An Update, Prayer Request and Some Things I Want To Say

     First of all, the sermon will not be posted until Saturday this week. 

     Second. Please pray that we do not get a bad winter storm with ice in my area. Thank you. Also, keep praying for the people affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

     Now, there are a couple of things that I would like to say. In my country, there is currently a push in a few states to weaken the child labor laws. One state is proposing that children as young as 14 be allowed to work in meat packing, mining and other dangerous industries. Supposedly, this is to address the so called labor shortage in the US. 

     In my thinking, this is disgusting to even be considering something like this. Back in the early 1900s, political leaders and religious leaders worked diligently to protect children with child labor laws. They worked for the eight hour day, safe working conditions and other important protections. We don't want to role these things back now just for the sake of more human greed. 

     Moving on. There is controversy over the ads run by a Christian group during the Super Bowl. I did not watch the Super Bowl. However, there was nothing wrong with these ads. I have no idea why some politicians are upset about them. Jesus and His way are what we are to follow. It is best not to listen too much to people that would attack the Lord Jesus and His teachings. 

Verses For The Week

 II Corinthians 8:9 -- "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich."

Matthew 20:28 -- "... the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Please keep praying for the people of Turkey and Syria. 

Weekend Sermon -- The Attributes of God -- Part 7

      It is once again time for the weekend sermon, and I would like to thank the Lord for giving me the opportunity to post this message. I hope that you have all had a very good week. 

     For the past several weeks now, we have been in a series of messages where we are examining some of the attributes of God. We are learning how God is described in the Bible. We are learning about His essence and His character. 

     In today's message, I want us to look at God's creativity. I believe that it is quite evident that the Bible shows us that God is a creating and a creative God. 

     First of all, we see the creativity and the creative power of God through His creation of the universe and all that it contains. The Bible tells in the first couple of chapters of the book of Genesis that God created all of the heavenly bodies as well as this earth and the creatures in it. He would go on to create humans in His own image. 

     If you take the time to look at this world, it is magnificent. The beautiful animals in this world show that God is creative. Think about the colors, textures, shapes and arrangements that God placed upon the canvas of this world. It is amazing. The Bible says in Colossians 1:16 that, "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."

     The universe is God's work of art. As a creative person who works in writing and to a lesser extent in visual arts, knowing that we have a God who creates beautiful things is so important to me. He understands beauty and the expression of the beautiful visually, aurally and tactilely. 

     There is something that I would like to state here. God is an artist, and this earth is part of His artistry. No artist wants to have His work of art damaged, vandalized and destroyed. We do not have the right to mar God's masterpieces of art. We are called to be stewards of creation not abusers and destroyers of what God has made. 

     God has show his creativity and creative power in creating the earth, and the Bible tells us that one day He will make a new Heaven and a new Earth. He will restore His creation to what it was before sin entered into the world. Revelation 21 tells us something about the new creation that is to come. 

     There is another way that God shows for His creative power. That is through the redemption of human beings. II Corinthians 5:17 tells us that when we come to salvation through Jesus Christ, we are made a new creation. The old person that we were is done, we become new in Him. The Lord creates in us a new heart. Ephesians 2:10 states that we are God's handiwork. He has created us to do good works.

     God has awesome creative power. We can see it all around us. The Lord can create in you a new heart if you are willing to dedicate your life to following Him. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     My brother is doing well. Please keep praying that he will make a complete recovery from his cardiac problem. 

     I am very sad about what has happened in Turkey and Syria. Over 20,000 have died. Please pray that if there are any people still alive and trapped that they will be found and rescued. Pray for those who are hurting at this time. There is so much need in this area. Please pray that the people will get the food and the shelter that they need right now. 

     Continue to pray for an end to the disease outbreaks in the world. Malawi is having problems with cholera. Covid continues to be a problem in many places. Pray that the sick will recover. 

     Pray for an end to the unrest in this world. Pray for peace in Syria, Libya, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Yemen. Pray for any area that you know of that is experiencing war or discord. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those living in the nations of Eritrea and Mongolia. Pray that many will come to know Jesus and His love for them. 

     Next week, we will continue with our current sermon series. On Monday, I will post the verses. Midweek, I believe that I will have a post about an issue that is really bothering me. May God bless you all. Amen. 

Answer to Prayer and Prayer Request

      I just wanted to thank the Lord for the fact that my brother is doing well. He is out of the hospital and pretty much back to normal. 

      Please pray that there is not a bad ice or snow storm in my area tonight. 

      We all really need to be praying about the situation in Turkey and Syria with the earthquake. Pray that people can still be rescued, and pray that the people will get the aid and assistance that they need. 

Verses For The Week

 II Corinthians 4:18 -- "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is not seen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. "

Colossians 3:1-2 " Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, and not on earthly things."

The Weekend Sermon -- The Attributes of God -- Part 6

      Thank you for taking the time to read the sermon. Before we start, I have something I would like you to pray about. My brother is in the hospital with a cardiac condition. Please pray that he will be well. Thank you. 

     Today, we will continue with our series of messages designed to help us understand a little bit better what the God we worship is like. One of the attributes of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the fact that He is unchanging. 

     The way that I understand this attribute, this means two things. First of all, in His nature, God is the same. I also believe that this attribute of God signifies to us that God is a God who will always keep His word and His promises. He does not change in regard to what He tells us that He will and will not do. 

     Let us focus on the first aspect of God as unchanging. Without getting too deep into theology, there are some who are now teaching that God is in process. He is not static, but He is in the process of becoming. This is not in keeping with the Scripture. Malachi 3:6 tells us, "For I the Lord do not change, therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed."  We also learn from Psalm 102:25-27 -- "Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands. They will perish, but you will remain. They will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe. and they will pass away, but you are the same, your years have no end."

     God is fully divine in His nature. There was never a time when He was not God, and they will not be a time when He is not God. Our God is the king of all creation. He is the creator and sustainer of all things. As God told Moses at the burning bush, "I Am who I Am."

     Now, as I said, I believe that the unchanging nature of God has another aspect. Because God is unchanging, He cannot lie. He will always keep His promises, and we can rely on His word to us and all people. Numbers 23:19 tells us, "God is not man, that He should lie, or a son of man that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it?

     We know as Christians that Jesus is divine. He is the incarnate Second Person of the Holy Trinity. One of my favorite verses is Hebrews 13:8 that reads, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever."

     It is important for us as believers to know and understand that God in unchanging. He has told us that if we come to Him, He will receive us and forgive of us our sin. He will not remember our sins against us anymore. We can know this and believe it because God has given His promise to us, and He will keep His word. We know that Jesus has told us that He has gone to prepare a place for us. He told us that He is the resurrection and life, whoever believes in Him though He were dead yet shall he live. Because of what Jesus has told us, we know that death is not the end for the one who is in Christ. We will be with Him forever. 

     Jesus told us that one day He would come again and the earth would be made new. We can place all of our hope and confidence in this because God keep His promises. He does not change, He does not change, He does not break His promises. 

     Jesus said that whoever comes to Him, He will not cast them out. That still holds true. If you have never trusted in the Lord Jesus for salvation from sin, you can come to Him this very day, and I hope that you will. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

      I want to report that I am doing a lot better with my health. I thank the Lord for this, and I thank you for your prayers. Also, things at work are going a lot better. 

     Please continue to pray that all of the sickness that is besetting the world right now will go away. RSV, flu and Covid are still in my country. China is having a Covid outbreak. There is cholera and malaria around the world. Some countries are dealing with Ebola. Pray that the sick will recover. Also pray that those who are suffering from treatable diseases will be able to get the help that they need. 

     Pray for peace in the troubled areas of the world. Pray for Haiti. Pray for peace in Ukraine, Israel, Yemen and Syria. Pray for peace in the Central African Republic and Congo.

     There is a bad ice storm in the US. Pray that those without power will get their power back on quickly. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week please pray for those in the nations of  Japan and Ivory Coast. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, we will continue with our current series. I will post the verses on Monday, and I hope to have a midweek post. May God bless you all. 

Enough Already

      Today's post isn't about something that I normal post about midweek. However, there are some things that are really irritating me. First of all, I wish that politicians in my country would stop trying to take things away from poor people. Right now in the state of Iowa there is a bill that is trying to take food stamp benefits away from people. Originally, the bill would have stopped those on food stamps from purchasing fresh meat, white bread and many other products. After outcry by the public, the legislature is going to drop that part of the bill. However, there are many other restrictions in the bill against the poor getting Medicaid and food stamp benefits. 

     It is not right to take things away from those who are less fortunate while trying to do more to benefit the rich. One proposal in the House of Representatives of the United States wants to replace the current tax system with a 30 percent sales tax. This will only hurt the poor while giving the rich more money in their pockets. 

     Finally, enough with the book banning. As a writer, I just can't support this. There are objectionable things from a Christian perspective in a lot of literature. If you don't like it, don't read it. If you don't want to let your children read it, opt out. 

     Thank you for reading these opinions.