A Christless Christmas?

Merry Christmas to all! Despite the fact that the news media, and the politically correct crowd want us to forget the true meaning of this great day, I wish you a day with Christ. That is after all the reason for this celebration. Gifts are nice and getting together with family is great! Jesus is what this day is all about. What greater gift could one ever receive than the gift of eternal life Not only the hope of Heaven, but we also have a great hope of abundant life here and now. Our Heavenly Father loves us so much that He wants us to have a great life here and in the next world. Jesus said in John 10:10 that He came to give us life and to give it to us in abundant measure. If we have the gift of Christ, even the darkest days here are far better than life without Him. Here is wishing all that read this that you may have the peace that only Jesus Christ can give. Jesus breathe upon us this day, give us peace and love and joy to meet the demands of a difficult world.

Time is Short

In my Bible study I am going through Revelations. I have gotten to the point where the anti-Christ has descended on the scene. I was thinking about all the people who will miss the rapture and have to go through the Great Tribulation. I fear and worry for family members that don't know Christ. There will be so much fear and chaos that it is almost unimaginable. Can you begin to imagine the fear in this world when millions will suddenly disappear. Police, bankers co-workers, family and people in positions of authority are gone. What if you can't get to your money, what if banks and other institutions and the government institute marshall law. If the Godly influence is gone, what will take it's placed? Evil will prevail and wickedness and immorality will grow more and more! Imagine living in a world where anything goes and hated and fear is on every street corner. Streets are filled with violence and bigotry. Just going to the store or to work may become a walk into a battlefield. Lord help us to be ready for you soon coming. God help us to faithfully fulfill your commission to tell everyone about the hope in Jesus. It is never to late to call upon Jesus and ask Him to forgive you of your sins. Think about it. God help us. If you would like to know more please email me. I may not have all the answers, but I know a place where we can find them. God bless you.

God gets the credit

It has been a while since my last blog, lots of things have been going on. We took a nice vacation, prepared the house for several showings to sell, and a wild trip to the doctor. I went for my yearly check up to the doctor, and they found a potential problem with my heart. Next came the trip to a specialist to get a stress test to see what was going on. Long story short the heart doctor told me I was fine, no problems.
You may be wondering why I mention this, it seems that too often when nothing is wrong we forget to praise God for his goodness. I thank Him for my health! I chose to give God the glory for being in good health. We spent lots of time in prayer for a good report and that is what we got, some would say there was nothing wrong so God had nothing to do with it. I chose to praise God. I know after all the prayer that I feel better than I have in years! Prayer does that to you. Prayer changes and renews us like nothing else. I really believe that something happened to me. God healed and renewed my health!! Jesus it is all about you and your goodness and mercy. Let us all make a conscience decision to praise Him for everything good in our lives. Let everything that lives sing praises to the Lord! Psalms 150;6 (NLT)

In Him

A Sound Mind

Help me Lord!

The disciples of Jesus had taken a boat and were crossing the Sea of Galilee when a storm blew up. It was so bad that these seasoned sailors were afraid for their lives. They feared that the boat was about to sink. Late into the night they toiled to get the boat back to shore, suddenly a ghostly figured came walking on the water to them. At least they assumed it was a ghost, but in reality it was Jesus coming toward them walking on the rough sea. Jesus called out to them, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." Peter called back "Lord if it is You, command me to come to you on the water." So He told him to come, and all went well until Peter looked and saw the boisterous wind and the rough seas. Peter was afraid and began to sink! "Lord save me!" And immediately Jesus stretched out His had and caught Peter. "O ye of little faith, why did you doubt?" As soon as Jesus got in the boat, the wind ceased. You can read the entire story in Matthew 15:22-33. I feel like Peter right now. God I believe has spoken to me and I so desire to do His will, but it seems a storm is stopping me. I am praying and believing for a miracle, knowing that God can do anything! Yes anything. But my cry is just like Peter, Lord save me!! Somehow I need to get my eyes off the storm and back on Jesus. Lord Jesus give me strength to focus on you and your love and not my storm. LORD HELP ME! When He does I'll let you know.

Who is Muse?

Just wanted to let everyone know who Prof. Muse Poderman is, my wacky alter ego. Just a fun way to try to reach people with humor on tough subjects. He will be back soon, but not too often. Stay tuned and enjoy.

Professor Muse Ponderman - Part I

Professor Muse Ponderman - Part II

Membership not Ministry

In Luke 10 Jesus sent out seventy of his disciples to preach, teach and heal the sick. When they returned they were overjoyed in the fact that even demons were subject to their ministry. Jesus rejoiced at the idea that the kingdom was being established and of the miracles and healings that took place. However, He cautioned them not to be excited that they had performed great miracles for God, but to be glad that their names were written down in Heaven! I believe that Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever. Membership, relationship with Jesus is far more important than anything we can "do for Jesus". Once we get into the right place with God, all things are possible. The focus is always on Him, not on our so called ability. Remember sometimes God is in the still small voice. Listen, stop talking so much and learn to discern the voice and urgings of the Spirit. Once we have membership, or relationship right, then we will begin to see the dynamic ministry! Lord teach us to sit and learn and listen. Relationship, not religon and membership, not ministry should be our focus. Let's enjoy the fellowship.

Bruised reeds and dimly lit wicks Part 2

The last part of Isa. 42:3 talks about dimly lit wicks. Jesus will never put what little fire that is left in your spirit out just because we are not burning brightly enough for Him. The phrase "dimly lit wicks" deals with people who know Christ and are not burning bright for Him such as Christians who are lukewarm or discontented with their spiritual condition, or the state of their local church. We live in a fearful and harsh world, how easy it is to lose the fire of the Spirit that should be burning wild in our life. The cares of the world affect us, dragging us down and putting doubts and fears in us. How wonderful it is when the wick is dipped deeper in the oil and a new and rich flame begins to burn. The Lord will always nurture those who are His, even if we feel our wick is dim and burning low. Let us purpose in our hearts to stay in a place to receive a fresh touch from Jesus. He loves us and wants us to burn with love and a hunger for His presence. Never let the enemy of our soul tell you that God doesn't love or care about you. He loves you with an everlasting love and His desire is to meet every need in your life.

Bruised reeds and dimly lit wicks Part 1

Bruised reeds and dimly lit wicks, we all fall into one of those categories. In Isaiah 42:3 we find a passage of scripture that is fascinating to me. The beginning part of this chapter deals with the Lord's servant, or Jesus, and how He will comfort hurting and lost humanity. A bruised reed he will not break. In bible days shepherds would take reeds from beside the streams and make musical instruments with them. If one got bent or chipped, they would just throw them away and make a new one. Notice what the word says here, bruised reeds I will not break. God is not going to throw you away just because you may be bruised or hurt in some manner. Life can cause us to feel bruised or hurt, but God is in the business of putting things back together not throwing them away. If there is a hurt in your life or you feel that you have been put on or discarded, give it to Jesus and He can make it all better. He can smooth out the hurts and pains of life.

Weariness

Do you ever get tired? I do. Do you ever get tired of doing good? I have to admit, sometimes I do. Galatians 6:9 tells us "let's not get tired of doing good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up".(NLT) I was awake in the early hours of the night, and as usual I began to pray. I guess I was tired because all I could pray was for enough strength to get through one more day. Sometimes it seems that life is not only hard, but downright unbearable. I won't give up, I know that my redeemer lives and he will comfort and reward those who seek him. One foot in front of the other and another day or week goes by. At just the right time we reap a harvest. Lord bring the harvest, I'm tired weak and hurting. I need something good! Ah there it is. His touch on my heart. He loves me, I know that. He cares for me, and wants the best for me. Sometimes I don't know what to ask or even what is best for me, but He knows. My Father in heaven knows what I need before I even ask. Lord I submit my will to you and know that nothing will ever come my way that I can't handle with your help. Thank you Lord for loving me in my frailty and fears. Thank you for all you do for me.

Priority

In Luke 10:38-42 there is a short story told of two women who loved Jesus. One was a typical server who was consumed with wanting everything to be in perfect order, and the other was more concerned with sitting and learning at the feet of Jesus. In the time we are living in we need to have the same attitude that Mary had. We must sit and learn and worship at the feet of Jesus. I firmly believe that we are in the last days upon this earth. Look around and see how quickly we have gone down hill in the last few months and years. It is a sad case when nearly 50 million babies have been killed in the name of choice. Our own government is leading us down a prim rose path of socialism, less freedom and more government control. We need to be sure about what we know and believe, because soon it may be against the law to even preach the gospel without compromise. We must learn to hide the word in our hearts and sit and worship at the feet of Jesus. Let us not get so caught up in doing, that we don't do what is the most needful, learning about Jesus. A great preacher once said, "to be much for God we must be much with God." Let us learn to be much with God! Let us truly live I Corinthians 2:10-16. Walk and live in the Spirit so we may have the mind of Christ.

Hang on tight

I was reading in my personal devotion yesterday in Phil. and verse 16 popped out at me. Hold firmly to the word of life (NLT). If there ever was a time to hang on tight and be firm in our commitment to what we believe, it is now. The bible in another spot tells us to earnestly contend for the faith. Turn the t.v. or radio on and you will hear so much that is supposedly new. Is it? There is really not much that is new under the sun. New packaging on an old heresy. New wording for an old sin, or bondage. Yes maybe we need to rethink our method at times, but what is true is true. It is still about that old rugged cross and the precious blood of Jesus. One drop of His blood destroys a legend of demonic activity. We sang The Old Rugged Cross at our nursing home ministry last Saturday and you should have seen the eyes and spirits of those precious people brighten. That old Hymn brought back so many memories for them. Hey don't misunderstand, I am all for new ideas and new ways to minister and reach the lost. Let's just make sure the emphasis is still on Jesus and his atonement.
Hang on tight! We could be in for a rough ride. God is still in control.

Where are the tears?

Psalms 126:5 tells us "those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy." Do we ever cry anymore? I remember as a young man being a Youth Pastor and I would literally cry over the precious young people that were in our youth group. We used to cry during worship, over souls, and at the altar of God. We cried for others and our own salvation. It seems today we have grown up and we don't need that emotional release. But the Bible is clear that if we " go out weeping we will come home with shouts of joy"! You see I think there is a process there, that when we get to the place of surrender and the tears come, then God can move through our brokenness and humility. Tears can also be tears of joy and victory. Oh for the tears of joy over souls that have been changed by the power of the Lord! Let us never get too mature in the Lord for tears to freely fall down our cheeks. Jesus, soften my heart today, Lord let the tears flow.

Faith of Abraham

Fullness of Christ

Is that a bird or a plane?

Remember that old line from Superman? Well as Christians the Bible tells us to look up, our redemption draws near. I believe in the rapture of the Church! It could happen at anytime. So as you go about your business today just look up and if you see something streaking across the sky...who knows it could just be a supernatural event. In First John 3:3 the Bible tells us that if we have this hope in us (to see Jesus and be like Him) it will keep us pure. Look up, what we see just might be the lover of our soul coming back for His beloved bride!

Speed

Wow, it seems the world is moving so fast! One crisis after another. Remember the old saying "momma told me there would be days like this" well, they are here. Earthquakes in California, financial crisis, flu concerns, housing crunch. Jesus told us these are just the beginning of sorrows. This is the day to have meaningful and substantial faith. What is meaningful faith? Faith that gets you through the crisis. One day at a time. In the following days we will examine that type of faith and the response we need to have to survive the coming turbulent days. Lord hold my hand!