Most Valuable Lost Item

I was once asked what was the most valuable item I have ever lost.

Here is my answer, starting with three verses from one of my favorite psalms (I only have 150 favorite psalms).

Psalm 119:
14 "I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches."
72 "The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver."
127 "Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold."

My Most Valuable Lost Item:
My faithful old Bible of 15 years use, filled with hand written notes, sermon outlines, illustrations, and a collection of quotes of missionaries, preachers, statesmen, presidents, translators, martyrs, Indian chiefs, soldiers, patriots, kings, grandparents, and one leper (scrawled on the margins of the pages, the concordance, blank pages, so forth).

It was the first Bible I read all the way through, and I read it through over 20 times.  It was the Book  read, studied, and memorized, and meditated on.  

I traveled back and forth across the nation with it to Israel, Turkey, and Greece with it, taught and preached out of it in churches, at camps, in Bible Studies, at homes and in schools and libraries, in jails and prisons, outside abortion mills, on street corners, across the street from sodomite bars, at Dinosaur Adventure Land.  I carried it just about everywhere I went.

It was the Book in my hand when I testified of the truth of God with a Mormon child at a 5 Day Club, a Jehovah's Witness a the Corn Palace Fair, a Jew beside the Western Wall, a stewardess on a cruise ship in the Aegean Sea, and a Muslim seated beside me on a plane flight.  It was what I held as I shared the Gospel and saw individual children, teens, grownup, college students, and convicts bow the knee to Jesus Christ.  

On the pages are actual drops of my blood, sweat, and tears, for the simple reason that it was with me when I bled, cried, and perspired.  

I named it Alethia, meaning "Truth".  I took it from John 17:17 "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth [aletheia]." 

Throughout my single years, it was my most valuable possession, and I often said that if I could carry one item from a burning building, I would without hesitation grab that Book.  

It was misplaced years ago, and still tears sting my eyes whenever I think of it.  I wanted to leave it to one of my children when I passed on, and had actually started another preaching Bible, Alethia II.  It contained the quote of John Bunyan's that I share now:

"Then said he, 'I am going to my Father's; and though with great difficulty I am got hither, yet now I do not repent me of all the trouble have been to arrive where I am.  My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage, and my courage and skill to him that can get it.  My marks and scars I carry with me, to be a witness for me that I have fought His battles Who now will be my rewarder.' ...So he passed over, and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side."

I love Alethia II, which I used much the same as the first Alethia for 8 years, until August of 2018, when it flew from the roof of my vehicle on the highway on the way home from the abortion mill.  I found that Bible an hour later after much backtracking and a desperate search, thank God!  It was much damaged, but I still am blessed to have it, though soon afterwards, I started on Alethia III, which I presently study and wield.

But I love my old Sword, and precious lessons I learned from it.  How I would love for it to show up again!  I pray that if I never see it any more, that someone else will come across it, be encouraged by it, be convicted through it, read it, and find the true and living God Who gave His word to make mankind wise unto salvation, and will come to love and follow the precepts therein.

II Timothy 3:15 "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

Abortion must be abolished.

No Room for Mentioning Abortion When Preaching Through Daniel Nine...Excuse ME?

A friend of mine on Facebook made a post the other day that expressed the opinion that if a pastor really cared for the preborn, he would find a way to talk about abortion in his church every week. 

This brought on a whole slough of responses, one of which caught my eye.

The comment stated:  "Not if he is an expository preacher.  I preached from Daniel 9 today and didn't mention abortion.  Don't plan to mention it next week either."

It greatly bothered me that this pastor replied so pathetically (due to the fact that we know at least 3500 preborn babies ARE murdered daily in this nation by the under the color of law but no one's gonna guilt him into bringing it up to his congregation) and flippantly (as if abortion really isn't homicide in the worst degree or that preborn babies have any more value then the toddlers being taught in his Children's Church) to arrogantly state that Daniel 9 did not lend itself in any way to talking about the sin of abortion.

I happen to love the ninth chapter of Daniel (and specifically the prayer of Daniel it contains) with a passion, and I could not help but make the following comment:

"Daniel 9?  This Daniel 9?"

3 "And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:" 
4 "And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;" 
5 "We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:" 
6 "Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land." 
7 "O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee." 
8 "O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee." 
9 "To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;" 
10 "Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets." 
11 "Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him." 12 "And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem." 
13 "As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth." 
14 "Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice." 
15 "And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly." 
16 "O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us." 
17 "Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake." 
18 "O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies." 
19 "O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name." 
20 "And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;"

"So, you are saying that when Daniel was seeking God's face in prayer, 

When he laid out and confessed the sins of his people,

When he acknowledged God's just judgment upon them for their iniquities (the most grievous among them having been child sacrifice and the shedding of innocent blood),

When he beseeched God's mercy,

The horrific act of abortion, our Nation's holocaust of the greatest proportion, did not enter your mind?

There is much parallel to our own society:

Our sin as a people, including the massive slaughter of our children, far outnumbering the bloodshed of King Manasseh, which precipitated the Captivity, and the justice of God and the need for God's people to seek His face in repentance?

This would seem a most opportune moment in the book of Daniel to bring up abortion."

Then I finished up my comment...

"We must also must consider that the brother in Christ who made the original post didn't say that a pastor had to mention abortion IN the sermon.  He said "in church".  I would assume that he meant during the service somewhere, in the sermon, yes, 

OR in announcements...  
  perhaps inviting the body to join him at the local abortion mill to preach and plead, or to the streets for public engagement, to bring the Gospel into conflict with the culture that tolerates baby murder and engage for truth in that venue,

OR during a testimony time to thank the Lord for the "save last week of a mother who turned from the killing of her child",

OR in prayer for the turning of our nation's leaders to establish justice and equity for the preborn as well as the born, for the parents who are scheduled to murder the children to hear the truth and repent, not only turning from abortion, but turning to the Saviour." 

The truth of God must be proclaimed.  Abortion must be abolished.   

Those Who Use Words Without Knowledge Need to Know the Word of God

On January 12th, I saw a clip of a CNN news panel (aired the 11th), in which an individual made a shocking statement uncovering her complete ignorance of the Christian faith.  The statement troubled me, especially as there was no rebuttal to her words from anybody else on the interview.  You can watch the interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=nS3fuu5aSz0&app=desktop-

Immediately, I was concerned on a number of levels, and sought find out who this person was and discovered that Kathleen Parker is a top correspondent and a Pulitzer prize winner.  I was amazed not not only that she made this blunder, and that she seemed confident of her understanding of "religion", but that none of the three others involved called her out on this blunder, or sought to clarify the actual meaning for the audience.  

Before I wrote this post, I wanted to reach out to her (and her staff), in order to declare the truth and give her opportunity to correct herself. It has been a few weeks, and I have received no word in reply.

Here was my communication to her:

Hello.  My Name is Kevan Myers.  The following segment from CNN was brought to my attention (here I supplied the link). 

You said, "I don't think there's any chance Ted Cruz can win a general and here's why...He said...'It's time for the body of Christ to rise up and support me.'  I don't know anyone who takes their religion seriously who would think that Jesus should rise from the grave and resurrect Himself to serve Ted Cruz.  I know so many people who are offended by that comment."

I am unaware with which, if any, religion you identify yourself.  I am concerned that you do know seem to know what Ted Cruze was meaning when he spoke of the "body of Christ".  If I can help clarify the Christian perspective, I would be delighted to be a blessing in this way.  

[Now it could be that you misspoke, and didn't mean to say what you did, and it came out wrong.  That would be completely understandable.  If this is the case, feel free to let me know.  But for now, I must assume that you believe what you stated on CNN.]

The "body of Christ" is a very common term for those who are believers in Jesus. It is title of the church--Christ's "body" is made up of local bodies, called churches, assemblies, fellowships.  This term, used widespread all over the world by Christians, is based in the Scriptures:

Romans 12:4-5 

4 "For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:" 

5 "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."

I Corinthians 12:12-14 12 

"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ." 

13 "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." 

14  "For the body is not one member, but many."

Calling the church (those saved by faith alone in the payment of Jesus Christ on the cross) the "body of Christ" has been done from the infancy of the church throughout the centuries and up to today.  

Ted Cruze did not mean that it was time for Jesus Christ's physical remains to rise from the death and join his presidential campaign.  He meant that he desires for those who know and believe in the Gospel, to rise and support him and his campaign--as he believes that his stands and proposed policies are in line with the beliefs and values of Christianity. 

This brings up another error in which I cannot forget to mention.  One reason why Ted Cruze could NOT be saying that Jesus' physical body needs to come out of the grave now, is because Ted Cruze knows that Jesus has already come out of the grave.  It happened about 2,000 years ago, the third day after His crucifixion.             
                                

I Corinthians 15:3-4

3 "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;" 

4 "And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"  

That grave was left empty, for the Saviour Jesus Christ is ALIVE.  Christ's physical body is already risen.  The resurrection is a central part of the Gospel, and understood by Christians.  

                                    

It not only concerned me that you did not seem aware of this, but also that the other three on the panel did not correct the mistake.  Perhaps they did not know it themselves.  I am further alarmed that many friends of yours, according to your statement, were offended at his words and interpreted them the same way as you did.   

Please understand that I am endeavoring to help make clear some points of the Gospel and Christianity.  I also desire for you to come to know Jesus Christ as your own personal Saviour from sin.  Perhaps you consider that you are a good person, and don't need to be saved (here I supplied a link to a gospel to a presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ).

Have a good evening, Kathleen.  Please feel free to respond.

Brothers and sisters, let us consider the two points that I tried to make clear in my message to her. 

First, she does not know that the body of Christ is referring to  believers in Jesus Christ--the church.  Not only is this the biblical term, it is an international reference for the Church worldwide. As the Apostle Paul states, this is not "done in a corner" (Acts 26:26) making anyone who would agree or be offended along with her, ignorant of basic understanding.

Second, she thinks that Ted Cruze means that the physical body of Jesus Christ needs to rise and support him.  Christ's physical body is already risen.  The grave is empty!  Does she not know the great message of the Gospel, that Christ arose the third day?  That He is not in the grave, "but is risen, as He said?"  How has she missed the glorious declaration of the RESURRECTION?                                 

I marvel at the ignorance and folly of a civilized society historically influenced by Christianity, but recognize that it is the fruit to be expected when a people... 

1-forget the true God (Psalm 9:17), 

2-glorify Him not, neither are thankful (Romans 1:21), 

3-cast God behind their back (I Kings 14:9), 

4-forsake His wisdom for their own (Proverbs 1:7; 3:7), 

5-and seek after their own way (Psalm 4:2). 

I sincerely hope that hundreds of thousands watching the news that night recognized the error, and were standing up and shouting the correction at their screens.  However, it is a sad reality that most Americans are Gospel illiterate and probably didn't catch the error.  

Although Christians certainly should know these things, I wonder how many watch or listen to media/entertainment with attention, and test all things by the truth of the word of God.  These things are basic, and I do mean BASIC!

But, then again, maybe we who do know better are not doing our job, the ministry of reconciliation in the name of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to represent His kingdom, proclaiming His message, and modeling His life before them.  

Perhaps this and the many other examples of Biblical illiteracy in our culture is reflecting the lack of impact upon the culture by the people of God.  

Are we out about our father's business, to preach the Gospel that saves?

Are we loving our neighbors--born & unborn, clean & unwashed, saved & lost? 

Are we bringing the truth to bear in our society?

Are we standing for righteousness and living consistently with our said beliefs?

Are we digging into the word of God for ourselves and sharing with others?

Are we working to clarify truth & correct misconceptions about God & His Book?

Are we training our youth to not only know truth, but to know, fear, love, and serve God?

What are we Christians to do?  We need to repent of our sin, our laziness, our cowardice, our loathing of inconvenience, our callousness, and FOLLOW Christ!  We need to hear and heed the call of our God to be SALT and LIGHT!  

I Corinthians 15:34 "Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame."

We need to study to shew ourselves approved unto God, workmen that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, and then live and preach it in OUR generation, being willing to speak the truth in a lost/rebellious/foolish world that loves lies.  

According to the Scriptures, HE IS!

The Lord is the Great I AM.  HE IS.  Here are some of the things the Bible reveals that HE IS. 

HE IS
Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." 

HE IS God
Deuteronomy 4:35 "Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him."
Deuteronomy 4:39 "Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else."
Deuteronomy 7:9 "Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;"

Deuteronomy 10:21 "He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen."

Joshua 2:11 "And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath."
Joshua 24:18 "And the LORD drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God."
I Kings 18:39 "And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God."

Ezra 1:3 "Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem."

Psalm 95:7 "For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,"

Psalm 96:4 "For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods."

Psalm 100:3 "Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."

Jeremiah 10:10 "But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation."
Luke 20:38 "For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him."

HE IS thy Life
Deuteronomy 30:20 "That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them."

HE IS King

Psalm 22:28 "For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations."
Psalm 24:10 "Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah."

Psalm 93:1 "The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved."
Psalm 99:2 "The LORD is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people."
Psalm 45:11 "So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him."
Psalm 47:2 "For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth."
Psalm 47:9 "The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted."

HE IS the Rock
Deuteronomy 32:4 "He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he."
Psalm 92:15 "To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him."

HE IS our Strength
Job 36:5 "Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom."
Psalm 37:39 "But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble."
Psalm 28:8 "The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed."

HE IS our Strength, Song, and Salvation
Exodus 15:2 "The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him." [See also Psalm 118:14 & Isaiah 12:2]

HE IS is a Refuge, Defense, Tower, Shield, and Buckler
II Samuel 22:3 "The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence."
II Samuel 22:31 "As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him."
II Samuel 22:51 "He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore."

Psalm 16:8 "I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved."
Psalm 18:30 "As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him."
Psalm 33:20 "Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield."
Psalm 62:2 "He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved."
Psalm 62:6 "He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved."
Psalm 91:2 "I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust."
Psalm 115:9 "O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield."
Psalm 115:10 "O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield."
Psalm 115:11 "Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield."
Proverbs 2:7 "He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly."
Proverbs 30:5 "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him."

HE IS Judge
Job 37:23 "Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict."
Psalm 58:11 "So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth."
Psalm 105:7 "He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth."
Psalm 66:5 "Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men."
Psalm 76:12 "He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth."

HE IS Holy and Pure
Psalm 99:5 "Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy."
Malachi 3:2 "But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:"

HE IS Good
I Chronicles 16:34 "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever."
II Chronicles 5:13 "It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;"
II Chronicles 7:3 "And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever."
Ezra 3:11 "And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid."
Psalm 106:1 "Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."
Psalm 107:1 "O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."
Psalm 118:1 "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever."
Psalm 118:29 "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."
Psalm 136:1 "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."

HE IS altogether Lovely
Song of Songs 5:16 "His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem."

HE IS Gracious and Merciful
Job 33:24 "Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom."
Joel 2:13 "And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil."

HE IS Just
Zechariah 9:9 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass."

HE IS the Son of Man
John 5:27 "And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man."
Acts 2:25 "For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:"

HE IS the Son of God
Acts 9:20 "And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God."

HE IS the Propitiation for our sins
I John 2:2 "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

HE IS Risen!
Matthew 28:6 "He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay."

Mark 16:6 "And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him."
Luke 24:6 "He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,"

HE IS Before all things and the Head of the church
Colossians 1:17 "And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."

Colossians 1:18 "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence."

HE IS Faithful
Hebrews 10:23 "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)"

HE IS Able
II Timothy 1:12 "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."
Hebrews 7:25 "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."

HE IS Lord
I Chronicles 16:14 "He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth."
Acts 10:36 "The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)"
Acts 17:24 "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;"
Revelation 17:14 "These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful."

Watch  He Is from Ellerslie

JUST Thinking Out Loud

You could call it a defining moment.

I looked up the word "just" in the 1828 Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language.  I learned that...

JUST: an adjective.  It comes from the Latin, justus.  The primary root idea is probably "straight, as adhering to a standard set or erected."  

It can be used to describe that which is 

1. Regular; orderly; due; suitable.

2. Exactly proportioned; proper.

3. Full; complete to the common standard.

4. Full; true; right.

THEN it got really interesting...

5. In a moral sense, upright; honest; having principles of rectitude

Our God is JUST.  That is JUST the way He is.  He says of Himself, "...there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me" (Isaiah 45:21).  He is a JUST God AND a Saviour!

6. Righteous.  The final definition lets us know that to be just means to meet the exact standard of the law of God.  And right in the section, was the following verse, given as an example of the word's usage:

"For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not" (Ecclesiates 7:20).

All people are sinners.  WE are unJUST, and JUSTLY deserve death and HELL.  

You and I are wholly unable to be good enough to escape that judgment, for we are guilty.  We cannot be good enough.  "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20).  We cannot save ourselves.

But God the Son, Jesus Christ came, Whose name is "the Just One" (Acts 7:52).

And He Who is JUST was sent to earth to take the JUST punishment of the unJUST.  The Lord Jesus Christ willingly shed His precious blood when He died on the cross, was buried and came back to life the third day.  Why would He do this?  "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God..." (I Peter 3:18).

And all who turn and trust in Jesus Christ alone as their personal Saviour SHALL be saved, for He is a JUST God and a SAVIOUR.  He is JUST and the JUSTifier!  As it is declared in the Scriptures:
"To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Romans 3:26).

WHAT A GIFT!  TO BE JUSTIFIED!

"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24).

"Therefore being justified by grace, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).

"Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him" (Romans 5:9).

Written for the Generation to Come

The Bible tells us that it is good for us to share our testimony, of how we each came to know Jesus as our personal Saviour from sin.  Paul shared his testimony many times to bear witness of the grace of God.  It is a powerful way to declare the truth of Gospel, to encourage our fellow believers, and to give glory to our Redeemer.  It is especially important to pass on the truth of our faith in Jesus Christ to those who are younger, both in age, and in the faith. 

Psalm 145:4 “One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.”

Have you ever shared with others (friends, family members, fellow believers, etc.) about how the Lord saved you?  How you came to know you were a sinner?  How you heard the Gospel of what Jesus did for you, giving His precious blood, dying on the cross, and rising again (I Corinthians 15:3-4)?  How you turned to Him and trusted in Him to save you?  No testimony is boring.  Some are saved as children, and others as adults.  Some sinners were saved out of the gutter, and others were churchgoing sinners who were just as mightily saved out of a church pew.  Your salvation testimony is powerful, whether or not you feel it was dramatic.  Please share it.  I’d like to encourage you to do this, so that others can be edified in Christ.  Do your children and/or grandchildren know how you were saved? One of the greatest blessings I possess is knowing how my parents and grandparents came to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 38:19 “The father to the children shall make known thy truth.”

Psalm 78

v. 3 “Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.”

v. 4 “We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.”

v. 5 “For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:”

v. 6 “That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children”

v. 7 “That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:”

One great way to start sharing your testimony is to write it down.  Just write out your thoughts; put it down on paper.  Tell about how old you were, what was going on in your life, what showed you were a sinner in need of forgiveness and salvation, how you heard about what Jesus did for you, and how you came to trust in Him alone for your salvation from the condemnation your deserved because of your sin.  Share a Scripture verse about being saved that is special to you.  Your written testimony could be a paragraph or 5 pages long!  Once you have written out your testimony, you will find that it is easier to verbalize it too.

A testimony that is written down becomes a fast way to witness.  You can make copies and share them with friends, neighbors, family and strangers through e-mail, letters to grandchildren, or even in this year’s Christmas card!  It may be one of the greatest gifts you could give.  What a blessing for everyone you tell, to read how you came to know Jesus Christ!  It may even cause others to consider whether they have believed and turned to Jesus Christ, and be used to draw them to salvation as well!

“This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD” (Psalm 102:18).

I Believe God

Yesterday a year ago, my precious little son William Livingstone Samuel, was born, having already departed this earth.  Today a year ago, I laid his body in the earth.  Each day since, his mother and I have mourned, but not as "others which have no hope" (I Thessalonians 4:13).  "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day" (II Timothy 1:12).

It is from the Lord through His word that we find comfort.  "This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me" (Psalm 119:50).  

God desires His children to pass on the words of comfort that He gives to us.
"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies,and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God" (II Corinthians 1:4).  This I wish to do today.

That morning a year ago, fresh in the pain and anguish of the loss of a son, we found great comfort from a good many verses in Isaiah 25 and 26, from our regular reading.  Here are a few of them, with some thoughts.

Isaiah 25
 8 "He will swallow up death in victory; and the LORD God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it."  O Death!  Where is thy sting?  O Grave!  Where is thy victory?  I look forward to the promise that God will wipe the tears away for good (Revelation 21:4)!

 9 "And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation."  I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.  Look what my God will do!  My Lord worketh "all things together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose".  My heart should not depend on the ups and downs of circumstances for its rejoicing, but rather, as Jesus instructed, "...but rather rejoice that your names are written in heaven."  No matter my sorrow, my salvation in Christ is secure.  Therefore Job in utter grief could still cry, "The LORD gave, and the Lord hath taken away: blessed be the name of the LORD" and "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him."

Isaiah 26
 3 "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, who mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."  When upon life's billows we are tempest tossed, let's not be discouraged, thinking all is lost.  Rather than allow our hearts to be washed overboard, should we not instead seek the face of Him Who stilled the winds and the waves?  Should we not join him in the hinder part of the boat and find rest for our souls? 

 4 "Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:"  His strength is EVERLASTING!  I am weak, but His strength is made perfect in my weakness, whereby I can say "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me"  Let the weak say, "I am strong!" 

"I hear the Saviour say, Thy strength indeed is small; 

Child of weakness watch and pray, Find in Me, thine all in all."

16 "LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them."  Many have been the prayers poured out in mourning, many the cries in the night.  God hears the supplication of His saints.  We are told that he keeps our tears in His bottle.  Are they not in His book? 

17 "Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD."  
18 "We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen."  How this describes our situation!  To be with child.  To have the expectation of a little babe to hold and cherish.  To prepare for their coming.  To lose that seed.  To go into the pain of delivery, knowing the baby is gone.  To feel empty, as if all that was brought forth was vanity and wind.  Those who have suffered miscarriage know this pain and loss.

19 "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise.  Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out her dead."  What a emotion fills my soul!  To know that the dead shall rise!  That the grave shall give way to victory, and the earth will cast out her dead! That I shall meet my child in glory.  Because of the Gospel!  Because of the Almighty Redeemer, we have the certainty of victory.  What unspeakable joy!  

This evening, Deana (carrying our third little one in the womb), Tirzah, and I went out and laid flowers on the grave of little William Livingstone Samuel.  We thanked the Lord for William, for the honor of carrying him, even for that short while, and for the assurance that we would see him again.  I read verse 19 again, and as we turned back to the house, I considered the words from the verse, "Awake and sing", and so we sang as we walked home,

"When I can read my title clear to mansions in the skies,

I'll bid farewell to every fear, and wipe my weeping eyes.

And wipe my weeping eyes, and wipe my weeping eyes.

I'll bid farewell to every fear, and wipe my weeping eyes."

  So, in all things I am able to declare, even through tears, Jesus Christ is my Saviour!  He it is which giveth "beauty for ashes" (Isaiah 61:3).  As Paul declared, even in the teeth of the storm Euroclydon, "...I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me". 

It is the Same Sword

From a child, I have loved the stories of history.  What joy to read of noble men and women!  To hear rousing accounts of clashing battles!  To learn of significant points (both high and low) in the history of mankind and gain instruction from the past!  These have ever thrilled and challenged my adventurous heart.  O how I have longed to be where great things happened!  To walk and stand where heroes trod!  Even to view and touch articles that were used by those who went before me.

   

You can then understand my feelings as a child, when blessed at times to go and see places that I had read about.  I am so grateful that my parents took our family to places to see for ourselves.  What learning times I had! I recommend such trips for every family.  You don't always have to travel far.  Here are just a few of the places I was able to experience.

In Diamond, Missouri, at the George Washington Carver National Monument, I stood and saw the site of the cabin where he was born.  My brother, sister, cousin, and I walked, nay, ran down the trail to the spring (still flowing) where George fetched water as a boy.  I remember looking up at the life-size statue of the young "plant doctor," and wondered, "If I had lived back then, would he have wanted to be my friend?"

In St. Joseph, Missouri, my family and I went to see where Johnny Frye, the first Pony Express rider, set out west towards San Francisco.  Think of it—ten days to traverse plain, mountains, and desert!  Through weather, outlaws, and Indian attack those young wiry lads brought the mail with speed and devotion.  As a young boy, I stood at the Pony Express Stable museum and trembled deliciously to think, "It happened here."  Years later, as a man, I was in Wyoming and went out on some friends' ranch and saw where a Pony Express station once stood.  There I experienced the same shiver.  "How exciting to think, I got to see this!"  

I hiked the hill of the Little Bighorn region in Montana, and saw the place where General George Armstrong Custer and his men had their last stand.  I'd look at each marker, and wonder what each man thought as he tried to hold his ground.  And I'd try to picture Crazy Horse and his warriors, as they gained victory thinking about these mighty men on both sides, wishing I could have been able to sit with each and learn why they were fighting and that I would have had the opportunity to share the Gospel with them.

We toured Daniel Boone's last home in Defiance, Missouri.  How incredible to see the narrow windows crafted for defense, amazing furniture the great woodsman had fashioned with his own skillful hands, and even the threaded door hinges he designed to keep the wooden floors from getting scratched.  It was there I saw Ticklicker, Daniel's famous rifle, and I would have touched it too, but it was on the other side of the glass. 

I got to walk through Squire Boone's Caverns, and remembered how God had saved the life of Daniel's kid brother by having him fall into the cave while he was pursued by hostile natives.  The escapades of this Revolutionary War hero and the first Baptist preacher in Kentucky filled me with fervor.  God's providence and care was made very evident to me as I looked at the spot where he was delivered.  The words he carved on the stones of his mill nearby, still ring in my ears: "My God my life hath much befriended; I'll praise Him till my days are ended."

Whenever I see an historical marker, I want to stop and see what it says.  Even just this spring, My wife, daughter, and I stopped several times while driving through Kansas to see an old train station, stone arch bridge, church, and a one room schoolhouse from 1896.  The stone schoolhouse stood alone on one end of a pasture.  We pulled over, piled out, and looked in wonder.  You could see the bell still in the tower, two stone outhouses (presumably one for boys and one for girls), and the pump for the schoolyard well.  We imagined children walking up the lane to school, and wondered what became of them. Who taught in this place?  Who were the students?  Did a courageous student stand up to a bully in that yard?  What was accomplished in history because of truths taught?  What has been lost in education in the generations following?  How I wished to venture closer, to explore, to peek in the windows.  I would have paid for a tour, but alas, it was desolate, the only signs of life in the area a herd of cattle grazing a hundred yards off.  So we drove on.

For years I have picked up various items for my collection: 

—a Civil War bullet that was found on a battlefield (perhaps the Battle of Wilson's Creek)
—stone arrowheads and chippings left by native Americans in Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Wyoming

—a couple tin cans (used and discarded by pioneers) that I found along the Oregon Trail

—various articles, including instruments from a ship, salvaged on an historic beach in Two Harbors, Minnesota
—ancient pottery I dug out of the earth with my own hands in Israel

These and other objects are great tools for teaching lessons from the past, giving inspiration for the mind in our present day, and can stir up motivation to take up a challenge for the future.  Being able to see and even hold pieces of history can make events become more "real", assist us in understanding what others went through, and encourage us to live uprightly in our generation.

Our daughter, Tirzah Carmichael is named in honor of Amy Carmichael, the Irish missionary to India, who served faithfully for 55 years.  Amy's life, ministry, and writings have been a blessing to multitudes and a testimony to the grace and power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Let's consider her words in one instance...

"Someone gave me a bit of brick and a little slab of marble from Rome.  It was wonderful to touch one of them and think, Perhaps the apostle Paul or one of the martyrs touched this as they passed.  But how much more wonderful is it to think that we have, for our own use, the very same Sword our Lord used when the devil attacked Him...We have the same Book that He had, and we can do as He did.  So let us learn [His words] that they may be ready in our minds; ready for use at the moment of need - our Sword which never grows dull and rusty, but is always keen and bright.  So once more I say, let us not expect defeat, but victory.  Let us take fast hold and keep fast hold of our Sword, and we shall win in any assault of the enemy."

What delight we should take in the Scriptures!  Think of it—God inspired men to write His words down, and has preserved those words for us even today.  The very same "sword of the Spirit"!  The "quick and powerful"!  The trusty two-edged weapon!  The Book that declares "the end from the beginning"!  That reveals the truth of the God of the universe!  That can make a sinner "wise unto salvation", and can grow a believer to be "throughly furnished unto all good works"!  The same Book which was wielded by Jesus Christ, the apostles, the martyrs, missionaries such as Livingstone, Hudson, and Carmichael, and so many others, has been laid in your hand. 

Let us NOT lightly esteem it!
Let us NOT neglect the use of it!
Let us NOT despise the treasure which our Lord has entrusted with us!

"Let us take fast hold and keep fast hold of our Sword, and we shall win in any assault of the enemy."

There is still time to win a battle before the sun goes down.

A Clarion Call for Earnest Zeal

Recently, tragedy struck Kansas City.  

On the 19th of February, a restaurant/bar on the Plaza, called JJ's, exploded into flames.  One person died and over a dozen went to the hospital with injuries.  The cause for the explosion was a gas leak.  The strong smell of gas had been present for hours.  It was so bad that at least one individual in the restaurant wore a cloth over her nose and mouth, and others fought the impulse to retch.

Eventually, members of the gas company went specifically into the restaurant, carrying a meter to measure the percentage of gas in the air.  When the meter signaled that the level of gas was approaching dangerous levels, the gas personnel informed those in the restaurant that it was best that they leave the premises.

I have heard informal testimony from some of those who were there at that time.  The witnesses state that the gas company personnel did not communicate the importance of leaving NOW.  There was no urgency in their voices or manner.  They basically told the people to finish, pay their bills, and leave.  Some left.  Others stayed.  What was the rush?  

Minutes later came the explosion and fire, wreaking havoc and damage to life, limb, and property.

What could have greatly lessened the amount of injury?  

What could have saved the life of that one which was lost?    

If those who had read the meter had been more insistent, more urgent, more emphatic, quite possibly the customers and employees would have acted more swiftly and have been spared.

But let us consider something of greater import.  This world is full of men and women who are sitting and enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season.  Scriptures state"There is not a just man upon the earth, that doeth good and sinneth not" (Ecclesiastes 7:20).  All mankind have transgressed the holy law of God.  The earth is cursed by sin, reeking with the stench of our abominations. "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now" (Romans 8:22).  And yet, we find people persist in their rebellion against the Creator—holding their noses, pretending that nothing is wrong.

As Christians, we have been redeemed and we hold in our hands a meter, a Standard—The word of God.  It declares that this world and all the lost in it are in danger of judgment. It is sure and imminent!  "But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men" (II Peter 3:7).  God has been longsuffering, but judgment IS coming.  It will come in due time. "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up" (II Peter 3:10). 

In the same passage we find that the Lord is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (II Peter 3:9).  That is God's heartbeat on the subject. 

What should we do with this knowledge?  Should we stand by and keep quiet?  Is it right to  think, later is a better time to warn of the danger to come.  Even while opening their mouths to speak of salvation, many Christians seem to communicate the sense that there is no hurry.  But God says, "...Now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation" (II Corinthians 6:2).  We do not know how long any person has left.

 We must warn the lost to "flee from the wrath to come?"  "Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord" we must "persuade men"!   Is it not our commission to preach the Gospel that men may repent and be saved?  We must let them know that this is a matter of LIFE and DEATH?  

Hear the words of Paul: "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in God's stead, be ye reconciled to God" (II Corinthians 5:20).

The word beseech does not denote any sense of being nonchalant.  We are to passionately and earnestly implore, zealously preach the way of salvation!  People need to realize that there is an urgency, fervency, and emergency nature in their situation!  

So, believers, let us hear the word of God—"Thus saith the LORD of hosts; consider your ways" (Haggai 1:7).  And hearken to the exhortation—"Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?"  Are you content to be silent, or passive, or half-hearted while family, friends, neighbors, and strangers around you are on the way to hell fire?  Does it not move you that there are "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision" who need to be warned of their danger and hear the Gospel?  Who will go to this corrupted planet and cry, "Earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD"?  The LORD told His servant Isaiah, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet..." (Isaiah 58:1).  

Do you desire to be that fervent for the Lord and for the lost?  Spend much time in the Scriptures.  Get in the Bible!  Get IT into you!  Meditate on the seriousness of sin, the terrors of Hell, and the wondrous magnifical way of escape through faith in the Saviour, Jesus Christ!   Standing in the Holy Presence of God will magnify the stench of sin, awaken us to the reality of eternal brimstone, and cause us to yearn for others' escape.  "Earnestly contend for the faith...pulling them out of the fire" (Jude 3, 23).  In doing so you will most definitely find the fire of zeal and will say with—

David "I delight to do thy will O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart" (Psalm 40:8). 

Jeremiah "Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay" (Jeremiah 20:9).

Peter and John "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20).

You will join in with many others!

I know my own feeble flesh and personally must remember this admonition.  We know not how long we have to do this service ere we are called home.  What a shame is on us if we waste the life He grants us!  "Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame." (I Corinthians 15:34).  

Let us implore the Lord our Father to cause us to be fervent emissaries, obedient to His call with our whole hearts.  May many souls hear the Gospel and turn to Christ!  May our Lord be magnified in how we befit ourselves as His servants!

"Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight" (I Chronicles 19:13).

Be valiant!  Be zealous!  "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season"!  Be about your "Father's business"!  Sound the alarm to those in danger of everlasting flames!  

There is still time to win a battle before the sun goes down.