Forever Young?

 This is important information to help us grow old in our faith.

Winning in life is not always being young and fit. It is not never getting old or infirm. It is being able to live and to remain independent as long as possible. We do not even think about these things when we are young. It is most of what we think about as we get older.

1. Mobility. Can you get out of bed in the morning? Can you get out of a chair unaided?

2. Do you recover from physical setbacks? Are you physically resilient?

3. Can you managing your meds, your pharmacy, and take the meds your doctors recommend?

4. Are you still socially connected? Or are you continually isolated?

5. Are you still curious about life? Are you still mentally engaged?

6. Can you adapt to changing circumstances? Life is about changes. Can you adapt to changes?

7. Do you still have a sense of humor? Can you still laugh?

I think that as we age in our Fellowship we will need to take charge of our own well being and do what is best for us on our own. We will get no support from the pulpit.  It is a fool who thinks that the goal of life is to be forever young. It is still he who endures to the end who will be saved in the end.

He's A Miracle Working God Today!

 I have noticed something happening in our Fellowship. I doesn't seem on the surface to be a big deal. But I wonder if it is more important than we understand. There seems to be a trend to take the supernatural out of the Bible. We seem to be trying to explain the signs and wonders in the Bible through a naturalist lens.

Manna did not grow on a bush or a tree. Manna was angel's food that appeared every morning by a miracle. Elijah and Elisha crossed the Jordan river on dry ground. That was a miracle. The ram caught in the thicket was not there until God stopped Abraham from killing his son. It appeared at just the right time.

One reason for this drift from the supernatural work of God is partly our naturalist education system. We think that science can explain everything.  And also as we grow and prosper we find that we have no need for miracles. We have all that we need. And finally, if we have asked for God to intervene and nothing has happened we change our theology to reflect our experience.

An evangelist was once asked what do you do if you pray for someone and they don't get healed. He replied; I say, bring me the next one.

Let me share a thought with you about divine healing. There is a time when miracle healing happens. There comes a time when that sick person needs support and care to survive. Those are two different prayers.

God's nature does not change to suit our experience. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is a miracle working God. Don't let your unbelief rob you of a miracle.

The Narcissist Next Door

 We seem to live in a narcissistic age. We see everywhere people who exhibit an inflated sense of self importance. They think that they are superior to everyone and that they deserve to be respected. They are self exalting, which is another word for pride.

We also live in an age where empathy is in short supply. I am no longer a conservative because they consider me to be a parasite because of Social Security and Medicare. They think that poverty is a moral issue and therefore do nothing to help their needy neighbors. Or their employees.

Narcissism may be important to run a business or a government. But it disqualifies you from the kingdom of God. God delights to share His glory with His people, but He will not share His glory with a proud, selfish man or woman. You can run a corporation, but you are unworthy to clean the restrooms at our church.

Pride always goes before destruction. Just because they get away with it today does not guarantee that they will get away with it tomorrow. Payday with God is not always Friday, but God always pays in full.

So if you think that you deserve to be honored watch out. God keeps good books.

Another Day Is Done

I was born again on December the 8th, 1973 in Prescott Arizona. I grew up a reorganized Latter Day Saint. I grew up in a stable two parent home for 15 years. By the time Jesus saved me I needed to be saved. I am still clothed and in my right mind today.

Extra-Biblical books can shed some additional light on the scriptures. But there is nothing to compare to just the Bible. God still speaks today.

Pastors think that by emphasizing soul winning that it will inspire us to witness more. I think they think that revival isn't just a moving of the Holy Spirit, but it really does depend on us witnessing and praying more.

I have old friends that I have known for a long time. I have new friends here and now. They are both vital to my well being. 

In the past I got rid of all of my study books. I have since then gotten replacements. I still study often.

My wife of 40 years died in 2021. People ask me if I miss her. I don't. And I never once asked God why.

I almost eliminated this blog. I used to have other blogs. They serve a purpose. They do not last forever.

Friday Thoughts

 "So he said, I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself. And He said, who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?" Gen. 3:10-11

As I was studying I had a thought. Adam and Eve were not naked in the Garden of Eden.  I cannot explain this except to say that they were more like the angels in the beginning. When they sinned that light and that glory was lost immediately and they were left uncovered. In trying to be like God, they lost the very thing that made them in God's image and likeness. The Devil stole from them what they already had by offering them something that he could not give. 

When they realized that they were naked they sewed fig leave to make clothing. So it was that their feeble attempt at covering themselves paled in the light of what they had lost. When God made them clothes He made them of skin. We assume that these were animal skins, but the Bible doesn't say. God shows that He prefers animal covering rather than plant based clothing. Cain and Able knew this. Cain was a rebel.

One more thought. As Adam and Eve were in the Garden, so we shall be in the resurrection. In Christ we regain everything that Adam and Eve lost.

Final thought. Adam and Eve no doubt grieved after being expelled from the Garden. But grieving does not last forever and they moved on in life. They learned to live and thrive where they were. They had more children. And they are in Paradise today waiting with the others who have gone before us.

The Blessing That Flows Down

 I pray for my pastor. He carries a lot of weight. I also have noticed that he wears his heart on his sleeve. It is not hard to see when he is upset or bothered by something. But I appreciate his ministry to us and his insight into the scriptures. His job is not an easy one and so I ask God to give him wisdom and strength.

The blessing that flows down through headship is a real thing. The anointing oil that flowed down from Aaron's head to his feet signifies how God moves through headship. His words carry the weight of a man who has his own walk with the Lord.

Whether your church is 40 or 400 or 4000 people, it all mostly depends on the man in the pulpit on Sunday morning. Our vision begins in our pastor's heart. He sets the tone of the whole church. Disciples will copy his mannerisms. His influence and impact is far greater than he is on his own.

This church really is the work of God and not just a work of human ingenuity. I am grateful to be a part of it.

Buy The Truth

I know, and you do too, that You Tube is a terrible place to learn theology.  Everyone is an expert, and no one knows anything. All you get are crazy AI generated ideas based on God knows what. One red flag is when you find a theologian who spend more time talking about what the author meant and his context in his world. What was going on around him that he saw truth in this perspective. In claiming to be wise they reveal themselves as fools.

Let's reaffirm what the Bible has to say about this.

"holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." 2Pet.1:21

The Bible contains God's word. It is God's self-revelation of Himself. It is not the writings of men compiled into one volume. It is in truth the word of God. 

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." 2Tim.3:16

The task of every person  is to read and understand the Bible. To pay the price for truth.

"Buy the truth and do not sell it" Prov.23:23

When you hear a sermon that moves you to action or when you get revelation from scripture, you are dealing with men who have paid a price to understand truth.

I find that familiarity breeds contempt. When you get bored with the Bible you begin to look for new ideas. You try to understand the person who God used to speak rather than God and His word. The Bible is not about Moses or David or Paul. It's about God.

The secret to staying on track is gratitude. Being grateful for the Bible as it is. Being grateful to God for what He has done. Gratitude is the antidote to boredom.