Response Required

Hearing the Gospel requires a response. One cannot listen to the Message and be passive. You either reject the message or accept it.

Luke 11:23 He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters.

Gasoline or Gold

Where does it end?

Tears

Maybe it is the getting older and more sensitive thing, but I am crying at the drop of a hat lately.I was chatting with a friend the other day, he said something about his marriage, and we ended up crying together. My sweetheart sent me a email about family and it caused me to tear up. I was reading, from Revelation, to my class a few weeks ago describing the throne room of God and it moved me to tears. This morning I read a blog about a family dog that had to be put asleep and I cried.

“Those who do not know how to weep with their whole heart don’t know how to laugh either” Golda Meir

“Manly men don’t cry” is the message I received years ago. I do not know from where that came.

I think there are times when crying as a man is healthy. Here are few that come to mind:

Onion cutting (this one is easy to list)

Polk in the eye (also easy to list and may be sports related)

Sporting event (except baseball, there is no crying in baseball)

Because everyone else is. This is an emotional connection that God set in us to relate. I think Jesus wept (John 11:35) not because Lazarus died (He knew he would be alive again in a few minutes) but because Mary & Martha cried and he was moved.

It is one way to release anxiety. Children do this all the time. Peter said that we should “Cast all you anxieties on God, because he cares about you”. “Invisible tears are the hardest to wipe away, so just let it out my friend.”Boshua

By crying you can release easily what is in your heart. I cry when I hurt for people and don’t have the words to say. It is a deposit of investment in people.

I cry when I really look at myself and recognize my sin.  When I cry about my sin is when I come to fully appreciate the salvation gift of God. I need to cry more.

What makes you cry?

 

 

Christian Larson

“Follow the light of the spirit in all things and depend upon God in all things, choose the living Christ as the pattern in all things and depend upon God in all things Do not seek the truth; seek the spirit of truth The spirit leads into all truth. To know the truth is to know the way. To be guided by the spirit into all truth is to walk in the light of the spirit all the way and the way of light leads into the kingdom of eternal life. Follow the words of the Christ until the spirit is found; then follow the spirit into the greater life of the Christ. Keep the eye single upon that light that is revealed through the spiritual vision of the soul. Where that light is shining there is the gate; beyond is the way that leads unto life, and all who are in the spirit shall find it even now” – Christian D. Larson, THE PATHWAY OF ROSES

Also read a earlier post here.

Christian Larson confessed to be a christian. From what I have read about him, Christian believed that the mind God gave man is rarely used to its full capacity. He wrote that the thoughts of a man can will him to be better.

Unfortunately, some of his followers de-emphasised God and focused on the mind of man. He was regarded as the father of the “new thought” movement. Lately, the popular book and movie, The Secret” uses  a lot of Larson’s writings. “The Secret” leaves God out altogether.

It is too bad that Larson’s legacy is polluted by others.

 

 

Happy Mothers Day

I am a fortunate man. I have a wonderful mother. I have a wonderful mother of my son. I had a wonderful mother-in-law. I had wonderful grandmothers. Each woman has shaped every aspect of my life. Care and concern, born out of love, shined and polished the person I have become.  To each of them, in different ways, I owe what I cannot express.

Thank you, mom (Jean Bartlett). I love you.

Thank you, Patricia. I love you.

Thank you, Betty. I miss you.

Thank you, Grandma & Nonnie. I miss you.

American Idol

Is seems to me that the judges are fighting for camera time and are completely predictable.

Can anyone beat David Archuleta ?  David Cook ?

Who is the next to leave ?

What do you think?

I’m Guilty

I’m GUILTY! Check out Dusty Rush’s blog here about ignoring God.

I will commit to do better, how about you?

Relationships

MT 22:34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”MT 22:37 Jesus replied: ” `Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.

39 And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.’

MT 5:21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, `Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, `Raca, ‘ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, `You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

MT 5:23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

Relationships are important to God.  They are sandwiched in between love for God  and giving God your worship.

Why is it that we place reationships in a much lower status?

Computer Humor

If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their famous sketch, ‘Who’s on First?’ might have turned out something like this: COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT 

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you? 

COSTELLO: Thanks. I’m setting up an office in my den and I’m thinking about buying a computer. 

ABBOTT: Mac? 

COSTELLO: No, the name’s Lou. 

ABBOTT: Your computer? 

COSTELLO: I don’t own a computer. I want to buy one. 

ABBOTT: Mac? 

COSTELLO: I told you, my name’s Lou. 

ABBOTT: What about Windows?  

COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here? 

ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows? 

COSTELLO: I don’t know. What will I see when I look at the windows? 

ABBOTT: Wallpaper. 

COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software. 

ABBOTT: Software for Windows? 

COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have? 

ABBOTT: Office. 

COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything? 

ABBOTT: I just did. 

COSTELLO: You just did what? 

ABBOTT: Recommend something. 

COSTELLO: You recommended something? 

ABBOTT: Yes. 

COSTELLO: For my office? 

ABBOTT: Yes. 

COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office? 

ABBOTT: Office. 

COSTELLO: Yes!  for my office! 

ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows 

COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let’s just say I’m sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need? 

ABBOTT: Word. 

COSTELLO: What word? 

ABBOTT: Word in Office. 

COSTELLO: The only word in office is office. 

ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows. 

COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows? 

ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue ‘W’. 

COSTELLO: I’m going to click your blue ‘w’ if you don’t start with some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with? 

ABBOTT: Money. 

COSTELLO: That’s right. What do you have? 

ABBOTT: Money. 

COSTELLO: I need money to track my money? 

ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer. 

COSTELLO: What’s bundled with my computer? 

ABBOTT: Money. 

COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer? 

ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge. 

COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much? 

ABBOTT: One copy. 

COSTELLO: Isn’t it illegal to copy money? 

ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money. 

COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money? 

ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT! 

(A few days later) 

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you? 

COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off? 

ABBOTT: Click on ‘START’………….      

Rise Again

Go ahead, drive the nails in my hands
Laugh at me where you stand.
Go ahead and say it isn’t me,
The day will come when you will see.
‘Cause I’ll rise again.
Ain’t no power on earth can tie me down.
Oh yes, I’ll rise again.
Death can’t keep me in the ground.

Go ahead and mock my name,
My love for you is still the same.
Go ahead and bury me,
But very soon I will be free.
‘Cause I’ll rise again.
Ain’t no power on earth can tie me down.
Yes, I’ll rise again.
Death can’t keep me in the ground.

Go ahead and say I’m dead and gone,
You will see that you were wrong.
Go ahead, try to hide the Son,
But all will see that I’m the one.
Because I’ll rise again.
Ain’t no power on earth can keep me back.
Yes, I’ll rise again.
Come to take my people back.

And I’ll rise again.
Ain’t no power on earth can tie me down.
Yes, I’ll rise again.
Death can’t keep me in the ground.

Today, Patricia & I went to a sunrise service at a local church. The message was not very impressive, the singing was average, and the hour was early.

But very early in the morning, several women rushed to a tomb to finish the burial process and found it empty. That empty tomb is the message of the morning. Empty tombs are not very impressive, unless it was occupied hours before.

Jesus promised that he would rise again and he did! That promise is the foundation of all other promises of Jesus. That He will “Rise Again” assures me that He will come again.

Come Jesus Come.