IMHO

Two More

2011-08-09T19:09:00.003-04:00

Poems

2011-08-09T18:45:00.007-04:00

from Meditation Six by Edward Taylor

Am I thy gold? Or purse, Lord, for thy wealth;
Whether in mine or mint refined for thee?
I'm counted so, but count me o'er thyself,
Lest gold washt face, and brass in heart I be...
Am I new minted by thy stamp indeed?
Mine eyes are dim, I cannot clearly see.
Be thou my spectacles that I may read
Thine image and inscription stampt on me...
Lord, make my soul thy plate: thine image bright
Within the circle of the same enfoil.
And on its brims in golden letters write
Thy superscription in an holy style.
Then I shall be thy money, thou my hoard:
Let me thy Angel be, be thou my Lord.

Diabetes and Dieting

2011-03-13T15:26:00.006-04:00

Ah so...well... I got a call Friday as I was up to my elbows in frying flautas for our Missions Conference from my doctor. Unbeknowns to me, she ordered a a1c blood test at my first visit (in a year) last week. My level was 10 (desired in under 7), which told her that my blood sugars for the last three month has been about 275 a day! Yikes. At 9, you are diagnosed with diabetes.

So... I have three goals now:

1. Get them down to 8 or below so I can get off the medicine she ordered. I already take synthroid, and will for the rest of my life (even tho I have been off it for a year due to the move/not having a doctor/etc.), and I do NOT want to have to take another pill every day until I die to control my blood sugar level. I am going to retest in three months.

2. Lose weight. Toward this end, I am going on the Atkins diet - today was my first full day. And by "Atkins", I don't mean Atkin's diet, proper... rather I am going to limit my net carbs to about 20 per day. No sugar, no flour, no potatoes, peas, carrots or corn, no rice, no pasta, no fruit except some berries. I can do this - I lost 65 pounds doing it once before - but it does get very monotonous. I am going to have to try to find a lot of new recipes and interesting ways to keep motivated. I will be posting my progress here, mainly to help keep me motivated. Atkins also has a page on FB to "like", and I have already found a lot of recipes there as well as general support.

3. Exercise more. We joined the Rec Center here in Mustang, and are going to work out five times a week, taking Sundays and Wednesdays off. Some links I want to keep where I can find them:
A list of carbs levels of 1000 foods: http://www.healthandfitness.com/bbs/nutri/messages/2300.html
details on the a1c test: http://www.diabetes-blood-sugar-solutions.com/a1c-blood-test.html
Some Atkins recipes to adapt or use as is: http://www.atkinschefrecipes.com/recipes/almond-panna-cotta
More Carb Counts incl Fast food: http://www.weightbydate.com/carb-counter.htm (Scroll to bottom of the page - over 11,000!)
Fit Day - FREE weight loss tracker - tons of tools, I used this last time it's great! http://www.fitday.com/

Talented Daughters

2011-02-22T17:51:00.002-05:00

I am amazed at the musical talent my daughters display. I have played the piano in church for the past 32 years. However, I don't have any musical talent! Everything I play I have to work for and practice for months! I can play hymns fairly well, however, I still can not play arrangements after all these years. The language of music may as well be the language of greek to me. (I did want to take greek in college, but scheduling prevented it.)

My oldest daughter can sit at a piano and fiddle around with the keys, from one end to another and make her imaginative tinkering sound like a composed piece! My second to oldest daughter heard this song (on player) online, and went to the piano and in a number of days had it all figured out including dynamics! My third daughter is teaching herself guitar, and currently learning the dueling banjos - without any lessons! All she wants for her upcoming 16th birthday is a guitar book from Mardel's (a local Christian bookstore).

It is a joy to have daughters who are so blessed musically. I pray one day they will use their talents for the Lord!

Unreached of the Day

2011-01-04T12:22:00.002-05:00

Just found this widget online at a friend's blog. I don't know how baptist the site is, it looks protestant to me. Even so, it does give you a automatic, visual reminder of people to pray for in unreached places around the world ("less than 5% evangelical Christians" is their definition).

It keeps the need for missions in your mind and heart. Check it out here: http://www.joshuaproject.net/upgotdfeed.php

Pray 'Till Through, Remembering Prayer Changes Us!

2010-12-30T03:27:00.002-05:00

Very true. This article was a blessing to me (from Ministry 127) and I wanted to share it. Recently we have had a prayer request that we have prayed much and with many tears over for the past 15 or 16 months...with seemingly no reply. At times my faith has buckled over this request which was tied up in the way the Lord was leading my husband...it seemed like this MUST be answered!

A few days ago, it was really like a light turned on, and I saw for the first time my own fault in the issue, and asked forgiveness for my part. Why had I not seen this before? I had spent many hours in prayer, worry, and focused attention on the problem.

Not a week later, the prayer was miraculously answered in the best possible way, confirming God's leading in our lives. Steps that had led to the prayers answer were taken, unbeknowns to me, weeks before my "eureka moment". Would the answer still have come if I had not found my fault and repented? We will not know until we reach heaven, but I have a feeling it would not have been granted! Keep praying.

A Love Letter from Jesus

2010-12-23T03:12:00.006-05:00

How are you? I just had to send you this letter to tell you how much I love you and care about you. I saw you yesterday as you were walking with your friends. I waited all day, hoping you would walk and talk with me also. As evening drew near, I gave you a sunset to close your day and a cool breeze to rest you. Then I waited, but you never came. Oh yes, it hurt me, but I still love you because I am your friend.

I saw you fall asleep last night, and I longed to touch your brow, so I spilled moonlight upon your pillow and your face... Again I waited, wanting to rush down so we could talk. I have so many gifts for you.

You awakened late this morning and rushed off for the day. My tears were in the rain.

Today you looked so sad, so alone. It makes my heart ache because I understand. My friends let me down and hurt me many times but I love you. I try to tell you in the quiet green grass. I whisper it in the leaves and trees and breathe it in the colors of the flowers. I whisper it to you in the mountain streams and give the birds love songs to sing. I clothe you with warm sunshine and perfume the air. My love for you is deeper than the oceans and bigger than the biggest want or need you could ever have.

We will spend eternity together in heaven. I know how hard it is on earth. I really know because I was there and I want to help you. My Father wants to help you, too. He's that way, you know. Just call me, ask me, talk to me. It is your decision...

Your Friend,
JESUS

I saw this little note on a card once, some twenty years ago while I was at Bible college. I think one of my dorm sisters had it on a laminated card she tucked in her Bible maybe? While I am aware that God has given us a black and white large love letter (the Bible), this little note has stayed on my mind all these years, and I think of it now and then, so tonight I looked it up. I wanted to post it here now.

Christmas Music To Surf By (Play All)

2010-12-16T14:24:00.003-05:00

Turn off the music player at the bottom of this blog by sitting "stop" first. Then back up to this post, clicking play on the video will autoplay through all the videos.

Reminder to Self

2010-12-13T18:04:00.000-05:00

Isaiah 7:15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

When the Frost is on the Punkin

2010-11-06T14:08:00.013-04:00

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock,
And you hear the kyouck and the gobble of the struttin' turkey-cock,
And the clackin'; of the guineys and the cluckin' of the hens
And the rooster's hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence;
O it's then the times a feller is a-feelin' at his best,
With the risin' sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest,
As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes out to feed the stock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock

They's somethin kindo' harty-like about the atmusfere
When the heat of summer's over and the coolin' fall is here -
Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossums on the trees
And the mumble of the hummin'-birds and buzzin' of the bees;
But the air's so appetizin'; and the landscape through the haze
Of a crisp and sunny monring of the airly autumn days
Is a pictur' that no painter has the colorin' to mock -
When the frost is on the punkin and fodder's in the shock.

The husky, rusty russel of the tossels of the corn,
And the raspin' of the tangled leaves, as golden as the morn;
The stubble in the furries - kindo' lonesome-like, but still
A preachin' sermons to us of the barns they growed to fill;
The strawstack in the medder, and the reaper in the shed;
The hosses in theyr stalls below - the clover overhead! -
O, it sets my hart a-clickin' like the tickin' of a clock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock!

Then your apples all is gethered, and the ones a feller keeps
Is poured around the celler-floor in red and yeller heaps;
And your cider-makin's over, and your wimmern-folks is through
With their mince and apple-butter, and theyr souse and saussage, too!
I don't know how to tell it - but if sich a thing could be
As the Angels wantin' boardin', and they'd call around on me -
I'd want to 'commodate 'em - all the whole-indurin' flock -
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock!

- by James Whitcomb Riley

A Poem/Song I Wrote 20 Years Ago

2010-10-04T11:57:00.004-04:00

Jesus has said, "Depend on Me,
Trust me alone, eternally."
I do believe my soul He's saved
Why can't I trust Him day to day?
One day I know He'll make me perfect
Through pain and tears, through joy or trials;
What He's begun He will be faithful all the while.
But will He say, "Well done my faithful child"?

Right now it's rough, standing alone,
Depending on no one - but HIM;
But here I'll stand, 'cause faith is "holding on
When you can't see the end".
The way is rough, the road is winding.
Sometimes the light you cannot see,
Yet still I know my Saviour gently guides and leads!
Someday you'll see His plan worked out in me.

Giveaway at Coupon Newbie (My Frugal Blog)

2010-09-08T14:15:00.001-04:00

Yay! Coupon Newbie has 300 fans on Facebook! When I started this website, I did not expect to gain an audience - I was just documenting my progress for my own records. I have enjoyed finding deals and freebies and sharing them with a whole community of frugal couponers discovered online. Facebook has been a large part of that community. In celebration of my 300th fan, I am giving away any one of the fifteen books from Amazon.com on my recommended book list! The Book Gadget is on the left sidebar of this website; here is the list of books:

Enter at http://www.couponnewbie.com/, Giveaway ends 9/18/10 at 10 pm CST.

36 Reasons Why I Love the Lord

2010-08-23T11:30:00.004-04:00

This November marks my 36th year in the Lord! I am filled with gratitude to my Lord and Saviour! Since this is my 36th year to be saved, I am going to mark 36 reasons why I love the Lord, as challenged to by this post: http://www.ifbkjv.com/2010/08/reasons-why-i-love-lord.html

1. The Lord is my shepherd
2. He is a GOOD shepherd, and never does evil towards me
3. He is always with me, in good times and bad
4. He can always be reached, am/pm, or in the middle of the night, by prayer
5. He provides for me, as a Father does for His child
6. His ways are always for my benefit
7. He left me a pure and perfect Bible I can trust 100%
8. He bonds me with Christians brothers and sisters throughout the world
9. In Him there is no darkness at all (I Jn. 1:5)
10. He makes all things work together for my good (Rom 8:28)
11. He knows every temptation and trial I face
12. He makes a way to escape them
13. He is preparing a home in heaven for me
14. He is always watching over me
15. He "sought me ere I knew Him"
16. He provides a Pastor on earth to care for and teach me
17. He gives us free choice, and never bullies
18. He gently guides - but always leads
19. He conforms me to His perfect image: slowly, but surely
20. He puts a song in my heart every day
21. He is my strength
22. He gives me wisdom, "and upbraideth not", (Js. 1:5)
23. He is powerful, even over sin and death, and He rose from the dead
24. He will one day raise my body from the dead
25. He is patient with me
26. He does not leave me, even when I am unfairly angry at Him
27. He is not my accuser, but rather my intercessor
28. He is always kind
29. He is quick to forgive
30. He is merciful
31. He has created a beautiful earth for us to enjoy
32. He is my helper (Heb. 13:6)
33. He lets me know when I am doing wrong/going the wrong way
34. He keeps His promises
35. HE LOVES EVEN ME
36. But most of all, He loved me enough to come to this earth, even if I was the only person ever on earth; to take the form of a man, live a sinless life, yet be crucified unfairly; take MY place of condemnation, and pay the death penalty for MY sins and for all those who accept this: the FREE gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. (John 3:16-20, Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, and 10:9,10, and 13)

Where have I been?

2010-08-21T03:24:00.002-04:00

Actually, I have been blogging. A LOT. This blog was my first, therefore I have warmest feeling for it...and don't want to delete it. I still plan to use it as a diary of sorts..a real blog one might say.

However..for now, my time has been consumed by my other two large and growing blogs - http://ifbkjv.com/ and http://couponnewbie.com/. Drop in and visit me there! :)

IFBKJV is for articles, blogs on any topic by other independent fundamental baptists, KJV devotionals, sermons, outlines and baptist quotes and quips. It started as a blogroll, and then grew to various other ministry areas.

Coupon Newbie is a journal of how I am saving money through couponing, freebies, giveaways, Swagbucks, budget meals, my low cost natural foods recipes, inspirational frugal tips, advice, quotes, Bible verses, and then I also have a new blogroll there for frugal/simple living blogs. A girl's gotta keep busy! ;D

The Challenge

2010-04-01T18:41:00.003-04:00

As Easter Sunday approaches, my heart seems to be getting more intune with my God. The player on this blog has some of my absolute favorite songs. I challenge you to listen to "Yet Jesus Loved Them", and not be moved.

We shall see Him! AMEN!

I recently found out, this player can be linked to through this web address: http://www.hypster.com/flash/newplayer.swf?id=1119260:927720:1

"When Did Jesus Die?" or "The Myth of Good Friday"

2010-03-31T18:11:00.001-04:00

"For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." - Matthew 12:40

Now you might be better at mathematics than I (this is not saying much), but even you can not put three days and nights (even it you switch the order to the more Jewish "nights and days") between a Good Friday crucifixion and an Easter Sunday resurrection.

The Catholic tradition of Jesus dying on a Friday can be largely blamed on a misunderstanding of the word "sabbath". "Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings." - Leviticus 23:3

If you looked at this passage in Mark chapter fifteen, assuming that the "sabbath" meant "Saturday", a burial on Friday would be the only logical conclusion: "And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus." - Mark 15:42-43

But what if your idea of the sabbath always meaning the seventh day, was incorrect? What if there was more than one type of sabbath in the Bible? What if you thought of "sabbath" as meaning a "holy day when no work was allowed"? There are other sabbaths, relating to the Hebrew Feasts, described in Leviticus 23:4-44. While the Passover is not a sabbath day when no work is allowed to be done ("an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein"), there are days besides Saturday alone that are sabbath days.

So what are these other sabbaths? They deal with other Jewish holidays (holy days): "And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread ...In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. ... in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein." - Lev. 23: 6-8 "Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles...the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein." - Lev. 23: 34-36

If Jesus was buried, as He stated, for three days and nights, when did He die? A case can be made for a Wednesday or a Thursday crucifixion, but Friday is simply impossible, nor is it necessary once the sabbaths are fully understood.

A timeline could be made for Jesus' death on Thursday (knowing that Jesus didn't even die until 3:00pm), of Thursday night, Friday, Friday night, Saturday, Saturday night, Sunday being interrupted by the scriptures "very early in the morning". A Wednesday schedule would be Wednesday night in the tomb, Thursday, Thursday night, Friday, Friday night, Saturday (three full nights and days), and then Jesus arose sometime between 6pm Saturday and 6am Sunday.

If the crucifixion was on the Passover, it was automatically the day before a sabbath, no matter what day it was on, because the high sabbath day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread was the next day. It is worth noting that if Jesus finished His word of redemption on the Passover, it was a feast day, but not a sabbath day. Likewise, another feast day, the Feast of First Fruits, (not a sabbath day), would be the day on which Jesus rose from the grave.

A unique argument for a Thursday crucifixion comes from observing Mary Magdalene. Why did she wait until Sunday to go to the tomb to annoint Jesus' body? If Thursday was the day of the crucifixion, then Friday would have been the high sabbath, and Saturday would have been the weekly sabbath (making it impossible for her to go on Friday or Saturday), leaving Sunday as the first “working” day she could have made the trip.

"And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away..." - Mark 16:1-4a

Baptists do not celebrate his death every week. Instead we focus on His victory over death on Sunday, the Lord's Day, when He arose from the dead. Sunday is not the "Christian Sabbath", and the weekly sabbath was not mysteriously moved to Sunday from Saturday. Sunday is the Lord's Day, and we hold services in His name because He lives!

Dying Words, One

2009-11-05T15:00:00.011-05:00

Dying words and legacies have interested me for some time...especially comparing those who know Christ and those who die on their way to hell and still in their sins. I am going to start a sort of series of posts on dying words of note, IMHO.

"Waiting are they? Waiting are they? Well--let 'em wait."
In response to an attending doctor who attempted to comfort him by saying, "General, I fear the angels are waiting for you." - Ethan Allen, d. 1789

"This is the last of earth! I am content." - John Quincy Adams, d. February 21, 1848

"See in what peace a Christian can die." - Joseph Addison, d. June 17, 1719

"Damn it . . . Don't you dare ask God to help me."
To her housekeeper, who had begun to pray aloud. - Joan Crawford, d. May 10, 1977

"It is very beautiful over there." - Thomas Alva Edison, d. October 18, 1931

"All my possessions for a moment of time." - Elizabeth I, Queen of England, d. 1603

"All is lost. Monks, monks, monks! So, now all is gone - Empire, Body, and Soul!" - Henry VIII, King of England, d. 1547

"Why do you weep. Did you think I was immortal?" - Louis XIV, King of France, d. 1715

"Lord help my poor soul." - Edgar Allan Poe, d. October 7, 1849

"I die hard but am not afraid to go." - George Washington, d. December 14, 1799

"I am ready." - Woodrow Wilson, d. 1924

"This is no time to make new enemies." When asked on his deathbed to forswear Satan. Other sources say his final words were “I am abandoned by God and man! I will give you half of what I am worth if you will give me six months’ life. Then I shall go to hell; and you will go with me. O Christ! O Jesus Christ!” - Voltaire, d. 1778

"Wait a minute…" - Pope Alexander VI

"I am not the least afraid to die." - Charles Darwin

"I've always loved my wife, my children, and my grandchildren, and I've always loved my country. I want to go. God, take me." - Dwight D. Eisenhower

"I shall be with Christ, and that is enough."Being asked: "Have you ever pondered by yourself what will be your occupation in the next world?". - Michael Faraday

"Nothing soothes pain like human touch." - Bobby Fischer

"Das ist absurd! Das ist absurd!" (German) Translation: This is absurd! This is absurd! - Sigmund Freud

"Money can't buy life." - Bob Marley

"Die, my dear? Why, that's the last thing I'll do!" - Groucho Marx

"Let me have none of your popish stuff. Get away with you. Good morning."
Spoken to two clergymen who were trying to lead the famous Deist in a deathbed conversion. - Thomas Paine

"Every damn fool thing you do in this life you pay for." - Edith Piaf

"I'm losing..." - Frank Sinatra

"The sun is God." - J. M. W. Turner

"Don't pull down the blinds. I feel fine. I want the sunlight to greet me!" - Rudolph Valentino

"The best of all is: God is with us." - John Wesley

How My Life Is Going

2009-10-20T16:04:00.002-04:00

WOW. A few of my friends told me they admired how brave it was for me to go to Oklahoma on my own. "Pshaw!" I thought. How hard could it be? Travelling 2,000 miles away from my family and husband - not to mention my seventeen year old rebellious daughter whom I love and adore - on my own with very limited funds, and only the promise of more to come...no job waiting for me, no house or apartment (I wanted to see what I was leasing!), and four kids in tow...one of them a very angry fifteen year old who tells me daily how much she hates me, her family, Oklahoma...and everyone in general. How bad could it be?

Well, the apartment we were going to move into (for $199 through a move-in special) was a dive! Kicked in doors in a very bad area of town...live there?! I was scared to even drive through! So we turned a two night hotel stay into a weeklong stay, and I explored OKC...finally settling in a little town that reminds me of the community in Shaftsbury, VT. Larger, yes...but low in crime, good schools, and seemingly quiet. Of course...with they house lease came a lot more bills...utility deposits...first and last month full rents (no move in specials!)...and my money dwindled rapidly. On top of all of this...the place was overrun with roaches!! I don't mean a roach here and there. I mean we bombed, the landlord bombed...we bombed again...the landlord paid for spraying....and then we bombed again...delaying our move out of the hotel by another three days. The first night in we killed over 100 roaches. They were in the bed with us at night! Coming from Vermont...I never had to deal with roaches!

The landlord promised to fix a few broken things, and that the roaches would leave in time. Two weeks later, I was still killing up to 50 a night. I roamed the house with a can of raid and a roll of TP to flush those roaches away with every night...and got very little sleep! Little by little I noticed their numbers decreasing. Last night I only killed five. The landlord has fixed most of the things he promised to fix; the doorbell, the bathroom fan, and the smoke detector still need to be repaired. I still can't use the kitchen (could you?!)...so we are eating out of the car. Hmmm...I wonder what the neighbors think when I am outside at 7am making peanut butter sandwhiches for the kid's lunches out of the back of the car? Iiiiinteresting.

My husband is NO HELP at all, as he laughs - yes LAUGHS - when I tell him of our moving adventures. This is not funny. He asks me what would I do if he was called to Costa Rica - is that where they have the giant hissing cockroaches? Well...that is true - it could be worse. But...this is bad enough. On top of all the roach problems...the teen drama is still occuring. They grow out of this right?! The roaches are dying...and the exterminators are coming to spray some different (and they say very stinky) chemical to help kill any of our brain cells which have survived the 7 giant size cans of Raid I have used so far - and the four large cans of Boric Acid I have sprinkled everywhere imaginable in the house. We used the kitchen for the first time a few nights ago to microwave some Ramen noodles...and I think we can start using it soon...things are getting better. Right? Somebody tell me "Right".

Prayer Request

2009-10-12T13:53:00.001-04:00

1 Thessalonians 5:25 "Brethren, pray for us."

Wallpapers

2009-09-18T14:00:00.001-04:00

Click the four multidirectional arrows above to expand.

Old Bibles

2009-09-14T13:36:00.001-04:00

Bible Senders www.thebiblesenders.info is a IFB ministry based out of Walworth Baptist Church in Ulen, MN Our goals is to send Bibles (KJV), tracts, and other scripture to needy missionaries around the world. We accept used Bibles, good Bible based literature, dvds, cds, etc.

We also have a sister ministry www.afterdeathwhat.com which seeks to produce high quality tracts. All materials are free as the Lord provides.

Visit their Facebook page here: Facebook

Visit their website here: Website

If you have old Bibles, consider taking up a collection of them, and sending them off to be used!

Loving Mercy

2009-09-10T12:02:00.006-04:00

Lately God has been showing me the truth in Micah 6:8. I am a disciplinarian. It's how I was raised. I see things very much as black or white - wrong or right. While this worked great with my kids when they were little, as they get older, the stubborn streak they inherited from both parents (as well as a sin nature!) balks against a heavy hand. My husband is much more gentle, patient, and teaching with them. And it shows as they get older, and start to prefer his company over mine. Boy, does that hurt!

God works with us all of our lives, molding us into the image of His Son, the Bible says. What he has been teaching me of late is to love mercy. Today's Proverb dealt with this as well. Training up a child doesn't always mean pinching off every flaw and tiny mark of sin. Sometimes it means gently guiding, having the patience to allow the child to come to the right conclusion in their own time, and not forcing your own "perfect will" on the emerging "plant".

Think of a garden. How well would our plants grow if every time we saw a bug infestation on them, we trampled the spout while killing the bugs? Or how sickly would the plant be if we were constantly pinching off any weak or unsightly new growth before it had a chance to correct itself? Part of this is having the faith in God and His Word, that you have sown the right seeds. You have watered, and weeded, and now it is time to step back a little...not completely. The plants may still need to be tied to stakes, powdered for mildew, or picked up if a windstorm knocks them over. But a plant that is never allowed to stand on it's own, will never be strong.

What does this have to do with loving mercy? Mercy is not giving someone what they have rightly deserved. Does your child deserve a punishment for breaking a house rule? Yes. Do they know the rules? Yes. Did they break them? Yes. But instead of a harsh hand, I am watching my husband get real results with a quiet talk, and if the action is apologized for and repented of, showing them mercy.

"WHAT!?!?" I thought. "No punishment! No consequences!? Isn't that sending the wrong message that they can do wrong and get away with it?!?!" Until my husband gently reminded me of all the things I had done wrong to him...and he forgave and showed mercy in. I have a good man. And a good God to teach me, that sometimes, I lack in showing mercy.

Finally, (I have noticed this is a pattern with me) a song (surprise!) came to mind. It is a song that my husband actually taught me twenty years ago in Bible college. Micah 6:8 "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? " You can hear it here: CLICK

Letter From a Friend

2009-09-07T09:22:00.004-04:00

"Don't worry about people having their own choice and free will. When God works a sinner can change his mind in a hurry."

I have been going through a lot of trials in my life regarding my two teenage daughters, ages 15 and 17. Trying to do the right thing, I have been in a lot of prayer, and although I know God can have the victory, I have been somewhat defeated by the thought that even though I could pray until my knees bleed, they still have free choice. I think I have gotten sidetracked with that thought. Today I got a letter from a missionary friend who says that churches in America are weak and have no power. He has seen things that he only ever read about here in America. He constantly encourages me to pray more - and a key of prayer is faith. If I am praying that God will intervene and change hearts...but then I fret about free will...am I having any faith? I am still working through all this, but I do know that the above quote gave me some peace and hope...and I wanted a place to post it where I could remember it.

It kind of reminded me of a song I learned when I was young:

When the Canaanites hardened their hearts against God,
And grieved Him because of their sin,
God sent along hornets to bring them to terms,
And to help His own people to win.

If a nest of live hornets were brought to this room,
And the creatures allowed to go free,
You would not need urging to make yourself scarce,
You’d want to get out, don’t you see!

They would not lay hold and by force of their strength,
Throw you out of the window, oh, no!
They would not compel you to go against your will,
But they would just make you willing to go.

When Jonah was sent to the work of the Lord,
The outlook was not very bright.
He never had done such a hard thing before,
So he backed and ran off from the fight.

Now, the Lord sent a great fish to swallow him up,
The story I am sure you all know.
God did not compel him to go against his will,
But He just made him willing to go.

CHORUS:
God does not compel us to go, oh, no!
He never compels us to go.
God does not compel us to go against our will,
But He just makes us willing to go.

My new favorite song (yes, it's on the playlist!)

2009-08-10T20:43:00.005-04:00

Many years ago I gave my heart to You,/I humbly asked You, Lord, to lead in all I'd do;/But now the burdens seem so heavy You've given me to bear,/Before I press on any farther, I need to know that You're still there.

ch Lord, if Your presence go not with me, I don't want to go;/And if Your Spirit is not leading me, Lord, I need to know./You have placed me here, I'll do Your will, Your love I'll try to show;/But if Your presence go not with me I don't want to go.

2. You've been so good to me I don't mean to complain:/You've healed my heartaches, dried my tears, and soothed my pain./And I'm still willing, Lord, to follow, no matter where You lead;/I'm only asking for assurance that You'll still be near to me.

ch Lord, if Your presence go not with me, I don't want to go;/And if Your Spirit is not leading me, Lord, I need to know./You have placed me here, I'll do Your will, Your love I'll try to show;/But if Your presence go not with me I don't want to go.

3. He said, "My child, I have a place for you, and here you can abide;/I'll be your Friend, your Cleft, I'll cover you, I'm still your Faithful Guide,/I'll keep you safe through all your storms and doubts, in Me you can confide.../I have a special place for you, my child, it's here close by My side.

I'll keep you safe through all your storms and doubts, in Me you can confide.../I have a special place for you, my child, it's here close by My side.

Finishing Well

2009-08-09T14:45:00.011-04:00

What do you think of when you hear the name Miriam? She was intelligent, resourceful, and a leader. I have known women to say of someone like this, "When she walks into a room, strength walks in". Miriam faithfully watched her little brother by the river's brink. She bravely offered help and wisely suggested her own mother to nurse baby Moses. In Exodus 15, we find her leading the other women in praise to the Lord. She was a prophetess according to verse 20, yet shortly thereafter, she oversteps her boundaries, speaks against her brother Moses, and God swiftly puts her in her place.

In Numbers 12 we read of a terrible humbling she endured. She spoke against Moses for marrying an Ethiopian woman, and then asks this question, "Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us?". Was she jealous of the attention Moses was getting? Did she desire a higher place of leadership? Was the complaint against his wife just an excuse used to tear him down in order to make herself look better? For whatever reason, the Bible makes a note of recording, "And the LORD heard it."

The Lord was not pleased with her attack on his servant, Moses. He made it very clear to her in verses 6-8: "...If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches..."

While the prophets saw visions and dreams, Moses spoke to God face to face! God's judgement fell on her, and Miriam became a leper. Even though Moses prayed and God removed her leprosy, she was shamed for seven days as a leper: "...the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again."

Miriam had held an honored place next to her brothers Aaron and Moses. She was a prophetess of God! The women obviously looked up to her, and followed her lead as she praised God. But after she faltered here, you never read of Miriam in the Bible again. Was she restored? Did she learn her lesson and go on to serve the Lord? It is important that we are careful not to think more of ourselves than we ought. Jesus was meek. Moses was meek. "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble".

As we serve Him, we need to be careful not to let pride, arrogance, jealousy, and bitterness ruin our testimony, shame us before others, and falter in the race God has left us to run. Rather, humbly and meekly we should serve the Lord, in our place, building up one another, and submitting to those in authority over us, so that we can one day say, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith".

..."the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong..."

2009-08-04T11:50:00.002-04:00

We just returned from a trip around the US and were able to catch up with many old friends we had not seen in about twenty years, since graduating from Bible college in 1991. It was interesting to see that those who may have been written off humanly speaking, are often the ones who are at the forefront of the spiritual battle we are all fighting: pastoring churches, leading ministries, working in missions, etc.

Some of the people I thought were once on fire for the Lord, who had everything going for them, natural born leaders, wit, brains...people I could see leading a sweeping revival across America...are not even in the ministry anymore. Erasing every Christian identification from themselves, they work in a worldly field...promoting a cigarette company, selling casinos trinkets, or some other small task that they have settled to complete. They no longer serve the mighty King of kings, and their focus is no longer on working for their old Master until He returns.

The pilgrim way is rough..full of blessings, accomplishable in Christ, free from regrets...but it is still a hard way. There are pilgrims who leave the way, Christians who make shipwreck, and children who go astray and roam far from the will of God. Only God knows the heart. God knew who would follow Him, and who would serve Him all the days of their lives. He takes the weak things of the world and makes them strong building blocks that He works with here on earth to accomplish eternal works in heaven. It was sad to see some people I was so impressed by, who I thought could make great strides for God, wasted by the world into an ineffectual nothing for the Lord..but also encouraging to think that in Him we can do all things. He can take nothing, and mold it into something useable...someone who will allow Him to work through themselves and create a lasting work of God.

Another Plunge of Faith!

2009-07-13T18:38:00.002-04:00

The old line "only one life will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last" was brought to mind today, and I went off (across the wide expanse of the www) to track down who it was that coined this popular phrase. I found a whole poem existed I never even knew about.

Only One Life
By Charles Thomas Studd,

Missionary to China, India, and Africa

Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgment seat;
Only one life,’ twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill,
Living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say, “Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say ’twas worth it all”;
Only one life,’ twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

I also found a page of other noteworthy quotes of his here, and the one that spoke to me the most was: "The best cure for discouragement or qualms is another daring plunge of faith."

Our family is facing deep discouragement on many sides, yet the sweetest peace I find is when I "let go, and let God" (I wonder who coined that phrase?) - when I stop trying, and failing, to control the ravenges around me...and just trust God to work it all for good, Romans 8:28. Without trials, our faith stagnates. Without obstacles to overcome, we slow to a hobble in the ruts of the road. Without enemies to test us, tempters to try us, and deserters to leave us, how can we know how strong our faith really can be? A "daring pluge of faith"? Are you SURE LORD? Ok! Here I go!

Was that kind?

2009-06-06T00:14:00.004-04:00

This is the question I have been asking myself lately. If you have been saved any length of time, you know that God does not always do things the "quick and easy way"...sometimes He does things the long and tedious way...the way that builds character in various lives along the way. There is usually a section of verse that kind of gets "stuck" in my head from a sermon, and it just sits there for a few weeks, and it slowly changes me from the inside out. Pastor preached on Mothers Day on Proverbs 31...or maybe it was a radio preacher? Anyway, somewhere I heard this verse...one I have read probably literally a hundred times before, but this time it stuck: "and in her tongue is the law of kindness."

The law of kindness. Wow. It sounds so serious...so important! Is the law of kindness in my tongue? The tongue is a difficult thing to control..surely that is true even according to James...but if I can do one thing, it is to try to make every word I say be kind.

Sometimes kindness is not saying what someone wants to hear. Agreeing with error may be "nice", but it is not kind. Sometimes it is very hard to be kind when you are being treated unfairly, or thought evil of. At those times, I need to not say anything. Like Thumper's mother always told him..."If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all!" Kind words can even be hurtful, considering one of my all time favorite verses: "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." Confrontational loving and careful, Spirit-led correction, can wound, yet be kind.

However, the majority of time, kind words should be just that: kind. Gentle, sweet, nice - I ask myself, and I hope to make this a habit, "Was that kind?"

But He sought us where we were...

2009-05-28T08:32:00.005-04:00

I love this line of a song (I will add a link so you can hear the song). It is a beautiful song, but lately, the third verse about Jesus our Shephard brings a tear of gratitude to my eye. As I go through life, the images and icons I am drawn to change, but lately it has been Jesus as my Shepherd. I never grasped the full meaning of this thought before, but He is a loving and kind, caring Guide, and such a good, good, wonderful Shepherd, who will bring us SAFELY HOME TO GOD! (Amen!) Here are the words to the song, I hope you take the time to listen to it, and I hope it blesses you too.

He was wounded for our transgressions,
He bore our sins in His body on the tree;
For our guilt He gave us peace,
From our bondage gave release,
And with His stripes,
and with His stripes,
And with His stripes our souls are healed.

He was numbered among transgressors,
We did esteem Him forsaken by His God;
As our sacrifice He died,
That the law be satisfied,
And all our sin,
and all our sin,
And all our sin was laid on Him.

We had wandered, we all had wandered
Far from the fold of "the Shepherd of the sheep";
But He sought us where we were,
On the mountains bleak and bare,
And bro't us home,
and bro't us home,
And bro't us safely home to God.

Music HERE

Found a different player!

2009-05-27T23:32:00.002-04:00

The old one changed to 30 second clips (boo!!), now this one...we'll see how it does.

Well, I have SUCCUMBED!

2009-02-25T08:21:00.005-05:00

I don't like to autoplay music on my blogs, but I found such a great autoplayer and playlist, I am adding it to this blog - http://water05201.blogspot.com/. It's at the bottom and we'll see how it goes. My apologies in advance to dial up users!! I know I hated autoplaying blogs when I was on dialup, but I'm only adding it to this one, my most personal, blog. :) I don't think anyone reads it but me anyway! It does have an easy to find OFF button if that helps? :)

Petition

2009-02-02T16:56:00.002-05:00

What would happen if President Obama signed the Freedom of Choice Act?

If signed, the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) would wipe away every restriction on abortion nationwide. It would eradicate state and federal laws that the majority of Americans support, such as:

- Bans on Partial Birth Abortion
- Requirements that women be given information about the risks of getting an abortion
- Mandates that only licensed physicians can perform abortions
- Parental notification laws requiring consent for a minor's abortion

FOCA would erase these laws and prevent states from enacting similar protective measures in the future.
President Obama made a promise to Planned Parenthood that they expect him to keep.

"The first thing I'd do as President is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That's the first thing I'd do." - Barack Obama

Sign here: http://www.fightfoca.com/

Salvation: it's about a relationship, not a religion.

2009-01-30T20:16:00.002-05:00

When my grandmom died, we went to Virginia for her memorial service, and while there did a little sightseeing. One of the things we visited, was the house my sister was born in (that's her and hubby), and I was saved in at the age of four.

I usually was allowed to sleep though the service, and I woke up for the end...and the preacher was giving the plan of salvation, and mentioned during the invitation that you could not be saved until you knew you were a sinner. Well, I really really wanted to be saved...but what could I do? I was NOT a sinner!! (this is a four year old's mind) Only one thing to do..I'd better get to sinning. And quick!

We lived on an old farm/cattle ranch, and we had to pass through cow gates to reach our home. At each one, my mom would turn to me and say "Now you stay in the car! I'll be right back", and go open the gate, drive through, and lock the gate again. Well, I thought this was the perfect chance to become a sinner!

I stepped out of the car..and right into a cow patty! My mom was furious, took me home, spanked my bottom, and sent me to my room. It was bugging her that I was not crying, but seemed pleased to be punished, so she crept up the stairs to spy on me. I was kneeling by my bed, telling Jesus I was a sinner, and would He please wash away my sins and save me so I could go to heaven?

Well, my dad brought me down to the couch, and explained things to me, and talked about a lot of big words like "redemption" and "transgression" that I can clearly remember not understanding, but although I can't remember much of my childhood, I remember details about that day like the color of the fabric on the couch where I got saved, November 24, 1974. Baptized the next Sunday night in church.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." - John 3:16-20

"But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." - Romans 10:8-11

Roe Vs. Wade - Jan. 22 - Remember

2009-01-11T19:32:00.002-05:00

ROE v. WADE. Decided January 22, 1973
"...the blood of the innocent on their hands..."
Wars, poverty, abortions, starving children, pain, broken homes, abuse and hurt. Jesus can save. God can forgive.

KJV Devos thoughts

2009-01-06T09:13:00.003-05:00

Today's Bible reading at http://kjvdevos.blogspot.com/ makes me think about the tithe. I have heard many things online from those who do not believe tithing is for Christians, or who do not give to their church on a regular basis. However, in today's reading in seems so clear to me what the tithe is for...not a "jewish law", but a principle that transcends one time period or one group of people. That principle is found in this passage: "Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, ...that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always."

The passage goes on for some time, but this thought is then related: "that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them."

The thoughts I bring from today's passage are that the tithe is God's way of training us to fear the Lord, and put Him first. When we do, it clears the way for Him to then bless us as obedient children, and to take pity on us when we are in trouble, because we fear Him. As a mom, I can relate to this thought. Sometimes just my children submitting to a rule, makes me have pity on them and softens my heart to their needs and even their desires. Sometimes I think the reason God set up humans to procreate the way we do, is so we can see firsthand how He sees our relationship, and understand just a little the way He deals with us.

I also like the way the reading ties into Psalm 103:13-22.

Having fun discovering widgets :D (Sara)

2009-01-01T14:23:00.001-05:00

Get this widget!

Why The World Celebrates!

2008-12-24T12:52:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas!

Subscribe to this Channel on YouTube!

2008-12-20T13:18:00.002-05:00

Political Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2008-12-19T11:14:00.003-05:00

To All My Democrat Friends:
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.

I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2009, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere.

This wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wished.

A Playlist To Be Blessed By

2008-12-14T09:00:00.005-05:00

One you hit play, it will cycle through 14 songs, all from Lancaster Baptist (West Coast Baptost College), that all have been a real blessing to me, and have good audio quality. I didn't put it on autoplay, cuz I know what a pain it is to have dial up and go to sits with autoplaying music (and the page just loads and loads and loads...)! :) Have a great day!!

The BEST 20 CHRISTMAS songs EVER (imho)

2008-12-13T03:51:00.002-05:00

A mix of secular and Christ-centered songs, they all have to do with winter or the holiday season. They may not be ones you would commonly hear, but they all hold a special place in my heart. I put them here as a place to park this PLAYLIST which will go though all twenty (!) as I surf. And maybe you might listen too? If anyone reads this blog. :) Oh well. *shrug*

Cartoon of the Week

2008-11-25T19:43:00.002-05:00

In the spirit of our new "Topic of the Week" application, I'm going to start a "Cartoon of the Week" area on my blog. It may change if I find a better one, but right now, this is the best cartoon we have had here on the Friendly all week.

Racism: Alive and Strong in America

2008-11-23T19:01:00.003-05:00

Look. I understand. It's only been a few generations from slavery, when unimaginably cruel things were done to our darkskinned brothers and sisters which necessitated the mental classification of people being "below us" to justify what was done. I understand that deeply seated biases die hard, that your parents and my parents may have considered themselves nonracists, while we might classify them as slightly racist, and their parents as even more racist. I understand the need for a scapegoat; the human deisre to classify based on our own judgement, and the fear of going against the mainstream.

The fact remains that there is one race. The human race. God did not create different races. He did not put some humans under another group of humans for thousands of years because of something their great great great grandpappy did. God did not prohibit marrying "between the races".

Why do we judge based on skin color, hair type, eye shape, nose crook or other superficial basis? Where did these come from if not for us to judge and seperate ourselves according to?

I submit that these characteristics arose because of the tower of babel, when God divided mankind acording to language. Suddenly, the available gene pool for procreation was greatly reduced...and certain characteristics strongly arose in the various groups as they moved away and settled the earth.

It has nothingto do with a "black skin curse". Little do to with geography, and much to do with the gene pool. How dare we look with disgust, distust, contempt or even simple non-acceptance at our brother and sisters around America and around the world who share our blood, and yes, our race?

"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring."

Article of interest: Click HERE

Without God

2008-11-22T10:28:00.001-05:00

Without GOD, our week would be: Sinday, Mournday, Tearsday, Wasteday, Thirstday, Fightday & Shatteredday.

Author unknown, received via email

Found Online

2008-11-22T08:53:00.006-05:00

Welcome to the Good-Ole’-Boy Network. Here’s Your Lapel Pin

Say you are just coming in to the ranks of Fundamentalism, having chosen the Sword branch as your particular nesting place. And, say that you are wondering how one goes about getting his name highlighted in the Fundamentalist Hall of Fame, and perhaps getting his very own personal invitation to the Good-Ole’-Boy Ball. You might need some pointers as to how you can get yourself into the “rising star” category.

We are here for you. We wouldn’t want you spending too much of your time in wasted effort when it comes to such worthy pursuits. So, let us help.

...First, Invite the Big Name Preachers to preach at your church. They like this, and if you provide them with a decent enough show (and, of course, that show is accompanied by a check of significant proportions), you have a very good chance of making a great impression. You will, of course, want to make sure that you really build up Dr. Big Shot before he comes, so that your people are adequately prepared beforehand to be impressed, yea even dazzled. When you introduce him, be sure to sprinkle your introduction generously with a variety of superlatives, like “most” and “best” and “greatest.” And be sure that he doesn’t leave without an invitation to return (make sure you include a few dates with your invitation, and that those dates are within the next calendar year).

Second, be sure to be well-traveled in the Dr. Big Shot circuit. That would include (as a minimum) attendance at every Major Conference. Minimum attendance requirements will include (of course) the National Sword of the Lord Conference, The Leadership Conference, and at least two of the Regional Sword Conferences. You should also keep an eye on the conferences advertised in the Sword of the Lord. Though you will not be required to attend every one, you must be sure to attend one or two of the ones that include Shelton Smith and at least two of the other Important Preachers and Rising Stars who annually preach at the National Conference.

...Fourth, advertise in the Sword. Buy the most expensive advertisement that you can. If you want to fish, you’ll need to bring some bait. Put it in your Missions Budget if you need to. But you’ll never see one of those guys with the teeny-weenie ads up on the stage at the National Convention. So, you’re gonna need to drop some coin on this one.

...Sixth, preach only from those texts that everyone agrees with. This is essential. Understand, there are entire books of the Bible that have no place in these kinds of churches. If, for instance, you were to say, “Turn in your Bibles to Romans chapter 9,” or, worse yet, to Amos, you could be voted off the Island. Immediately. Find those passages with the texts that everybody likes, and stick with them. For that matter, you’ll need a minimum of five messages on David and Goliath. That way, when you get your invitation, you’ll have a sermon ready-made for publication. The only other topic you’ll need to cover will be Soul Winning. Really, every message that isn’t on salvation or on David and Goliath will need to be on Soul Winning.

...Tenth, you’ll need to get yourself a very large (and, I might add, expensive) mirror. This is for several reasons.

First, you’ll need it for your preaching. Practice preaching in the mirror. Remember that style always trumps substance, so don’t worry about having any more than three points and a poem. Just leave lots of space between each point, and make the majority of your notes read like a prompter… “shout here,” “stomp here,” “Billy Sunday pose here,” “pull out hanky and wave here,” “pull out crisp $100 bill here,” and etc. Remember that the majority of your audience at these kinds of Conferences are in The Club, and hence are veritable connoisseurs of “preachin’.” You’ll need to be sure that all your poses are performed flawlessly. This is why the mirror is so essential.

Secondly, you’ll need to work on that hair-do. Your couple of squirts of hairspray ain’t gonna cut it. Get yourself a stylist. You’ll also be needing a blow-dryer. Get some professional advice on the style that is best for you. If you are under thirty, the wet look will probably be the most appropriate. If you are over forty, practice your comb-over. Either that, or shave it to the skin every day.

Thirdly, you’ll need it to check yourself out on a regular basis. You are going to be in the Big Time, Brother. You’ll need to practice everything… your walk, your handshake, how you hold your Bible (high and tight usually works best), and especially crossing your legs while sitting on the platform. Do not underestimate the importance of appearances. Especially if you’re going to get your Invitation to the National Stage.

...Twelfth, learn to pause at appropriate places in your preaching, so the audience has a chance to “Amen!” you. If the audience is a little slow, learn a few insults that you can use to sorta ‘prime the pump’ a little. Practice getting that incredulous look on your face that says it all for you, so that your audience will know that you really can’t believe that they missed such a golden opportunity. Learn to cup your hand to your ear, lean forward, and kick your opposite foot back. You will need to come down out of the pulpit and “Amen!” yourself at least once every message, so that your audience will know that no matter how much they ”Amen!” it is still inadequate (though you will want to say “Thank you” very emphatically a couple of times during the message, so that your audience will know that you appreciate their feeble efforts).

Thirteenth, practice preaching in a microphone. Note that I did not say “with” a microphone. You will need to get into that microphone. Learn to talk with your mouth right on it. Practice that husky, intimate voice. Work on bombast. Learn to scream into it so loud that you hurt your own ears. Be ambidextrous (screaming and stomping or else screaming and spitting simultaneously).

Fourteenth, do not stand still. If you need to know why, refer back to point #7, 8, and 10. You will need to step on every square foot of carpet on the platform as well as on the altar and the first four pews while you preach. Consider yourself to be like Joshua (Joshua 1:3). You want that mountain, it belongs to you. While you are at it, you will need to learn how to walk on pews while preaching. If your balance is good enough, you will need to learn how to walk on the backs of the pews, too.

...Sixteenth, get a big church. Remember those immortal words of John R. Rice, “It is not a sin for a church to start small. It is a sin for a church to stay small.” I’m sure that he had a chapter and verse on that one. But he doesn’t need one. He, after all, had a big church. Make sure you do not sin so against the Lord. Three to Four hundred will not do. As Dr. Rice reminded us, the church at Jerusalem had thousands. We don’t know about any of the others, like Corinth or Ephesus, but we can assume that they did too. Otherwise, they would have been in sin, and since Paul never rebuked them for being small, they must not have been. Because Paul would have rebuked them if they had been small. Because it is a sin (Rice 13:2) to stay small. So, get big. If you can’t get big (say you are in a town of 300 people), then move to a big church, and make it bigger. Mediocre pastors have no place on the platform of the Sword of the Lord. Period.

(for the whole article, go HERE)

EXPELLED! the movie, out yesterday on DVD

2008-10-23T22:27:00.005-04:00

If you didn't see this, rent it! Or better yet, buy it. I give it an A.

It's from a Jewish POV, not a Christian one, but it does a good job of showing the blacklisting of scientists who even dare to question if there might be "intelligent design".

It shows the religion based bias of "agnostic" evolutionists, who actually DO have a "religion" of sorts. Some of them even say without batting an eye that the world got here by seeding, from ALIENS FROM OUTER SPACE.

It's a little slow and "documentary", but it picks up towards the middle. Best movie I've seen all year. Good argument for proving how spiritually based all humans are.

I Thought We Were in a Recession?

2008-10-23T20:41:00.007-04:00

In the United States, Halloween has become one of the most popular unofficial holidays...Kids and even many adults love getting dressed-up for Halloween. And they love the candy, of course. It’s just innocent fun, isn’t it? But let’s think carefully and biblically about the history, nature, and impact of the holiday.When did this holiday begin and why?...How should Christians view this day in general?

To understand these questions further, we need to go back to the roots of Halloween.When Did Modern-day Halloween Get Started?In the early 1900s, the migrating Irish and Scots brought Halloween traditions to the United States. Over time, Halloween catapulted into mainstream culture.The holiday, though, has roots reaching much further back. Some researchers claim that the holiday can be traced back about 2,000 years to the Celts of Europe, who occupied what is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France. It was a pagan festival called “Samhain” (pronounced “sow-in”) that celebrated more or less the honor of the dead and involved the offering of large sacrifices of crops and animals. Although no original written accounts of this festival exist today from the ancient Celts, there is some reference to it in Roman records from when the Romans conquered Celtic lands around AD 43. With Roman rule, the day of Samhain was influenced by Roman festivals of the time. The first was called “Pomona,” which was a type of harvest festival, and the next was “Feralia,” the Roman day of the dead. Interestingly, both Feralia and Samhain were festivals of the dead and celebrated at the end of October.

The Name “Halloween”Around AD 800, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 as All Saints’ Day in an effort to give a Christian alternative to this pagan holiday. Christians who did not want to celebrate pagan festivals celebrated something of positive spiritual value—in this case honoring the saints and martyrs. With the overwhelming expansion of Christianity in Europe, All Saint’s Day became the dominant holiday.5In fact, the current name of “Halloween” originates from the day before All Saint’s Day, which was called “All Hallow Evening”; this name was shortened to “All Hallow’s Eve” or “All Hallow’s Even.” The name changed over time and became “Hallowe’en”.A couple hundred years later, the Roman Catholic Church made November 2 All Souls Day to honor the dead. ...it is significant to note how many cultures throughout the world have celebrated a “day of the dead” (often with sacrifices), occurring at the end of summer and fall.

...Why Sacrifices?Proper sacrifices in the Bible were associated with sin and death. This goes back to the first sacrifice in Genesis 3:21 when the first two humans (Adam and Eve) sinned against God. The Bible says that the punishment for sin is death (Romans 6:23; Hebrews 9:22). Due to their sin, Adam and Eve were ashamed of their nakedness. So, God made coats of animal skins to cover their nakedness. God sacrificed animals to cover this sin. In a fashion similar to God, Abel offered sacrifices from his flocks (Genesis 4:4), and Noah did the same after the Flood. Later the Israelites did this as well, giving sin offerings of lambs, doves, etc. as God commanded. But the blood of animals is not enough to remove sin; it is only enough to cover it temporarily (Hebrews 10:4): finite animals could never really take the infinite punishment from an infinite God. These instances of sacrificing animals were foreshadowing Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God—who, as the perfect infinite sacrifice on the cross, fully paid for our sins so that everyone who trusts in Him will be saved and given eternal life.With most of the celebrations of the “days of the dead,” sacrifices were involved. This suggests that cultures around the world understood this concept of sacrificing to God to cover sins.

....Even evil acts such as vandalism, fires, destructive pranks, pretending people are something they are not by dressing up, particularly by glorification of sensuality, death, and demons, etc. are painfully in opposition to the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:19–23). So, a word of caution must be given to Evangelicals who promote the questionable modern practices of Halloween.If anything, an alternative in opposition to Halloween should be offered by Christians. Psalms 24:1 points out that everything belongs to the Lord. Therefore, there is no reason to let Satan have Halloween. It is not his day in the first place. When Satan tried tempting Jesus, he offered Jesus something that was not his to offer (Matthew 4:8—all the kingdoms of the world). Jesus obviously didn’t succumb because it wasn’t Satan’s to give, nor did Satan exercise any authority over Him. Many today believe that Halloween is Satan’s day and recommend staying away from it. But recognizing such a thing would be to disregard that Satan owns nothing and that all days belong to God...

Year Halloween-related Sales in U.S. dollars
2004 3 billion
2005 3.29 billion
2006 4.96 billion
2007 5.07 billion link

Fox news this morning estimated the Halloween spending this year would top six billion dollars.

God's Riches

2008-10-21T08:04:00.003-04:00

How wonderful that God gives us of the abundance of His riches, even according to His riches! A poor man who gave according to his riches, would surely give meagerly...but God is far from a poor man! And He gives to *us* according to these great riches. Lord help me to remember the spiritual riches you have given me through these lean economic times!

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,"

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"

"For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."

Playing with graphics

2008-10-18T21:27:00.003-04:00

http://kjvavatars.blogspot.com/ is my new Blogspot Blog. Bible based avatars I had fun making using Paint of all things! lol :D Here's one of my favs:

Oprah's Cult

2008-04-22T21:42:00.005-04:00

This isn't the first time Oprah's had YouTubes accusing her of starting a cult or denying Christ - I remember a few months ago there was another youtube making the rounds about the "other gospel" she was preaching. Gotta feel burdened about anyone who is looking to OPRAH, of all ppl, for spiritual guidance...but I'm sure many ppl watch her show religiously every day yet never darken the doorway of a church.

I saw a few commercials for Oprah shows about Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth" book she has been touting, and warning bells went off each time I've seen them...just haven't been interested enough to really look into it. Maybe I should. I wonder how many ppl in churches across America already know about it, and maybe even buy into it?

Watch the video. It's the New Age movement repackaged. And now showing in your home every day at 4:00 on channel 13 (check local listings)!

Some points:
heaven is an inner realm
my mind is part of God's
my salvation comes from me
there is no sin
the pathetic error = "clinging to the old rugged cross"
there are many paths to what you call God

The youtube video link below also has her own testimony for why she rejects God for what He is. She can't get over the fact that God refers to Himself as a jeolous God. She never comprehends that God is jealous of her love and worship.

God is jealous? Yes. As the first commandment says, we are to have no other god, and Him only are we to serve. She has stumbled at this command. As have many people.

So...is it a cult? IT HAS THE EARMARKS!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW4LLwkgmqA&feature=related
See for yourself, in her own words!

On Outdated Books and Dusty Church History

2008-04-19T10:45:00.005-04:00

There are so many issues. I'm looking for books on current issues, but so many of them are written from a very theologically liberal POV. It's discouraging to go to sites like CBD and buy books that end up being worthless to me. But "Independent Baptist" bookstore sites are often overrun with books that deal with issues that were current only in the 70s or 80s!

I've heard it preached that "God didn't call us to write church history", but I have a great fascination with church history (especially non-catholic history in the early and middle ages). I have been toying with the idea of researching it more than I already have (I've spent many hours on it) and putting what I find in a book form. I know that most of the church history I am searching for has been lost or burned, but I still find reading books like The Trail of Blood, Faithful Baptist Witness and John T. Christian were uplifting and encouraging. What are your favorite books on church history? Why do you study it?

Missions STATS

2007-08-08T00:59:00.003-04:00

I found some very interesting mission stats online here.

...including this:
"Number of U.S. Missionary Families in foreign fields………………..……2628
Number of Fundamental Boards Surveyed…………………………………...23
Number of nations without any U.S. Missionaries…………………………....72

AFRICA
Population……………………………………………………….737,000,000
Number of Countries……………………………………………………….56
Number of Fundamental Baptist Missionaries…………………………401
Countries without a Fundamental Baptist Missionary……………….…20
AMERICAS (Minus U.S.A.)
Population…………………………………………………….....551,000,000
Number of Countries……………………………………………………….47
Number of Fundamental Baptist Missionaries………………………...1071
Countries without a Fundamental Baptist Missionary……………….…..7
ASIA/PACIFIC
Population……………………………………………………..3,241,000,000
Number of Countries……………………………………………………….43
Number of Fundamental Baptist Missionaries…………………………565
Countries without a Fundamental Baptist Missionary……………….…11
EUROPE
Population…………………………………………………….....728,000,000
Number of Countries……………………………………………………….48
Number of Fundamental Baptist Missionaries…………………………577
Countries without a Fundamental Baptist Missionary……………….…15
MIDDLE EAST
Population…………………………………………………….....545,000,000
Number of Countries……………………………………………………….28
Number of Fundamental Baptist Missionaries……………………..……14
Countries without a Fundamental Baptist Missionary……………….…19

Boards included: BBF Baptist Bible Fellowship MBM Maranatha Baptist Missions
BIMI Baptist International Missions, Inc, BMFP Baptist Missions to Forgotten Peoples
ABWE Assoc. of Baptists for World Evangelism FBWWM Fundamental Baptist Worldwide Missions
BMM Baptist Mid-Missions IBFI Independent Baptist Fellowship International
CMC Central Missionary Clearinghouse BFM Baptist Faith Missions
BWN Beacon World Missions IPM International Partnership Ministries
BMW Baptists Missions for the World LAMB Latin American Mission Board
GFA Gospel Fellowship Association WWBM Word for the World Baptist Missions
WBF World Baptist Fellowship EMI Evangelism Missions Inc.
EBM Evangelical Baptist Missions BIO Baptist International Outreach
MWBM Macedonia World Baptist Missions FBMI Fundamental Baptist Missions, Inc.
WWNTBM Worldwide New Testament Baptist Missions
Note: Does not include those missionaries without boards"
Stats prepared by Gil Angers, Westside Baptist Church, Ken Fielder, Pastor 2004

If we had the same number of Christian workers in Canada and the US as are in North America there would be like seven churches (TOTAL) in both countries combined! That really puts in clear view how sadly lacking we are in missions support and how lazy and complacent we have become about a world that is dying. I also read that there are over 6,000 languages, and that roughly 3,000 of them do not have a translated Bible! According to one website, that works out to around 250 million people! What is gonna have to happen to wake America up and help them see how rich and lazy we have become?

Elementary Play

2006-06-04T22:55:00.002-04:00

America: Land of the Free
Religious History from 1587-1776
A School Play written by Jessica Roberts

Cast:
Narrator
Queen Elizabeth 1587
King James I 1604
Pilgrim 1620
New World Colonist 1640
Patrick Henry 1776
Messanger
Various Groups For Recitations

Group One - Recites "The American's Creed".

Narrator: I love being an American; the land of the free, the home of the brave. But America had to become a free nation. Join us as we follow religious history for nearly two hundred years... from 1587 to 1776.

Queen Elizabeth: The year is 1587. I am Queen Elizabeth the First. It is an exciting time. The New World was discovered by Christopher Columbus almost a hundred years ago! The Dark Ages are over; and I have Martin Luther to thank for that. In 1517, now that was 70 years ago, a bit before MY time, he started the Protestant Reformation. My half sister, Mary Tudor, (you might know her as "Bloody Mary") was a Catholic. But I am a protesant. In fact, I have just set up the church of England. A Bible is now placed in every church! Imagine! For the first time in almost a thousand years, the Bible will be available to the common man! My people are thronging to church to hear the Bible read. (pause) Yes, the times are changing. My good friend, Sir Walter Raligh, has even started a colony in the New World. Since they call me the "Virgin Queen", it's called Virginia. Sir Raliegh has also found an island to settle on. They call it Roanoke.

Narrator: There were more choices, but people were not free to worship as they pleased. Nations were being divided by religion. Whatever religion the ruler was, had to be your religion, too. This was known as the state church. You even had to tithe to the state church - a "Tithe Tax". Dissention grew as Independents, Separatists and Puritans, rebelled against this heavy rule and longed for more freedom.

King James I: The year is 1604. Queen Elizabeth died five years ago, leaving no heir to the English throne. I was James the Sixth, ruling in Scotland when she died. I am a descendant of England's King Henry the Seventh. My mother was Mary, Queen of Scots, or Mary Stuart. I am a Protestant king, and I rule in both England and Scotland. The Presbyterians in Scotland were giving me quite a hard time! (pound fist) I rule by Divine Right! I answer to God alone! The religious battles exist here in England, too; but I will conform those so-called (draw quotes in air) "Puritans" or I will harry them out of this land! Even though the church of England has left Rome, they still do everything in Latin. They still sing in L atin, and they still read the Latin scriptures. My first task will be a good translation of the Holy Scriptures, in good old English. I have already gathered the most learned men to work on this task. Perhaps, it will one day be known as the (wryly pat self on chest) King James Version! Well, things are coming along in the New World. I must find the lost collony of Roanoke. No one has been able to find them - they seem to have disappeared off the face of the earth! But my London Company, they are even now founding (pat self on chest again) Jamestown. The men are having a bit of trouble. I hope my captain, John Smith, can straighten them out!

Narrator: Like the state curches of various nations, colonies were being divided by religion. King James gave charters to different groups, desiring to get their influence out of England.

Pilgrim: The year is1620. Why do all of these nations have state churches? Each and every ruler claims to be the head of the government, and the head of the church. King James wants us to go to the Church of England. I am a Seperatist. I want to separate from the Church of England! The king has given us permission to go to America on the Mayflower. (with humor) Hmmmmn. I think he's trying to get rid of us!

Narrator: Although the Pilgrims were not all Puritans, they were soon swallowed up in the
Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony. John Clark got a charter for Rhode Island for the Baptists, William Penn founded Pennsylvania primarily for Quakers, and Maryland was founded as a haven for Roman Catholics.Many colonies were settled, and not all for religious reasons. While these colonies were free from the king's religion, many still had only one religion. Everyone in that colony had to agree, and never change their minds.

New World Colonist: The year is 1640. I am a colonist in the New World, and this is my son, John (holding baby bundle). I used to be a Puritan, but the Puritans do not want to seperate from the Church of England, they just want to purify it. After studying my Bible, I am now a Baptist, but I live in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Everyone must be a Puritan to live here! My neighbor was visited by Obadiah Holmes, a Baptist preacher. Last week my neighbor was really sick, and Pastor Holmes wanted to pray with him. Pastor Holmes was ordered to pay a fine for praying for my neighbor! When he refused, he was publically whipped! We are ordered to pay a tithe to the Puritan Church - but they teach that babies can be sprinkled for salvation. I cannot support that! I could be banished at any time from my home! My house will be siezed, sold, and the money will be given to the Puritan church! There are rewards for anyone who turns in a Baptist or a Quaker....... but I will trust God. Last year, they actually siezed my own son, and forcefully baptized him! He was only eight weeks old!

Narrator: More religious freedom was available, but different states still had forced relicion. They still had mandatory tithes, paid to the colony and divided among the state churches and pastors. People began to realize that they were continuing the oppression many had fled from in Europe. Non-Baptists like Thomas Jefferson and James Madison began defending Baptists, and all those who suffered from religious persecution. A great lawyer, Patrick Henry, was a powerful defender of Baptists and made it known that he would defend any Baptist preacher at no cost. The next step towards religious freedom came on July 4, 1776; America declared independence from Britain with the Declaration of Independence.

Group Two: recites the first part of the "Declaration of Independence".

Patrick Henry: Hello! The year is 1776. I am Patrick Henry. "I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!" Welcome to Virginia! I work in the Continental Congress. What an amazing time to live; during the birth of a new nation. And I am working hard to set up laws for this land. Contrary to what Thomas Jefferson and James Madison would tell you, I am fighting against religious persecution. But those Baptists don't know when to quit! I have finally reached a compromise. All four state churches of Virginia will be recognized. (point to chalkboard with each church) The old Church of England, which is now called Episcopal; John Calvin's old Church of Scotland, which we call Reformed, or Presbyterian; the Puritans, also known as the Congregationalists; and the Baptists. Sadly, I could not get them to recognize the church of Germany (known as the Lutherans) or the Catholics. But at least these four groups will be free. And best of all, the tithe tax will be split four ways; the Baptists will enjoy a great share of financial riches, much more money than they had through "free-will" offerings. But are those stubborn Baptists happy? Oh no, not they! They're fighting against me as I try to help them! (hold head in hands) They.... don't understand. (knock - knock) Yes?
Messanger: You won!
Patrick Henry: I won?! I am now governor of Virginia?
Messanger: Yes, Governor!
Patrick Henry: Great news! I have won the election for Governor! I must leave Congress, immediately!

Narrator: With Patrick Henry's eloquence, the first two votes had passed. Only one more vote, and the four-way church split would be law. But without the new Governor's strong speech, the third and final vote was lost. The idea of separation of church and state was a new one. Even in the newly formed nation, the practice of a state church died hard. The Constitution, and it's ammendments, finally provided freedom of religion.

Group Three: recites "Preamble to the Constitution" and "First Amendment"

Group Four leads in song: "My Country 'tis of Thee" (all join).

END