3-4-2017 getting ready

Studying and praying this morning for tomorrow's sermons at Mountain of Life in the morning and at Revival Worship Center in the evening. Asking God to use me to be a special blessing to these two churches. Slipped out for a good lunch at Red Lobster with my sweet wife and then picked up some needed supplies at Wal-Mart. I spend a lot of money in that place! Back at the trailer; finished off my sermons and worked on some projects (plans) for next month then off to supper with John & Cathy. After supper we went out to Revival center and set up the key-board and set the mics for tomorrow night.....started singing and lost track of time......late to bed.

I enjoy Phoenix at night (except for all the traffic) with it's pleasant weather, clear sky and clean streets. Takes me back to my paper-boy days when I picked up my papers (on a bicycle) at 4:30 a.m. and rode my route in the dark. I never had a care, just free, healthy, strong and knowing that Mom and Dad were paying all the bills and watching out for me. Those were some special times. I lived in Phoenix from the middle of second grade until the summer after my sophomore year at Carl Hayden High School. This place holds many fond memories for me.

Worth The Effort?

Another year is in the books and I am thinking; was it worth the effort? Some might make a list and compare the good and bad events of the year to calculate a value. Most of us do a good job of remembering the bad and forgetting the good so our list may be lopsided. Most of us don't journal each day and if we do we don't have the time to read the thing later so we rely on memories. This can be tricky but....I have seen the birth of a second GREAT grandchild (girl), GREAT GRANDSON saying "Pa-Pa" for the first time, oldest GRANDSON graduating from college,  oldest GRANDDAUGHTER and HUSBAND buying their first home, baby DAUGHTER beginning her doctoral thesis, losing another 60 pounds, exiting the rental business with the sale of our last rent house, reverse mortgage on home-place, my first new pick-up truck, paying off all credit cards, finishing a re-model of the guest house, replacing fence on one side of yard, planting rose hedge on south fence, automatic watering system in front flower-beds, commercial gas stove w/vent-a-hood and sink in church kitchen, well house replacement at church, off-site sign for church on HWY 377, light in cross behind pulpit, Nancy playing the harmonica for worship service, buying a new RV (to pull with new truck), signing up for medicare, preaching over 100 times, actually finishing a "bible study" in the same year I started it ( study subject: The Will of God), 46th wedding anniversary, parents celebrating 65th wedding anniversary.
2015 was a busy year......and well worth the effort!

12-31-2015          Luke 24:50-53

S.          50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

O.         Jesus ascends into Heaven and the disciples go to Jerusalem.

A.         Joy should be my everyday practice, my lifestyle. I will worship God today……in Spirit and Truth!

P.         Father; I worship, praise and adore you. Thank you God, for loving me and sending your                     son to redeem me from sin. Amen. 

ANGRY

I am angry today, woke up that way, and I know why! So many of my friends are fighting pain, sorrow, rejection and fear that I am unable to spread myself and the healing ministry of Jesus in an adequate manner. My sermon today will be about how God wants to meet our needs. My friends that need to hear this message the most will not be able to attend. I am asking for everyone to pray for a special touch from the Holy Spirit too spread this message into the hearts of all my hurting friends. Lift them up, into God's Holy presence, and may God bless you for praying with a double portion of joy. 

9-20-2015      Luke 12:4-7

S.       4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? 7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

O.      God knows everything about man, down to the smallest detail.

A.      God knows me, loves me and helps me to be what I should be. I will seek his will and live my life accordingly.

P.       Father; I commit my life to you, lead me into your perfection and purposes. Amen.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2,....

I am ready and I am watching the Eastern sky. Jesus will come in an hour that you think not. I want Jesus to come and remove his children from this wicked, evil world. Please set aside all your sin. Confess to God, invite the saving Grace from Jesus into your heart, mind and soul, turn completely away from sin and live each moment as if it were your last........it might be just that!

9-12-2015      Luke 11:24-26

S.       24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

O.      Spiritual danger when one would backslide.

A.      I must never go back to the sin that I have been freed of. Jesus must be the center of my thought and actions. The cost of failure is too great.

P.       Father; I surrender my life and my will to you today. Not my will but thine, be done, Amen.

Learn.....Apply

Learning is of no advantage until it is applied. I will keep on learning for learning must never stop. I will keep applying what I learn......applying always leads to more learning. Quite a beautiful cycle, don't you think. So many people "learn"about Jesus but never apply their learning.....and the learning is wasted. Come to church tomorrow and let's learn together AND apply what we learn.......we can practice on each other before we take it to the world.

8-29-2015      Luke 10:7

S.       7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.

O.      Simple instructions for day to day living for the disciples while laboring in the field.

A.      A simple straight forward life is the best for the Christian. Our supply may come as a gift or by our labor. Our goal is to learn to be satisfied.

P.       Father; help me to keep my eyes on you instead of the “things” of this world. Teach me how to be satisfied with what I have. Amen.

Tickets Please

Why would you buy a ticket for the Heavenly Express and never get on board? Better yet, why jump on and off at the station? If you are a traveler........get your ticket.......get on board......and stay there.

8-2-2015         Luke 8:19-21

S.       19 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. 20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. 21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

O.      Man must obey God’s words.

A.      I will live in God’s word. I will obey each and every day by its precepts: Love, forgiveness and peace.

P.       Father in Heaven; reveal yourself through my life. Amen.

Keep on TRUSTING!

This has been an eventful week. Not much that I like about all the political "junk" going on or the legal "junk". Even with all the downturn......I am still a happy man. I have good health, beautiful family, all my needs (and most of my wants) met and best of all I still have a relationship with my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Why should I panic or live in fear of a crumbling America? Why should I predict doom and gloom? I have trusted God with my life for almost fifty years and he has NEVER let me down. Guess I will trust him now!

6-28-2015      Luke 6:12

S.       12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

O.      This is how Jesus prays.

A.      All night prayer is how Jesus prepares to do important things. I must not rely on my own ability to serve God and be a proper Christian. I will increase my time with God in Prayer.

P.       Father; fill me with the Holy Ghost and power that I may overcome my flesh and serve you to my greatest potential and know how to pray. Amen. 

Restoration!

This is a day of restoration. God can restore your life to what it was before you sinned. You must ask, expect (believe), and receive. Won't you come to service today and receive your restoration? See you there.

S,O,A,P,

5-3-2015         Luke 1:21-22

S.       21And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.22And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

O.      God carries out the pronounced action on Zacharias.

A.      God will always keep his word. I must be careful to be obedient to every command of God.

    P.       Father; teach me your word and imprint it on my heart. Guide me by your Holy Spirit that I                may be perfect in your eyes. Amen. 

Accountability

I depend on my fellow Christians. Their prayers, encouragement, fellowship and love carry me along on life's journey. I always have a friend to lean on, caring ears to listen to my problems, strong arms to lift when I fall and prayers to help me find the way. My church is a family to me. When a Family is very large it is impossible to interact with them all or even know them all. I have many cousins that I have never even meant on the larger side of my natural family. Unity should be a goal for every church. God's people, pulling together can do mighty works and at the same time aid each other along the journey.

S.O.A.P.

3-11-2015      Romans 10:11-13

S.       11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

O.      Walls of social and political division are eliminated to those that believe.

A.      I see all Christians as one people no matter their nationality. Salvation unites us as one people.

    P.       Father; help me teach the unity of believers by living and preaching a good example. Amen. 

Angry

I am angry today! Angry about all the suffering I see around me. I am declaring WAR! I know that many of my suffering friends are not worthy of the pain and difficulty s that they are in. It must be the attack of satan. God's word tells me that I have authority over him. Sound the trumpet, assemble the army, set the strategy and let's march into the camp of the enemy and take back the things that are already ours; HEALING, PROSPERITY, JOY, PEACE, FELLOWSHIP AND POWER!

S.O.A.P.

3-3-2015         Romans 8:35-39

S.       35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come.39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

O.      Paul’s declaration about the strength of God’s love.

A.      I must not worry and doubt. God will love me and keep me and go with me through every trial and test of life.

    P.       Father; thank you for loving me, even before I ever knew you. Amen. 

IS THIS A SIN?

If you can't make up your mind about whether a "thing" is, or is not, sin ..... it is!  The fact that you have the question rolling around in your mind makes it sin. If a "thing" is pure, holy, righteous, good and acceptable then questions never arise in the first place. So when the questioning begins ... Run!

S.O.A.P.

1-27-2015      Romans 6:11-14

S.       11 likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

O.      Sin must stop for righteousness to abide.

A.      We must stop sinning, I don’t mean the occasional slip followed by quick repentance, I mean that we must stop deliberately sinning. No excuses, no reasoning sin away and no justifying.

P.       Father; you hate sin and will not overlook sin. If I harbor sin then I am un-presentable before you. Teach me to hate sin as you hate sin. Send your Spirit into my life to reveal sin, that I may repent and stay clean before you. Amen.

Don't die in sin..........

Set your life in order for tomorrow you may die. Have you made things right with everyone? Have you paid the debts you owe? Is your sin forgiven and abandoned? One of my more difficult responsibilities being a Pastor is helping people prepare to die. Most people just fly through life and never even think about the end until it's too late. You and I are not sure when our time will come, so be ready. Pay the debt, give and receive forgiveness, stop sinning and ask God to make you his. NOW!

S.O.A.P.

1-23-2015      Romans 5:13-19

S.       13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

O.      Death and Judgment came because of Adams disobedience as pardon and justification comes through the obedience of Jesus.

A.     To please God and honor the gift extended to me through Jesus (his death on the cross to pay for my sin) I will embrace faith, abandon my fleshly desires, learn obedience to prepare myself to stand before him and be justified, whole and redeemed.

    P.       Father in Heaven; thank you for loving man and sending your best gift to redeem our souls.              Cleans me afresh and make me new as I rejoice in your favor and grace. Amen. 

Sin is not a secret!

Do I own this "stuff" or does it own me? Cleaning out the garage should be rewarded with some kind of national honor! How do I manage to haul off three truck-loads of, I don't need this any more, and still have more than the garage can hold? I still park two cars in this garage so I only use the three walls for storage. One wall gets Christmas decorations, another is for kitchen overflow and the last is a catch all for yard and garden stuff. Listen to me complaining when I should be praying; Lord teach me to get along with less, Amen. Lord, deliver me from the need to horde and if greed is my base desire, clean my spiritual garage, Amen.

S.O.A.P.

1-13-2015      Romans 3:19-27

S.       19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 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. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

O.      Old Testament law reveals sin but Jesus reveals righteousness. All are under sin and only faith in Jesus will justify.

A.      The knowledge of sin is resident in my soul and every soul. Man doesn’t need a law to reveal sin to him. The Holy Spirit is our spokesman, speaking directly to our heart. We can resist, explain away, ignore, close our mind and in a thousand ways block our knowledge of sin but nothing will change the fact that we do know what sin really is. If we don’t accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour we will receive the results of our sin. Listen to the voice of God, admit, confess and convert.

P.       Father; speak again to me and any who rea this prayer about the dangers of sin and its results. I seek to be clean in your eyes and I long for the words, “well done”. Amen.  

Friends

Today is the last home game for the T.C.U. football team. I have been blessed to be invited to go with my friend, and fellow minister, Ron. He is a faithful fan and has often brought me along to a game for many years. Friends make life such a joy and the journey much easier to endure. Ron has been there for me for over 25 years, God bless Ron. 

12-6-2014      Mark 12:28-34

S.       28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: 33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

O.      Jesus declares the greatest commandment and the second greatest as well.

A.      Loving God is a life of willing obedience and service to our fellows. I must love God with, and in, my actions. Thinking I am righteous is not a complete faith, because “faith without works is dead”. Faith is made perfect by works performed in loving obedience. Loving and serving others completes our love of God.

P.       Father; help me to overcome any doubts or fears that hold me back from serving you in perfect faith. Amen.

Weight Loss War!

Off to get my three week check up. I have lost twenty two pounds at this point. Feeling better and able to get around much better. I have created a new me in my mind, like the old me; tall, slim and strong. I remember the days when I could work from dawn to dusk, eat anything I desired and sleep like a baby. I want most of all to be working again and strong. My goal is to loose one hundred and thirty five pounds. My target is within thirteen months. Yes, I am aiming high. With God: "All things are possible".

12-4-2014      Mark 12:12-17

S.       12 And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way. 13 And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words. 14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it. 16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's. 17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.

O.      The Pharisees try to trick Jesus with questions of controversy. Jesus turns the tables and they are astounded.

A.      I should respect those that lead my country and follow the law. I should also repect God and follow his law. Honesty, integrity, virtue and faith are my hallmarks.

P.       Father; reveal every area of weakness in my life that by faith I may be transformed into a more Christ like man. Amen.