Feasting On The Word

SCRIPTURE

Ezra stood on the platform in full view of all the people. When they saw him open the book, they all rose to their feet.

Nehemiah 8:5, NLT

QUOTE

Freedom decays as materialism expands.

~John W. Hoover

Imagine the police or some government agency coming into your house and confiscating all your bibles and any book that had any reference to Jesus Christ. Are you thinking in your mind, “It will never happen, not in America, the land of the brave and home of the free.” When Joe David first told me about Obama being a threat as a serious candidate for president, I thought, “It will never happen.” When he ran against a good business man who may have been able to get us out of this mess and Joe David said, “Daddy, he is going to win again,” I thought, “American’s can’t be that stupid”. When Obama came out for gay marriage, I thought there is no way he can win re-election. Now we are in a battle for the sanctity of marriage and Christians are no where to be seen. We are all acting like Calvinist who are “do nothings” when it comes to moral evils like abortion and same-sex marriage. Do you know how Obama got elected, 40 million evangelical Christians did not vote in the last two elections plus the Calvinist who are growing in number daily.  I have a word for Evangelicals and Calvinist: when God’s judgment comes, it’s coming down your street and mine, no one will be spared: not you, not your children or your grandchildren. Is that what you are praying for? Not me, I am praying for REVIVAL.

If we don’t repent and change our way of thinking they will be taking our bibles in 20 years. Some folks wouldn’t know the difference. We are biblically illiterate and we don’t know how to pray. Ezra opened the scripture and all the people stood for three hours as he taught from the word of God. Then they spent three more hours confessing sin. They  wept when they heard the word of God. I’m just wondering, would we do anything if they took our bibles? Has your love for this world already taken your zeal for the word of God? “God, You are gracious and merciful: have mercy on us and send us a spiritual awakening.”

TODAY WE PRAY FOR THE WORLD

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and you might want to say a prayer for the moron’s in Washington who are about to betray Israel. If we betray Israel, our goose is cooked.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

• There is a great article in last months IMPRIMIS about the cultural war.
• Everyone needs to subscribe to DECISION MAGAZINE. Get on line and find out how you can get it sent to your home.
• A young man, who must remain anonymous due to his sensitive nature, told me last night that the two most boring things in the world are graduations and weddings. I told him, “I’ve been to both tonight.” I sat a new record, a 3 minute wedding, no one had time to get bored. Actually, there were only four present. No rehearsal, no mother-in-laws, no director, no moving furniture, no music and no problems. I am not making light of marriage: it was a moving ceremony. If you don’t believe me, ask them.
• Graduation went great, the speeches were good: I wish to goodness they would do awards at another time but I carried my lawn chair and made it fine. Mr. Chambers did speed up the presentation of diploma’s. I think this was an outstanding class.
• I am really worried about Big Mama: she has not been to Kroger’s in three days: there is something bad wrong.
• Patriotic Service this Sunday morning at 10:15. LIFE CHANGING BIBLE STUDY at 9:15. Wendy Greenhaw will be our special guest.
• Send me pictures of your family members who served in the armed forces, I will use them next Sunday morning in the service. If you know how to put them on our Facebook page, that will work or email them to me, jack@danvillebaptist.org
• May 29 Senior Adult Cook Out. BBQ chicken and ribs.
• June 6…Rally for Biblical Marriage in Montgomery. I think the time is 3:00 PM
• June 8-12…VBS and VBX

VBS-VBX JUNE 8-12

Baby Boomers

SCRIPTURE

Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.

~Psalm 90:12, NLT

QUOTE

Live today as though you are not entitled to tomorrow.

~Source Unknown

According the U.S. Census Bureau’s annual projections the current population of the US is 320 million. There are 76.4 million Baby Boomers [born between 1946-1964]. The Baby Boomers starting retiring in 2011 and the numbers will escalate rapidly over the next few years. Since my generation [Baby Boomers] make up one fourth of the population, our retirement is going to put a massive burden on Social Security. Another factor brought to my attention recently is the mortality of the Boomers. We started turning 65 in 2011 and I am attending a lot of funerals of Baby Boomers. Over the next 30 years, we are going to have more funerals.

Moses, who wrote Psalm 90, witnessed the death of two generations who died because of their rebellion and unbelief. We know there were 600,000 Israelite men and we project that there were from 2.4 to 3 million total, counting women and children. In the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness due to their unbelief, they had a funeral every 20 minutes. In my math is right, that would be 72 per day. It is a good thing Jethro talked Moses into training some associate pastors.

Anyway, the point is: we must realize that our days are few and fleeting; and pray for God to give us wisdom to spend them wisely.

• Today we pray for family.
• Front Pew Bridal Shower for Ginny Shaneyfelt Sunday morning.
• No Deacons meeting Sunday. We will get started after Mother’s Day.
• ROSES FOR MAMA on sale next two Sundays.

 

Thinking Like Jesus

SCRIPTURE

 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.

~Philippians 2:5, NRSV

QUOTE

We cannot imitate deity.

~T.W. Hunt

MY THOUGHTS

I have read Thomas A. Kempis THE IMITATION OF CHRIST and I highly recommend it. Yet there is something we must understand, we humans cannot imitate deity. We are immortal because of Christ death for us on the cross and His gift of everlasting life but we are not eternal beings. We had a beginning: Jesus is the Great I AM. He has no beginning or end. He is, He was, He has always been and He will always be.

Once we are converted to faith in Christ, we can grow daily and incrementally toward His likeness even to the point to thinking the way Jesus thinks. How did Jesus think? Paul tells us in Philippians chapter two: Jesus did not think selfishly. He did not think condescendly [although He was exceedingly better than the best of us]. He did not think about His own personal interest, what was best for Him. We can sum up Jesus thinking in one word, it the same word we use for deacon. Jesus thought like a servant…”What needs to be done here? What do I need to do?”

You and I are never going to be Jesus. In heaven there will be one Jesus and He will have no clones but you can grow spiritually until you think like Him. What do you need to do in regards to Vacation Bible School? What should you do for your neighbor? What should you do this Sunday to render yourself a servant to the body of Christ? What should you do for families in Guatemala who live on dirt floors and have corn stalks for walls? What should you do about helping high school seniors and college students go on mission to Guatemala? How do you think? Do you think mostly about helping yourself or do you think like Jesus by thinking of others.

TODAY WE PRAY FOR THE WORLD

 

2015 Progress toward Engaging – Page Layout

THE GATHERING TONIGHT

Just two more night of AWANA and Wednesday night suppers…my, my how the year has zoomed by…Supper at 5:30, AWANA at 6:15 and the Gathering at 6:30. We are in the book of James. Tonight message is HOW TO TURN TRIALS INTO TRIUMP.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Keri is going to Mayo clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. Praise the Lord for Dr. Earl getting her accepted. They are waiting on call…should come within the next week.

DHS GIRLS WIN THRILLER IN THE TOP OF THE 8TH

Brittany Linderman lead off the 8th with a triple to right center. She belly slid head first in to third. The ball beat her to the bag but it took a short hop and went past third. Our 3rd base coach got aggressive and sent her home a hard hit grounder to short but the throw was off target and Brittany scored the winning run. I was hoping to get to see the boys play baseball but they finished before I got back in the go. The game last night was my first in over a month.

PROGRESS REPORT

First full day yesterday, no naps, no rest times. Over 6,000 steps and I didn’t do any intentional walking. Back is a little tight and right knee still giving me problems. I am hoping {praying} to be able to travel to Cherokee, Alabama for Hollis Jarnigan’s Celebration of Life Service. June is talking off to drive me and I hope to preach tonight at DBC. I think Friday is my last day of steroids. I will be thrilled if the LORD allows me to carry out my plans for the day.

Persecution!

SCRIPTURE

Remember my chains.

~Colossian 418, NLT

QUOTE

“I tremble because of the sufferings of those persecuted in different lands. I tremble thinking about the eternal destiny of their torturers. I tremble for Western Christians who don’t help their persecuted brethren.”

~Richard Wurmbrand

MY THOUGHTS

When the Apostle Paul wrote to the churches in the Lycus Valley he closed his letter with a prayer request: Paul said simply, “Remember my chains.” Paul was writing from prison in Rome. It is so easy for those of us who have never faced persecution to forget about the millions that do.

American Pastor Saeed Abedini [pictured above with wife and children] was arrested and imprisoned in Iran’s Rajai Shahr prison in 2013 and sentenced to 8 years. He was in Iran working underground with fellow Christians. Saeed is being tortured and deprived of medical attention. Recently he was carried to a hospital due to pressure from human rights groups but he was never treated. Obama has meet with Naghmeh, Saeed’s wife but has made no effort to get Saeed released. Today, April 21, the US is meeting with Iran about nuclear weapons so pray the Saeed’s name will come up.

This is just a reminder that there are Christians being persecuted. It seems surreal to those of us in the West but persecuting Christians is common in the Eastern hemisphere. Today, lets remember their chains and offer up a prayer for Pastor Abendini and his family. Pray that Obama would do something for a Christian for a change.

TODAY WE PRAY FOR TEACHERS

PRAYER LIST

I go through the prayer sheets on Monday mornings; it was one of my 2015 resolutions. I did not bring the list home with me but there are close to 20 on the list that are battling cancer. We are glad that Kane is home but don’t stop praying. June sister in law is under treatment, I have an aunt and uncle battling cancer. Let’s lift up our friends battling this dreadful disease. I forgot to mention last night that Mrs. Irene Pope is very sick and Judy’s Mom Beatrice Freeze is in HH. I admit that I did not feel up to visitation yesterday. I think I have to much medicine in my system. We are working our way back to normal but we have very little energy. Our good friend Hollis Jarnigan was promoted yesterday; we will be helping with the service LORD willing. 

TEBOW GETTING A SHOT

I have boycotted the NFL for the last two years because of the way they treated Tim Tebow. Trust me, I have not suffered; it’s not like fasting. I find most of their games boring. The NFL has had too much success and they think they can do anything. I heard today that the Eagles gave Tim a one year contract. I’ll be an Eagle fan for the first time ever. They are saying that he may play multiple positions or even be on special teams. I just want to see him get a fair shake. I’m sick of seeing antichrist NFL give him a hard time because he loves Jesus.

Word Perfect Or Perfect Word

SCRIPTURE

God’s way is perfect. All the LORD’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

~Psalms 18:30 NLT

QUOTE

If God’s word is not perfect, how can God be perfect: if He be perfect, how can His word not be perfect!

~Ya’akov

Gary Anders favorite verse is Proverbs 30:5. In you don’t believe me, asked him to quote for you Sunday. It goes like this, “Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to Him for protection.” The KJV reads…Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. When I was a boy, some preacher came up with a cliche that went like this: God said it, I believe it and that settles it. Later someone changed it, If God said it, that settles it whether you believe or not.

• TODAY WE PRAY FOR MINISTERS AND MISSIONARIES. This a travel week for J.D. who has to go to Birmingham and to New Orleans. Remeber Haley Rae is in seminary also.
• Praise the LORD for two additions yesterday: Mylee Reese Garner on Profession of Faith and Jeanie Sims by letter. I love ending the services with a celebration.
• Great attendance yesterday and phenomenal offering, $31,355.00. Also the benevolent offering was over $500.
• Cain and Keri were both at church yesterday but we need to continue praying for them. Mrs. Irene Pope is very low and Judy’s mom, Beatrice Freeze is in HH.

Fool Proof

SCRIPTURE

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

~Ephesians 2:8, NLT

QUOTE

Faith pleases God and it prompts man.

~Ya’akov

Paul preached grace, pure unadulterated grace and to the Jews, it was a stumbling block. They believed in two things that are antithetical to grace. [1] They believed in special favor. They believed that being descendants of Abraham was equal to a new birth. This created an inordinate pride that lead them to believe they could earn salvation on a point system. [2] In other words, they believed they could be saved by obeying the laws of Moses. They were convinced they could receive right standing by their own efforts.

The first thing Jesus did to upset them was to inform them that being a descendants of Abraham was grossly insufficient and then he went on to point out the fact that their righteousness was totally unacceptable. All their righteousness was tainted by their selfish desire to glorify themselves. God confounded them; He made salvation simple, so simple that a child can be saved but salvation is not something we do for God,  it is something He does for us.

God’s grace initiates our salvation; His grace makes salvation possible for sinners. We can response to His goodness is faith. Faith works in two directions Godward and Manward: [1] Faith pleases God {Hebrew 11:6} [2] Faith prompts man,  Abraham was moved by faith. So faith has a Godward side and a manward side. Since my salvation is a gift {grace} I can only boast in Christ. If I had any part in earning my salvation, I would have bragging rights.

If you buy a new car but you are short $1,000 and you come to me for a loan; you have made a mistake. You have given me bragging rights. Every time I see you go by in the car, I will think or say: there goes a car that I help pay for. Literally, if I paid $10 on your car I could boast. Salvation is all grace because God retains all the bragging rights. What impresses me is that His Grace, His plan cannot be abused. It is fool proof.

Let’s say for example; you determine to do God’s will your way by the power of your flesh a part from His grace. In the flesh you attempt to serve Christ by living morally, doing good deeds, faithfully attending worship, and tithing every cent that goes through your hand. The end results of attempting to please Christ by living in the power of the flesh is: Pride, vain glory [you crave recognition and praise], you become super judgmental of others, you are ungrateful and you cannot offer sincere praise to God. You going through the motions of praise but it is all pretense.

God has it fixed where it can only be done one way: HIS and the end result is praise to His Son. It’s like buttoning up a shirt; if you don’t start right, you will not end right. If it originates in the flesh, the flesh will seize the glory; if it begins with the Spirit, Christ will get the glory. You cannot begin in the flesh and end in giving Christ glory.

• Today we pray for the World.
• Regular schedule tonight: Lord willing I will be with you as you try to move back toward normal.
• No Senior Adult Fellowship this Friday. I need a little more time to get back to 100%.

Amazing Grace

SCRIPTURE

And to the man he said, “Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you.

~Genesis 3:17-18, NLT

QUOTE

Behold, what manner of love is this, that Christ should be arraigned and we adorned, that the curse should be laid on His head and the crown set on ours.

~Thomas Watson

In C.S. Lewis Lion, Witch and Wardrobe, the White Witch has cursed Narnia with perpetual winter. Everything in Narnia was cold and appeared to be dead because it was frozen under the snow and ice. In Genesis 3, God, due to Adams disobedience, pronounces a curse on the ground. It is the curse of the thorn [thistle, weed]. Gardening was easy until Adam fouled up. This curse is worldwide. Thorns are found on every continent except Antarctica. The thorn has become a symbol of the painfulness and sorrow which accompanies disobedience.

When Abraham was getting ready to sacrifice Isaac, there was a ram caught in a thorn bush. This ram that became a substitute for Isaac was literally wearing a crown of thorns. Would you like to guess the location of the sacrifice? If you said Mount Moriah, you would be right and 2,000 years later on this same mountain, Jesus the Son of God was sacrificed wearing a crown of thorns in our behalf. This lead Paul to say, But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

The next time you sing Isaac Watts Christmas Carol JOY TO THE WORLD, notice the second verse…

No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground.
He comes to make His blessings flow, Far as the curse is found.

Wow! The blood of Christ trumps the curse of the thorn! If this truth doesn’t crank your engine, your battery is dead.

• Today we pray for TEACHERS.
• Congratulations to the DHS Lady Hawks for advancing to Wallace State. I think they have a chance to go all the way. We did not play our best game last night and still won. These girls are fun to watch.
• The Young Married class is restocking the AWANA Store. We have one more week to plan our party and project. I am thankful for the response. Things are coming together.
• See how many you can name in this pic, I know them all for a change. Well, not sure about girl with blue ribbon.

 

Money Has No Future

 

 

 

SCRIPTURE

If you haven’t been faithful with that wicked thing called money, who is going to entrust you with true wealth?

~Luke 16:11, CT {N.T. Wright}

QUOTE

Christ allows His money to be taken from Him, but never His sheep.
– Pasquier Quesnel

Luke 16 begins with a story of a man who was a steward [manager] for a wealthy man. The steward was sloppy in his accounting and things were not adding up. When his boss found out about his poor management, he called him into account and took away his stewardship.

This is not a difficult story to interpret. Jesus is the wealthy man and we are the stewards. Money as we know it is simply a test. If we can be faithful stewards with HIS money, then in the age to come, we will be entrusted with TRUE WEALTH. You must understand that money is not “True Wealth.” We are playing with monopoly money, its paper that will burn. Silver and gold are no better: they will burn also.

We measure people on earth by the money they have because we believe that money has great value; but it’s only temporary. In the next world, money will be worthless. If someone asks you what you are worth, just say, “In this world or the next?”

I know a lot of rich men but I only know one, possibly two who spend Christmas Eve visiting widows and giving them a card that has a sizable chunk of change inside. I would guess that he gives away five to ten thousand dollars at Christmas. I am guessing: it could be much more. You and I may not be this rich but we are rich if compared to the rest of the world.

Luke 16 concludes with the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus. For every rich man there is a Lazarus at the gate. What did you do to help your Lazarus this Christmas? How do you think Jesus feels about the way you are using HIS money? No excuses folks, someone close to you needed an ACT OF KINDNESS and you hoarded the resources the Master has entrusted to your account. The only reason you didn’t see your Lazarus was that you were not looking.

It’s not to late to make some deposits in the bank of heaven. Do an act of kindness today.

• TODAY we pray for STUDENTS.
• Visitation for the Garner family is this morning from 11:00-12:45 and COLS at 1:00. All at Peck’s in Hartselle. Betty Stephenson Harp fell last Sunday evening and cut a gash in her head. She had to spend two days in DGH. She is back home in Hartselle.
• I am loving these holidays. I get to study and read to lunch everyday. I could get use to this.
• Big day…hosting siblings breakfast at 8:30 and then visitation at 11:00 and COLS at 1:00.
• Remember tomorrow’s schedule is light, extremely light: Coffee and Donuts at 9:30 and worship at 10:15 {No LCBS and not evening worship}.

Michael Mason Is Our Special Guest Tomorrow

A Temporary Fix

SCRIPTURE

“You haven’t got a bucket and the well is deep! So how were YOU thinking of getting living water?

~John 4:11, CT

QUOTE

Christ is not a reservoir but a perpetual spring. His life is continual, active and ever flowing.

~A.B. Simpson

The Samaritan woman was shocked when Jesus spoke to her and amazed that he would ask her for a drink. The woman responded with a “What, You a Jew are asking me for a drink.” Jesus said “If you knew who I was, you would be asking me for a drink and I would give you living water.” She said, “You don’t have a bucket and this well is deep, how are you going to give me a drink? Are you greater than our father Jacob?”

To answer her last question: “Yes madam, Jesus is infinitely greater than Jacob [Ya’akov].” Jesus doesn’t need a bucket because He is the well and the spring that furnishes the water. We need a bucket but not Jesus. The water in Jacobs well is just like the water we drink every day. It is necessary for life here on earth but it satisfies us for only moments. Our physical body requires that we drink and drink again. We can drink a gallon of water but it will not last; it is a temporary fix. Jesus has something that will last for eternity. You drink the Living Water and you will never thirst again, ever.

• Today we pray for the WORLD.
• Tonight is our final AWANA for 2014. We will have supper at 5:30, AWANA at 6:15 and the gathering at 6:30. No music tonight; just a sermon. My group will be out by 7:00. The Youth are going caroling.
• They did not do Preston Roberts surgery yesterday but his oxygen level is up, PTL.
• David’s uncle departed this world last Sunday…COLS for John Edward Hopper, age 54, will be Thursday, December 18, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Shelton Funeral Chapel. Mr. Hopper passed away December 14. Visitation will be tonight 5:00-7:00 at Shelton’s.

 

Err On The Side of Grace

SCRIPTURE

“You’ll not likely go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, ‘You’re far happier giving than getting.’”

~Acts 20:35, MSG

QUOTE

“Generosity always wins favor, particularly when accompanied by modesty.”

~Johann Wolfgang Goethe

I really don’t remember where I picked up this principle…“If you are going to err, it is better to err on the side of grace.” It may have come from my Mother or Bro. Inman. Probably Bro. Inman, Mother believed in the law. Someone somewhere along the way planted this thought in my head years ago and it has become a life principle that I try to live by. Can you pay a worker too much? Can you over tip at a restaurant? If we leave more than is expected, we may be considered generous: if we leave less, we may be considered stingy. Personally, I prefer to err on the generous side. Frankly, preachers are not good company at restaurants because most of them leave an embarrassing tip. Of course, very few will pick up the tab so it becomes a mute point. At Christmas time, it seems that the spirit of generosity prevails more so than the rest of the year. Err on the side of grace this Christmas or at least make that your goal.

• Today we pray for FAMILY.
• Looking forward to Sunday…LCBS at 9:00, Worship at 10:15 with Baptism.
• LUKE 14 Sunday evening at 5:30 PM.
• Bring your OCC Shoe boxes this Sunday.
• Don’t forget to make an appointment to get your picture in the new church directory…See Mandy or Floyd at the Welcome Center. This is not a church membership project, this is for all attendees whether you are a member or not.
• Go to Doc today: hope to get released.
• Did something last night that I rarely do: responded to comments; well until I got tired. All were positive I think and it was good to see Steve’s name on the comment list. The boy has up and left us. I going to start a petition to get him to move back to Danville where he belongs.
• Some of these cartoons I can’t make out until I load them. I intended to remove one last night that didn’t get removed. I thought it was funny but my editor did not agree. My apology!