Sabbatical: Day 1

In a small boat with thirty four Pilgrims we sailed the Sea of Galilee. This sea is really just a big lake filled by the Jordan River. It is clean and beautiful and supplies most of the water to Israel. The sound of christian worship music (the same songs we sing at church) filled my ears as tears filled my eyes. I am in Israel, the land of Jesus, singing worship songs and almost overfilled with joy. Then our guide has the boat brought to a complete stop. He points to landmarks in many directions and shares the miracles that happened at each point. Then he points to the water on the south side of our boat and says: and this is where Jesus and Peter walked on the water. The scripture was read and the place became electric with the presence of God. Our guide pointed to the place where Jesus told his disciple to depart from, then to the place where they landed after he calmed the storm and we were in the middle of that path. I so wanted to jump over the side and walk on that water. Oh that my faith were stronger. 

The first stop was at the Mount of Beatitudes where we walked on the hillside and shared many of the blessings spoken by Jesus. This garden is filled with flowers, trees, birds and even green grass. The breeze coming in off the lake cooled the desert heat and the sound of a single voice flowed up the slope with perfect clarity. My strong voice rang like a church bell. Here is where Jesus taught us of his love, devotion to God and how we should view each other. As I looked around I saw people of every color, nationalities and faiths gathered on a hillside praising God and loving each other. I saw a picture of Heaven.

Next we went to Capernaum to an ancient Synagogue and the house of Peter. The restoration project here was in full swing. The stones are placed back into their position with great care. I was amazed at the thought of how the original workmen carved such intricate images with just a hammer and chisel of brass. How did they move these heavy stones? As I sat there I thought of home and my church, my place of worship and I sensed the same comfort, joy and presence of God. I sang out: "I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God" and I felt the hand of God upon my head. God was there.

Did Jesus feed thousands with such a small amount of bread and fish? The Bible says he did, so, I believe he did. At the traditional site of this miracle (a place called Tabgha) our guide gave us a vivid word picture of the event. Each aspect of the Biblical account seemed to match this location. Then He shared how God was doing this type of miracle each day in the nation of Israel. The desert grows food, supports livestock....so much comes out of so little. Little is much when God is involved.  

Soul Repair

Doctors can replace your knee, kidney, heart and many other body parts but not your soul. Our soul is from God and is eternal and can not be replaced.......but it can be repaired. Sin damages our soul. God sent Jesus to live a sinless life and allowed him to be sacrificed on the Cross to repair the soul of fallen man. How about coming to bible study tonight and let's see how God can restore your soul to new condition.

9-23-2015      Luke 12:11-12

S.       11 and when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: 12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

O.      Holy direction when on trial.

A.      I can depend on the Holy Spirit to direct my defense when I stand accused. I must keep my life as: a proper environment for the Holy Spirit.

P.       Father in Heaven; give me direction, give me courage and give me Grace as I depend on you as my life source. Amen.

Hearing from God

Romans 14:23b for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Inside each of us there is the voice of God to tell us about sin. As a preacher I have wasted countless hours trying to define sin for myself and others. This voice of God is clear, concise and leaves nothing out. So, why do so many people seem to be deaf. The Lord desires for his people to follow him in love, not be-grudged obedience. If we truly love God we will pay attention to his voice.......are you listening?

7-31-2015      Luke 8:9-15

S.       9And his disciples asked him, saying, what might this parable be? 10And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. 11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

O.      Jesus explains the parable to his disciples.

A.      I am glad that the Lord does not want me in a place of misunderstanding. Most problems in life can be explained. I will listen to the explanations to gain understanding and promote unity.

P.       Father; open my understanding and expand my patience that I may find unity with you and my fellow man. Amen. 

Lost Christians?

I am ashamed of people that call themselves Christian and use a vocabulary from the gutter. God will hold us accountable for EVERY WORD that comes from our mouth. Don't these people understand? Don't they know that those words are from their heart? If their heart is filled with sinful, vulgar trash they have no part of Christ. Sweet and sour cannot flow from the same fountain. Hear my plea, clean your heart, and let your words be pleasing to God. I am not judging you, the word of God IS! Please, please, please my dear friends; Sanctify your hearts, wash your hands and live as an example of Grace.

S.O.A.P.

3-16-2015      Romans 11:1-5

S.       1I say then, hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.2God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Know ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? How he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, 3Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.4But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.5Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

O.      God has not cast away all Jews. God has a remnant, saved by Grace.

A.      God will cast away all sinners, all sinners no matter their tribe, nation or kindred, for only grace received through Christ will justify.

P.       Father; forgive my sin, wash me clean. I set my affection on you, to please you in all ways. Keep me always before your throne. Amen.

Redefining God???

With all the terrible things going on in this world today a person could get pretty scared. I hear about fear on a daily basis. Fear of Isis, fear of our president and his christian hating ways, fear of the health care laws, fear of guns, fear of environmental changes, fear, fear, fear!
The thing that alarms me the most: People redefining God. I see people chasing sin, embracing sin one minute and the next they are talking faith and love of God. Pure and contaminated do not flow from the same source. How do these people live with the imbalance, the contradiction?  Easy......just redefine God. God is removed as the creator, the sovereign judge and perfect and then redefined into some sort of heavenly bell-hop filling orders for any and all who speak his name in a positive manner. 
Awake or perish for when the blind lead, the ditch becomes your home.


S.O.A.P.

2-17-2015      Romans 7:22-25

S.       22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

O.      The battle with sin as fought with the mind (under the law) is always lost.

A.      Paul paints a very dim picture of spiritual life when lived under law. He is building up a contrast to describe how the law was incomplete and needed to be improved. I will remember my past as a reminder of where I came from. I came out from under the law and into the Power of Grace.

P.       Father; I know that my flesh is weak and that without your help I will fail. Fill me with the power of your Grace, the guidance of your Holy Spirit and the joy of holy fellowship. Amen.

Fake Pastors?

Are pastors serving the church or are they being served? The modern model of a pastor is not biblical.
God does not call us to be C.E.O. God calls us to be servants/shepherds. Awake! Find the path of servant-hood and bring honor back to the calling.

S.O.A.P.

2-8-2015              Romans 7:1

S.       1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

O.      Laws are for the living, not the dead.

A.      All of God’s laws exist for my benefit. God warns me to protect my soul from sin. I will have safety and peace if I obey.

    P.       Father; thank you for revealing your laws to me. I can walk in security because I am aware              of the dangers. You must love me more than I can understand to give such wonderful insight              and protection to me. Amen.   

SOAP >> Mark 12:1-11

Hi, welcome to my blog. If you haven't visited before I put up daily SOAPs. SOAP stands for Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer. It's a great way to really take in God's word on a daily basis and make sure that your doing more than reading but really letting it soak into your life.

Mark 12:1-11

Scripture //

1 And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. 2 And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. 4 And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. 5 And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some. 6 Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. 7 But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. 8 And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. 9 What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. 10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: 11 This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

Observation //

The parable of the wicked husband man, the indictment of religious leaders.

Application //

Religious leaders must follow the will of God and reverence his methodology, message and his son. Man has destroyed his relationship with God by sinning. Through Jesus that relationship can be restored. As with Adam, who was placed in a garden, restored man is placed in a vineyard. If we obey God, tend the vineyard and render our increase back to God, then and only then will we be good servants.

Prayer //

Father; aid me in my struggle to be faithful to you in all areas of my life, to be a faithful servant and a living example of a good servant. Amen.