Our Friend
Welcome to this week's posting of the Weekend Sermon. It is great to be able to be with you today. I hope and pray that everyone is having a good week.
There are some important items that we need to pray about today. Last night, several people were killed on a lake near Branson, Missouri when a boat they were in went down in a storm. Please pray for those who are grieving at this time. Also, several people were injured when tornadoes hit some towns in Iowa. Please pray for the injured that they will recover, and pray that those who experienced damage will be able to get the help that they need.
This has been a hard week for me, and I need your prayers. I found out some terrible financial news this week, and it has really set me back. As of yet, I don't know what I am going to do. Please pray that I will be able to get more writing. I also need to find some other work. Please pray that I can find something that I can do with the respiratory problems that I have. Thank you for your prayers.
Let us remember to keep praying for peace in the troubled areas of the this world. Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Israel, Libya and South Sudan all need our prayers for peace.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in North Korea and China. Pray that many will come to know Jesus in these two nations.
I want to thank the Lord for keeping the World Cup safe. I also want to thank the Lord for keeping me safe from the storms last night. I feel so bad for those who experienced loss.
For the last several weeks, we've been examining who Jesus is. Today, we will continue by looking at the fact that Jesus is our friend.
I've run across some people who are opposed to referring to Jesus as one's friend. They feel that it is disrespectful. I really don't understand where these people are coming from because Jesus Himself calls those of us who follow Him his friends. If Jesus calls us friends, we can certainly call Him our friend. Let's look into what the Bible says about Jesus being our friend.
In John 15:13, Jesus says that He is laying down His life for His friends. That would include the disciples and those who would come to believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord.
In John 15:15, Jesus states that He is no longer calling us servants. He is calling us friends. Jesus said that a servant does not know what the master is doing. However, Jesus has made known His will and His way to those who follow Him.
Let's look at some characteristics that make up a good friend and see how these apply to a relationship with Jesus.
A good friend is someone who wants to be with you. They have time for you, and they want to be involved in your life. Jesus is always there for us. He said that He will never leave us, and He will never forsake us. Jesus said that He will be with us until the end of the age.
Jesus wants to be with us forever. Jesus said in John 14:2 that He has gone to prepare a place for us so that where He is, we can be there too. Those who put there faith and trust in Jesus will be Him forever.
A good friend helps us in our time of need. Jesus is always there to help us. We can call upon Him and ask Him to help us and aid us in the struggles that we are encountering in this life.
Another thing that a good friend does is tell us the truth. You wouldn't want a friend who just told you what you wanted to hear. Jesus confronts us with those things that keep our lives from being all that they should be. He speaks the truth in love to our hearts that we might grow closer to Him and make a greater impact for the kingdom of God within this world.
Jesus actually has proven Himself to be a greater friend than any earthly friend can be. Jesus left the glories of Heaven to take upon Himself the form of humanity. He lived a holy and sinless life so that we would have an example as to how to live in this world. Jesus then went to the cross to bear our sins in His body on the cross. He rose again for us so that the results of sin could be defeated. Death has no more reign over those who are in Christ Jesus.
Jesus also shows that He is our friend because He is always there to listen to us when we call upon Him in prayer. We can go to Him at any time and let Him know what we are going through. He always hears us when we call out to Him.
There is an old hymn called "What a Friend We Have in Jesus". This hymn says, "What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. Who can find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share. Jesus knows our every weakness. Take it to the Lord in prayer." This is one of my favorite hymns because it speaks of the way that Jesus is our friend.
You may have experienced the grace of great friendship in this life. I've written much about what a great friend I had in Toby. As great a friend as he has been to me, there is a friend who is greater. Jesus is the best friend that I've ever known. He has been my rock and my help through the many trials and tribulations that I have faced in this life. No matter what I've gone through, I have always felt the presence of Jesus with me. I know that He is the friend that will be with me now and into and through eternity. I look forward to seeing Jesus face to face one day and thank Him for choosing me to be His friend.
In this life, you will have people who claim to be your friend. Some of these people will betray you and treat you in a bad way. Jesus will never do this. He will never abandon you. He will never downgrade you. He will always be there to listen and to love you.
I hope that you know Jesus as your friend. He wants to be your friend. It is His desire that you call upon Him. Turn to Him in repentance and faith. Trust in Jesus as Lord and come to know that Jesus is your friend.
Next week, we will continue with our Who is Jesus series. On Monday, I will post the verses. On Wednesday, I will post chapter 3 of my book about Toby. May God bless you all. Amen.
There are some important items that we need to pray about today. Last night, several people were killed on a lake near Branson, Missouri when a boat they were in went down in a storm. Please pray for those who are grieving at this time. Also, several people were injured when tornadoes hit some towns in Iowa. Please pray for the injured that they will recover, and pray that those who experienced damage will be able to get the help that they need.
This has been a hard week for me, and I need your prayers. I found out some terrible financial news this week, and it has really set me back. As of yet, I don't know what I am going to do. Please pray that I will be able to get more writing. I also need to find some other work. Please pray that I can find something that I can do with the respiratory problems that I have. Thank you for your prayers.
Let us remember to keep praying for peace in the troubled areas of the this world. Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Israel, Libya and South Sudan all need our prayers for peace.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in North Korea and China. Pray that many will come to know Jesus in these two nations.
I want to thank the Lord for keeping the World Cup safe. I also want to thank the Lord for keeping me safe from the storms last night. I feel so bad for those who experienced loss.
For the last several weeks, we've been examining who Jesus is. Today, we will continue by looking at the fact that Jesus is our friend.
I've run across some people who are opposed to referring to Jesus as one's friend. They feel that it is disrespectful. I really don't understand where these people are coming from because Jesus Himself calls those of us who follow Him his friends. If Jesus calls us friends, we can certainly call Him our friend. Let's look into what the Bible says about Jesus being our friend.
In John 15:13, Jesus says that He is laying down His life for His friends. That would include the disciples and those who would come to believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord.
In John 15:15, Jesus states that He is no longer calling us servants. He is calling us friends. Jesus said that a servant does not know what the master is doing. However, Jesus has made known His will and His way to those who follow Him.
Let's look at some characteristics that make up a good friend and see how these apply to a relationship with Jesus.
A good friend is someone who wants to be with you. They have time for you, and they want to be involved in your life. Jesus is always there for us. He said that He will never leave us, and He will never forsake us. Jesus said that He will be with us until the end of the age.
Jesus wants to be with us forever. Jesus said in John 14:2 that He has gone to prepare a place for us so that where He is, we can be there too. Those who put there faith and trust in Jesus will be Him forever.
A good friend helps us in our time of need. Jesus is always there to help us. We can call upon Him and ask Him to help us and aid us in the struggles that we are encountering in this life.
Another thing that a good friend does is tell us the truth. You wouldn't want a friend who just told you what you wanted to hear. Jesus confronts us with those things that keep our lives from being all that they should be. He speaks the truth in love to our hearts that we might grow closer to Him and make a greater impact for the kingdom of God within this world.
Jesus actually has proven Himself to be a greater friend than any earthly friend can be. Jesus left the glories of Heaven to take upon Himself the form of humanity. He lived a holy and sinless life so that we would have an example as to how to live in this world. Jesus then went to the cross to bear our sins in His body on the cross. He rose again for us so that the results of sin could be defeated. Death has no more reign over those who are in Christ Jesus.
Jesus also shows that He is our friend because He is always there to listen to us when we call upon Him in prayer. We can go to Him at any time and let Him know what we are going through. He always hears us when we call out to Him.
There is an old hymn called "What a Friend We Have in Jesus". This hymn says, "What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. Who can find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share. Jesus knows our every weakness. Take it to the Lord in prayer." This is one of my favorite hymns because it speaks of the way that Jesus is our friend.
You may have experienced the grace of great friendship in this life. I've written much about what a great friend I had in Toby. As great a friend as he has been to me, there is a friend who is greater. Jesus is the best friend that I've ever known. He has been my rock and my help through the many trials and tribulations that I have faced in this life. No matter what I've gone through, I have always felt the presence of Jesus with me. I know that He is the friend that will be with me now and into and through eternity. I look forward to seeing Jesus face to face one day and thank Him for choosing me to be His friend.
In this life, you will have people who claim to be your friend. Some of these people will betray you and treat you in a bad way. Jesus will never do this. He will never abandon you. He will never downgrade you. He will always be there to listen and to love you.
I hope that you know Jesus as your friend. He wants to be your friend. It is His desire that you call upon Him. Turn to Him in repentance and faith. Trust in Jesus as Lord and come to know that Jesus is your friend.
Next week, we will continue with our Who is Jesus series. On Monday, I will post the verses. On Wednesday, I will post chapter 3 of my book about Toby. May God bless you all. Amen.
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Toby -- The Story of My Friend Chapter 2
This is the next installment in my book about my friend Toby.
Chapter 2
My first days with Toby weren't idyllic. I was certainly glad to have him, but he wasn't too excited about this new situation. The moment that Toby set foot in my home he immediately ran and hid under the dining room table. No amount of persuasion on my part could produce a corgi.
Toby wouldn't eat, drink or play. I was disappointed. I thought that maybe this new relationship might not work out.
After a couple of days, Toby would venture out from his lair to eat a bite or two or go out to the bathroom. Sadly, he began demonstrating some behaviors that made me wonder about his past.
I noticed that if I walked near him, or if I lifted up my foot, he would cringe as if I was going to kick him. Once, I picked up a newspaper from off the floor by my Dad's chair, and Toby ran like a flash back under the table and wouldn't come back out until I put the newspaper down.
About two or three weeks passed, and I can't say that Toby and I made too much progress. He didn't want to play, and for the most part, he remained firmly encamped under the dining room table. My folks thought that I should get a puppy instead of this dog. I wasn't about to do that, and I'm glad that I didn't listen to that piece of advice.
One afternoon, I decided to clean out the utility room in the back of the house. Actually, I'd been ordered to get my junk out of there and put it in the garage. I had several rolls of old string and some old kites that were in disrepair. At one time, I did a lot of kite flying, but I wasn't into that much anymore. I grabbed several bundles of string and headed out to the garage. On my way, the clumsy person that I am, I dropped the whole batch on the dining room floor.
No sooner had the balls of string hit the floor, a red and white streak flew from underneath the table, grabbed a ball of string and dashed into the living room. I ran after Toby, and he dropped the string. I picked up the string, and Toby stood starring at me. I threw the ball of string across the living room, and Toby tore after it. He wouldn't bring the string back to me, but if I went and picked it up and threw it, he would chase after it. By the way, as smart as Toby was, he never got the hang of retrieving. We played with that old ball of string until we were both falling down tired.
That time of play changed everything between us. From that moment on, Toby was my friend for life. We played together every day. I bought him an alligator toy that squeaked and we played our version of fetch with that thing until it fell apart. We went everywhere together. From that day on, Toby started sleeping right beside my bed every night, and no one had better come in that room while I was asleep. We became fast friends and never looked back.
I owe a lot to kite string and patience.
Chapter 2
My first days with Toby weren't idyllic. I was certainly glad to have him, but he wasn't too excited about this new situation. The moment that Toby set foot in my home he immediately ran and hid under the dining room table. No amount of persuasion on my part could produce a corgi.
Toby wouldn't eat, drink or play. I was disappointed. I thought that maybe this new relationship might not work out.
After a couple of days, Toby would venture out from his lair to eat a bite or two or go out to the bathroom. Sadly, he began demonstrating some behaviors that made me wonder about his past.
I noticed that if I walked near him, or if I lifted up my foot, he would cringe as if I was going to kick him. Once, I picked up a newspaper from off the floor by my Dad's chair, and Toby ran like a flash back under the table and wouldn't come back out until I put the newspaper down.
About two or three weeks passed, and I can't say that Toby and I made too much progress. He didn't want to play, and for the most part, he remained firmly encamped under the dining room table. My folks thought that I should get a puppy instead of this dog. I wasn't about to do that, and I'm glad that I didn't listen to that piece of advice.
One afternoon, I decided to clean out the utility room in the back of the house. Actually, I'd been ordered to get my junk out of there and put it in the garage. I had several rolls of old string and some old kites that were in disrepair. At one time, I did a lot of kite flying, but I wasn't into that much anymore. I grabbed several bundles of string and headed out to the garage. On my way, the clumsy person that I am, I dropped the whole batch on the dining room floor.
No sooner had the balls of string hit the floor, a red and white streak flew from underneath the table, grabbed a ball of string and dashed into the living room. I ran after Toby, and he dropped the string. I picked up the string, and Toby stood starring at me. I threw the ball of string across the living room, and Toby tore after it. He wouldn't bring the string back to me, but if I went and picked it up and threw it, he would chase after it. By the way, as smart as Toby was, he never got the hang of retrieving. We played with that old ball of string until we were both falling down tired.
That time of play changed everything between us. From that moment on, Toby was my friend for life. We played together every day. I bought him an alligator toy that squeaked and we played our version of fetch with that thing until it fell apart. We went everywhere together. From that day on, Toby started sleeping right beside my bed every night, and no one had better come in that room while I was asleep. We became fast friends and never looked back.
I owe a lot to kite string and patience.
Monday, July 16, 2018
Verses For the Week
Psalm 147:5 -- "Great is our Lord and mighty in power, His understanding has no limit."
Romans 8:18 -- "What we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later."
Romans 8:18 -- "What we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later."
Friday, July 13, 2018
Weekend Sermon -- Jesus is Savior of the Universe
Welcome to another edition of the Weekend Sermon. I look forward each week to when it is time to post the message. I hope that all of you are having a good week.
This has been a good week for me. I have been having a good time watching the World Cup, and I am looking forward to the final two games. I've had a good week in writing, and I am thankful to the Lord for that.
In prayer this week, let us thank the Lord that the children in Thailand were rescued. Let us also thank the Lord that the World Cup has been safe. Let us pray for the continued safety for all there.
Please pray for those in Japan who are facing flooding and mudslides. Also, please pray for those in Puerto Rico who still do not have electricity or the aid that they need to recover.
I would ask that you pray for me in a matter. Please pray that I can find a part-time job that is just right for me. Thank you for your prayers.
Let us continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of the world. Pray for peace in Yemen, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, South Sudan and the Central African Republic.
For our prayer focus countries this week. let's pray for those in India and Turkey. Pray that many will come to know of the love and forgiveness of the Lord Jesus.
Over the course of the last several weeks, we have been engaged in a series of messages about Who is Jesus? We will continue with our series today, and I want us to ponder the fact that Jesus is the Savior of the Universe.
The Bible makes it quite clear that Jesus is the one who was sent to bring salvation to the world. We read this clearly in John 3:16 which states, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but should have everlasting life."
One day, Jesus was walking along the banks of the Jordan River. John the Baptist saw Jesus and said that Jesus was the Lamb of God who was sent to take away the sins of the world.
I John 2:2 states, "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins, but for the sins of the whole world."
I Peter 2:24 tells us that Jesus bore our sins in His body on the cross. He took our sins and in their place, He provided His righteousness.
Jesus had to come to be the Savior of the world because of sin that entered in to the perfection of God's creation. When God originally created this world, there was no sin. Everything was entirely perfect. All of the created order existed in harmony with God. However, humans sinned against their creator. Death entered into the world, and all of the created order was thrown into disarray.
Jesus came to provide salvation. His death and resurrection provided for the salvation of all those who would call upon Him in repentance and faith. Jesus' work as Savior applies to humans, but it applies to all of the creation as well. Let's look at both.
Jesus' death and resurrection provides for the salvation of people. We have sinned, and our sin has caused separation from God. Jesus saves us from our sins, and Jesus saves us from the penalty that our sins deserved. His death allows us to have restored fellowship with the Lord. One day, those who are in Christ Jesus will be with Him.
Jesus did not just come to this earth to save the human race. The death of Jesus and His saving mission apply to all of creation. Romans 8:21 tells us that, "The creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God." Verse 22 says, "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time."
What does all this mean? It means that when humans fell into sin, all of creation fell into decay. The perfection that existed in the Garden of Eden was past. Now, all of creation is groaning and waiting for the day when all will be restored to the way that it was before sin entered into the world.
John Wesley, who is one of my spiritual heroes, preached a message called "The General Deliverance" in which he spoke about the fact that Jesus' death and resurrection provided for the restoration of all the created order including the animals that live on the earth. Everything is put right by the saving work of Jesus Christ.
We see the restoration of all things in Jesus described in Acts. Acts 3:21 states, "Heaven must receive Him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as He promised long ago through His holy prophets. Prophets like Isaiah foretold of time when all would be well. The lion and lamb would rest together. Nations would no longer wage war against one another. Fear and heartache would be banished. All would be well once again on this earth.
When Jesus comes again to this earth in power and great glory, that will be the ultimate fulfillment of the work of salvation. When Jesus comes, everything on planet earth and across the cosmos will be restored to the way it was before it was marred by sin. Jesus has saved and He will save all of creation.
Jesus loved us and came to save us. We can call upon the name of the Lord and be saved. Whoever comes to Jesus for salvation will not be cast away. Whosoever will may come.
One day, Jesus will come again. All will be well and good. Everything will once again be the way that God designed it to be. This has all been made possible by the work of the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Savior and Lord of all the Universe.
Next week, we will continue with our series of messages about Jesus. On Monday, I will post the verses for the week. On Wednesday, I will post the next chapter in my book about my friend Toby. May God bless you all. Amen.
This has been a good week for me. I have been having a good time watching the World Cup, and I am looking forward to the final two games. I've had a good week in writing, and I am thankful to the Lord for that.
In prayer this week, let us thank the Lord that the children in Thailand were rescued. Let us also thank the Lord that the World Cup has been safe. Let us pray for the continued safety for all there.
Please pray for those in Japan who are facing flooding and mudslides. Also, please pray for those in Puerto Rico who still do not have electricity or the aid that they need to recover.
I would ask that you pray for me in a matter. Please pray that I can find a part-time job that is just right for me. Thank you for your prayers.
Let us continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of the world. Pray for peace in Yemen, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, South Sudan and the Central African Republic.
For our prayer focus countries this week. let's pray for those in India and Turkey. Pray that many will come to know of the love and forgiveness of the Lord Jesus.
Over the course of the last several weeks, we have been engaged in a series of messages about Who is Jesus? We will continue with our series today, and I want us to ponder the fact that Jesus is the Savior of the Universe.
The Bible makes it quite clear that Jesus is the one who was sent to bring salvation to the world. We read this clearly in John 3:16 which states, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but should have everlasting life."
One day, Jesus was walking along the banks of the Jordan River. John the Baptist saw Jesus and said that Jesus was the Lamb of God who was sent to take away the sins of the world.
I John 2:2 states, "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins, but for the sins of the whole world."
I Peter 2:24 tells us that Jesus bore our sins in His body on the cross. He took our sins and in their place, He provided His righteousness.
Jesus had to come to be the Savior of the world because of sin that entered in to the perfection of God's creation. When God originally created this world, there was no sin. Everything was entirely perfect. All of the created order existed in harmony with God. However, humans sinned against their creator. Death entered into the world, and all of the created order was thrown into disarray.
Jesus came to provide salvation. His death and resurrection provided for the salvation of all those who would call upon Him in repentance and faith. Jesus' work as Savior applies to humans, but it applies to all of the creation as well. Let's look at both.
Jesus' death and resurrection provides for the salvation of people. We have sinned, and our sin has caused separation from God. Jesus saves us from our sins, and Jesus saves us from the penalty that our sins deserved. His death allows us to have restored fellowship with the Lord. One day, those who are in Christ Jesus will be with Him.
Jesus did not just come to this earth to save the human race. The death of Jesus and His saving mission apply to all of creation. Romans 8:21 tells us that, "The creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God." Verse 22 says, "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time."
What does all this mean? It means that when humans fell into sin, all of creation fell into decay. The perfection that existed in the Garden of Eden was past. Now, all of creation is groaning and waiting for the day when all will be restored to the way that it was before sin entered into the world.
John Wesley, who is one of my spiritual heroes, preached a message called "The General Deliverance" in which he spoke about the fact that Jesus' death and resurrection provided for the restoration of all the created order including the animals that live on the earth. Everything is put right by the saving work of Jesus Christ.
We see the restoration of all things in Jesus described in Acts. Acts 3:21 states, "Heaven must receive Him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as He promised long ago through His holy prophets. Prophets like Isaiah foretold of time when all would be well. The lion and lamb would rest together. Nations would no longer wage war against one another. Fear and heartache would be banished. All would be well once again on this earth.
When Jesus comes again to this earth in power and great glory, that will be the ultimate fulfillment of the work of salvation. When Jesus comes, everything on planet earth and across the cosmos will be restored to the way it was before it was marred by sin. Jesus has saved and He will save all of creation.
Jesus loved us and came to save us. We can call upon the name of the Lord and be saved. Whoever comes to Jesus for salvation will not be cast away. Whosoever will may come.
One day, Jesus will come again. All will be well and good. Everything will once again be the way that God designed it to be. This has all been made possible by the work of the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Savior and Lord of all the Universe.
Next week, we will continue with our series of messages about Jesus. On Monday, I will post the verses for the week. On Wednesday, I will post the next chapter in my book about my friend Toby. May God bless you all. Amen.
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
Toby -- The Story of My Friend
Today, I will begin posting the chapters of the book I wrote about my friend Toby. I posted this book here on the blog a few years back. I wanted to post it again now. For the next few weeks, I will post one chapter each Wednesday. After I have posted the book, I will resume the reviews on Wednesday.
I do not mind if people repost the sermons that I post. This book is copyrighted material, so please do not repost it. Thank you.
Toby --The Story of My Friend
Introduction
I have known some interesting dogs in my life. A few stand out vividly in my memory. My Mother's collies were exceptionally beautiful. She wanted a collie dog like Lassie since the time she was a little girl. Her dream came true. Blazer was a fantastic collie. He was so magnificent that he won a collie specialty dog show.
One crazy dog we had was Buster the English bulldog. He was so wild when he was a puppy that he chewed a hole in the kitchen wall.
My Father's favorite dog was Abraham the rottweiler. We bought him from a Jewish man who had a litter of three male puppies who he named Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Some people think that all rottweilers are nasty, but Abraham was the sweetest dog one could ever meet.
This book tells the story of the best dog that I have ever known. His name was Toby, and, as far as I'm concerned, he was the greatest dog that ever lived. He was a red and white Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Before Toby came into my life, I didn't really care much for the corgi breeds. I thought that they looked silly with their short legs and long bodies. After having been with my friend, that old opinion has changed dramatically.
Toby came into my life when I needed a friend. I needed someone to be there for me in a non-judgmental way. The two of us shared most of the important events in my early life during the almost twelve years that we were together. A corgi runs through most of my memorable experiences.
In the chapters that follow, I will recount many of the special times that Toby and I shared together. I hope that as you read about our special relationship that you will think back with fondness about the special animal that blessed your life.
Chapter 1
When I was growing up, I was ill much of the time. I had a condition known as hypogammaglobulinemia that left my immune system very weak. I was especially susceptible to respiratory illness such as bronchitis and pneumonia.
Because of my illnesses, a lot of the kids at my school didn't want to have too much to do with me. I always had good dog friends though.
Early in 1985, I found myself with no dogs to call my friends. Furthermore, I was also facing some very hurtful issues at an extremely legalistic and cultic church my parents attended. I was right in the pressure cooker since I also attended the school operated by this same church. Each day, I was subjected to a stifling and rigid environment. My spirit was crushed, and a great weight of depression descended upon me.
It is like being in hell to every day walk on eggshells in fear of violating the tiniest rule and then facing punishment and humiliation. For instance, I once received detention for wearing a white shirt to school on the wrong day. White shirts were only to be worn on Tuesday and Thursday. Red shirts had to be worn on the other days.
Students were constantly warned not to be wordly. No music was allowed except Christian music, and that did not include contemporary, Christian music. Television was an instrument of the devil. If you mentioned a television show you may have watched it was an automatic two day detention.
Instead of Christmas being a time of joy, it was a time of sadness. Christmas trees were idols, and Santa Claus was a false god.
Someone in my physical condition faced even greater condemnation since sickness was seen as a punishment from God. If you were sick, obviously there was great sin in your life, and God was punishing you in order to bring you to repentance.
Throughout these years, I lived in fear, and I never felt any unconditional love. From what I knew, love was based on performance. Be good, get good grades, follow the rules and you were loved. Step out of line, and the hammer falls.
Bad health and crazy religion were getting too much for me. I say this with all candor. I doubt that I'd be writing today if on a Sunday in January of 1985 I hadn't read an advertisement in the Kansas City Star that changed my life forever.
Sunday, after church, I decided to read the dogs for sale section in the paper. My attention snapped to full focus when I saw one advertisement in particular that read:
Corgi for sale--1 1/2 year old male. Housebroken. $150
This was great. An adult dog who was smaller and already house trained. From the phone number listed in the ad, I knew that he wasn't very far away.
I found myself in some difficulty, however, when it came to convincing my parents that going to look at this dog was a good idea. Neither of my parents wanted a dog. They didn't like corgis either.
After about an hour of persuasion, as I dreaded every moment that my new dog might be heading to another home, I finally convinced my Mom to at least let me call and get some more information.
The lady who placed the ad said that this dog had been purchased as a show dog, but his feet were too small according to the breed standard. Also, the dog was primarily her son's dog, and since he'd gone off to college, she was selling the dog. By the way, she said the dog's name was Toby. I was sold right then. I always liked that name for a dog.
We made arrangements to go look at Toby that same afternoon. My Dad wasn't excited about getting out in the January cold, but he came along with us to the home of Toby.
The house was in a very, rural area, and the roads were icy and not well plowed. The drive leading up to the house was treacherous, and I remember the car sliding.
As we got out of the car, we were greeted by a great chorus of barking. All along the back of the house were rows of kennels housing various dogs. Near the house, a small, red and white dog came bounding toward me barking. A yell from the house turned the corgi around in his tracks. We followed him inside.
After the customary greetings, Toby's owner showed me some of the ribbons he'd won at puppy shows. She said that Toby loved hanging out with teenage boys, and that one of Toby's favorite activities was herding the neighbor's cows. All this time, Toby was hiding under the sofa.
Finally, we coaxed him out of hiding. If you can love a dog at first sight, I loved Toby. He had short legs with white on each paw and a solid white chest.
When my folks said that I could have him, I was thrilled. Toby's soon to be former owner was thrilled too. She said that two other families had been there before us, but both passed Toby up. There loss. He was mine now.
As I look back, I realize that it was grace that brought Toby and I together. Others had come to see him before me. Either of those families could have seen Toby's great character, and I've have never known about him. What caused me to look through the paper for dogs that afternoon? What made me even consider a corgi, a breed I'd never been particularly fond of? I believe it was all God's grace. He knew that we needed each other more than either of us knew at the time.
I do not mind if people repost the sermons that I post. This book is copyrighted material, so please do not repost it. Thank you.
Toby --The Story of My Friend
Introduction
I have known some interesting dogs in my life. A few stand out vividly in my memory. My Mother's collies were exceptionally beautiful. She wanted a collie dog like Lassie since the time she was a little girl. Her dream came true. Blazer was a fantastic collie. He was so magnificent that he won a collie specialty dog show.
One crazy dog we had was Buster the English bulldog. He was so wild when he was a puppy that he chewed a hole in the kitchen wall.
My Father's favorite dog was Abraham the rottweiler. We bought him from a Jewish man who had a litter of three male puppies who he named Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Some people think that all rottweilers are nasty, but Abraham was the sweetest dog one could ever meet.
This book tells the story of the best dog that I have ever known. His name was Toby, and, as far as I'm concerned, he was the greatest dog that ever lived. He was a red and white Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Before Toby came into my life, I didn't really care much for the corgi breeds. I thought that they looked silly with their short legs and long bodies. After having been with my friend, that old opinion has changed dramatically.
Toby came into my life when I needed a friend. I needed someone to be there for me in a non-judgmental way. The two of us shared most of the important events in my early life during the almost twelve years that we were together. A corgi runs through most of my memorable experiences.
In the chapters that follow, I will recount many of the special times that Toby and I shared together. I hope that as you read about our special relationship that you will think back with fondness about the special animal that blessed your life.
Chapter 1
When I was growing up, I was ill much of the time. I had a condition known as hypogammaglobulinemia that left my immune system very weak. I was especially susceptible to respiratory illness such as bronchitis and pneumonia.
Because of my illnesses, a lot of the kids at my school didn't want to have too much to do with me. I always had good dog friends though.
Early in 1985, I found myself with no dogs to call my friends. Furthermore, I was also facing some very hurtful issues at an extremely legalistic and cultic church my parents attended. I was right in the pressure cooker since I also attended the school operated by this same church. Each day, I was subjected to a stifling and rigid environment. My spirit was crushed, and a great weight of depression descended upon me.
It is like being in hell to every day walk on eggshells in fear of violating the tiniest rule and then facing punishment and humiliation. For instance, I once received detention for wearing a white shirt to school on the wrong day. White shirts were only to be worn on Tuesday and Thursday. Red shirts had to be worn on the other days.
Students were constantly warned not to be wordly. No music was allowed except Christian music, and that did not include contemporary, Christian music. Television was an instrument of the devil. If you mentioned a television show you may have watched it was an automatic two day detention.
Instead of Christmas being a time of joy, it was a time of sadness. Christmas trees were idols, and Santa Claus was a false god.
Someone in my physical condition faced even greater condemnation since sickness was seen as a punishment from God. If you were sick, obviously there was great sin in your life, and God was punishing you in order to bring you to repentance.
Throughout these years, I lived in fear, and I never felt any unconditional love. From what I knew, love was based on performance. Be good, get good grades, follow the rules and you were loved. Step out of line, and the hammer falls.
Bad health and crazy religion were getting too much for me. I say this with all candor. I doubt that I'd be writing today if on a Sunday in January of 1985 I hadn't read an advertisement in the Kansas City Star that changed my life forever.
Sunday, after church, I decided to read the dogs for sale section in the paper. My attention snapped to full focus when I saw one advertisement in particular that read:
Corgi for sale--1 1/2 year old male. Housebroken. $150
This was great. An adult dog who was smaller and already house trained. From the phone number listed in the ad, I knew that he wasn't very far away.
I found myself in some difficulty, however, when it came to convincing my parents that going to look at this dog was a good idea. Neither of my parents wanted a dog. They didn't like corgis either.
After about an hour of persuasion, as I dreaded every moment that my new dog might be heading to another home, I finally convinced my Mom to at least let me call and get some more information.
The lady who placed the ad said that this dog had been purchased as a show dog, but his feet were too small according to the breed standard. Also, the dog was primarily her son's dog, and since he'd gone off to college, she was selling the dog. By the way, she said the dog's name was Toby. I was sold right then. I always liked that name for a dog.
We made arrangements to go look at Toby that same afternoon. My Dad wasn't excited about getting out in the January cold, but he came along with us to the home of Toby.
The house was in a very, rural area, and the roads were icy and not well plowed. The drive leading up to the house was treacherous, and I remember the car sliding.
As we got out of the car, we were greeted by a great chorus of barking. All along the back of the house were rows of kennels housing various dogs. Near the house, a small, red and white dog came bounding toward me barking. A yell from the house turned the corgi around in his tracks. We followed him inside.
After the customary greetings, Toby's owner showed me some of the ribbons he'd won at puppy shows. She said that Toby loved hanging out with teenage boys, and that one of Toby's favorite activities was herding the neighbor's cows. All this time, Toby was hiding under the sofa.
Finally, we coaxed him out of hiding. If you can love a dog at first sight, I loved Toby. He had short legs with white on each paw and a solid white chest.
When my folks said that I could have him, I was thrilled. Toby's soon to be former owner was thrilled too. She said that two other families had been there before us, but both passed Toby up. There loss. He was mine now.
As I look back, I realize that it was grace that brought Toby and I together. Others had come to see him before me. Either of those families could have seen Toby's great character, and I've have never known about him. What caused me to look through the paper for dogs that afternoon? What made me even consider a corgi, a breed I'd never been particularly fond of? I believe it was all God's grace. He knew that we needed each other more than either of us knew at the time.
Tuesday, July 10, 2018
Update
Beginning with tomorrow's post, I will be doing something different for the next few Wednesdays. If you have been following the blog for awhile, you know that I posted an abbreviated version of a book I wrote about my friend Toby here on the blog. That has been several years ago.
I have decided that I will post that book again. Each Wednesday for the next several Wednesdays, I will post one chapter of the book.
I will start posting reviews again after the book has been posted. That will give me time to find enough good books to post about.
I have decided that I will post that book again. Each Wednesday for the next several Wednesdays, I will post one chapter of the book.
I will start posting reviews again after the book has been posted. That will give me time to find enough good books to post about.
Monday, July 9, 2018
Verses For the Week
Isaiah 25:8 -- "He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; He will remove the people's disgrace from all the earth."
Luke 13:29 -- " People will come from the east and west and north and south and will take their places at the feast in the Kingdom of God."
Luke 13:29 -- " People will come from the east and west and north and south and will take their places at the feast in the Kingdom of God."
Friday, July 6, 2018
Weekend Sermon -- Jesus is the Messiah
Thank you for taking the time to read the Weekend Sermon. I hope that everyone is having a very good week.
Yesterday, we had a bad storm where I live. One of the neighbor's trees blew over. I am thankful that there was no damage at my house. Please pray that my neighbor gets his tree cut up with no problems. It didn't hurt his house, it just fell in the yard.
This week has been busy. I am thankful to the Lord for giving me writing work to do. I have an opportunity for an additional job. I am supposed to go in on Monday and find out more about it. Please pray that the Lord's will be done in this situation.
In other matters of prayer, please pray for those in the Houston area who are once again having to deal with flooding. Please pray that all will be well.
Thankfully, the World Cup has been safe so far. Continue to pray for safety for those at this event.
Let us continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of this world. Pray for peace in Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Yemen and Ukraine.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in Somalia and Jordan. Pray that many will hear about the love and grace of Jesus.
Over the course of the last few weeks, we have been in a series of messages looking at who Jesus is. This week, we will look at the fact that Jesus is the Messiah.
The idea that God would send a redeemer to deliver people from the power of sin and death is first found in the Bible all the way back in Genesis 3:15. Prior to what is discussed in this verse, Adam and Eve had disobeyed the commandment of the Lord. The Lord told them that they could eat from any tree in the garden except for the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. God told them that the day that they ate of that tree, they would surely die.
Adam and Eve did eat from that tree. Sin entered into the world. As the Bible says, death then passed upon all people for all have sinned.
Adam and Eve were punished by being banished from the Garden of Eden. However, God made a promise to them and to all generations. God said that one who would be born of woman would crush the power of the serpent who had tempted Eve. This is the first mention of a coming redeemer that is found in the Bible.
Several other Messianic prophecies are contained within the Bible. In fact, the entire sacrificial system that was established was a sign that demonstrated what would take place when the ultimate sacrifice of the redeemer was made.
I believe that it is quite clear from the life and the ministry of Jesus that He was the Messiah who God said would come clear back in Genesis. Let's look at some of the ways in which Jesus fulfilled Messianic prophecies.
First of all, Jesus was born in the place that the prophet Micah said the Messiah would be born. In Micah 5:2, Bethlehem was foretold as the place of the Messiah's birth. We know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
In the book of Zechariah there are two prophecies that Jesus fulfilled. Zechariah 9:9 says that the Messiah will ride into Jerusalem on a donkey. Jesus did this when He entered the city on what is now called Palm Sunday.
Zechariah also tells us in Zechariah 12:10 that the Messiah would be pierced. Jesus was pierced by the nails that went into His hands and feet on the cross. His side was pierced by the lance of a Roman soldier.
Psalm 22 is a Messianic Psalm. Within this Psalm, we can clearly see some of what happened during the time of Jesus on earth. This Psalm speaks about one's hands and feet being pierced and one's garments being divided. This clearly occurred when Jesus was on the cross. The Roman soldiers cast lots for His cloak. This Psalm also speaks about insults being hurled. Jesus had insults and slanders thrown at Him while He was on the cross. In spite of it all, Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
Psalm 22 goes on to speak about the exaltation of the Messiah. Because He has suffered, He will be exalted. The New Testament says the same about Jesus. In Philippians 2 we read that Jesus was willing to suffer death on the cross. Because of this, God has highly exalted Jesus. He has been given the name above every name. Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Isaiah 52 and 53 are also tremendous chapters that tell about the Messiah. In these chapters, the Messiah is referred to as the Servant of the Lord. Isaiah 52 tells us that His appearance will be marred. This happened to Jesus when He was beaten by the soldiers.
Isaiah 53 tells us that He was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. Jesus bore our sins in His body while He was on the cross. His death provided the redemption for the world.
Isaiah 53 says that the Servant's death will justify many. Jesus' death has brought life and salvation to men and women across the world.
I believe that if you look at the prophecies concerning the Messiah found in the Old Testament, you will clearly see that these prophecies are fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus.
Let us see now what Jesus Himself had to say about the matter. One of the most clear instances when Jesus claimed to be the Messiah is found in Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well found in John 4. During the course of their conversation, the woman says that she knows that the Messiah is coming. Jesus says to her, "I who speak to you am he." I don't think it can be much clearer than that.
Some deny that Jesus is the Messiah. This is based upon the fact that there are prophecies in the Old Testament that speak about the Messiah establishing a kingdom on this earth when He returns. We see this clearly in Isaiah 65.
Jesus said that He will establish this Kingdom that will have no end. This will occur when Jesus returns at His glorious Second Advent. Jesus said that the whole earth would one day see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with power and great glory. Jesus also spoke about the fact that He would return. When He returned, He would judge the living and the dead.
The ultimate fulfillment of the salvation and restoration of the universe awaits the return of Jesus Christ. When He returns, everyone will acknowledge who He is. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. All will be restored to what it was before sin and rebellion entered into the universe.
I hope that you have turned to Jesus the Messiah for your salvation. Jesus came to show you His love. He came to provide hope and forgiveness to anyone who would turn from their sin and turn to Him as Savior and Lord.
Next week, we will continue with our series about Jesus. I will post the verses on Monday. On Wednesday, our reviews will resume. May God bless you all. Amen.
Yesterday, we had a bad storm where I live. One of the neighbor's trees blew over. I am thankful that there was no damage at my house. Please pray that my neighbor gets his tree cut up with no problems. It didn't hurt his house, it just fell in the yard.
This week has been busy. I am thankful to the Lord for giving me writing work to do. I have an opportunity for an additional job. I am supposed to go in on Monday and find out more about it. Please pray that the Lord's will be done in this situation.
In other matters of prayer, please pray for those in the Houston area who are once again having to deal with flooding. Please pray that all will be well.
Thankfully, the World Cup has been safe so far. Continue to pray for safety for those at this event.
Let us continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of this world. Pray for peace in Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Yemen and Ukraine.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in Somalia and Jordan. Pray that many will hear about the love and grace of Jesus.
Over the course of the last few weeks, we have been in a series of messages looking at who Jesus is. This week, we will look at the fact that Jesus is the Messiah.
The idea that God would send a redeemer to deliver people from the power of sin and death is first found in the Bible all the way back in Genesis 3:15. Prior to what is discussed in this verse, Adam and Eve had disobeyed the commandment of the Lord. The Lord told them that they could eat from any tree in the garden except for the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. God told them that the day that they ate of that tree, they would surely die.
Adam and Eve did eat from that tree. Sin entered into the world. As the Bible says, death then passed upon all people for all have sinned.
Adam and Eve were punished by being banished from the Garden of Eden. However, God made a promise to them and to all generations. God said that one who would be born of woman would crush the power of the serpent who had tempted Eve. This is the first mention of a coming redeemer that is found in the Bible.
Several other Messianic prophecies are contained within the Bible. In fact, the entire sacrificial system that was established was a sign that demonstrated what would take place when the ultimate sacrifice of the redeemer was made.
I believe that it is quite clear from the life and the ministry of Jesus that He was the Messiah who God said would come clear back in Genesis. Let's look at some of the ways in which Jesus fulfilled Messianic prophecies.
First of all, Jesus was born in the place that the prophet Micah said the Messiah would be born. In Micah 5:2, Bethlehem was foretold as the place of the Messiah's birth. We know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
In the book of Zechariah there are two prophecies that Jesus fulfilled. Zechariah 9:9 says that the Messiah will ride into Jerusalem on a donkey. Jesus did this when He entered the city on what is now called Palm Sunday.
Zechariah also tells us in Zechariah 12:10 that the Messiah would be pierced. Jesus was pierced by the nails that went into His hands and feet on the cross. His side was pierced by the lance of a Roman soldier.
Psalm 22 is a Messianic Psalm. Within this Psalm, we can clearly see some of what happened during the time of Jesus on earth. This Psalm speaks about one's hands and feet being pierced and one's garments being divided. This clearly occurred when Jesus was on the cross. The Roman soldiers cast lots for His cloak. This Psalm also speaks about insults being hurled. Jesus had insults and slanders thrown at Him while He was on the cross. In spite of it all, Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
Psalm 22 goes on to speak about the exaltation of the Messiah. Because He has suffered, He will be exalted. The New Testament says the same about Jesus. In Philippians 2 we read that Jesus was willing to suffer death on the cross. Because of this, God has highly exalted Jesus. He has been given the name above every name. Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Isaiah 52 and 53 are also tremendous chapters that tell about the Messiah. In these chapters, the Messiah is referred to as the Servant of the Lord. Isaiah 52 tells us that His appearance will be marred. This happened to Jesus when He was beaten by the soldiers.
Isaiah 53 tells us that He was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. Jesus bore our sins in His body while He was on the cross. His death provided the redemption for the world.
Isaiah 53 says that the Servant's death will justify many. Jesus' death has brought life and salvation to men and women across the world.
I believe that if you look at the prophecies concerning the Messiah found in the Old Testament, you will clearly see that these prophecies are fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus.
Let us see now what Jesus Himself had to say about the matter. One of the most clear instances when Jesus claimed to be the Messiah is found in Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well found in John 4. During the course of their conversation, the woman says that she knows that the Messiah is coming. Jesus says to her, "I who speak to you am he." I don't think it can be much clearer than that.
Some deny that Jesus is the Messiah. This is based upon the fact that there are prophecies in the Old Testament that speak about the Messiah establishing a kingdom on this earth when He returns. We see this clearly in Isaiah 65.
Jesus said that He will establish this Kingdom that will have no end. This will occur when Jesus returns at His glorious Second Advent. Jesus said that the whole earth would one day see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with power and great glory. Jesus also spoke about the fact that He would return. When He returned, He would judge the living and the dead.
The ultimate fulfillment of the salvation and restoration of the universe awaits the return of Jesus Christ. When He returns, everyone will acknowledge who He is. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. All will be restored to what it was before sin and rebellion entered into the universe.
I hope that you have turned to Jesus the Messiah for your salvation. Jesus came to show you His love. He came to provide hope and forgiveness to anyone who would turn from their sin and turn to Him as Savior and Lord.
Next week, we will continue with our series about Jesus. I will post the verses on Monday. On Wednesday, our reviews will resume. May God bless you all. Amen.
Monday, July 2, 2018
Verses For the Week -- Verses About Creation
Colossians 1:6 -- "For in Him all things were created; things in Heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him."
John 1:3 -- "Through Him all things were made, without Him, nothing was made that has been made."
John 1:3 -- "Through Him all things were made, without Him, nothing was made that has been made."
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