Blast From The Past

Amazon Basin Video

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Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it,will be set apart for destruction. Utterly abhor and detest it, for it is set apart for destruction. -- Deuteronomy 7:26

A little corruption, a little poison, and a little rotten are all oxymorons. God has made us pure and perfect in Jesus. What a glorious thought! Why would we want to stain His perfection with what is evil. Our Father wants us to dedicate ourselves to him, and to living as His holy people (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Pet. 1:13-16).

The perfect church service would be one we were almost unaware
of; our attention would have been on God. - C. S. Lewis

I told a friend that my hearts desire is to be a Paul, but my temperament is clearly more like Peter. This is what she wrote back:

"What was the Lord thinking when He looked at Peter after his third denial?" Compassion, grace and forgiveness is what comes to my mind. Because of what Christ did for us on that cross, now when He see's us, He only see's His Righteousness, Praise God!

I QUIT!

Not really, but some days I feel like it. Kingdom work can be challenging, stressful, and at times seem unproductive. People tell you how your work should be done and that you are not doing enough of it. Lay leadership - a unique position in the modern church.

So what are we to do when someone is yelling at us? Listen, try to understand things from their perspective, and pray with and for them. As lay leaders our job is to help others grow to spiritual maturity. Part of that growth will include difficult periods. How we respond to difficult situations will help teach others so we need to be careful what lesson we teach.

Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. -- Luke 6:28

Let go of a sanitized Christianity and get back to the powerful, raw and ancient faith that chooses revolution over compromise, peril over safety, and passion over lukewarm and watered-down religion." - Erwin McManus

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves
and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then
will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal
their land." -- 2 Chronicles 7:14
    
While this is a passage often emphasized when talking about the
problems with nations and governments, let's remember that the
truest application of this must find its home in us and in our
churches. We can begin revival in our land if we will commit to
daily prayer, weekly fasting, and hearts yearning for God to enter
our world and transform it.

Psalms 84

How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise.

Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed.

For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; He bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly.

O Lord of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you.

If the devil were wise enough and would stand by in silence and
let the gospel be preached, he would suffer less harm. For when
there is no battle for the gospel it rusts and it finds no cause
and no occasion to show its vigor and power.  Therefore, nothing
better can befall the gospel than that the world should fight it
with force and cunning.

    -- Martin Luther

Happy 4th of July!

We find freedom when we find God; we lose it when we lose Him. -- Paul E. Scherer

Maggie the Wonder Dog

Maggie, my Schnauzer, passed away on Monday. She was my best friend for the past 16 years. We were in Oklahoma, California and then Texas together. I am sad and I miss her.

When I tried to think of how to share this I kept coming back to this thought. How many people die unexpectedly without ever hearing the gospel message? If there is a heaven for dogs I am sure Maggie is there, but her death reminds me that life here is fleeting. We need to share the gospel message every chance we have - with everyone we meet.

I love you Mags.