A Message From A Box of Bones

SCRIPTURE

Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear to do this. He said, “God will certainly come to help you. When he does, you must take my bones with you from this place.”

~Exodus 13:19, NLT

QUOTE

Faith is the radar that sees through the fog.

~Corrie ten Boom

Only Benjamin was younger than Joseph but Joseph preceded his brothers in physical death. The good die young I suppose. Joseph assured his brother, “God will surely come to help you and lead you out of this land of Egypt. He will bring you back to the land he solemnly promised to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. When God comes to help you and lead you back, you must take my bones with you.” Joseph made his brother swear an oath that they would not leave his remains in Egypt. Moses was familiar with this promise and he would not leave Egypt without the coffin with Joseph bones.

What is the message from the box of bones?

1. God is faithful: He always keeps His promises.
2. Egypt is not our resting place–don’t take ease in Egypt {world}.
3. Physical death is not the final sleep; it is the final awakening.
4. The body may die but our influence lives on.

Someone has suggested that the box of bones may have spoken to the Israelites who carried them:

A little chuckle from a knuckle,

A little glee from a knee

Or a little grin from a chin,

You know there was a lot of ribbing.

{I did not write the rhyme, found it in some old notes}

• God is good, what can I say….What a day! Three or four folks including one of my daughters liked the service yesterday morning. David and the guys {that includes Mrs. Linda} did an outstanding job. I am telling you folks, I experienced some heaven yesterday. It was a busy day but a good day: Thank YOU Jesus!
• I made an official announcement last night: be sure you read this correctly and repeat it correctly. My retirement date {LORD willing} is December 31 2016. People have been congratulating me on my retirement and I keep telling them, I am not retired; I am planning to retire. Catfish is going to help me separate the blogs from the Church domain. We hope to do that in the next few months. I will probably order my new office building after the first of the year and will move a few things next Summer.
• Pray for Allison and Ken Blackwood: they have some hard decisions to make in the next few weeks.
• In light of our retirement: the DEACONS are working on the By-laws and a transition plan. At this point, no one knows what the church will do. They want to update the By-Laws first. They will of course bring all this back to the church. Their plans are to amend, omit, and add. We need guidelines on the transition, marriage policy and child care. They will be doing this on Sunday mornings from 7:45 to prayer time or to LCBS time. I will not be participating. This is something that you need to decide. I will help if called on, otherwise I will give my time to prayer and study of the word. As a CONCERNED MEMBER you have some options. You can attend one of these meetings and share your input in person, you can talk to one of the deacons or you can write your recommendation on paper and submit to one of the deacons. They will take any recommendation that has a signature. They will throw unsigned suggestion in the waste basket. Since everyone does not read the blog, I will repeat the above in the Sunday bulletin. You can pass the word and you are free to question any deacon–they will fill in the blanks. We have some bright minds in this group and they love DBC: they will do what is right. You are very fortunate to have these Deacons: they are capable leaders and they have the interest of the church at heart.
• I also want to tell you how relieved and thrilled I am to see everyone doing better: last weekend and last week was a time of anxiety for me. I am not bragging, I am confessing. Kane and Gary are better and I think Keri is better but her dad is hurting. Kelvin fell from a roof Saturday and shattered the bones in his left leg right above the angle. The X-ray looks like a bomb exploded inside his leg. Kelvin is hurting and Tracey is wore out. Mavis will be at CRMC a couple more days. She was in good spirits yesterday evening.
• The biggest news of the day is that Zed has become an LSU fan. He wore and LSU shirt to church last night. I think he is serious.
• Have a great week!

Character

SCRIPTURE

Joseph was sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.

~Psalms 105:17-19, NLT

QUOTE

Character is what you are when no one is around.

~Anonymous

Joseph was the favorite son, a little spoiled, highly gifted with perhaps a tad of arrogance but the kid was as straight as and arrow and very trustworthy. His brothers were many things but trustworthy was not one of them. Joseph was 17 when his brothers betrayed him and deceived their father. Human trafficking has always been big business and the Ishmaelites put shackles on Joseph’s feet and a iron collar around his neck. They carried him to Egypt where he was auctioned to Potiphar. Little did Potiphar know that he had the most valuable slave in the known world. Mrs. Potiphar accuses Joseph of attempted rape and Joseph lands in jail. Joseph never complains but patiently waits for God to vindicate him which he does after Joseph has served as a slave for 13 years. When I think of Character, Joseph and Job come to mind. I challenge you to find a great person who has not be tested severely like Joseph and Job. We do need great men but I do not want to be one. I have not done well on small test and I don’t want to be tested severely.

People judge us by our reputation but God goes by character.

• The COLS for Mrs. Irene Pope is today at 2:00 PM at FRIENDSHIP Baptist church. Visitation 12:00–2:00.
• Senior Day is May 17th in the am service.
• Pray for VBS June 8-12…Workers needed.
• Don Fields has heart surgery next Friday, May 8th. Pray for Don.

 

 

The Grinch That Tried To Steal Christmas

SCRIPTURE

Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance.

~Matthew 2:16, NLT

QUOTE

Herod the Great was a barbarian, a malevolent maniac.

~Josephus

The Wise Men got Herod shook up when they rode into town asking questions; especially this one,“Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” Herod the Great was a cruel dictator who was obsessed with power. The Jews feared him but they had no desire to worship him. He was ruthless. He had his mother-in-law executed. Perhaps you are thinking “so what, if I had his power, I might do the same.” Well, it gets worse, he had a brother-in-law executed, two sons and one of his ten wives. When he realized that the Wise Men had out foxed him, he was furious. He sent his soldiers back to Bethlehem and they slaughtered every male child two years old and younger.

God spoke to Joseph in a dream and warned him to flee Herod’s wrath. Joseph woke Mary up in the middle of the night and they left for Egypt. Some think they used the gold given to them by the Wise Men to finance their trip and stay in Egypt. In the movie, Herod’s executioners get there the next morning after Joseph and Mary have fled to Egypt. Herod died a few years later in misery and pain.

What a contrast between Herod the king and Jesus the King of kings. The Romans gave Herod power when he was 25 years old. He used it and abused it and then lost it forever. Jesus was born a KING, He had power from birth. He used His power to help others. Jesus power will never be diminished!

What kind of power do you have? Will you use it to help others? 

• Two more office days until Christmas.
• Today we pray for FAMILY. Why don’t we focus on families who will be missing a family member this Christmas. Grief seems to be a heavier burden during the holidays.
• Preston is better and Katie Sparkman is tired and wants rest. All the children are doing well as far as I know.
• Edward T. is home; I saw him from a distance.
• If any of you SMITH LAKE folks need some trees to bait your Crappie holes, there are plenty at church. You can’t miss them, Marty put them in the front. Get a truck load.
• Deacon and wives meet this Sunday at 8:55 on the money. Biscuits and donuts will be there around 8:45. LCBS at 9:00 and worship at 10:15. LORD willing we are preaching on HE WHO IS BORN KING OF THE JEWS. No pm services.

God Of Mercy

 

SCRIPTURE

“I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed.

~Malachi 3:6, NLT

QUOTE

God is more willing to pardon than to punish. Mercy does more multiply in Him than sin in us. Mercy is His nature.

~Thomas Watson

God is infinite in all His attributes and let us all give thanks that He is merciful. Psalms 100:5 reads…”For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations.” Jeremiah said in his Lamentations…”The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” We need mercy like fish need water, we would be destroyed in a heartbeat if God’s mercies were to cease for a moment.

Jacobs sons were liars, outlaws, hooligans, thugs, murderers, rapist; there were as vile as the Canaanite natives. Joseph stood head and shoulders above them. He distinguished himself from them in his behavior. He became their savior and lord but he had made a decision to forgive prior to revealing himself to his brothers. This bunch deserved to be impaled on a pole. They had wronged Joseph and lied to their father. Joseph was merciful. Otherwise the sons of Jacob would have been consumed. Give thanks for God’s mercies which are new everyday. We could not survive a part from His mercy.

I am thinking about the song Tyler sings…“…God of mercy, sweet love of mine; I have surrendered to Your design.
May this offering stretch across the skies, and these Halleluiahs be multiplied!…”

God of Mercy

• Today we pray for Students.
• We are going to change the Deacons meeting to 8:55 in The Sanctuary…Deacons and Wives Prayer Huddle.
• Honor the Champs Sunday morning in am worship followed by a luncheon for players and parents in the Parlor.
• November 23 is CELEBRATION SUNDAY and Operation Christmas Child deadline.

DREAM IN THE EXTREME

SCRIPTURE

Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. “Listen, I have had another dream,” he said. “The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!”

~Genesis 37:9, NLT

QUOTE

Christians dream in the extreme except when they are dreaming of spiritual things and then we don’t dream big at all.

~Wade Morris

We have been talking about Joseph in LCBS for the past month. Joseph had some extreme dreams. He dreamed that he would rule over his brothers and even his father. He even dreamed that someday they would bow down to him in obeisance. I dream all the time but I have never had a dream like Joseph. My night dreams are crazy. I had two real weird night dreams last night. In one, Joe David and I were stranded in Florence and we were in a go cart shop trying to find a ride home. There is more but I am embarrassed to share it. In the other, I was at the bank in Falkville and I saw one of our church families trying to get a loan to save their place. Brent was the banker and they were not getting anywhere. I was being nosy but also trying not to be seen. As I tried to slip out the door, I went blind. I could not see anything. I stood there until the couple came out. They were trying to help me and the last thing I said to them, “Maybe this is a bad dream.” I woke up that instant and was thrilled that it was only a dream.

My day dreams are nothing like my night dreams because I have more control. Wade was blown away when I told him about my day dreams: I am never poor [always filthy rich], never bad looking, old, fat, and always the greatest athlete, the star of the team.  I am always the savior, the go to guy who can fix everything that is broken. I never dream of having cancer or seeing my friends die with cancer. I never dream of divorce or the death of a family member or friend. Actually, I don’t even dream of the death of my enemies.

In relationship to the message last Sunday on heaven: I believe heaven is infinitely greater than our wildest dreams. Eye has not see, nor ear heard, nor mind imagined what Christ has prepared for those who love HIM.  Joseph’s brothers thought he was nuts for dreaming for out dreams: no one ruled the sons of Jacob, they were outlaws and proud of it.  But they did bow to Joseph five times. Joseph dreams were out there but they all come true. The reality of heaven will be infinitely greater than your dreams. No cancer there, no death, no poverty, no one is desperate need. Matter of face no desperation or need period. Never stop dreaming. You don’t realize it but most of your dreams are about heaven. Growing old is very real but it is also a illusion: so you keep dreaming. The best is yet to come.

Wade’s point was that we need to dream big in the faith areas and I was convicted.

• Hope you had a great VETERAN’S DAY
• Today we pray for the WORLD
• Two more Wednesday night suppers before Thanksgiving…tonight and next Wednesday.
• No Deacons meeting this Sunday.
• Honor the Champs this Sunday and dedication of the ramp Sunday night.
• Luke 14 Sunday Night November 23 at 5:30 pm
• Finally watched a good Hallmark TV Christmas Movie. It’s about the Fireman and the Veterinarian. A must see for cat lovers.

ROAD RAGE AND GARBAGE TRUCKS

[Read at your discretion, I didn’t write it, I copied and pasted. It comes from Bobby]

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! 

The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really nice to the guy who pulled out in front of us. So I asked, ‘Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!‘ This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, ‘The Law of the Garbage Truck.’ 

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they’ll dump it on you. Don’t take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don’t take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets. 

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life’s too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don’t. As Chuck Swindoll says, “Life is ten percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you respond. The response is called our attitude.”

 

Hindrances To Revival #18– BITTERNESS

Day 22 of 24

SCRIPTURE

Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time.

Hebrews 12:16, MSG

QUOTE

Resentment, bitterness, and self-pity build up inside our hearts and eat away at our spiritual lives like a slowly spreading cancer.

~Jerry Bridges

Any injustice or perceived injustice can lead to resentment and bitterness. Our Life Changing Bible Study lesson for Sunday gives us an excellent illustration. Joseph was the victim of a double injustice: first his immoral brothers betrayed him by selling him as a slave then Mrs. Potiphar accused him of rape when in fact, he fled from her to keep her from raping him. Joseph was thrown into prison for being a man of nobility and integrity. He did nothing wrong or immoral. Joseph could have licked his wounds, felt sorry for himself, and harbored a seed of resentment but he choose to let the offense go and look to the future. Do you feel like you are the victim of an injustice? Has someone wronged you? You have two options: cling to the injury, allow bitterness to grow in your heart and become like Esau or you can let it go and be like Joseph. Wouldn’t you prefer to be a Joseph?

• WOW! We were blown away last night by the turnout. We should have used the FORTE but we had no idea. For the past several years the Volley Ball tournament has hurt our crowd but not this year. The AWANA kids came out in force with their parents. The parlor area was like an ant bed. We had to pack kids on the wagons for the hayrides. We actually needed another wagon. We appreciate the Young Married class for doing all the work that goes into a hayride. If we did hayrides for all ages like we did 10 years ago, we would have over 300. We had over 200 last night. It was wild! It was not just AWANA kids and families, our Senior Adults turned out in mass. Wow! Thank you guys for blessing me, I am encouraged. A big, big, huge thanks to my lovely assistants: Jamie and Mandy. Thanks to Sheila for making our chili. We also had a ton of desserts and they were good.
• Today we pray for the families facing TRIALS. My friend in Mississippi was promoted last night about 5:00. He has suffered a lot in the last six weeks and we rejoice that his battle is over. Lift up a prayer for his wife Mary. I went by to see Kenny Tuesday but he was gone to Doctor. Continue to pray for Kenny and Larry. Pray for your friends that are having a difficult time.
• Johnny Burnett had a knee replaced yesterday: we hope to get that way to day. I know some of you are working on your ARK [Act of Redemptive Kindness]. I over heard some talking about their visits last night. If you missed last Sunday; over 100 members committed to do two acts of kindness this week: one to a faithful attender and one to someone that we have not seen lately. Remember, Senior Adults consider a visit and act of kindness.
• I will be out of the office most of the day; Felton and I are putting in a handicap ramp in the Penn community.
• You will have to stay tuned for FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE. I am awaiting final word on the Memorial Service for my friend and I will either be gone Friday or Saturday. If it is Friday, I will have to make some arrangements. I will post them as soon as I know them.
• Congratulations to Spencer and the DHS Girls Volleyball team who won both matches yesterday and will play in the STATE CHAMPIONSHIP game tonight.

Hindrances To Revival #13-UNFORGIVENESS

Day 17 of 24

SCRIPTURE

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

~Ephesians 4:32, NKJV

QUOTE

Acrid bitterness inevitably seeps into the lives of people who harbor grudges and suppress anger, and bitterness is always a poison. It keeps your pain alive instead of letting you deal with it and get beyond it. Bitterness sentences you to relive the hurt over and over.

~Lee Strobel

I remember my pastor and mentor Calvin Inman telling the story of Dr. Charles Howard who if memory serves me correctly was serving a church in Louisville, Kentucky when two women…next door neighbors who had not spoken to each other in years…went into the back yard, at the same time, to hang out clothes. It was an awkward situation. One of the ladies thought to her self, “this has gone on long enough” and so she walked toward the other lady who saw her coming and meet her half way. They embraced and forgave one another…when each tried to apologize, neither could remember exactly what started the feud. These two women were the Euodia and Syntche of their church {Philippians 4:2} and when they shared their reconciliation with the congregation the next Sunday, REVIVAL broke out in the church. Dr. Howard said it was one of the greatest revivals of his life time.

Perhaps you don’t believe such a thing would ignite a REVIVAL but I do. We will not have a REVIVAL apart from the Holy Spirit moving and He is sensitive. Two verses about today’s text {forgiving one another} is the verse that reads… And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

By the way, Ephesians 4:32 was my Mother’s favorite verse.

• Praise God for his grace…my Aaron and Hur have not missed a prayer time. I get a text from Jeff every morning at 3:30 and I get a response from Gregg at 4:00. I think it is incredible and I would not have made without them. I dozed back to sleep yesterday morning and instead of getting to the church at 5:00 as I intended, it was more like 6:00 but PTL we made it and got the FOOTBALL team fed. I attended the DHS Volleyball game at 10:00 am and they were not even challenged. They won their match in three sets and in between, we surveyed the situation for the wheel chair ramp. I will not lie, I am looking forward to November 2 for more than one reason.
• Gary and team will go to B’town this morning and I will be working on the ramp. The DHS girls will be playing again in the Von Braun Civic Center.
• This blog is unedited and probably has several mistakes but I am tired and I am going to bed. Hope you can muddle through it!
• The VOICES OF ZAMBIA will be with us Sunday morning: they will have the preaching time and the MISSION OFFERING will go to them. You can see a video on our FaceBook page.

EXTRA/LCBS LESSION PREVIEW

Overcoming Temptation

Genesis 39:2-12, NLT

The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. ³ Potiphar noticed this and realized that the Lord was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did. ⁴ This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned. ⁵ From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the Lord began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished. ⁶ So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat! Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man, ⁷ and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded. ⁸ But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. ⁹ No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.” ¹⁰ She kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way as much as possible. ¹¹ One day, however, no one else was around when he went in to do his work. ¹² She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.

Opening Question: What are some of the warning labels that you tend to ignore? Warning are important but have you noticed how many dumb warnings are on the products we buy?

This prescription is for a dog…note the red label…

This clothing item was made in France but sold only in America…the top label is in French but it black you see the Translation

Warning on Chain Saw

QUESTION

Would life be easier if temptation came with a warning label?

Actually, sin and temptation do come with a warning label but all the warnings are found in the Bible, God’s holy word. David said, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” All sin has consequences and the consequences are listed in the bible. I am going to give you one example: Proverbs 6:32 NLT...But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool for he destroys himself. Peterson translates this verse…Adultery is a brainless act which is soul-destroying and self-destructive. Is this warning clear enough?

Review the Scripture…

• Joseph was sold to the Ishmaelites who sold him to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard.
• The LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in everything he did.
• Potiphar recognized the divine presence upon Joseph’s life.
• Potiphar promoted Joseph to the position of Estate Manager. Joseph managed all of Potiphar’s interest and Potiphar prospered.
• Potiphar did not have to concern himself with anything other than his diet.
• Joseph was handsome and well built.
• Mrs. Potiphar noticed that Joseph was handsome and well built.
• Mrs. Potiphar was infatuated with Joseph. He became her obsession.
• She relentlessly pursued Joseph…consistently, day after day.
• Joseph kept his distance.
• Joseph unintentionally got caught with Mrs. P alone.
• She made her move and Joseph ran.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1. Verse 3 reads…Potiphar noticed this and realized that the Lord was with Joseph. In your opinion, what was it about Joseph that impressed Potiphar the most?
2. The word integrity means [1] the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. [2] the state of being whole and undivided. Synonyms are: Honest, righteous, moral, honorable, decent, ethical, integrated, together, solid, trustworthy. Which of these characteristics of integrity describe Joseph?
3. What more could Joseph have done to avoid the temptation to sleep with his master’s wife?
4. Joseph had a fear of committing adultery: what was the basis of his fear? [two things mentioned in the scripture]
5. What would have happened [eventually] had Joseph attempted to please Mrs. Potiphar?
6. What happened when he did what was right? [Three things primarily] [1] He was slandered [Mrs. P told a lie about Joseph] [2] He lost his job [got fired so to speak] [3] He got sent to prison.
7. Is there a difference between resisting temptation and fleeing temptation? Yes and Joseph did both, explain how he both resisted and fled.
8. Temptation is always related to opportunity and power or ability. Joseph was young and handsome. Some of us may not be tempted as he was tempted but we will be tempted in some manner. Do you think that sexual related temptation are worse than others such as greed, power, control, vindication, selfishness, or physical appetite?

LESSONS OR INSIGHTS

1. Temptation involves the opportunity: Joseph was propositioned daily…Mrs. P was offering her body and most likely revealing it as well. Where the other slaves being tempted? Probably not; it was Joseph that she had her eye on. Joseph was young and viral and sexual drives of young men are strong: he had the ability to perform. Had he been a eunuch, he would have had no temptation. Your temptation may be different. Daniel had totally different temptations but this does not make him better than Joseph. Don’t screw your halo down to tight. Not all people get propositioned.
2. Know the consequences and they are listed in the word of God. 
3. Think before you act: Joseph had a healthy fear of hurting others and fear of offending God. Always put others first: think about the harm you can do to them if you yield to the temptation and remember, it is a sin against God.
4. Remember that you have several things working against you: Satan, the flesh, the world [culture, TV, trends], unmet needs and situations. Whatever you do…do not rationalize or try to justify your sin. If you do not call it what it is and remember it’s destructive nature: it will destroy you
5. Doing right does not always pay immediate dividends. Joseph got lied about and then thrown into prison. You have to think future, distant future when dealing with temptation and consequences.

Potiphar’s Gaffe, Egypt’s Gain!

Pray For Revival

SCRIPTURE

After Joseph was made the ruler over the house, the Lord blessed the house and everything that Potiphar owned. The Lord also blessed everything that grew in Potiphar’s fields. The Lord did this because of Joseph. So Potiphar allowed Joseph to take responsibility for everything in the house. Potiphar didn’t have to worry about anything except deciding what to eat.

Genesis 39:5-6, ERV

QUOTE

The greatest profanity is to declare a situation hopeless.

~Anonymous

COMMENTARY

We are looking at a 13 year time frame from the time Joseph was kidnapped until he became the Prime Minister of Egypt and 12 years, 11 months and 30 days of that thirteen–Joseph was either a slave or in prison. His first few years was spent in Potiphar’s house where he eventually became is estate manager. He ran the entire shooting match and Potiphar prospered with Joseph in charge. You know the story, Mrs. Potiphar was in hot pursuit of the young and handsome Joseph; when he refused to lie with her, she lied about him. Hell hath no furry like a woman who has been scorned and Mrs. Potiphar felt scorned. Potiphar acts like the typical husband, he takes his wife’s word as fact and doesn’t even listen to Joseph’s side of the story. It appears that Joseph is the loser but that is not the case; Potiphar had made the worse mistake of his life. Joseph was highly gifted as a manager and God was with him. Within hours of Pharaoh’s interview with Joseph, Pharaoh declared Joseph to be the most capable manager in all of Egypt.

A couple of ironies here: Joseph the Prime Minister has authority over Potiphar. Do you reckon Joseph make a house call to the Potiphar’s just to clear the air. That is one visit I would have made. Secondly, do you think Potiphar came to his senses and realized what a fool he had been. He owned the most valuable slave in Egypt and he did not put him on the market but had him throw into prison. Pretty dumb but alas, jealous rage can make a man do stupid things.

One point that I want to make–Joseph went from prison to Prime Minister in less than a day. Who thought that was possible? The answer is not one. Nothing is impossible with God.

EXTRA

• Old Willard is a grass cutting fool; we did six yards yesterday and three of them had not be cut in over a month. It is the first time that I have had to fill up with gas in one day.
• Remember no Deacon’s meeting. Donuts and coffee at 8:45, LCBS at 9:00 and Worship at 10:15 with Picnic at 6:00
• We have a toe guessing contest today. If you guess who these toes belong to, you get to sit on the front row at church Tomorrow morning.

Guess These Toes and win a Rose

Malice

Pray for MY HOPE

SCRIPTURE

His brothers bore him malice, but his father kept mind of what he had said.

Genesis 37:11, Moffatt

QUOTE

Lust makes men brutish; malice makes them devilish – it is mental murder.

~Thomas Watson

COMMENTARY

I love the Moffatt bible. I think I’m on my 19th version and I have not found one yet that I don’t like. In Genesis 37 we have the story of Joseph’s teenage years. The scripture says in verse three…Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons…and as the brothers saw that their father loved him better than all the others, they hated him and could not say a civil word to him…Joseph had a dream and they hated him more…Joseph shared his dream with them and they hated him worse than ever…He had another dream that they disliked and…His brothers bore him malice. The word malice here is translated envy in the AV. It literally means jealous anger. Moffatt may have considered the context and the brother’s ill will toward Joseph. Malice is the desire to harm others or to see others suffer; it is extreme ill will or spite. The ten brothers certainly acted maliciously toward Joseph by putting him in the pit, selling him to the Ishmaelite’s and then separating him from his father. To make maters worse, they acted in deceit. There malice not only hurt Joseph whom they hated but it hurt Israel their father whom they loved. What I want you to notice is that hate is not static, it grows and grows until it becomes malice and malice leads to hateful acts. However, it is a story with a happy ending. When the book of Genesis closes, the brothers no longer hate Joseph.

Several years ago I got to know a man who had done prison time for killing a Montgomery Police officer. At the time, the man was a member of the Black Muslims. He met some Christians in prison and was converted. As a Black Muslim, he had been motivated by hate but when he met Jesus, his hate was transformed into love. Only Jesus could do something of this nature. Joseph is a O.T. type of Christ: his love over powered his brother’s hate.

EXTRA

• How many times have I told you…You never know what you are going to miss at DBC. Last night, our praise and worship was led by a youth choir, our youth…all youth on the stage except Brian. Thank God for Brian and Brent, it was their idea. We didn’t know it was going to happen but it happened. Luke Duke just took the lead and did a great job. We are exuding in talent. I have not seen a choir filled with youth since JD and Joshua were teenagers.
• SENIOR ADULT LUNCHEON today at 11:30…fried chicken, tators, okra, squash, pintos, slaw and corn bread, plus home made ice cream and your desserts. Last Summer luncheon.
• Five days of sunshine, I may be able to cut the ditches this weekend.

Jonathan [Yahweh has given]

Prayer For REVIVAL in America

SCRIPTURE: Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace. We have taken an oath in the Lord’s name to be friends forever. {I Samuel 20:42}

QUOTE: “There is no limit to what a man can achieve as long as he doesn’t care who get’s the credit”. ~Bob Woodruff

COMMENTARY: David is featured in more bible stories and more sermons. There is no question that he is the most popular of the two but my question is: if you had to choose just one of them as a friend, which one would you choose. I would take Jonathan without hesitation. When you think of a true-blue loyal friend, you think of Jonathan. In terms of his character, Jonathan is right up there with Joseph who was a type of Christ. The bible reveals David’s faults but Jonathan [to my knowledge] is never seen in a negative light. Think about it for a moment:

1. Jonathan was a good son. He was a son that would make any normal father proud. Of course his father was far from normal. Saul was insanely jealous, paranoid, bi-polar, and extremely insecure. He humiliated Jonathan in public by calling his mother a perverse and rebellious woman. He accused Jonathan of being disloyal and basically said, “I am ashamed to call you a son.” Jonathan never condoned his father behavior and he remained loyal to the end, the bitter end. Jonathan knew that his father was a loser but he stood with him at Gilboa and made the ultimate sacrifice by giving his life is simply to his father. Jonathan could have easily joined David’s ranks and lived but he choose to keep commandment number five, “Honor your father and your mother.”
2. Jonathan was a good friend. No one in all of God’s word is a better friend than Jonathan. He loved David more than he loved himself. He gave him his robe, ring and armor. Jonathan was the prince and yet he had no desire to be king. He wanted David to be the next king. He never betrayed David’s confidence although it put him at risk. He always defended David, even when it was unpopular. Wow! To have a friend like Jonathan.
3. Jonathan was a good soldier. He probably did not measure up to his father physically because Saul was a big man [6’8″] but he had more courage than his father and he didn’t have near the emotional baggage.
4. Jonathan was a good man. He was the meek and humble type. He didn’t call attention to himself but was constantly putting others first. He was more like a Barnabas than a Paul, more like an Andrew than a Simon Peter: he did not mind playing second fiddle. What our world needs today is more Jonathan’s. It’s what our church needs also.

EXTRA: We have a groundhog or coon problem; maybe both. Our corn is in and they are helping themselves. We have some good-looking corn, great squash and cucumbers are also good but the tomatoes are just not going to make it. I thought they would perk up with the warmer weather but they look horrible. I have a lot on my plate the next two days but I hope I find time to go to Cullman and get me some plants from Luther’s old shopping ground. The Sunday schedule will be normal: Deacons meeting at 8:00, LCBS at 9:00, Worship at 10:15 and 6:00.

Friendship