Because of some problems that I had this week, I am going to postpone the second part of our study in Zephaniah until next week. Today, I am going to post a sermon from a couple of years ago.
Please pray for those in the path of the hurricane headed towards Florida. Pray that it will weaken and not be a problem.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in Mongolia and Ghana. Pray that many will hear about the love of Jesus.
I will be posting the verses on Tuesday this week, and the sermon will be on Saturday. May God bless you all.
Here is the sermon about Jesus being the light of the world:
Today, we turn our attention to Jesus' "I Am" statement found in John 8:12 that reads, "When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
Jesus had gone to Jerusalem for the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles. During this time, Jesus was teaching the people daily. He was also engaging with the religious leaders who did not care for Jesus at all. The people believed that Jesus was a great prophet and teacher, but the religious authorities wanted to kill Jesus or at least discredit Him in the eyes of the people.
During the time of the feast, the religious leaders tried to entrap Jesus by bringing to Him a woman caught in the act of adultery. Jesus did not condemn the woman. He told the crowd that whoever among them was without sin, they should cast the first stone at her. Of course, no one did that. Jesus said to the woman, "Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more."
The next day, Jesus was back teaching the people. It was at this time that Jesus made the statement that is our focus today. Jesus said the He was the light of the world.
What does it mean when Jesus says that He is the light of the world. I would like to focus on at least two areas in which Jesus is the light of the world, and also focus on how we are the light of the world in the opinion of Jesus.
First of all, Jesus is the light of the world in a spiritual sense. As we saw when we studied I John, the world is filled with spiritual darkness. Since all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, the world is a dark place that is filled with all manner of evil and violence. John states in the beginning chapter of his Gospel that the Word was made flesh and was the light shining in a dark place.
Everyone who is born is born in sin. There is none righteous the Bible says. We have inherited a sin nature, and all of us have rebelled against God and gone on our own way like straying sheep. We love to follow the darkness of sin.
However, when we were in sin, God loved us, and He sent His Son the Lord Jesus to die on the cross to save from our sins. He sent Jesus to shine as a light and drive away the darkness of sin.
Because Jesus loved us, He was willing to lay down His life for us. On the cross, Jesus bore our sins in His body. Jesus was the Lamb of God who could take away the sins of the world.
Whoever, puts their faith and trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross and believes that Jesus has risen, that person will leave the land of darkness and receive the pure light of Christ into their soul. They will no longer be part of the kingdom of darkness. They will be a member of the kingdom of love and light and a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Only Jesus who is the light of the world can provide the solution to humanity's spiritual problem of sin. All of the other religious pathways simply lead to more darkness. Jesus provides the answer to sin, guilt and darkness in the human heart.
I believe that Jesus is the light of the world in another sense as well. Jesus came into the world to live a holy and sinless life. Through His teachings, He demonstrated for us how human beings ought to live. Jesus provides an example for life. His life is a light. If people would follow the example and teachings of Jesus, much of the darkness and trouble that is in the world would be eliminated.
Jesus taught the way of peace and justice. He showed us how we are to treat the poor and the powerless. He demonstrated the value of every individual. He showed the world what God's love is really like, and He showed us the way that we are to love one another.
If people would truly follow Jesus, this world would know peace. Exploitation and poverty would end, and all people could live a life free from fear.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that His followers where the light of the world. Jesus had light in and of Himself. We do not. As His followers, we reflect His light to others and into this world. That is our mission. We are to spread the light of Christ into the darkness. We do this by obeying the Great Commission and sharing the message of the saving love of Jesus with those whom we know. We also spread the light when we do what Jesus commanded. When we care for and provide for the least of those among us, we truly are the light of the world.
If you have never asked Jesus to forgive you and become the Lord of your life, I pray that you will do so today. Don't live in darkness anymore. Come to Jesus who is the Light of the World.
Friday, August 30, 2019
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Update and Prayer Request
First of all, I may not be posting the sermon this Saturday. I am not sure yet. I would ask that you pray that the flooding rains predicted for my area will not materialize. Please pray that the storm heading towards Florida will weaken.
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Book Review -- A Book About Whales
The book that I am reviewing today is "The Encyclopedia of Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises" written by Erich Hoyt. This is a large book that has some excellent photographs of whales and other ocean mammals in it.
This book is very informative. It provides detailed information on a number of species. There are whale and dolphin species discussed in this book that I'd never heard of before. Each of the species has a picture and information. I liked reading about the blue whale which is my favorite among the whale species. These animals are absolutely incredible. The information on orcas was excellent, and I also enjoyed reading about sei whales which I'd never heard of before.
If you like whales, you are sure to love this book. You will learn a lot. I highly recommend this book.
This book is very informative. It provides detailed information on a number of species. There are whale and dolphin species discussed in this book that I'd never heard of before. Each of the species has a picture and information. I liked reading about the blue whale which is my favorite among the whale species. These animals are absolutely incredible. The information on orcas was excellent, and I also enjoyed reading about sei whales which I'd never heard of before.
If you like whales, you are sure to love this book. You will learn a lot. I highly recommend this book.
Monday, August 26, 2019
Verses For The Week And A Prayer Request
I would ask that you all pray that the storms forecast for my area this evening will not be bad. We had some bad storms already this morning. I thank the Lord that there was no damage. I thank you for your prayers.
Verses:
Psalm 20:7 -- "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God."
John 14:1 -- "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me."
Verses:
Psalm 20:7 -- "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God."
John 14:1 -- "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me."
Saturday, August 24, 2019
Weekend Sermon -- Zephaniah Part 1
Welcome to this edition of the Weekend Sermon. I hope that all of you are doing well this week. Thank you for taking the time to read this week's sermon.
Today, we will be starting a two week series on the book of Zephaniah. Zephaniah is one of the books in the Old Testament known as the Minor Prophets. There are called this because of the size of the books not because the message that they present is of any less importance than the Major Prophets. The Major Prophets are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel.
Let's get a little background on Zephaniah. Zephaniah 1:1 tells us that Zephaniah spoke the words of his prophecy during the reign of Josiah. Zephaniah would have been born during the reign of Manasseh who was a very wicked king. The brief genealogy of Zephaniah that we are given lists a man named Hezekiah as one of Zephaniah's ancestors. It is possible that this is the Hezekiah that was the King of Judah. If that is the case, Zephaniah would have been a member of the royal family.
We know that Zephaniah wrote this book during the reign of Josiah, but we don't know exactly when. Josiah's reign had two distinct parts. Josiah became king when he was a young boy. About 10 years into his reign, Josiah began a restoration of the worship of the Lord. He worked to eliminate idolatry, and he restored the worship in the Temple. He was considered to be one of the most righteous kings who ruled over the people of Judah. The majority of Bible scholars believe that Zephaniah was written before the reforms begun by Josiah.
Zephaniah was just one of the prophets that was ministering in Judah. Jeremiah was also speaking the words of the Lord at this time. We also know that Josiah consulted a prophetess named Huldah during the time of his reforms.
The first part of the book of Zephaniah tells that the Lord is angry with the people, and He is about to bring about judgment. Why was the Lord angry with the people? Zephaniah tells us that the Lord was angry because the people were worshiping false gods such as Baal. The people were also worshiping the heavenly bodies, and they were worshiping the gods and goddesses of the surrounding nations. Some were praying to the Lord, but then they were also worshiping other gods as well.
The Lord was also angry with the people because of the fact that violence and fraud were taking place throughout the land. The people had totally rejected the righteous requirements of the law of the Lord.
Because of the way that the people were behaving, the Lord speaking through Zephaniah told the people that a day of judgment was coming. The people were hearing this same message from the prophet Jeremiah.
Zephaniah 2:1-3 lets us know that the Lord still wants the people to turn away from their sinful ways and turn to Him in repentance. If they will repent, He will forgive them.
So, what can we learn from the first part of the book of Zephaniah. First of all, the Lord will not tolerate idolatry. The Lord alone is God. There shall be none other worshiped but Him. The One True and Living God has a righteous standard that He expects people to follow. If that standard is rejected, judgment is to follow.
One thing that I see in the book of Zephaniah, and in the other books written in and around this time by the other prophets, is that the Lord gave the people many opportunities to repent and come back to Him. We see this over and over again in the Bible.
When the people had sinned in the days of Noah, the Lord had Noah preach to the people for years before the flood came. He is always providing a way for the people to come to Him in repentance and faith.
All people have sinned and fallen short of God's righteous standard. Because of this, the Lord Jesus came into this world to be the one to take away sins. Jesus bore the penalty for our sins on the cross. He bore our sins in his body on the cross. Whoever will turn to Him will be saved.
The Bible makes it quite clear that there is an ultimate day of judgment that is coming. When Jesus comes again, He will judge the living and the dead as it tells us in the Bible and in the Apostles' Creed.
The Lord is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Jesus has instructed His followers to go into all the world and tell people that they can be forgiven and receive eternal life. They can pass from judgment to the glorious light of Jesus Christ. One of the reasons that Jesus has not yet returned is that people are being given the opportunity to come to faith in the Lord Jesus.
God is merciful and filled with love. He is also a just God. He provided a way for the people in Zephaniah's time, and He has provided a way for us through the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayer Requests And Other Matters.
This has been a good week in writing, and I want to thank the Lord for the blessings that He has provided for me. I want to thank everyone for their prayers about the storms. We did not have too many problems, and I am thankful for that.
In prayer this week, let us continue to pray for those who are in the hospital in El Paso and Dayton. Let us pray that violence in the US will come to an end.
Please pray that the fires in the Amazon will be controlled and extinguished. This is a terrible situation, and something needs to be done about it right away.
Please pray for those in Congo who are dealing with the Ebola virus. Pray that the sick will recover and that the virus will be eliminated soon.
Continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of this world. Pray for peace in Syria, Afghanistan, Libya and Yemen.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for the nations of Brunei and Mauritius. Pray that many will come to know the love of the Lord Jesus.
Next week, I will post the verses on Monday. I will have a review or a poem on Wednesday. The second and final part of our series on Zephaniah will be posted on the Weekend Sermon on Saturday. May God bless you all. Amen.
Today, we will be starting a two week series on the book of Zephaniah. Zephaniah is one of the books in the Old Testament known as the Minor Prophets. There are called this because of the size of the books not because the message that they present is of any less importance than the Major Prophets. The Major Prophets are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel.
Let's get a little background on Zephaniah. Zephaniah 1:1 tells us that Zephaniah spoke the words of his prophecy during the reign of Josiah. Zephaniah would have been born during the reign of Manasseh who was a very wicked king. The brief genealogy of Zephaniah that we are given lists a man named Hezekiah as one of Zephaniah's ancestors. It is possible that this is the Hezekiah that was the King of Judah. If that is the case, Zephaniah would have been a member of the royal family.
We know that Zephaniah wrote this book during the reign of Josiah, but we don't know exactly when. Josiah's reign had two distinct parts. Josiah became king when he was a young boy. About 10 years into his reign, Josiah began a restoration of the worship of the Lord. He worked to eliminate idolatry, and he restored the worship in the Temple. He was considered to be one of the most righteous kings who ruled over the people of Judah. The majority of Bible scholars believe that Zephaniah was written before the reforms begun by Josiah.
Zephaniah was just one of the prophets that was ministering in Judah. Jeremiah was also speaking the words of the Lord at this time. We also know that Josiah consulted a prophetess named Huldah during the time of his reforms.
The first part of the book of Zephaniah tells that the Lord is angry with the people, and He is about to bring about judgment. Why was the Lord angry with the people? Zephaniah tells us that the Lord was angry because the people were worshiping false gods such as Baal. The people were also worshiping the heavenly bodies, and they were worshiping the gods and goddesses of the surrounding nations. Some were praying to the Lord, but then they were also worshiping other gods as well.
The Lord was also angry with the people because of the fact that violence and fraud were taking place throughout the land. The people had totally rejected the righteous requirements of the law of the Lord.
Because of the way that the people were behaving, the Lord speaking through Zephaniah told the people that a day of judgment was coming. The people were hearing this same message from the prophet Jeremiah.
Zephaniah 2:1-3 lets us know that the Lord still wants the people to turn away from their sinful ways and turn to Him in repentance. If they will repent, He will forgive them.
So, what can we learn from the first part of the book of Zephaniah. First of all, the Lord will not tolerate idolatry. The Lord alone is God. There shall be none other worshiped but Him. The One True and Living God has a righteous standard that He expects people to follow. If that standard is rejected, judgment is to follow.
One thing that I see in the book of Zephaniah, and in the other books written in and around this time by the other prophets, is that the Lord gave the people many opportunities to repent and come back to Him. We see this over and over again in the Bible.
When the people had sinned in the days of Noah, the Lord had Noah preach to the people for years before the flood came. He is always providing a way for the people to come to Him in repentance and faith.
All people have sinned and fallen short of God's righteous standard. Because of this, the Lord Jesus came into this world to be the one to take away sins. Jesus bore the penalty for our sins on the cross. He bore our sins in his body on the cross. Whoever will turn to Him will be saved.
The Bible makes it quite clear that there is an ultimate day of judgment that is coming. When Jesus comes again, He will judge the living and the dead as it tells us in the Bible and in the Apostles' Creed.
The Lord is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Jesus has instructed His followers to go into all the world and tell people that they can be forgiven and receive eternal life. They can pass from judgment to the glorious light of Jesus Christ. One of the reasons that Jesus has not yet returned is that people are being given the opportunity to come to faith in the Lord Jesus.
God is merciful and filled with love. He is also a just God. He provided a way for the people in Zephaniah's time, and He has provided a way for us through the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayer Requests And Other Matters.
This has been a good week in writing, and I want to thank the Lord for the blessings that He has provided for me. I want to thank everyone for their prayers about the storms. We did not have too many problems, and I am thankful for that.
In prayer this week, let us continue to pray for those who are in the hospital in El Paso and Dayton. Let us pray that violence in the US will come to an end.
Please pray that the fires in the Amazon will be controlled and extinguished. This is a terrible situation, and something needs to be done about it right away.
Please pray for those in Congo who are dealing with the Ebola virus. Pray that the sick will recover and that the virus will be eliminated soon.
Continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of this world. Pray for peace in Syria, Afghanistan, Libya and Yemen.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for the nations of Brunei and Mauritius. Pray that many will come to know the love of the Lord Jesus.
Next week, I will post the verses on Monday. I will have a review or a poem on Wednesday. The second and final part of our series on Zephaniah will be posted on the Weekend Sermon on Saturday. May God bless you all. Amen.
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Poem and A Prayer Request
First of all, I would ask that you pray that the heavy rains once again called for in my area will not materialize. We do not need rain right now. Thank you.
Here are two poems that I wrote a few years ago.
Here are two poems that I wrote a few years ago.
The Time Between
The now and the not yet.
What was, is, and is to come.
Remembering and missing.
The gold is now silver.
It too shall not remain.
Fall Dance
Fallen leaves on streets of gold.
Whispering winds rustle cast-offs,
mixing a treasure against azure sky.
Bounding, dancing,
reveling in mayhem,
liberation shines a fire in the eyes
making a game on All Hallows’ Eve.
Monday, August 19, 2019
Verses For The Week -- Verses About Justice
Proverbs 29:7 -- "The righteous care about justice for the poor; but the wicked have no such concern."
Amos 5:24 -- "Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream."
Hosea 12:6 -- "But you must return to your God, maintain love and justice, wait for your God."
Amos 5:24 -- "Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream."
Hosea 12:6 -- "But you must return to your God, maintain love and justice, wait for your God."
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Weekend Sermon -- Forgiven
Welcome to the Weekend Sermon. It is good to be with you today after a night of terrible weather. We had severe storms last night. Thankfully, we had no damage. There are supposed to be more bad storms tonight, so please continue to pray about this. I hope that all of you who read this blog are having a good week.
Over the course of the last couple of weeks, I've been listening to some of the old music that I listened to a lot when I was younger. I liked to listen to contemporary Christian music when I was younger, and one of the groups that I particularly liked was the Imperials.
As I was listening to some of the old songs by the Imperials, I heard a song called "Forgiven". One of the lines in the lyrics says, "I'm forgiven, now a have a reason for living."
This song started me thinking about the subject of forgiveness. What have I been forgiven from? What is the result of being forgiven? What should being forgiven lead me to do? I hope to answer these questions in the sermon today.
The Bible makes it quite clear in verses such as Romans 3:23 that every person has sinned and done what is wrong in the eyes of the Lord. There is not a single person who is righteous. The Bible also tells us that the result of sin is death.
Jesus came into this world preaching a message of repentance and forgiveness of sins. In Luke 24:47 it tells us that Jesus desires that His followers preach the message of repentance and forgiveness of sins to all the nations of the world.
Acts 10:43 lets us know that everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins through His name. When Jesus takes away our sins and forgives us, His righteousness is imputed to us. I Corinthians 5:21 states, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, Jesus tells us that we are like a person who owed a debt that could never be repaid. However, God in His mercy has forgiven us and freed us from our debt.
Now. what is the result of being forgiven by God. First of all, we have become new creations in Christ. The old has passed away and all has become new. We have been translated from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God's light and life. As John 3:16 tells us, whoever believes in Jesus will not perish but will have everlasting life.
If we have repented of our sins and come to faith in Christ and received His forgiveness, we will be with Him for all eternity. He has gone to prepare a place for us, and we shall forever be with our Lord. Death has no more hold on us. We are set free from sin, death and hell by the forgiveness and the grace of our Lord.
Since we have been forgiven of a debt that we could not pay, the Lord expects us to be people who forgive others. Jesus tells us in the Lord's Prayer that we should pray that our sins be forgiven as we forgive others. In Luke 17:3 the Lord tells us that if our brother repents, we are to forgive him. Colossians 3:13 instructs us to forgive others as we have been forgiven by the Lord.
Because of the the love and forgiveness of the Lord Jesus Christ, I have been set from sin. Jesus lives in my heart. He is with me and helps me each day of my life. When I pass from this life, the Lord will take me to be with Him in Heaven, and I will live with Him for all eternity. The Lord Jesus expects me to forgive others since I have been forgiven of so much. As Jesus forgave others who did wrong to Him, I am to forgive as well in imitation of Jesus my Lord.
If you have never received the grace and the forgiveness of the Lord Jesus, I encourage you to turn to Jesus today. He will forgive you and grant to you eternal life with Him. Amen
Prayer and Other Matters
As you go to prayer this week, I would ask that you pray for me about a problem I am facing. Some very hurtful and mean things happened to me at my part-time job this week. I am feeling really low, and I am going to have to find other work. Please pray that the Lord will see my through and provide during this time.
Let us all continue to pray for those who were injured in the incidents in El Paso and Dayton. I believe that there are still some in the hospital, and we need to pray for their recovery. Pray for an end to the violence that is besetting the US.
Continue to pray for those in Congo who are dealing with the Ebola virus. I heard that the virus has been spreading within the country, so please pray that those who are sick will recover and that the illness will come to an end fast. Pray for those who are working with the sick.
We need to continue to pray for peace in the strife torn areas of the this world. Pray for peace in Syria, Libya, Afghanistan and Libya. If you know of a place where there is conflict, pray for peace in that place.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those who live in the nations of Bhutan and Libya. Pray that many will receive the grace and forgiveness of the Lord Jesus.
Next week, the sermon will be posted on Saturday. I plan to bring one or two messages on the Old Testament book of Zephaniah. I will post the verses on Monday. I will post a review or poem on Wednesday if possible. May God bless you all. Amen
Over the course of the last couple of weeks, I've been listening to some of the old music that I listened to a lot when I was younger. I liked to listen to contemporary Christian music when I was younger, and one of the groups that I particularly liked was the Imperials.
As I was listening to some of the old songs by the Imperials, I heard a song called "Forgiven". One of the lines in the lyrics says, "I'm forgiven, now a have a reason for living."
This song started me thinking about the subject of forgiveness. What have I been forgiven from? What is the result of being forgiven? What should being forgiven lead me to do? I hope to answer these questions in the sermon today.
The Bible makes it quite clear in verses such as Romans 3:23 that every person has sinned and done what is wrong in the eyes of the Lord. There is not a single person who is righteous. The Bible also tells us that the result of sin is death.
Jesus came into this world preaching a message of repentance and forgiveness of sins. In Luke 24:47 it tells us that Jesus desires that His followers preach the message of repentance and forgiveness of sins to all the nations of the world.
Acts 10:43 lets us know that everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins through His name. When Jesus takes away our sins and forgives us, His righteousness is imputed to us. I Corinthians 5:21 states, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, Jesus tells us that we are like a person who owed a debt that could never be repaid. However, God in His mercy has forgiven us and freed us from our debt.
Now. what is the result of being forgiven by God. First of all, we have become new creations in Christ. The old has passed away and all has become new. We have been translated from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God's light and life. As John 3:16 tells us, whoever believes in Jesus will not perish but will have everlasting life.
If we have repented of our sins and come to faith in Christ and received His forgiveness, we will be with Him for all eternity. He has gone to prepare a place for us, and we shall forever be with our Lord. Death has no more hold on us. We are set free from sin, death and hell by the forgiveness and the grace of our Lord.
Since we have been forgiven of a debt that we could not pay, the Lord expects us to be people who forgive others. Jesus tells us in the Lord's Prayer that we should pray that our sins be forgiven as we forgive others. In Luke 17:3 the Lord tells us that if our brother repents, we are to forgive him. Colossians 3:13 instructs us to forgive others as we have been forgiven by the Lord.
Because of the the love and forgiveness of the Lord Jesus Christ, I have been set from sin. Jesus lives in my heart. He is with me and helps me each day of my life. When I pass from this life, the Lord will take me to be with Him in Heaven, and I will live with Him for all eternity. The Lord Jesus expects me to forgive others since I have been forgiven of so much. As Jesus forgave others who did wrong to Him, I am to forgive as well in imitation of Jesus my Lord.
If you have never received the grace and the forgiveness of the Lord Jesus, I encourage you to turn to Jesus today. He will forgive you and grant to you eternal life with Him. Amen
Prayer and Other Matters
As you go to prayer this week, I would ask that you pray for me about a problem I am facing. Some very hurtful and mean things happened to me at my part-time job this week. I am feeling really low, and I am going to have to find other work. Please pray that the Lord will see my through and provide during this time.
Let us all continue to pray for those who were injured in the incidents in El Paso and Dayton. I believe that there are still some in the hospital, and we need to pray for their recovery. Pray for an end to the violence that is besetting the US.
Continue to pray for those in Congo who are dealing with the Ebola virus. I heard that the virus has been spreading within the country, so please pray that those who are sick will recover and that the illness will come to an end fast. Pray for those who are working with the sick.
We need to continue to pray for peace in the strife torn areas of the this world. Pray for peace in Syria, Libya, Afghanistan and Libya. If you know of a place where there is conflict, pray for peace in that place.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those who live in the nations of Bhutan and Libya. Pray that many will receive the grace and forgiveness of the Lord Jesus.
Next week, the sermon will be posted on Saturday. I plan to bring one or two messages on the Old Testament book of Zephaniah. I will post the verses on Monday. I will post a review or poem on Wednesday if possible. May God bless you all. Amen
Friday, August 16, 2019
Another Prayer Request
Thank you for your prayers last night about the storms. There were storms near my area, but there were none right where I live. I would ask that you be in prayer again today. Another round of very severe storms are being forecast. Please pray that no one gets hurt or damaged by these storms. Thank you for your prayers.
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Prayer Request
The area where I live is predicted to get some very severe storms this afternoon and tonight. Please pray that these storms will not be bad. Thank you for your prayers.
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Review -- "Dogs In The Land Of Lions"
African wild dogs are some of my favorite animals. You will also see them referred to a painted dogs and as cape hunting dogs. The DVD that I would like to review today is about African wild dogs and is entitled "Dogs In The Land of Lions". This program aired on PBS in the United States, and it is now available on DVD.
This DVD follows a wild dog and her family who live in Zimbabwe. This is a country with one of the largest wild dog populations. African wild dogs are an endangered species with only about 700 breeding pairs left in the wild. They are threatened by hunters, habitat destruction and by disease from domestic dog populations.
This DVD follows a wild dog named Puzzle. Puzzle and her mate have had two litters of pups, and they are working diligently to care for their large family. However, Puzzle's mate is killed by lions, and Puzzle has to make sure that her family is safe and cared for on her own. In this DVD, we see how a wild dog family works together to find enough to eat and how they avoid the lions who will try to kill a wild dog on sight.
I highly recommend "Dogs In The Land of Lions". Like the vast majority of programs that you will see on "Nature" on PBS, this program is very well done. It is informative and beautifully filmed. I recommend that you watch this program on a regular basis. "Nova" is another good program on PBS that deals with science and the natural world.
This DVD follows a wild dog and her family who live in Zimbabwe. This is a country with one of the largest wild dog populations. African wild dogs are an endangered species with only about 700 breeding pairs left in the wild. They are threatened by hunters, habitat destruction and by disease from domestic dog populations.
This DVD follows a wild dog named Puzzle. Puzzle and her mate have had two litters of pups, and they are working diligently to care for their large family. However, Puzzle's mate is killed by lions, and Puzzle has to make sure that her family is safe and cared for on her own. In this DVD, we see how a wild dog family works together to find enough to eat and how they avoid the lions who will try to kill a wild dog on sight.
I highly recommend "Dogs In The Land of Lions". Like the vast majority of programs that you will see on "Nature" on PBS, this program is very well done. It is informative and beautifully filmed. I recommend that you watch this program on a regular basis. "Nova" is another good program on PBS that deals with science and the natural world.
Monday, August 12, 2019
Verses For The Week
Psalm 27:10 -- "Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me."
Isaiah 41:10 -- "So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you by my righteous right hand."
Haggai 2:4b -- "For I am with you declares the Lord Almighty."
Isaiah 41:10 -- "So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you by my righteous right hand."
Haggai 2:4b -- "For I am with you declares the Lord Almighty."
Saturday, August 10, 2019
Weekend Sermon -- Our Mission -- Matthew 11:4-5 and Matthew 14:16
Thank you for reading the Weekend Sermon this week. I hope that you have all had a good week. I just want to say that I am sorry about not posting a review on Wednesday. I had some things that I had to deal with, but I am doing fine now.
Today, I would like to focus on two passages of Scripture from the Gospel of Matthew. These are the words of Jesus from two different times during His ministry on the earth. These two passages deal with what I believe are our two missions as believers in Jesus on this earth. Let's look at these passages, and then see how they apply to us today.
The first passage is found in the Matthew 14:16. Jesus had just finished teaching a great multitude of people. The Bible says that there were at least 5,000 people present at this occasion. These people had been with Jesus for awhile, and they didn't have anything to eat.
The disciples wanted to sent the crowds away so that they could go into the surrounding towns and buy some food. Jesus told them that they didn't need to send the crowds away. Jesus said, "You give them something to eat."
After this, Jesus performed the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. There was so much food that everyone had enough to eat, and there was plenty of food left over.
Our second passage is found in Matthew 11:4-5. A contingent from John the Baptist had come to Jesus to ask Him if He was the Messiah or if they should wait and expect someone else. Jesus said the following, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see, the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor."
As I read these two passages of Scripture, it seemed to me that the Lord Jesus is giving to us today our mission as believers in Him. We are to do what He did in the world.
When Jesus answered the question of those sent by John the Baptist, Jesus expressed in His answer that through His ministry, people's lives were being transformed and changed in the here and now and for eternity. By healing people of their various diseases, Jesus was impacting their lives so that they could live in fullness and hope right now. By telling people that He was the Way, the Truth and Life, Jesus was allowing people to know that they could have forgiveness and new life through Him if they would believe in Him. Jesus was meeting both the physical and the spiritual needs of those whom He encountered.
This same thing is occurring with the feeding of the five thousand. Jesus calls on the disciples to give the people something to eat. I believe that He is telling them to do as He has done and is doing. Jesus once again met the people's physical and spiritual needs.
I believe that Jesus has given those of us who are His followers a mission to carry out in this world. We are to follow Him in meeting the spiritual and physical needs of this world while we are here.
We have been given the Great Commission by the Lord. We are to tell everyone that Jesus has come to take away the sins of the world. Whosoever will may come to Jesus and find rest for their souls. We are to teach those who come to faith in the Lord to follow the Lord in the path that He has laid out for those who believe in His name.
We have another mission as well. We have the mission to feed the hungry and to clothe the naked. We have the mission to speak for truth and justice. There are a multitude of people in this world who don't have what they need to make it in this world. They lack adequate nutrition, medical care and housing. They are being oppressed by governments and corporate powers. We as the followers of Jesus have the responsibility to help those who need help and to attempt to make this world a better place in the name of Jesus.
Let each of us this week consider how we can carry out the mission that has been given to us by the Lord Jesus to do what He did in this world. Try to tell others about what Jesus has done in your life. Speak to others about the life changing power of the Lord. Also, try this week, and in the week's to come, to help others to have a better life. Work for change, and work to bring others hope. Amen.
Prayer requests and other matters.
As I said, I am sorry about not getting a review posted on Wednesday. I had some bad things to deal with this week concerning work, writing, health etc. Thanks be to God that all is well, and I thank the Lord for His great help this week.
In prayer this week, please pray for those who are still recovering from the storms that have damaged many parts of the United States. Pray that they will receive the aid that they need.
Let us continue to pray for those who are dealing with the Ebola virus in Congo. Pray that this virus will stop spreading, and pray that those who are sick will get well.
Continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of this world. We need to keep praying for peace in Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and Libya. If you know of a place where there is warfare and unrest, pray that the Lord will bring peace to that place.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Guinea and Kyrgyzstan. Pray that many in these countries, and around the world, will hear and respond to the good news of the love of Jesus.
Next week, I will post the sermon on Saturday. I am not sure yet what I will post the message about. I am planning several different series, and I will tell you more about that in the weeks to come. I will post the verses on Monday. I will try to post a review on Wednesday this week. May God bless you all. Amen.
Today, I would like to focus on two passages of Scripture from the Gospel of Matthew. These are the words of Jesus from two different times during His ministry on the earth. These two passages deal with what I believe are our two missions as believers in Jesus on this earth. Let's look at these passages, and then see how they apply to us today.
The first passage is found in the Matthew 14:16. Jesus had just finished teaching a great multitude of people. The Bible says that there were at least 5,000 people present at this occasion. These people had been with Jesus for awhile, and they didn't have anything to eat.
The disciples wanted to sent the crowds away so that they could go into the surrounding towns and buy some food. Jesus told them that they didn't need to send the crowds away. Jesus said, "You give them something to eat."
After this, Jesus performed the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. There was so much food that everyone had enough to eat, and there was plenty of food left over.
Our second passage is found in Matthew 11:4-5. A contingent from John the Baptist had come to Jesus to ask Him if He was the Messiah or if they should wait and expect someone else. Jesus said the following, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see, the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor."
As I read these two passages of Scripture, it seemed to me that the Lord Jesus is giving to us today our mission as believers in Him. We are to do what He did in the world.
When Jesus answered the question of those sent by John the Baptist, Jesus expressed in His answer that through His ministry, people's lives were being transformed and changed in the here and now and for eternity. By healing people of their various diseases, Jesus was impacting their lives so that they could live in fullness and hope right now. By telling people that He was the Way, the Truth and Life, Jesus was allowing people to know that they could have forgiveness and new life through Him if they would believe in Him. Jesus was meeting both the physical and the spiritual needs of those whom He encountered.
This same thing is occurring with the feeding of the five thousand. Jesus calls on the disciples to give the people something to eat. I believe that He is telling them to do as He has done and is doing. Jesus once again met the people's physical and spiritual needs.
I believe that Jesus has given those of us who are His followers a mission to carry out in this world. We are to follow Him in meeting the spiritual and physical needs of this world while we are here.
We have been given the Great Commission by the Lord. We are to tell everyone that Jesus has come to take away the sins of the world. Whosoever will may come to Jesus and find rest for their souls. We are to teach those who come to faith in the Lord to follow the Lord in the path that He has laid out for those who believe in His name.
We have another mission as well. We have the mission to feed the hungry and to clothe the naked. We have the mission to speak for truth and justice. There are a multitude of people in this world who don't have what they need to make it in this world. They lack adequate nutrition, medical care and housing. They are being oppressed by governments and corporate powers. We as the followers of Jesus have the responsibility to help those who need help and to attempt to make this world a better place in the name of Jesus.
Let each of us this week consider how we can carry out the mission that has been given to us by the Lord Jesus to do what He did in this world. Try to tell others about what Jesus has done in your life. Speak to others about the life changing power of the Lord. Also, try this week, and in the week's to come, to help others to have a better life. Work for change, and work to bring others hope. Amen.
Prayer requests and other matters.
As I said, I am sorry about not getting a review posted on Wednesday. I had some bad things to deal with this week concerning work, writing, health etc. Thanks be to God that all is well, and I thank the Lord for His great help this week.
In prayer this week, please pray for those who are still recovering from the storms that have damaged many parts of the United States. Pray that they will receive the aid that they need.
Let us continue to pray for those who are dealing with the Ebola virus in Congo. Pray that this virus will stop spreading, and pray that those who are sick will get well.
Continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of this world. We need to keep praying for peace in Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and Libya. If you know of a place where there is warfare and unrest, pray that the Lord will bring peace to that place.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Guinea and Kyrgyzstan. Pray that many in these countries, and around the world, will hear and respond to the good news of the love of Jesus.
Next week, I will post the sermon on Saturday. I am not sure yet what I will post the message about. I am planning several different series, and I will tell you more about that in the weeks to come. I will post the verses on Monday. I will try to post a review on Wednesday this week. May God bless you all. Amen.
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