Brother Sisk

FACES - HEAVENS MULTITUDES
http://youtu.be/LvheMJCDlm0

"For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall
feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of
waters: and God shall wipe away all tears
from their eyes." - ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭7:17‬

c h u r c h n o t es
WHO is in heaven
1. God is not a regional God
FROM: through Great tribulation
457 times "it came to pass"
Troubles don't come to stay

“And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all 
things new. And he said unto me, Write: 
for these words are true and faithful.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21:5‬ 

WHAT 
2. Worship & Work in heaven:
“And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of 
God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants 
shall serve him:” - Revelation‬ ‭22:3‬ ‭

HOW
3. “And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he 
said to me, These are they which came out of great 
tribulation, and have washed their robes, and 
made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭7:14‬ ‭

“For whosoever shall call upon the name 
of the Lord shall be saved.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:13‬ ‭

Saturday

Thank you Lord - he's one month old, 

and almost 10 pounds,

2 pounds in a month !!! What a guy.

Aunt Madge

COOP CITY
EZEKIEL BREAD
http://bit.ly/1LIVOPj

Friday

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Thursday

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SOLUTION

A CHRISTIAN EXPLANATION ?
Today many minds are in overdrive trying to understand the news story of a tragic shooting.

SO, TODAYS WORD IS EXPLAIN
Are explanations really necessary?
Why are explanations necessary?

Is it sufficient to say the shooter was a sinner, leave it at that. Let's move on to the next thing.

The teacher explains to the student why the answer to the math problem is INCORRECT.

Explanations
1. It's different from the answer in the back of the book.

2. The wrong formula was used

3. The calculation was wrong

4. You wrote it wrong

_________________

PURE THOUGHT & REAL WORLD
Approaches to problem-solving.
THE CHRISTIAN THEORY
Theory vs Doctrine

Moses comes down from the mount of God with some pretty 'solid' theoretical constructs. Upon assessing the 'real-world' behavior of his brother and the children of Israel he promptly 'destroys' the commandments.

". . . let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:12‬ ‭


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messenger

A credible witness *

An authentic testimony **

Can the witness taint the evidence?
There are Christians who don't "witness" 
because they don't feel worthy.

If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? - Psalm 11:3

Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.- Mark 9:50

"being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God". - Romans 10

with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life. Ezekiel 13

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:6,7

_____________________
*  constantly fight a natural drift away from soulwinning
** "Although we will not be sinless, we should be sinning less."

New creature

AM I REALLY SAVED?

Repent & Believe - why obeying matters.

Am I Doing those things that prove I have turned to God and have changed the way I think? 

◄ Matthew 3:8 ►

There is no possible way you or I can be genuinely sorry and repentant if we do not clearly see that, when we sin, it is the Word of God that we have ignored or forgotten. We offend our Father in heaven, our Eternal, our Creator, our life giver and life sustainer—and that is why we need to correct and change what we have done.

Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 7:9. He told the Corinthians it did not in any way excite him to see them be sorry, unless their sorrow was toward God and led to repentance or change. Verse 10 points out the difference between worldly sorrow and the sorrow found in repentance that works—worldly sorrow leads to death, whereas the sorrow in true repentance leads to salvation . . . godly sorrow (sorrow toward God) breeds a fire inside us that stirs excitement and diligence and zeal for the truth of God. 

In turn we grow in faith and we begin to change how we think and how we operate.

Repentance Involves an Inward Repulsiveness to Sin, Followed by the Actual Forsaking of It 

Job's example is one that stands out when considering this point. In the final chapter (chapter 42:1-6) we see Job showing that he understood what he was not aware of when God first allowed him to be tested. He says in verse 6, "I abhor myself." He was repulsed by sin in him and he was more determined than ever to change what needed to be changed so that he would not continue to sin.

I don't know anyone who professes to be Christian who wants to sin. However, there is an enormous difference between not wanting to sin and not sinning because we hate it.

Bryant: "There is a big difference between wanting to and willing to." 

In Matthew 3:8 we see the same words that we saw in Acts 26. A Christian bears fruit worthy of repentance. It's much more than a wanting to. It is a willing to.

First comes the recognition that we sinned against God, then comes an inward repulsiveness to sin, followed by the actual forsaking of it. And lastly comes the humble self-surrender to the will and service of God. 

Paul at the time of his conversion (Acts 9:1-6) said, "What do You want me to do?" This is the heart, the attitude, you and I have if we are saved.

This is such a teachable frame of mind, one that is willing to not only learn, but do whatever it takes to be right with God. This is humility—this is the heart of a servant. This reflects a spirit of repentance, a change from where we once were.

If we are struggling to overcome a certain sin, why not ask ourself, Do I really understand repentance that works, and am I really willing to practice it? Am I truly willing to change?

If we need encouragement in this arena, perhaps we could remind ourselves of the positive lesson in 2 Chronicles 15:1-4. It is so very important for each of us to never forget that, if and when we truly turn to God in repentance, no matter what the situation, He is there and we will know it. "When in their trouble they turned to the Lord God of Israel, and sought Him, He was found by them" (verse 4).

Repentance that works involves much more than being sorry for what we have lost or for being caught or for being depressed. Repentance that works requires practicing steps that lead to change. - QUOTED PARAPHRASED and CONDENSED

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Twice a child

School days are happy days. This is an expression I came across during the earlier years of my educational journey. My earliest recollection of school as an infant were pleasant times. Going into a new environment, seeing and hearing other infants and learning new things at that stage was a good experience.

Growing up would begin, however, to dull the shine on this pristine learning experience. Moving up from kindergarten to the elementary years was a challenging transition. Education would move from the simpler styles of singing and playing and napping to the more rigorous disciplines of reading and memorization and writing. Things would only get worse as the development of social skills were added to the mix. Significant success would eventually come for me, at the end of what was then called primary school. I was successful in passing the examination that would place me in a secondary school of my choice.

The education system at the secondary level, for me, in retrospect, would move beyond mere academics to include elements of the socialization process. I began to develop an awareness of social norms and values that were peculiar to the culture, family, school and society in which I lived. It was a good system. I learned about timeliness, and order; I understood the importance of accuracy. Science with its methods of observation and testing opened a new world of Chemistry and Biology. I learned the importance of history; I studied the lifestyles of peoples from different cultures in faraway places. The physical geography of the continents was a source of constant fascination. Mountains and oceans and other-worldly things such as planets and moons and galaxies only added to the excitement of learning.  The educational system had served me well up to this point, indeed these school days were happy days.

Life beyond high school would become a whole new reality. The educational system was crowded. Post-secondary education was a luxury at that time. Not only were there limited opportunities in the institutions of higher learning but the cost in most cases was prohibitive. Life would go on for me without the benefit of a college degree. I was able to find employment in the then expanding telecommunication industry. This led to yet another system of education: work study or on-the-job-training as it was sometimes called. I had by this time acquired the main skill that would allow me to become the proverbial lifelong learner. I had developed a love of reading.

Across the years I have taken many opportunities to stay 'connected' to the education system through the use of books and seminars and video as well as audio presentations. I have volunteered to mentor and instruct students in various subjects and as such I have not just been a taker but a giver – a comprehensive participant- in the educational process.

As I return to school, I stop to evaluate the present educational 'landscape'. I look at the market place and the labor force. I cannot be naïve. I must accept that new skillsets will be necessary to participate in the "brave new world" of rapidly advancing technologies and ever increasing innovation. To traverse this complex jungle I must be adequately equipped. The competition will be significantly more challenging than at previous stages. The excitement for me is the array of options now available for self-development. Never before have there been so many ways to quench the thirst for knowledge. The keys to my success will be the ability to remain focused and disciplined. The experiences of the years will have taught me to set manageable goals and keep a reasonable schedule. I must no longer heed the temptation to stay in the 'fast lane' or to 'shoot for the stars'. I must be realistic in my endeavors with a sustainable plan always in mind.

At this stage of my educational journey I will achieve training in academic disciplines that will give me the marketable skills and prepare me to work in a wide range of positions in private and public educational and human service agencies.

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Successful

Achieving goals is what success is all about. The marksman who has failed to hit the 'bullseye' on the target may feel a sense of failure. He may, however, consider himself not to have been a complete failure if he was able to get the shot on the scoring card. Life in general is never as well defined as the rings on the marksman's scorecard.

For me life's successes have been like the journey of an ancient mariner before the age of sophisticated electronic navigational systems and onboard powered vessels. Navigation depended on variable factors beyond the control of these mariners. The goal was to reach a given port on a distant shore. The mariner was assured of his progress by checking periodically on the position of celestial 'objects'. Success for me is more like the progress tracking of the mariner than the shot of the marksman. A series of 'checkpoints' will mark success or progress in the journey. As the seaman checks the heavens to chart his progress, the land traveler consults his map looking for 'landmarks' to confirm success in his travel.

It is the greater society and our culture that helps us 'map' our life's Journey. I was successful in completing elementary school. I then moved on to high-school and successfully completed that course. If the entire journey through life was like these school years success would indeed be as simple as the marksman's scorecard or the land traveler's journey. For me it seemed like life beyond this point became more like the mariners journey; a complex charting of a course across a 'trackless' ocean, heading to a distant port. Success would be more about the journey rather than the destination.

Success is now about 'keeping the ship afloat'. It's about keeping healthy. Setting and maintaining nutritional and physical fitness goals. It is also about staying 'connected' keeping an appropriate level of 'social intercourse'. It is about contributing to society by doing ones part as an active law-abiding member of the community in which resides.

Success is also about Family. Values are defined as "a person's principles or standards of behavior; one's judgment of what is important in life".  These are usually learned and passed on through families. For me, these values have not changed too much thus far. I will consider my life a great success at this time and at any other stage if I can teach these values to a fellow traveler on life's journey.

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Strong delusions

AM I DELUSIONAL?
"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:11‬

USING BIBLE WORDS
WILL ALWAYS MAKE
A BIG DIFFERENCE.

In our "wired world" we have come to fear the menace of 'malicious code' otherwise known as the
COMPUTER VIRUS.

Complex operations are accomplished on modern computers through simple instructions written by programmers. Millions of these instructions must be written into "code" in a "programming language" that the computers can accept.

Deception begins with words and
the confusion of language is the means by which delusions persist.

A culture of corruption continues through the "distortion" of language.
The bible says: "The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." - ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭12:6‬ ‭

This lesson I learned from my pastor a while ago which I never forgot :
USE BIBLE WORDS.

Are Sodomites 'Homosexual' or 'gay' or are Sodomites "sinners"?

Does it really matter?

"And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." - ‭Luke‬ ‭16:15‬ ‭

"The world is discouraging. The news is discouraging. Many Christian leaders are discouraging. Critics are discouraging. Sometimes even Christians are discouraging. Therefore, encouragement is, to the heart, what fresh water is to parched lips." http://bit.ly/1TFwWH2

"Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." - Hebrews‬ ‭3:12-13‬ ‭

"You are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves." - ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:5-6, 12-13‬

Lost

IGNORING WARNINGS
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;"
‭‭Romans‬ ‭1:18‬ ‭

If someone accidentally picks up a cup full of poison, but thinks it is lemonade, it does not matter how sincerely the person thinks it's lemonade, how much they believe it's lemonade, or how much they desire that it be lemonade, they are still going to suffer from the ill effects of the poison.

"And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:"
‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭2:10-11‬

Holiness lost

"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law:
for sin is the transgression
of the law. 1 John 3:4

What is the Christian's relationship with God's Law? He has been set free from its condemnation; but is he still under the moral law as a rule of life? Or is he free to live as he pleases? Is holiness an optional extra? http://amzn.to/1MT6b2N

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" - Romans‬ ‭6:1-2‬ ‭KJV‬‬
http://bible.us/1/rom.6.1-2.kjv

"'to hell with sin when being good is enough.' That's the drift of American preaching today in a lot of churches. People know what sin is; they just don't believe in it anymore. We mix up happiness and holiness, and God is no longer the reference point."

"We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not." - ‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:18‬ ‭KJV‬‬
http://bible.us/1/1jn.5.18.kjv

"If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity." - ‭‭Job‬ ‭10:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬
http://bible.us/1/job.10.14.kjv

"Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities." - ‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭5:7‬
http://bible.us/1/lam.5.7.kjv

When studying Scripture, believers should learn two important truths about God's dealings with sin.

One truth is that God is not obligated to forgive anyone. If God never showed mercy, He would still be a holy and just God.

Mercy is something God grants by His own free will. God reveals this truth about Himself in His dealings with Moses. He says, "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy." (Exodus 33:19)

. . . the association for religious data archives (ARDA) posted a study that showed that 65.8% of people believed in God. However, when the same people were asked if God was angered by sin only 29.1% strongly agreed.

A mother was helping her daughter cope with a mistake that the daughter had made and told her, "Sometimes God allows us to sin so we can know how great His mercy is." Many in our society believe a similar truth. (Quote by Graham Hale)

Does the bible teach (When/how)
IS SIN ALWAYS PUNISHED?

"Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered." - Proverbs‬ ‭11:21

"The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet."
‭‭Nahum‬ ‭1:3‬

Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will

by no means clear the guilty;

visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation." - Exodus‬ ‭34:7‬ ‭
http://bible.us/1/exo.34.7.kjv

Punish

SINNING?

When studying Scripture, believers should learn two important truths about God's dealings with sin.

One truth is that God is not obligated to forgive anyone. If God never showed mercy, He would still be a holy and just God.

Mercy is something God grants by His own free will. God reveals this truth about Himself in His dealings with Moses. He says, "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy." (Exodus 33:19)

. . . the association for religious data archives (ARDA) posted a study that showed that 65.8% of people believed in God. However, when the same people were asked if God was angered by sin only 29.1% strongly agreed. (2005)

A mother was helping her daughter cope with a mistake that the daughter had made and told her, "Sometimes God allows us to sin so we can know how great His mercy is." Many in our society believe a similar truth. (Quote by Graham Hale)

Does the bible teach (When/how)
IS SIN ALWAYS PUNISHED?

"Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered." - Proverbs‬ ‭11:21

"The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet."
‭‭Nahum‬ ‭1:3‬

Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation." - Exodus‬ ‭34:7‬ ‭
http://bible.us/1/exo.34.7.kjv


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DIGITAL WWIII

After All

FWC TENT REVIVAL

Look

SHEMITAH ?
http://youtu.be/mWX_6NTRHOo

STONE
http://youtu.be/HaOxcGtYc9w

HAGEE
http://youtu.be/fwX3oMY1qVY

MCGUIRE
http://youtu.be/NZsUBIEqurg

STRANGE
http://youtu.be/sG1p8hiIdas

CLIMATE
http://youtu.be/X-Emj6odNNk

9 23 15
http://youtu.be/ETYC5CJn43Q

PAPAL VISIT
http://youtu.be/OXOth35_tHY

FB LOL
http://youtu.be/J8sK2JrGx0Q

TO EAT
https://youtu.be/AVx616upXcM

CELEBRATE
https://youtu.be/s1ONLh1r1gk

NOT SICK
https://youtu.be/dyPRbs-fpUw

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UNION

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. - John‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬

And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. - Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭23‬

THE GODLY WOMAN
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. - Proverbs‬ ‭31‬:‭11‬

THE OLDER WOMAN
The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. - Titus‬ ‭2‬:‭3-5‬

THE GODLESS WOMAN
Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. - Proverbs‬ ‭31‬:‭3‬

SHE SEES HIS POINT OF VIEW
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. - Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭4, 6‬

THE HEART
. . . she despised him in her heart.
- 2 Samuel‬ ‭6‬:‭16‬

HER ABOMINATIONS
"women in the church & in society"

FEMININE INFLUENCE gone bad.
Thou art thy mother's daughter, that lotheth her husband and her children; and thou art the sister of thy sisters, which lothed their husbands and their children: your mother was an Hittite, and your father an Amorite. - Ezekiel‬ ‭16‬:‭45‬

HEALING
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: - Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭25, 28-29‬


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Old people

Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.

But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.

God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land. - Psalms‬ ‭68‬:‭1, 3, 6‬

Why do you think that more elderly people are not involved in actively ministering in the church?

Although they may not have the energy of the young, the elderly have more time and the wisdom of a lifetime of walking with Christ. They can be involved in a ministry of prayer (1 TIMOTHY 5v. 5) and good deeds (v. 10). This can be about as broad as the person wants to make it. They can offer spiritual and practical counsel to younger families. They can serve on church committees. They can visit shut-ins or those in hospitals and nursing homes. They can call on church visitors. They can help in church office work. They can help Sunday School teachers in preparing materials or in managing their classes. They can assist in child evangelism ministries or by calling on the homes of Sunday School youngsters. They can open their homes in hospitality, help out with church socials, volunteer to babysit an evening for a younger couple, correspond with missionaries, help mission organizations, collect clothing for the needy, help a shut-in clean house, or use their individual skills in various ways. You name it!

. . . we must deliberately reject the world’s thinking about self-centered retirement living. As long as God gives us life and strength, we should live to serve Him.

“Although Shanghai is one of the five largest cities in the world, it has just one home for the aged.

Older people in China don’t need Golden Age clubs or retirement communities.

They have the most important life-support system of all: active, dignified work in an atmosphere of close family life and community respect.”

Maybe American Christians can learn from the Chinese what the Bible affirms!

Agree/disagree: The many convalescent homes in America reflect our lack of concern for the aged.

Many people in our day claim to be Christians, but their lives are no different than those who do not know Christ as Savior. The gospel Paul preached urged people to “repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance” (Acts 26:20).

Believers are to be zealous for good deeds (Titus 2:14). We don’t live to serve ourselves, whether we’re 20 or 80. We live to serve Jesus Christ and to lay down our selfish interests for the sake of those for whom Christ died.

We are deliberately to reject the cult of self-fulfillment, and “through love serve one another” (Gal. 5:13), not just in “spiritual” ways, but ministering to the total person.

The film series, “Whatever Happened to the Human Race,” has a graphic scene depicting the way our culture neglects and abandons our old so that we can pursue our own interests.

An elderly lady is wheeled down a white corridor by her children and grandchildren. They kiss her on the forehead and assure her that she will be all right. They leave and a nurse wheels the confused old woman into a darkened room where a TV set is blaring with the obnoxious voice of a game show host. She is abandoned by her family to live out her final days in front of the TV set!

It almost makes euthanasia seem like an option! At least it’s quicker! But God’s way is not abandoning or killing the elderly; it is honoring and caring for them.

FROM S.J.Cole
http://bit.ly/1H2nWV7


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Science

O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.
- 1 Timothy 6:20-21

There is a large 'body of knowledge' I believe, that may be covered by the bible phrase :
"OPPOSITIONS OF SCIENCE FALSELY SO CALLED".

The whole study of psychology and psychiatry and the 'mental health industry' is suspect in this regard.

When you begin with the fact of the body of the believer being the "temple of The Holy Spirit" you end up at a very different 'place'.

The unbeliever
is controlled
by the devil.

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. - John‬ ‭8‬:‭44‬

If much "mental health issues" are approached from this biblical perspective; we would soon begin to see the implication of "having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof.

The fact of the matter is that the Christian church in America historically was the pioneer in "higher education". Most 'Ivy league'
schools were originally seminaries.

It is noteworthy that Jesus ministry involved "teaching, preaching and healing. The disciples continued, having "received power" to "turn the world upside down" !

The church has abandoned its mission IMHO and it's "roots". It has given over "the healing of the nations" to ungodly men of science falsely so called.

PRAY & NOT FAINT
And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.

Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? - Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭7-8‬

Modern Christianity, I believe, seems to have abandoned the 'all-encompassing' power of the Holy Spirit in favor of the "vain babblings" of ungodly 'scientists' falsely so called. We are clearly instructed not to "walk in the counsel of the ungodly."

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Willing

"Arm yourself with this same mind"
A Soldier? Am I prepare to be opposed not applauded, to be rejected not embraced . . . ?

ONE MAN PRAYED :
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labor and not to ask for reward,
save that of knowing that I do your will.

Am I prepared for the
"wearying of the will"?

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: - Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬

We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. - 2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭13, 16‬

If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. - 1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭14‬

Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. - Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭11-12‬

ISAAC WATTS WROTE:
Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb,
And shall I fear to own His cause,
Or blush to speak His Name?

Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?

Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?

Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord.
I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.

Thy saints in all this glorious war
Shall conquer, though they die;
They see the triumph from afar,
By faith's discerning eye.

When that illustrious day shall rise,
And all Thy armies shine
In robes of victory through the skies,
The glory shall be Thine.

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. - ‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭3-4, 12-13‬

Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. - Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭2, 9‬

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Jenner

OPINIONS, BELIEFS & FACTS

An ESPY Award (short for Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Award) is an accolade presented by the American cable television network ESPN to recognize individual and team athletic achievement and other sports-related performance during the calendar year . . . WIKI

Opinions are reasoned conclusions (usually) logically drawn from facts or a combination of facts and beliefs.

So, it is what I BELIEVE about a hero that will lead me to examine the "evidence" and come to a (reasonable) conclusion IMHO. (OPINION)

A fact about a person is a logical conclusion drawn from supporting evidence - "he was guilty of theft".

A belief is an assumption
which when tested and proven
may or may not become a fact.
- Astronomers once believed
the earth was flat.

We all have beliefs about circumstances and
about people.

A statement of fact is true or false.

A belief is accepted or rejected.

Some people BELIEVE that based on the "achievement" in this case the award is not justified. That is their OPINION.

FACT: "From their inception to 2004, ESPY Award winners were chosen only through voting by fans. Since 2004, sportswriters, broadcasters, sports executives, and sportspersons, collectively experts; or ESPN personalities also vote. Award winners have been selected thereafter exclusively through online fan balloting conducted from amongst candidates selected by the ESPY Select Nominating Committee."

An opinion may or may not be factual. 'Expert' opinions are usually based on some study.

A belief may be
unproven or just unprovable.

Since beliefs can determine behavior, we should try to understand to what extent our conclusions are based on faith and fact. Many battles have been fought over fiction, fantasies and falsehoods !

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belief

ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD . . .
Unbelief believes something different
Disbelief refuses to believe
Make believe believes lies

. . . they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.

And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. - Genesis‬ ‭14‬:‭12, 14, 16, 18-20‬

After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
- Genesis‬ ‭15‬:‭1, 6‬

A belief is an assumption
Which when tested and proven
May become a fact.
Astronomers once believed
the earth was flat.

We all have beliefs about circumstances and
about people.

A belief may be unprovable.

Beliefs may be passed
from person to person
by suggestion.

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
- Romans‬ ‭4‬:‭3, 16‬

So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
- Galatians‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. - Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭8-10‬

Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
- ‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭22-24‬

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perspective

ISRAEL’S RESTORATION - Isaiah 49 GOD'S WORD® Translation

1 Listen to me, you islands. Pay attention, you people far away. Before I was born, the LORD chose me. While I was in my mother's womb, he recorded my name.

2He made my tongue like a sharp sword and hid me in the palm of his hand. He made me like a sharpened arrow and hid me in his quiver.

3He said to me, "You are my servant Israel. I will display my glory through you."

4But I said, "I have worked hard for nothing. I have used my strength, but I didn't accomplish anything. Yet, certainly my case is in the LORD's hands, and my reward is with my God."

HIS PURPOSE: 5The LORD formed me in the womb to be his servant in order to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to him. (The LORD honors me, and my God has become my strength

6Now, the Lord says, "You are not just my servant who restores the tribes of Jacob and brings back those in Israel whom I have preserved. I have also made you a light for the nations so that you would save people all over the world." -----THE LORD TALKS

7The LORD is the defender of Israel, its Holy One. This is what the LORD says to the despised one, to the one scorned by the nation, to the slave of rulers:

HIS PROMISE: Kings will see [you] and stand. Princes will see [you] and bow. The LORD is faithful. The Holy One of Israel has chosen you.

8This is what the LORD says: In the time of favor I will answer you. In the day of salvation I will help you. I will protect you. I will appoint you as my promise to the people. You will restore the land. You will make them inherit the desolate inheritance.

9You will say to the prisoners, "Come out," and to those who are in darkness, "Show yourselves." They will graze along every path, and they will find pastures on every bare hill.

10They will never be hungry or thirsty, nor will the sun or the burning, hot wind strike them. The one who has compassion on them will lead them and guide them to springs.

11I will turn all my mountains into roads, and my highways will be restored.

12They will come from far away. They will come from the north and from the west, and they will come from the land of Sinim.

13Sing with joy, you heavens! Rejoice, you earth! Break into shouts of joy, you mountains! The LORD has comforted his people and will have compassion on his humble people. --------ISAIAH TALKS

14But Zion said, "The LORD has abandoned me. My Lord has forgotten me."------- ISARAEL TALKS

15Can a woman forget her nursing child? Will she have no compassion on the child from her womb? Although mothers may forget, I will not forget you.

16I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. Your walls are always in my presence.

17Your children will hurry back. Those who destroyed you and laid waste to you will leave you.

18Look up, look around, and watch! All of your children are gathering together and returning to you. "I solemnly swear as I live," declares the LORD, "you will wear all of them like jewels and display them on yourself as a bride would."

19Though you are destroyed and demolished and your land is in ruins, you will be too crowded for [your] people now. Those who devoured you will be long gone.

20The children taken from you will say to you, "This place is too crowded for me. Make room for me to live here."

21Then you will ask yourself, "Who has fathered these [children] for me? I was childless and unable to have children. I was exiled and rejected. Who raised these [children for me]? I was left alone. Where have they come from?"

22This is what the Almighty LORD says: I will lift my hand [to signal] the nations. I will raise my flag for the people. They will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their shoulders.

23Then kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens will nurse you. They will bow in front of you with their faces touching the ground. They will lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD. Those who wait with hope for me will not be put to shame.

24Can loot be taken away from mighty men or prisoners be freed from conquerors?

25This is what the LORD says: Prisoners will be freed from mighty men. Loot will be taken away from tyrants. I will fight your enemies, and I will save your children.

26I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh, and they will become drunk on their own blood as though it were new wine. Then all humanity will know that I am the LORD, who saves you, the Mighty One of Jacob, who reclaims you.

In any crisis it is important to keep these things in perspective.

Questions – things not understood

Concerns – things to forget

Commands – things to do

Declarations – things to remember

Acts of God – things to marvel at

Pride

IT ONLY TAKES ONE
prideful act to destroy you.
2 Chronicles 26
UZZIAH / ZACHARIAH
"Find someone who can
keep you grounded" (humble)

And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah did. And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper.

And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly. - 2 Chronicles‬ ‭26‬:‭4-5, 8‬

And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.
- 2 Chronicles‬ ‭26‬:‭15‬

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. - Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬

But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense.

And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the Lord had smitten him. - 2 Chronicles‬ ‭26‬:‭16, 20‬

Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. - Psalms‬ ‭131‬:‭1‬

lessons to those who have great spiritual ambitions; men who want to be great readers of Divine mysteries, of Providence, of the plans and purposes of God.

"those who say to the preacher, and the teacher, and the expositor — How so? Explain this; what about this mystery? What is the answer to this great question? The answer is — Wait: what thou knowest not now, thou shalt know hereafter."
- J. Parker, D. D.

Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, write.
- 2 Chronicles‬ ‭26‬:‭22‬

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. - Isaiah‬ ‭6‬:‭1, 5, 8‬

WHO OBEYS

DISCIPLE - banned from this planet

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. - John‬ ‭15‬:‭14‬

There is a lot to learn about mainstream evangelicalism from contemporary Christian music!

I remember hearing a song by a Christian band a year ago and the chorus of the song simply repeated over and over, "We are free to fail"
- Josh McClellan

Our problem here in the church in America is not that we aren't willing to acknowledge our failure.

In some ways, we have even exalted and glorified failure in this culture.

We speak of our sinful imperfections. We speak of our disappointments. We speak of not living up to the expectations that we should. We speak of failure. These ideas we are not afraid of. We admit them readily. We even find some degree of comfort in them.

Our problem is we are actually unwilling to call all of this "failure" what it truly is. The Bible presents us with a picture of two kinds of people. Obedient and disobedient. In reality, all of our imperfection is rebellious disobedience. This of course sounds far more offensive. It has no positive ring to it. Why do I have to go and make everything sound so negative? . . . the goal is actually to sound more biblical.

The reason we find disobedience so repulsive a thought is because of what it implies. Disobedience implies having been given commands. And we definitely don't like that in this culture. How dare anyone give commands or orders. We prefer a God who gives us some goals and some encouragement, but no commands.

Disobedience also implies accountability. We are responsible to someone for our actions. We definitely don't like that either in this culture. How dare anyone tell us what we should or shouldn't do.

Disobedience implies authority. It assumes that someone has the right and power to command us. At the risk of becoming monotonous, this idea simply won't do in our culture either. We exalt personal autonomy and freedom. Not submission or surrender. There are few things more revolting in this culture than the notion of authority, at least any external authority.

Finally, disobedience implies consequence. When we disobey, we receive a consequence, or punishment (or discipline for that matter). In a culture of victims, this simply isn't fair either. There is always someone else to blame for things. I shouldn't be held responsible, so I shouldn't have to face a consequence.

. . . few of us go through our days with even the slightest inclination that the way in which we are living out our lives is simply a question of whether we are living obediently or disobediently toward God and the commands He has given us to live by. We're certainly willing to admit to falling short and failing. Yet few of us wish to call it what it truly is: disobedience.

We would do well to maintain a biblical view of human sinfulness, even the sin that occurs after our conversion. And if we claim ignorance, when God's Word is readily available to us, we really only prove that our rebellion is of the lazy variety. Let us call our "failures" or "shortcomings" what they are. And let it challenge us to pursue obedience more passionately than we might otherwise.

TO THINK / TALK / WRITE LIKE THIS ONE MUST EXPECT TO BE ISOLATED, SHUNNED, SCORNED . . . banned from the planet !

http://bit.ly/1RoiLqu
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Wars

We feel the uneasiness as we listen to the evening news. Bad news from our communities; evil. "Everywhere is war" is not just a line in the lyrics of a Bob Marley song. The bible says there will be wars and rumors of wars.

If we switch from the local news to the international news, we still hear of wars. Proxy wars and cyber wars are recent additions to our history of world wars and civil wars. Then there is the ominous and ever looming threat of nuclear war.

We are told there are culture wars and wars on women, on poverty, on drugs and on and on and then there is the war within us.

The bible asks "from whence come wars and fighting among us?"

Where do the conflicts and where do the quarrels among you come from? Is it not from this, from your passions that battle inside you? James 4:1

Our passion is our purpose
To know Christ and to
make Him known !

JESUS IS GOD
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. - ‭Isaiah‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬

WORD !!

So . . . the wars we see around us all start in the minds and hearts of people who have not made peace with their creator . . . "But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us" - Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭13-14‬

Once we have His peace in us, we find ourselves at war ! Not cold warriors like the Reagans, Rumsfelds and Cheneys or just culture warriors like Bill O'reiley.

The bible says "you therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. . . endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. - 2 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭1, 3-4‬

So it is as though the Christian now at peace with God finds he/she is engaged in another war, with weapons: the bible says "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; - 2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭4-5‬

It is what people think and believe that drives their behavior. Our mission, motive and message as "soldiers of Christ" is to share and give what we have.

And he said unto them, Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. - Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭15-16‬

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War

COMFORT ZONE

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? - Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭46‬

IS THIS A REBUKE?

Why "endure" . . .
sound doctrine?

Rebuke and correction may
sometime cause 'discomfort'.

Exhortation and encouraging words - words to comfort

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. - 2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬

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

Rebuke with all long-suffering

Why call ye me Lord

Rebuke not an elder

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. - 2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭3-4‬

If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them. - ‭1 Samuel‬ ‭2‬:‭25‬

For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. - 1 Samuel‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬

For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. - Genesis‬ ‭18‬:‭19‬

Memory Lane Clips

COUSIN ALOMA - REFLECTIONS




ELDER BLYTHE PRESIDES

She Did It